Ways To Tell You Are In Activities At An Elder Care Facility

Similar to working with children, except these people have earned the right to cause trouble for you.

You know at least as many songs from the 20's-50's as from the current era

And they usually get stuck in your head more. "Don't sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me!" You're welcome.

You are a pro at finding and hiding the glitter during arts and crafts time

It's pretty obvious who should be held responsible for the half a tube of glitter the CNA found under Mrs. Zimmerman's blouse while you were helping Mr. Patterson glue googely eyes onto his felt snowman.

You have a favorite resident and you wouldn't be ashamed to admit it

And let's face it, you have already admitted to everyone. "Oh, Mr. Fenton! It's so great to see you! You're my favorite, you know!" Ah, well, we're gonna like the nicer ones more anyway.

Me and my grandpa, who makes it very difficult to wheel him to dinner since every employee we pass insists on stopping us to hug and kiss him and let me know that he is their "favorite" and "just the sweetest".

You know bingo is the WORST

I mean, they seem to like it, but it can seriously make an hour seem like five.

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Unless your coworkers are awesome...

...and will bet their table against yours. That's right Mrs. Sanders, we're going for I-35! I need that Pepsi! Don't let me down!

You're used to being told that "old people are creepy".

Eh, in the right setting it can get pretty comparable to child care only these people are war heroes and other contributors to the community and not a five year old with a superiority complex. Plus I've always thought that old people are adorable.I mean, look at this:

Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years in 2008 when this was taken) playing impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic.

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You might get a little too into pet therapy just so you get some snuggle time

I don't think anyone would blame you for that one.

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Sundowning schedules (and can ruin) your entire day

Sundowning is a crazy phenomenon that causes the elderly to all lose their mind at once when the sun starts to go down. It makes no sense, but it's totally real, and when you're dealing with a hall full of residents sundowning at the same time, things get real quick.

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You're a master of distraction

"Oh your wife [who passed away 14 years ago] was supposed to be here by now? She sounds lovely, Tell me more about her."

(This is not meant to be taken as insensitive. Most in the field are trained not to "reality orient", such as in this example, tell the patient that their spouse is dead, but we try not to lie, so "distraction" is helpful. And yes, I feel awesome when it comes this easy to me and works well to get the patient off that topic.)