In designing nursing homes of the future, rooms should be created which accommodate comfortable chairs for visitors. Send teams of professionals to other states and countries to observe first-hand the practices deemed the most successful and to develop and recommend strategies for implementing them. This field should be no different than other industries where processes are continually analyzed with the goal of making ongoing improvements. The residents are a precious part of the human family. As long as they live, they have much to contribute - even if it is just to provide us the opportunity to care for and nurture them.
Society already places a high priority on the physical and emotional needs of children.
The needs of our nursing home residents should be no less important. At times the pressures were crushing, yet I never ceased to relish the opportunity of brushing her hair, bringing her little treats, holding her hand. And, of course, she was right. Even now, when I have more freedom and the luxury of relaxing at home on weekend mornings with my own husband and daughter, I miss having her in my life. Writing this has been a way to wring something positive from an experience which almost defies description.