While You Were Sleeping

Posted on by buildingtheloveshack

While you were sleeping, our alarm clocks went off at 5 AM.

While you were sleeping, our loyal husbands got out of bed and shoveled out our driveways.

While you were sleeping, with lunches packed, we drove into work.

From the time I swiped my time card, to the time I reached my unit, I had been wished Merry Christmas thirty-six times, I counted.

With Christmas Cookies in one hand and coffee in the other, I received my report from the night shift nurse, who was now heading home to get some sleep, before her Christmas Day with her family started.

While you were sleeping, our kitchen staff was making breakfast. Our laundry staff was delivering clean clothes for Christmas Day. Our housekeeping staff, was keeping the home clean and tidy for your family member who lives with us, and for you when you come to visit on Christmas Day.

While you were sleeping, our aides were getting mom and dad up and dressed, ready for the day. They were making sure the clothes you had picked out were on them for when you came to visit or to take them out for the day.

While you were sleeping the nurses, were getting the residents their medications, checking their temperatures, doing their blood pressure and changing their dressing.

They were also getting ready the medications to take with you, that your parents would need for the day.

For those of you who lived to far away, or couldn’t get into see your loved one on this Christmas Day, our staff was busy making sure that each one was wished a Merry Christmas.

We made sure that each one had a Christmas Traditional Turkey Dinner. We made sure that they had laughter and song in our dinning rooms. We made sure that no on felt alone.

For those of you who came to join us for Christmas Dinner, we set the tables and cooked for you.

For those of you who picked up your family member to go out on Christmas Day, we had then dressed and ready for you to go.

When bed-time came, we made sure that each one was tucked safely in their beds.

When you were sleeping, after a long and busy Christmas Day, we made sure that we were only a call bell away.

Before my shift was over, I had lost count on how many times I had been wished  Merry Christmas on that day. I don’t know how many candies or cookies we had eaten that day. I do know that most of them were provided for us, by the family’s. We thank you for your thought of us, on Christmas Day.

While you are sleeping, not just on Christmas Day, we make sure, we are only just a call bell away.

 

A Special Thank You, to my staff members, who I had the pride and pleasure to work with on Christmas Day and every day.

 

 

 

 

 

8 thoughts on “While You Were Sleeping”

  1. A beautiful post, and a reminder to us, who have or have had family members living in care facilities, just how much we appreciate the kind, caring, hardworking staff that make the experience a whole lot easier. Thank you! Belated Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Thank you for reminding me of the love and care my Dad received while he was in a memory care facility and eventually hospice care. At the time, I thought often of those dedicated care givers and how our family was so very blessed to have a safe place for Dad; a place that would give him loving care and consideration when we could not be there. Thank you to every care giver working in the many many much needed facilities. It is often a thankless job but a job so worthy of praise and gratitude.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. You are welcome and thank you. Our job is never thankless, though sometimes it may feel that way. At the end of every day we get the privilege of being trusted and getting to make a difference.

    I remember when my mother was dying, it as the care givers in Hospital and Long Term Care, that made her journey and mine easier for both of us.

    After working many years in the Caregiver Field, I don’t believe we chose our work, I believe we were chosen for it.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. What a beautiful post. I am in tears. Thank you for all you do. We are so grateful for your care of our loved beloved parents. We care so much and we are so grateful that you care too. It means the world. Happy new year to you and your family. Thank you so much for following my blog!

    Like

Comments are closed.