This week—May 13 to 19—is National Nursing Home Week. The theme for 2012 is “Celebrating the Journey,” which reminds us all to recognize and honor the lives and milestones of the older adults in our lives. According to the American Health Care Association (AHCA):
Celebrating the Journey reminds us that every life should be honored, every life’s story needs to be told and that every day we have the chance to begin writing a new chapter. Whether the day is filled with comedy or drama, nursing home residents and caregivers are co-authors and leading characters in each other’s life story.
Today is about living life to the fullest, irrespective of age, infirmity or disability. There is no fixed formula to follow or guide the process, just the quiet routines of daily caregiving, meals, activities and, let’s hope, visits from family and friends. They bring the joy that comes from the heart of a loved one.
Nursing Home Week is the perfect time to remember to spend a little extra time with loved ones who are no longer able to live independently, and to make sure that the quality of the care they are receiving is what you hoped and expected.
At HensonFuerst, we advocate for nursing home residents throughout the year. We work with residents and their loved ones to make sure that cases of abuse or neglect are addressed, and that the rights of nursing home residents are protected. That’s our own contribution to “Celebrating the Journey.”
