As many of you know I live in an assisted living facility in Florida. They tell me the reason for the assisted living is that I can't walk. When I came here, I was very sick and did not think that I would make it. Because I spent two days falling and ended up in the hospital for a week and then in rehab this was totally unexpected. One day I will go into the story and how to prepare for the unexpected. Tonight, I want to tell you about eating in the dining room.
I am in the middle of preparing to return to New Jersey with mixed emotions. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope". I have made so many beautiful friends that a part of me does not want to leave. People here need to hear my story, so they do not run into the experiences that I have.
Dinner tonight, it is basic that the residents with sight problems get the blue plates. I am sitting reading my book and they ask if this person can sit with me. Now, I must say that when a person is reading a book they do not want to be disturbed. I love the question can she sit here? So, I read the menu options to the resident, and we started a conversation. Since there were no good selections, she chose from the other menu.
Her food comes on a huge white plate the problem with that is because of her vision she needs a blue plate. So, after a lot of waving, we get the attention of her server. It is not her fault but there were no blue plates, so she takes the food and puts it on saucers. Three saucers of food it ends up with the blind resident trying to feed herself. She ended up not eating because it was too confusing. The server explains she had told them the resident needed blue plates,
My frustration comes in with the lack of respect for handicap accessible needs. I spend my life in a wheelchair and have no accessible accommodations, I can't pull into the sink to wash my face or brush my teeth or see what dirty dishes are in the sink. There is always a reason why this facility does not have what it needs or charges for. But watching the senior residents try to reason with people that seem not to care is heart breaking.
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