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Elder CareTips:
Mastering The Eldercare Maze™
December 1,
2004
Need A Gift For
Someone
In A Nursing Home?
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Grandmother only needs one more box of
perfumed dusting powder complete a set of 12 on her crowded
closet shelf. Uncle John doesn't wear the ties he already
has, and the box of caramels George got last year pulled out
his dentures.
Every year it gets harder and harder to find the perfect
gift for our loved ones who live in nursing homes. They
don't need, or can no longer use, most of the things that
catch our eyes. In desperation we often end up wrapping
something we know in our hearts will be wrong.
You already know what the best gift is: A visit from you.
If you can, of course you do plan to visit. But you don't
want to go empty-handed. If you can't be there in person,
you want to send something that will be received and used
with joy. Here are some ideas to get you started:
More on Gifts For The Nursing Home...
| I believe you should live
each day as if it is your last, which is why I don't
have any clean laundry because, come on, who wants to
wash clothes on the last day of their life?
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Elder CareTip:
The Stairs
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5 will get you 10 that, if your elder lives
in a two-story house, the stairs to the second floor are
carpeted. If they aren't, you're in luck today.
Put on your leather-soled dress shoes and walk down those
carpeted stairs next time you're there. You have to be extra
careful that your foot doesn't slip down off the rounded
edge of the carpeted step, don't you.
Those stairs would be much safer without the carpeting.
They'd be easier to keep clean, too (ever try vacuuming the
carpet on the stairs - now that's a mean job).
Take a peek and see what's under there. It might even be
beautiful hardwood. If it isn't, it won't take much to paint
the risers and put down safety treads.
Talking about stair safety isn't often successful at first.
I often hear some variation on the theme of, "I've never in
my life fallen down those stairs." So, 5 will get you the
other ten that you'll meet resistance at the idea of
un-carpeting the stairs.
Take a look under there first, then visit your local home
supply store for ideas before you bring up the subject. If
you can offer one or more solutions to objections about ugly
stairs you stand a much better chance of eventual success.
| The hardest thing in life
is to learn which bridge to cross
and which to burn.
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