Last Day

Summer school starts tomorrow. I've been home for so long I wonder if I'll be able to survive. I'm already signed up for 2 classes and will be trying to add a third. My schedule is going to be crazy whether it's 7 units or 11. Last day and I will be spending it at work. Oh well, it was a good break.

Bittersweet

I arrived at Moran Hall and neither the artist nor the other volunteer was there. The portfolios and art supplies were set out though, so I went up to the units to get a few of the patients. O4 was playing bingo and all of them wanted to finish the game, so I went up to M6. The guy that usually comes was out on a bus trip. On my way back to Moran, I caught up with the other volunteer who was escorting two of the patients from O4. I asked the one that was walking if they finished the game. He told me he's been playing bingo since he was 6 and give the prizes away to the other patients. Yeah, he's a little absent-minded but he's sounds really amazing when you talk to him. When I asked him earlier on the ward if he wanted to go down to art he told me about his "modeling career" after telling me I was pretty. It touched me when he thanked me for remembering him. After having them settle, I walked to F6. The nurse said the patient hasn't been really been active but she made him go anyway. I helped him 1:1 in painting but after awhile it was clear that he didn't want to do art today. The artist said he's hasn't been his best in awhile. After taking him back to his unit, I spent time with another patient who was painting by himself in the corner. The first week I met him I couldn't make out what he was saying but we're able to make light conversation now. He told me how he went to business school and was on the basketball and football team. When I told him that I had to leave and that it would be my last day working with "Art with Elders," he looked so sad. He kept asking "why?" even though I told him I was going back to college in the summer during our conversation.

I dropped by E4 as request by the A.T. after art. Surprise, surprise! She did throw something big! She had the staff room decorated with a few balloons. On the table laid a cake that read "Thank you, Kim! Good luck from E4!" There was also sodas and ice cream. All the nurses and the doctor on the unit were there to wish me luck and thank me. The A.T. handed me a card and when I opened it there was some cash and all the signatures of the staff that were working today. I knew the A.T. wanted to get me a gift certificated because she kept asking me what stores I shopped at and what stores were up in Davis yesterday (I told her I don't really shop and Davis has mostly mom-and-pop stores). Anyways, I insisted to help pass out ice cream to the residents even though the A.T. said this was my party and I should sit and enjoy the food. The patients knew I was coming back so all they did was thanked me for the ice cream. LOL! I love the patients on E4!

Whoever knows me knows I'm a fast walker. I was a block away from home when I startled a lady walking in front of me with the sound of my fast pace. Turns out her son got shot a few blocks away and she's never too careful now. I seemed to make her day because I told her how I was coming back from volunteering at a rehabilitation hospital and how sorry I was to hear what happened. It was really nice meeting one of the neighbors even though it was through misfortune. I hope her son gets better.

Patient Progress

I love seeing how patients progress, whether it's medically or mentally. It's the main reasons why I love E4. The A.T. keeps me in tune with what's going on with the patients. In the morning, I charted the patient activities while listening to the A.T. read the newspaper to the patients. It was sort of like current events since she made them share comments. In the afternoon, we had a community meeting, meaning the patients got to get together and share what could be improved on the ward. I scribbled down notes for the charge nurse, since she had another meeting to attend. The ones that had complaints had a lot to complain about, but most of them thought the service was fine. I stayed after the meeting to review my notes with the A.T. She then let me write down how each patient was doing while she dictated. All day she insisted that I come back tomorrow so the ward could give me a treat. I kept telling her that she didn't since I'll come back to her unit once summer school is over. If she wasn't off on vacation the past two weeks I bet she would have planned something big for today. She's the type of person to do that to get the residents willing to interact and participate. Before I left, she gave me a souvenir from her trip.

During my two and half hour break, I went over to Mollie Stone's to visit Theresa. Unfortunately, her lunch break wasn't until 3, but she took a 15 minute walk with me when I came. Her line wasn't as busy like the last time I came. I think I'm going to go to LLH a little earlier tomorrow so I can drop by again. Ughh, I should have checked in at Moran Hall to see if there's going to be art tomorrow. Oh well, I can spend more time on E4 if there isn't.

Slip at Serramonte

Second week in a row volunteering on a bus trip with M5. Only 5 ladies came along the Serramonte outing. We hit the food court when first arriving. I misunderstood the women I was wheeling. She wanted to actually go up to each food vendor and look at the food. The others were able to make up their mind when just being push by the places and being told the type of cuisine each restaurant offered. She spent quite some time at the one serving Filipino food and ended up ordering there. I think the server got a little annoyed because the patient only wanted 1 chicken kabob but it was mandatory to get two. While eating I sat next to the woman that yelled on me the first time I volunteered with M5. She was a bit easier during this trip...or maybe I didn't notice her complaining because I didn't push her this time. Anyways, after lunch, we went to Target. Either the lady that I had to push around the food court forgave me or forgot about how stupid I was. She wanted pajamas and made nice conversation with me. The volunteer from last week's bus trip was also on this trip. He and his patient were trailing us. I felt bad that he stopped everytime I helped my patient with something. He should have just went helped the women he was pushing find something to buy. I turned around once in a while and asked her if she liked anything. She was the politest one on the trip; She didn't complain or ask for anything. While looking at tshirts, the third volunteer, a high school kid, came and said we needed to go back to the entrance because one of the patients fell. I didn't hear him come at first because I was intently listening to my patient (geez, one of them could have tapped me on my shoulder instead of whispering my name). I explained to my patient that someone had fallen since she was still talking about wearing green on St. Patrick's day. She's so loyal and compassionate to her "neighbors." She immediately inquired if they were hurt. Now, the lady that fell, I knew her sort of well. She's one of those with dementia or some other kind of memory problem. She acts like a child that says the darnest things and questions everything. When we got the front, the A.T., CNA and security guard were all making a fuss. I think the lady looked fine, but they insisted that we go back to the hospital immediately. I went back into Target to pay for my patient's pj pants and helped wheel my patient back to the bus. It took awhile for the patient that feel and another patient to get to the bus because they went shopping! I thought that was unfair to the ones that were sent back to the bus (because they were escorted by the volunteers instead of the staff?). Oh well, at least they got to eat something other than hospital food.