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What
is a surrogate family and
why is it necessary?
People who have entered
a nursing home as residents many times expect to be visited on a regular basis by
family, friends, and others only to discover that over a period of
time these expected visits get shorter and fewer.
Many times the family gets wrapped up in there own
affairs: mortgage; taking care of there children; paying bills and
the like. Through no fault of their own the family finds less and less
time to devote to visiting their loved ones and helping them out
with things like shopping; hanging things on the wall; or just
friendly conversation.
Sadly many nursing home residents don't have any
family, so never get any outside visitation at all.
These situations can be remedied
trough a volunteer group
or individual who makes themselves available to act as a
family member or friend to a particular resident, visiting the
resident on a regular basis and helping them with small tasks or
just shooting the breeze.
Unfortunately, nursing homes usually expect the resident's
family to be responsible for many tasks the management just isn't
able to provide for their residents. This is where the surrogate
fills a void which may be causing feelings of isolation and
loneliness for the resident.
Case # 1
A man in the late stages
of a progressive disability who can only sit up in his
wheelchair for a few hours at a time finds a number of small tasks
piling up with no help in sight from the management. He has no family
or friends in the area. The tasks are simple ones that would take
very little time and effort for an able-bodied person but are
overwhelming tasks to the disabled resident:
-
A poster needs to be
hung oh the wall
-
An old computer desk
needs the supporting backboard to be refastened [with small
nails or staple gun] to keep it from falling apart
-
A thermometer needs
to hung on the wall
-
The individual is
working hard to promote the esteem therapy ideals, so that other
residents here and possibly all over the country or world could benefit.
Before that is possible the concept must be discussed and
attempted -- it all must start somewhere.
Of course this first case is yours
truly, Bob Clay. The management
and staff are helpful up to a point but haven't the time or manpower
to help with many of the small tasks that can provide great comfort
and aid to the many residents who could benefit.
Getting involved
-- please
help
Various clubs, Christian and prayer groups, or any
collection of local caring people are all good sources for
volunteers to fill this void. Just an hour or two a week of
volunteer work can have a huge positive impact on the lives of
nursing home residents. Talk to me Bob
Clay or take the initiative and just get started.
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