Rehab

I have seen the future while I have been here, and it's grim. All the patients are over three score years and ten. While I have been very grateful for the care offered, I have to acknowledge that there must be an endpoint. We are not contributing to the community other than by offering employment to younger people. Make no mistake, most of a nurse's work involves cleaning up errant bodily functions.

Family members visit, except in the case of Helga, who will move to a residential home on Monday. Sylvia and I are due to go home tomorrow. Even Carol, who was stunned to be told she will be out tomorrow as well.

There really isn't a lot of hope. None of us will be able to do the things we did before, and if we had dreams, we've left it rather too late to fulfill them. 

We should be very grateful that there are so many people willing to provide care and personal services. One young HCA on the ward today struck me as a waste of space. She was a very unsympathetic character. I can't imagine her staying in the profession. And patients do die. Betty the other morning and two nights ago the doors to the bay were closed while a trolley went past.

Most of us are just too tired to do other than sit in our chairs, eat, drink and nap. 

Dan and Kerry wheeled me to the gym where I had to use my crutches to navigate a steep step. I still don't feel confident. But tomorrow night should see a new start with trying to get out of the new bed and to the commode.

It's now just after 7 pm and everyone else in the bay is in bed.