Putting Things into Perspective

I had a very eye opening experience with one of our wonderful residents the other day, and I felt so touched by it that I had to share.

I walked into one of the resident's rooms to check on them and sit and chat with her for awhile. She began to talk to me about how she wasn't feeling well but stopped halfway through her sentence and struggled to find her next words. She became frustrated that her mind had gone blank when she was trying to explain something to me. I assured her it was okay and that being forgetful happens to all of us. Instead of continuing on with the conversation she asked to sit down so she could explain something to me.

I sat down on her bed and she looked at me and told me to imagine that when I woke up tomorrow and tried to talk to my husband, I was unable to find the words. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember what I was saying, nor could I get the words out. "Now," she said, "imagine that you went to the doctor for it and they told you the words would never come back, that you would spend the rest of your life failing to find the words you needed to". I started to see where she was going with this, but listened intently as she continued.

She then asked me to imagine that next week, my driver's license was taken away. I was told I was no longer a safe driver and wouldn't be allowed to operate a vehicle. So there I sat, day after day, thinking of all the errands I needed to run, but couldn't because I wasn't allowed to drive.

She told me to think about how much I love to sing and not being able to anymore, or to think about sitting down to sew and no longer being able to thread the needle from shaky hands and poor sight.

She was starting to tear up, and so was I, as I imagine anyone would in this position. Finally, she said imagine your spouse passing, and then your sons and daughters saying they have their own families to take care of, so they're going to move you into a studio bedroom where someone else can take care of you until you pass on.

I didn't know what to say at all. I was stunned into silence. I have always looked at our residents with respect and an understanding that they have lived amazing full lives and deserved the highest care we could offer them, and respecting their independence, but this resident forced me to put myself in her shoes, to look at the world through her eyes.

I can't imagine the frustration some of our residents must feel when they find themselves out of their homes, or the anger they feel when they sense their independence has been lost.

It's something we strive to remember here at Beehive Homes, to ease their anger and frustration and make their stay with us as home like as possible. But still, this was an important reminder.

It's important to help them still sing, even if it's become more difficult, it's important to help them sew, even if we need to thread the needle. It's important to walk next to them, despite how slow their steps may be.

A Heartwarming Story of Compassion

I shared this story recently in our May Newsletter but I loved it so much I thought it deserved a spot on our blog! Happy middle of the week everyone!

    One day a woman was walking down the street when she spied a beggar sitting in the corner. The man was elderly, unshaven, and ragged. As he sat there, pedestrians walked by him giving him dirty looks. They clearly wanted nothing to do with him because of who he was - a dirty, homeless man. But when she saw him, the woman was moved to compassion. It was very cold that day and the man had his tattered coat - more like an old suit coat rather than a warm coat - wrapped around him. She stopped and looked down. "Sir", she asked. "Are you all right?" The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. 

"Leave me alone," he growled. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling - her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. 

"Are you hungry?" she asked. 

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." 

The woman's smile became even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years, what do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for a while." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.  "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered, "Don't blow it." Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by the table. 

"What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this. Is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." 

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place.”The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a good amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings? Women asked. "What business is that of yours?" Manager asked. "I am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh! I am sorry ma'am", said the manager. The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so - I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." 

Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy." "I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything would be all right." "So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. 

"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet and if you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you." 

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you," he said. 

"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank him. He led me to you." 

The Power of the Soft and Cuddly

Back in February I realized that while I sat and talked with the residents about their lives before they came to Assisted Living many of them mentioned loyal companions that stayed by their sides.... their dogs. Some of the pets had passed on, others had been passed on to their children and were brought by the home for regular visits. Either way, I realized how important some cuddly interaction would be for the residents.

Here comes in puppiesforrent.com. A website started by BYU students to allow local college students to rent puppies since they aren't allowed in most apartments and dorms. Well, I took their wonderful idea and just expanded their target market by a few years. I contacted them and asked if they would be willing to rent a puppy to us for an hour a week for Puppy Therapy. The company has been wonderful, and I highly recommend them to anyone who would like to rent something cute and cuddly for an hour to a few hours.

It's been a few months now and we're going strong. I can't believe the joy I see in the residents faces when I hand them the puppy to hold. We've had all different puppies come from the playful to the extra sleepy, they've loved them all. One of my residents, who has a small difficulty with her vision, exclaims  every time I place a puppy in her lap, "Oh it's alive!" She assumes I'm putting a stuffed animal in her lap, but much to her surprise the puppies are alive and want to play!

These puppies have been a blessing to our homes. I have loved every minute they've been with us, and I know the residents do too. Check out some photos below of our wonderful residents cuddled up with our new furry friends.

Name that Tune

Today we had an activity where I played a small clip of older songs that the residents grew up with and had them try and remember the name of the song, or who it was by.

They did a fantastic job and it was amazing to see their faces light up as they heard those old familiar songs. Songs I'm sure had them remembering where they were when they listened to those songs, or how different the world is now.  Some of the songs were difficult for the residents to recall, but one of them suggested I play the best songs from WWII and once I put those on everyone was calling out titles and singing along with the music.

At the end I took requests. One of our residents, Harold, told me that his favorite song was "At Last". It was his girlfriend's favorite song before he went off to serve in the pacific. She listened to it everyday while he was gone, and waited for him to return. When he did, he made her his bride. (so cute, right?!)

I played "At Last" for him only to find out that the version I know, isn't the right version at all. The Etta James version, the only one I knew existed was not the original of that song.

So after some research I found the original. Have a listen and enjoy the beautiful weather outside today.


This one's for Harold.

Book Drive!

Our Residents love to read, but they're running low on reading material!

In Provo, we have installed new bookshelves in the library and we need help to FILL THE SHELVES!

Please Join us Saturday March 16, 2013 for our BOOK DRIVE!

We will have RAFFLES, treats, and prizes for each shelf we fill. 

We will accept new or used book, of any genre, even Children's books! 

This is a wonderful opportunity to serve the community and do a little spring cleaning!

Hope to see you there!

Beehive Homes of Provo Assisted Living

2877 W Center Street

Provo, Utah 84601

2:30-4:30pm

Remembering the Past

Today's post won't be long. This picture is worth a thousand words. Here at Beehive Homes, this is how we see our residents.

A Day for Inspiration

Each and every resident here at Beehive Homes is an inspiration. The more time we spend with each of them, the more we am aware of their accomplishments, their struggles, and the incredible journey's they all have taken. It's a special experience to sit with the residents in their rooms and ask them about the pictures on their walls, and their belongings that are lined up along their dressers. For some, their memories have gone, and they can't quite recall the names of the people in the frames, but a smile always sweeps across their face when you ask. The love their have for their family and friends, the love they have felt in their life is still seen by us every day. 

While writing this, I was asked by one of the residents to show her to her room, she had forgotten which one was hers. After I walked her to her room I noticed a picture of her and her husband on the wall. The words on the picture read, "What lasts? Love Lasts". And I couldn't agree more. Love Lasts.

If you're looking for some inspiration today, watch this video of two of our wonderful residents. Their love and passion for each other, even after all these years is truly amazing.