Keep it close

Choose your care facility close to home! Of all the many issues to consider in choosing a care facility, after a month and a half the dominant plus has been proximity. Located only twenty minutes away her care facility has allowed us to literally pop over through the transition to visit. I know that helps my daughter and me at home, and believes it helps Patti.

Last night it was fun to find her ‘visiting’ neighbors and socializing.  It’s already rare to find her in her room.

She was the big winner at bingo and sported a new stuffed animal which was a big thing that night on the unit.  You have to “check” the outside world at the door and try to enjoy the world of the residents. 

Rearranged some furniture. Still nest building and trying to best accommodate environment to Patti’'s visual impairments. Even with a 36” diagonal TV she has to sit directly in front of it. When you add the depth of such a unit plus a wheelchair that demands a good block of free space and more since Patti cannot maneuver on a dime. Furniture placement is one weakness of able bodied people. It has to be tested and worked with for a couple days to insure it withstands all unforeseen variables.

Conventional bed and TV placement in medical facilities ‘assume’ the patient lays or sits in bed and watches TV.  Space is tight otherwise. ‘Tight’ just doesn’t work when you have to live in it.

It was a fun family moment. Watching me move furniture has always amused Patti. Hospital type beds are a particularly frustrating wrestling match. <grin> The end result was a dramatically more open space and Patti could actually see her TV. Which she was pleasantly immersed in as we left.