That being said, here are some notable funnies that we have discovered along this care center journey. First of all, if you are ever employed as a care giver in a facility for aging adults, please note that blood red contacts may not be the best choice of fashionable eye care. Red eyes in the middle of the night (and during the day) may be a bit unsettling for those who are in need of care. Secondly, while the hospitality room is a cozy environment for family dinners and diners, the window view of the funeral home directly across from the care center certainly makes for interesting dinner conversations. Can we just get some pretty curtains already? My mom is known for her curtain making skills ... I bet she can fix up this joint with some fancy flowery curtains! (Note to self ... grab mom's flowery curtains from her home.)
Speaking of dinners ... gravy apparently makes all things better. Or maybe not. I've never seen my mother shudder as much as when she describes the beef gravy, the chicken gravy, the pork gravy, the vegetable gravy, the dessert gravy ... I think you get the hint. Let's slow that gravy train down a bit, shall we? Oh, and if your hair is a bit disheveled before heading to the dining room, someone will fix that up for you. We cannot have bed-head hair in the dining room, you know. Pass the comb. And another thing, proper dining etiquette requires no fighting in the dining room. Should that take place (and it does), you will be wheeled to another table. Food fights amongst the elderly, albeit a light-hearted affair, can be quite disastrous. Broken dentures, hearing aids, oxygen tanks ... just to mention a few. And don't even get me started about the mishaps with the gravy.
Finally, a helpful course in Flip Phone 101 is a must. And a visual tutorial several times a day would not be a bad idea (phone rings, just open ... phone rings, just open ... phone rings, just open). Next month's training ... making phone calls. (We're getting there, folks.) All kidding aside ... the woman loves to visit. Phone calls from her family mean everything to her. Just call her (phone rings, just open).
Yes, it has been a month of adjustments with tears and grief. But it has also been a month of adjustments with laughs and smiles. She is safe. Her Tuesday nights now include an early dinner followed by Movie Night. She is safe. She plays bingo (and wins). She is safe. Her reputation as a competitive cribbage player is becoming well known. She is safe. She is taken care of. She is cared for. She.Is.Safe.
When mama's happy, everyone's happy. She is safe. And that makes me happy.