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raeanna74 · 07-14-2005, 08:43 AM

I just had to share this for how positive the story is. Hope it gives some of you more hope for humankind.

A close family friend who we call Aunt and her husband Uncle have been struggling lately. Our Uncle is suffering from Alzheimers and is to the point that he is loosing muscle control so bathing and bathroom duties must be taken care of in bed. Aunt is getting close to 80 and though she is quite active and healthy the constant care is taking it's toll on her. She finally made the decision recently to put him into a nursing home where he can receive 24 hour care and watch. Unfortunately the nearest nursing home which does not have a long waiting list for his particular needs is over an hour drive one way. This has made her decision/situation all that more difficult. She has applied for hospice care, gotten help several nights a week for someone to watch him (since he hardly sleeps anymore) and managed a "adult day care" situation 3 days a week.

I found a free hospital bed on freecycle (thanks to someone here I found those groups) and contacted the people about the bed. I explained my Aunt's situation and her needs to have a bed without controls easly accessible. Uncle is still able to use his hands somewhat and can be quite destructive if he gets ahold of something small that he can dismantle. They were quite understanding. I gave their number to my Aunt who called them. In the end they adamantly refused any payment, drove an hour and a half hauling the bed, so that she could see it. They planned to take it elseware to donate if it would be a hazard to her but it was not. So they proceeded, with our pastors help, to remove her old bed to the garage and set up the new one completely for her. She was dazzled by their generosity and kindness for a stranger.

Aunt called me the next day to say that this was the first night in a while that Uncle had not attempted to get out of bed. The bed has side rails and seems to deter him. He has fallen MANY times because he was trying to get out of bed. At least this way if he makes the attempt he will have rails to help support him.

I was amazed by this couples kindness and just had to share this story.

07-14-2005, 08:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	An act of kindness I just had to share this for how positive the story is. Hope it gives some of you more hope for humankind. A close family friend who we call Aunt and her husband Uncle have been struggling lately. Our Uncle is suffering from Alzheimers and is to the point that he is loosing muscle control so bathing and bathroom duties must be taken care of in bed. Aunt is getting close to 80 and though she is quite active and healthy the constant care is taking it's toll on her. She finally made the decision recently to put him into a nursing home where he can receive 24 hour care and watch. Unfortunately the nearest nursing home which does not have a long waiting list for his particular needs is over an hour drive one way. This has made her decision/situation all that more difficult. She has applied for hospice care, gotten help several nights a week for someone to watch him (since he hardly sleeps anymore) and managed a "adult day care" situation 3 days a week. I found a free hospital bed on freecycle (thanks to someone here I found those groups) and contacted the people about the bed. I explained my Aunt's situation and her needs to have a bed without controls easly accessible. Uncle is still able to use his hands somewhat and can be quite destructive if he gets ahold of something small that he can dismantle. They were quite understanding. I gave their number to my Aunt who called them. In the end they adamantly refused any payment, drove an hour and a half hauling the bed, so that she could see it. They planned to take it elseware to donate if it would be a hazard to her but it was not. So they proceeded, with our pastors help, to remove her old bed to the garage and set up the new one completely for her. She was dazzled by their generosity and kindness for a stranger. Aunt called me the next day to say that this was the first night in a while that Uncle had not attempted to get out of bed. The bed has side rails and seems to deter him. He has fallen MANY times because he was trying to get out of bed. At least this way if he makes the attempt he will have rails to help support him. I was amazed by this couples kindness and just had to share this story. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.