On Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:53:21 -0700, dennis meissner wrote:


"Don White" wrote in message
...
It's taken 15 months but we finally have mom settled in the nicest nursing
home in the Halifax area. (physical structure anyway)

She started off in a local hospital back in Jan 2007, moved to a
'transistional care unit' for about six months until the first bed became
available in a rural town about 45 miles from here. I knew winter was
coming so by October I added the largest facility here to her preferred
list as a temp spot. She moved there mid October and last week we finally
got the word that a room in her 'first choice' facility came open.
Nice bright spot.. 6 year old building, everyone gets a private room with
bath, phone and cable tv.
Her wing was dominated by the Sisters of Charity... but as they thin out,
lay residents now make up almost half of the 24 spots in her wing. Another
nearby wing holds a group of Sisters in 'assisted living'. What a
beautiful spot...all dark woods with a library & small chapel
I joke about getting in there myself when the Sisters leave for their oun
facility in a couple of years.
Interesting group these Sisters. A lot of them came from the Boston
area... recruited and shipped north to the main training facility on a
large chunk of land overlooking Bedford Basin and the narrows bridge.
They have a hugh 'Mother House' residence there and what was once a
Catholic womans university ...now open to the general public.
At one time the sisters taught in most of the catholic elementary/jr high
schools here. http://www.schalifax.ca/sub/06roots/04atour.html
Anyway they were quick to pop in and invite mom to their daily 11 am mass
on the 3rd floor
Hopefuly this will be it.

Now...just as we get mom settled, my wifes' mother is starting the same
long process...exactly one year behind my mom. She even spent time in the
same hospital room/bed for a bit.


I spend an hour each week (sometimes more) with a group from a
retirement/assisted living facility answering pc questions. It is amazing
how many seniors have pc's and broadband connections in their rooms. Alot
of them are doing their own family histories, further into geneology, and
purchasing their needs online (avoids driving). The pc also allows them to
immediately get pictures from their family and friends keeping them more in
touch.

I taught a 90 yr old how to video edit and create dvd's for slide shows...
she probably spends 6 to 8 hours a day in front of her pc...

That's a very noble way to use your time and I imagine it is quite
fulfilling for both sides.

How's the food at the home? I found that with a few of my uncles that
have gone through this process the meals are a huge consideration.

on another topic...think I will go dewinterize my boat now


Good Luck

Dennis