Cleaning out a life: August 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

They had a fire drill today, during the daily Bingo game

We had visited Janet, and Mary and I were about to leave. We heard that some of the residents were playing Bingo on the 2nd floor. We joined in the game, briefly, because Mary wanted to. Suddenly, the fire alarm went off, and the announcement said Code red, first floor elevator. It was just a drill, but the fire doors auto closed, and what i guess are smoke retardent accordian curtains also closed off areas. So we walked to the nearest stairwell, Mary and I , and went down to first floor. The staff was going door to door and bringing people out into the hallway, and putting door hanger tags that read 'CLEAR' on each room.

It was good to see the safety plan in action, although Mary was visibly nervous and clinging to me. One gentleman said to her, "Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you." He was a resident with whom we descended the stairs.

Couple of photos taken before the drill. So we went back up to see Janet after the drill, and she didn't even remember it.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Taken during the past two weeks, as we visited "Shady Acres"

Shady Acres is my nickname for the Sunrise Community where all the action is.

These residents are survivors, for sure, and many are quite feisty. Some of them police each other, reprimanding certain aggressive behaviours or comforting when fellow residents are crying.

It is an interesting society that finds its own level on most days.

My daughter , almost 6 now, does not like to visit. She verbalizes with clarity, that she wants to visit
Janet, but she does not like to be around all those other old people. (They all want to hug her or hold her hand. I am sure this is a bit offputting to a child).
She has said : "Resident's name" is going to die soon.
So far, not an accurate prediciton. She also says to me, are you going to die, you will die before me, and then I will have children, and I will be old, be a grandma and they will visit me. For a 5 yr old, Pretty astute grasp of the life cycle, if you ask me.