More fun at the Nursing Home

We have a lady at the nursing home who is in her 80's.  She's quite something, get's around pretty well with her walker and is alert but forgetful.  When at home, she was doing things like leaving pans on a lit burner and forgetting them.  She also isn't too aware of safety issues and trips over things at home so she's come to stay with us.  She doesn't think she should be there and it's a constant refrain with her, that she needs to get home.  The house is a pigsty because she's not cleaning it!

Another thing about her is that she's very conservative.  She doesn't believe that women should wear pants and tells us we shouldn't wear "overhauls".  She gets after the young aides for wearing dark nail polish or too much make-up, and if she hears about someone having a tattoo, she really has something to say.

She has a good sense of humor and a twinkle in her eye, in spite of her sharp comments.

A few weeks ago she went out for the day with her family.  When she came back around 5, I was still there and saw her come in.  She walked in pushing her walker, with what looked like a cigarette, hanging out of her mouth.  What a funny sight!

When she got closer, I saw it was a candy cigarette, something I didn't know was made anymore.

She and her sister had visited an old time candy store and came back with a bunch of boxes.  She took great joy in giving me one, and telling me to give one to our Dr.  She handed them out to some of the other nurses as well, with a big grin on her face.

The next morning, I was doing the am med pass and she threw another box at me, telling me to "have a smoke".  I took one and got a few looks from some of the other residents who aren't used to seeing the nurses walk around with a cigarette!

I've said it before, I'll say it again - life is never boring at the nursing home.