AUNTY LEE CHA BOH

I have shared stories of trials and challenges of being in the elderly care industry. But I must say it is not always doom and gloom. Sometimes it is not even difficult to care for the elderly. There are more success and good stories to tell then sad stories of lousy children and ungrateful elderly people. There are more good children than bad children grateful elderlies than ungrateful ones.

Here is a happy story that I like to share with you that I came across over the last 3 years. By the way, I am not using the real names for privacy purposes.

Aunty Lee check-in after a double knee ops. She was in pain and wanted to go home. She can walk but the knees were in pain every time she tried and her 85 kg does not help. She was angry with her daughters and she blamed them for being useless for not able to care for her at home. Her daughter was only a mere 55 kg and a small frame lady.

Aunty Lee refused to eat, walk or exercise and it took 3 strong men to move her from bed to chairs. She complained and cry everyday, she has a wonderful son in law who took care of everything, as he was the son in law he was spared the agony of curses, scolding and word badgering unlike what his wife was getting.

After 2 months of moaning and crying and complaining of wanting to go home, I talked to her one day and said these words, “if you want to go home, you listen to me and what my team says, if you do, within 3 months you can go home. You want to go home right?” and she nodded.

So, I told her my plan. I said, “Step one, we will help you to lose 10 kg, simultaneously we will build your leg and arms muscles. Next you must go out for exercise with the community every morning. Everyday you must walk 20 steps twice a day.”

Building little well being goals is important.

I said that in early December. By early February she lost 10 KG, she was able to walk. By Chinese New Year she could actually go home. And then she dropped the bombshell. She said, “No, I don’t want to go home for Chinese New Year, I have my celebration with my family at the centre.” and she got someone to cook for her family and celebrated CNY in our centre, in Klang.

Today she is 65KG, mobile, she is happy and her family members are very happy with the team the people caring her in the centre.

This is just one of the many stories that I will share with you as an encouragement. It is moment like this that reminds me as carer that there is value in what I do, there is healing for both hearts and body, there is mending of relationships.

If you like this story then share to encourage others to care for others, it is worth it.