A Day in the Lives at Tebbutt Lodge

My day begins with turning off the DVD some of the residents of TB have been watching in the main lounge room and putting on an exercise DVD. The exercises are gentle ones although I find some of them a bit difficult. Most of the exercises they are able to do sitting in their chairs with a couple standing behind their chairs. We have a few residents that are quite keen like, Thomas, Robert and Ada; and others that will half hearted go along doing them when you walk past they row. Then there are the ones that Shirlee writes up as "observant participants" (are present but not doing any exercises) and "passive participants" (are present but are asleep). My role is to try and get them to move a few limbs. You know the saying "use it or loose it".
After exercises its time for morning tea. I prepare for this by putting on a cap before entering the kitchen; washing my hands and putting on rubber gloves. I got into trouble with Maria the last time I was there because I had earrings on and was told that jewellery is not allowed as it may fall in the residents food. I wheel the trolley out with sandwiches and biscuits on and are told to hand out one sandwich and one biscuit with their tea. However, they generally want either two biscuits or two sandwiches so I give them what they want. After collecting all the cups and rubbish I then return the trolley to the kitchen and my part of the kitchen duties is done. The cook in the kitchen looks grumpy and never says a word to me.

It is now time for the gardening club. About 10 of the residents proceed on down to the Social Room where the club is held. There is a Baptist minister from Eastwood that comes in every couple of weeks who is a keen gardener and has a gardening group at his church. He gives little talks and tips and advise. We have so far planted different types of basil, tomatoes, beans, sweet peas........and other things that have slipped my mind. Its good to get out in the sunshine and into the dirt.

Residents have there lunch at 12.00 noon so I venture off to the office and help Shirlee with
getting out the residents records so she can write them up. All activities the residents participate in must be recorded on they records. Also do a bit of stapling and that sort of thing.....nothing to mind blowing. I then go and have lunch and a chat with the staff in the lunch room.

There is a resident's meeting today but I am going off to massage some of the residents hands with hand cream and have a chat. First lady I visit has just come back from hospital and is in bed. Her name is Rose and she is very chatty. Have you ever put hand cream on with rubber gloves? It is quite an experience. You do not know whether the cream has been absorbed or not. I had to then wipe the hands with tissues to make sure I didn't leave any residue. Rose told me about all her family of 11, how she was blamed for everything her sister did and how her bitch of a mother was cruel to her and that she was her father's favourite. She also got me to drag out all the knitting from her cabinet to show me and we went through all the 50 pictures on her wall telling me who all the people were. After about an hr it was time to leave and I promised Rose I would call in on her again. I only had time to do another couple of people's hands as I had spent a lot of time with Rose.

Nelly is one resident I have made a challenge for myself. Nelly sits in the lounge room watching TV clutching her handbag. She has a very stern face and occasionally will glance over at you with her eyes without turning her head when you are standing nearby but will quickly turn her eyes back in front if you look at her. I sat down next to her and asked her what she liked doing. "watching TV" came the quick reply without turning her head keeping the stern face. I asked did she like music and dancing. Silence then "yes". Did you do ballroom dancing? Again "Yes".
After a few more questions I had the feeling she just wanted me to go. I then turned my attention to Ada and had much more luck there. But I haven't given up on Nelly.....I will try again next week.