It was senior citizen center day again today. Dad was looking forward to it. Unfortunately, he had eaten too much rich food yesterday and I had to make a quick run to the pharmacy for imodium before he could go. He set off in great spirits with some music to play for the others. When I arrived to pick him up 3 hours later, I was motioned into the director's office. We all love him so much, she told me. "But" . . . . My heart fell. But, he can't operate without assistance or supervision. That, she assured me, is not the job of the senior center. It is for people who can care for themselves.
He does there what he does here. He stands around and waits for directions. She gave him a choice of things he could do, but he couldn't make a choice. When she steered him to the piano, he entertained the others for 45 minutes and they were all happy. But, he couldn't get his own lunch by himself, an expectation they have of everyone. Each hand of cards must be assisted by someone. One nice lady that he plays cards with said to me, he has a memory loss doesn't he? He can't remember from hand to hand how it is done. Also, he lost his lunch ticket. They fed him anyway since they know he had one. Can he go back? Yes, but maybe not for long. The director said that she would try to keep an eye on him and assist him as much as she can, but she has 60 other seniors who want her attention so she can't always be assisting him.
This creates the problem. He is too capable for the adult day care center. He isn't capable enough for the senior center. When he is here, he is just like at the senior center. Jacque is the best there is. She guides him through his day, keeps him active doing things that are neither beyond him nor beneath him. But, she can't do that every hour of every day. The senior center had been our great hope. It would give us a break of 3 to 4 hours twice a week. We hope that it will remain that way for at least another couple months, but now there are no guarantees.
Tune in tomorrow for "The Dangerous Solution"
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