Hazel looked around her bedroom from the proximity of her pillow. Bins and boxes lay piled in one corner, and the knowledge that she’d just had her last sleep in this room sat heavily on her chest. Not that she had strong ties to the room, but today she moved to long-term-care and she knew life would never be the same again. She sighed and closed her eyes for a few more minutes. She’d never embraced change but felt ready, and that comforted her.
The lists
They’d taken a tour of the home and met with someone who’d given them some great practical suggestions to prepare for today. The best one was “the lists.” She’d suggested making two lists, no more than a page each.
The Medical Facts
The first contained her medications, her diagnoses, medical procedures she’d had and information regarding medical care. Her issues with mobility were on there, including her interest in physiotherapy. She didn’t have any special diet, but if that were an issue it would be included. Eyes, hearing–all the basics of her present condition were included. This went to the medical team–the nurses, doctor and any specialists she might need.
Who Am I?
Hazel and her grandson’s girlfriend, Stacey, had worked on this for hours. What did she want the staff to know about her from the start? What had she accomplished in her life? Where had she lived? Was it important that they knew she’d met the Pope, used to teach canoeing, could speak French? Was her passion for horses important enough to mention? Should they add that she liked her pillows soft and the room cool? How she liked a cup of coffee before she even got out of bed in the morning, and that it needed lots of cream in it? Together they’d crafted this document, adding and subtracting, until Hazel felt happy with the result. Then they framed it to hang in the room.
Entering Community
In a secret corner of her mind, Hazel was excited about being a part of a community. Her loneliness as her mobility decreased had become profound. She needed people! She knew they wouldn’t always be the type she’d enjoy, and maybe she’d retreat to her room sometimes, but the possibility of options beyond the TV thrilled her. She’d met the perky redhead who ran the programs and liked her immediately. Maybe the dullness she’d been feeling was simply boredom.
The Room
Hazel sat up and touched her feet to the floor. Her family had worked hard and she knew the plan was to set up her new room as much like a combination of her living room and bedroom as possible. They’d already taken all of her summer clothes over to be labelled, leaving her one outfit for today. Her winter things remained in bins which would be stored at her son’s house. Stacey and David, her grandson, were taking her out for a drive, then they were stopping for a picnic lunch before taking her to her new home. She knew everyone was a little on edge, wanting to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Hazel stretched her back and squared her shoulders. The counsellor said the transition would take about six weeks. How it went depended on all the players involved, but she remained the key.
Smiling to herself, she began to get ready. She could do this.
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