Home Life
At 5:08pm yesterday one of my residents appeared in the doorway of my office. This particular resident has dementia and is always accompanied by a caregiver. He looked rather upset.
Me: Hi Jim! How can I help you? (in my most cheerful voice to counteract his scowl)
Jim: What is wrong with you? Do you have a bad home life? Don't you like to go home?
Me: Don't worry about me Jim. I'm just finishing up some work and then I'll head home.
Jim: It's after 5. GO HOME!!
Me: Don't worry, Jim. I'll head home soon. I just have to finish up some work.
Jim: I'm not worried. You think I worry about you? Go home!
At that moment his caregiver showed up and encouraged him to leave me alone to do my work. The caregiver apologized to me which I found strange. Why do caregivers and family members feel that they have to apologize for the behavior an older person in their care? I had, in fact, loved the conversation and it gave me a nice distraction from the work keeping me there late.
Jim turned and walked out. As he was walking down the hall I heard him yelling. "Doesn't like his home. LOVES his job. What's wrong with him?"
Today it was 4:59pm when Jim showed up again at my door. This time he was smiling as he waited for me to acknowledge him.
Jim: Don't worry!
Me: Ok. I won't. You don't worry either.
Jim: You think I worry about you? But it's 5pm. What's wrong with your home life?
Me: Jim, I'm single.
Jim paused, and then flashed a big smiled as he put his hand to the side of his mouth as if to tell me a secret. "You're smarter than you look." With that he turned and left. Apparently it's ok for a single man to stay late.
2 comments:
Because not everybody understands seniors. Although it would be safe to assume people working there understand the residents. I often feel I have to apologize for my baby. Some people think it's silly, but others have been secretly annoyed by her behavior because they never had little ones, or it's been a long time.
Once a man across the aisle from me (and Alena) on a plane asked in his outside voice if he could be moved in case "that kid starts freaking out." I don't know what made him think being somewhere else on the small plane would change anything if she really did freak out. Fortunately Alena was a perfect angel. I think to spite him.
Oh my gosh, this is hilarious. I wish i could have seen his grin.
Post a Comment