Date the Weekly Reflection was first submitted: 02/16/2020
Name: Lauren
Nursing Home: Signature Health Care Center
Date of visit:
Length of visit: 1
1. Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes by all the loneliness at the nursing home? If so, what helps you to deal with this?
It is disheartening to know that most of the residents will have limited contact with people besides our weekly visits. However, it helps to see how excited a resident becomes when telling a story or giving their opinion. I feel better knowing that even if I'm just spending an hour a week with residents, a can make a difference in their lives.
2. What do you think about the way we treat people who are elderly in America? What concrete steps can we as a society take to reach out to those who are elderly and/or disabled?
As a society, we often dismiss the elderly and forget that they are people with the same needs for companionship and fulfillment as everyone else. We need to stop viewing the elderly as burdensand instead recognize that they are deserving of our time and compassion. Our society can work to improve the treatment of elderly patients in the healthcare system and nursing homes. Individually, we can set aside time to spend with the elderly, whether they are family members or members of the community.