[speaker001:] Okay. Um, I don't have any, I guess, definite views about elderly care. Um, the first thing that comes to mind is kind of those horror movies that you see,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] where elderly people are abused and things like that.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I think that's one thing that I would look at if I was putting my grandmother or my mother, uh, in some sort of home. The first thing that I would look at would be their history.
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] As far as any court cases that came out of there, um, the history of, you know, their doctors, um, their nurses, and things like that.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah. I agree with you. I, um, a group that I'm a part of goes once a month to a, um, they call it the Heritage House.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] It's, it's a nursing home for elderly people.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And this particular one has people that are in pretty bad shape.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] A lot of them have had, um, limbs amputated, or, um, have serious illnesses.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] You know, that kind of thing. And, um, I watched, the interesting thing was I watched this particular one change hands. It started out just being a terrible place for the people,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and then a new company bought it,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and came in and remodeled the whole place.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] Hired new nurses and, uh, just really, just redid it, you know.
[speaker001:] Just out of curiosity, what, what kinds of things were they doing when they were considered a bad place?
[speaker002:] Well, to me, it was dirty, for one thing.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] Uh, when you would walk in, the smell was just,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] awful. The, you know, the floors, you could just,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] if you're walking on them, feel how filthy they were.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] Um, there were a lot of people just kind of up and down the halls laying in their beds hollering and, you know, crying,
[speaker001:] Oh, my goodness.
[speaker002:] Of course, I don't know how many of them were, you know, not in their right mind.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] or how many were,
[speaker001:] In pain or something.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah. I just really don't know, but I feel like they were neglected.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And, um, yeah, that was what I was going to say. It sounds like just neglect all over.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] You know, neglect to cleanup.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] I don't really think anyone was being, you know, cruel or,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] or trying to mistreat them or anything. I just think they were not doing anymore, you know, than they had to do. And, um, just kind of letting everybody live in a not very good environment [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] But this new company came in and they, like I said, they remodeled the place.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And it smells nice when you walk in. And it looks nice. And they got like several new color T V's for the people,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And redid the dining room, where they made it, you know, a lot more place for them to be.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] They made a little patio area where they can go outside.
[speaker001:] That's great.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Just, you know, small things that make it seem a lot more homey.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Yeah. And it's like, it's a lot more like an apartment place instead of just, uh,
[speaker001:] I would, I would personally hate to know that my mother or grandmother or anyone is in a home like that. And my biggest fear would, that they would be, is that they would be lonely.
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] And I would like to know that there are, you know, just a lot of activities, like you said, you know, just putting a plant in a room,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] You know. Just makes, just brightens and, and,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] and just makes them, just a little more active. Television,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] They can go outside and, just to know that they're not, you know, laying in a room,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] looking at gray walls. You know,
[speaker002:] Exactly.
[speaker001:] that, that's what would just really kill me.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I'd like to know that, you know, they have friends there,
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] and they have little conversations and things.
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] I'd like to know there's a lot of interaction and,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] maybe some kind of, of activity, little field trips or something.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I don't know how they would do that. But,
[speaker002:] Well, they, uh, this place that we visit, it's really neat. They have, everyday, they have schedules of groups that come in.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And they will do bingo. Our group does a church service once a month.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And then other groups come in and do the services, you know, other Sundays,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] So that they have at least one service every Sunday.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] So there are a lot of things. There are places that have a lot of things for them to do. But you really do have to kind of seek it out, you know,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and make sure that it's not a place like this one was [LAUGHTER].
[speaker001:] I didn't realize that there were groups that go in like that. That's,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] really neat.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah, it is. It's real nice. And, um, I know our church does it and there are a lot of other churches, and they are just like civic organizations,
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] that do.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And, uh, I have other friends. It's kinds of neat, they take animals over and let the people pet them.
[speaker001:] Oh.
[speaker002:] Like they also have a dog that maybe needs a home and they will wash it all up,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and make sure it's, it's a friendly animal,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] you know. And take it in and let, just let the old elderly people pet the dogs.
[speaker001:] That's great.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] That will be something, you know, they would look forward to if they knew, you know, that the puppy is coming on Wednesday.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] You know, that would be something to look for. That's really neat.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah.
[speaker001:] That really is.
[speaker002:] I thought that was a real unusual thing,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] for someone to do. So, yeah, there's a lot that can be done.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] It's just a matter of people not being lazy.
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] And, you know, doing the best they can. Again, I don't know what I'd do if it was my own mother or grandmother,
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] you know.
[speaker001:] Putting any of my family in an elderly home, to me would be the very last resort.
[speaker002:] Right.
[speaker001:] You know, it, um, and I know it's hard for a lot of families if you're trying to, to work or trying to take care of your own family,
[speaker002:] Right,
[speaker001:] it's kind of hard to, to because an elderly person sometimes can be totally dependent,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] you know, on you. And I know that's hard sometimes and,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] but it would really have to be a last resort,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] because that would just, I would feel so guilty.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah. I would, too.
[speaker001:] I don't know. Unless I knew that they were somewhere, just really, I mean, just really great.
[speaker002:] Yeah, right.
[speaker001:] You know, that they were really enjoying.
[speaker002:] Yeah. I know. I know what you mean.
[speaker001:] I don't know anyone personally that's in an elderly home.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Well, I have interesting conversations with a lot of these people because, um, many of them, of course, their minds are not good.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And so a lot them have told me exactly the same story, you know,
[speaker001:] Yeah. Yeah.
[speaker002:] every time I visit them.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] They'll reminisce about childhood,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and tell me something that they did and then the next time I go it's the same thing, you know,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] that, just somebody to listen to them.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Uh, just seems to make them really feel good.
[speaker001:] Nod your head and smile at them.
[speaker002:] Right. I'll tell you the people I feel the sorriest for, there's a guy at this particular one I go to,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] that I think that he's really an intelligent person,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] but he has cerebral palsy so bad that he just cannot communicate.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] And, um, he's blind and he has seizures, you know,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] I mean, he's just like in a world of his own, and yet he wants so much,
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] to be around people. And if you come over to him, if he can touch your hand, he'll grab it and kiss it.
[speaker001:] Oh.
[speaker002:] Oh, and he's always got a smile. I mean, he really tries to, brighten up your life. Oh, it's just amazing.
[speaker001:] Oh.
[speaker002:] But he can't say anything. He can just kind of make noises.
[speaker001:] That's something, that, if I had to work in an elderly home, I don't think I could do it.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] Like I, I would really like to be a teacher,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] But I don't think I could do it. Because I'm very, very emotional.
[speaker002:] Me, too.
[speaker001:] And the minute, I mean, the minute something happens,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] I cry on, I mean, Hallmark commercials.
[speaker002:] I know.
[speaker001:] That's just the end of me.
[speaker002:] I know.
[speaker001:] And so I mean something real life, I just,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I interview a lot of children, I'm an education reporter,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and I always go and do an education things.
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] I meet these kids who are, you know, dropping out of school left and right.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] And all the sudden, they're in this program. They're making straight A's, they're going to graduate early,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and I'm just, I just want to hug them,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] and go, you are just fantastic.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] And, you know, I could just imagine, you know, working in a home like that,
[speaker002:] Oh, yeah.
[speaker001:] And those people, they're so sweet and,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] and so genuine,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] You know, and all they want is just for everything to be happy,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] and you know,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] And so that would probably just tear me apart.
[speaker002:] Oh, it does.
[speaker001:] I mean, in a good way, but,
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] You know.
[speaker002:] Yeah, it is, it's really hard and,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] But one of the neatest things I think though is we always take our kids. I have a three year old and a six year old,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and they, um, have gotten comfortable being around these people,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] because they've always gone with us,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and the people love them.
[speaker001:] I'm sure.
[speaker002:] And they want the children, you know, to hug them or hold their hand and, so far, my kids will do it. Just real easily,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] and I think it's because they've gone since they were real little,
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] and they've never been afraid. But that's something, to me children,
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] you know, need to, people need to take groups of children,
[speaker001:] Right.
[speaker002:] [LAUGHTER] Because the kids just brighten up their lives.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] As we walk through the, the lobby they'll all say, bring her here. I want to see her [LAUGHTER]. I would love to hold her.
[speaker001:] And children, I mean, usually a of elderly people like to, they like to, uh, share their experiences with the,
[speaker002:] Uh-huh.
[speaker001:] with the younger children. They'll be telling them all kinds of stories.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] that they don't even know what they mean.
[speaker002:] That's true.
[speaker001:] You know, they feel like they've lived life so they need to share it.
[speaker002:] Yeah.
[speaker001:] And I'm sure I'll be like that, too.
[speaker002:] Well, me, too.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Yeah. It's quite an experience.
[speaker001:] But, that's great. I didn't know there were such groups.
[speaker002:] Yeah. Yeah there are. And, and, uh, it really helps those people, I think.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh.
[speaker002:] But, like you said, I'd really have a lot of second thoughts before I put any of my own family members there.
[speaker001:] Yeah. Yeah.
[speaker002:] It would be a last resort.
[speaker001:] And I would hate it if anyone put me in one.
[speaker002:] Oh, I know. I'm always afraid like, oh, no, what if I lose my mind.
[speaker001:] Yeah.
[speaker002:] Am I going to end up in a place like that [LAUGHTER]?
[speaker001:] [LAUGHTER] Somebody take care of me.
[speaker002:] Yeah, that's right.
[speaker001:] Okay.
[speaker002:] Well.
[speaker001:] Okay, well, nice to talk to you.
[speaker002:] Yeah. You, too, Tonya. Thanks for calling.
[speaker001:] Uh-huh. Bye-bye.
[speaker002:] Bye.