Hello Delmar Gardens of Chesterfield Nurses and CNAs of the 5th Wing,
I received a newsletter that said June at Delmar Gardens is Nurse and CNA Appreciation Month. If it were up to me, I’d have the entire year be Nurse and CNA Appreciation Month!
Here’s what I love about you: You are present when I cannot be, you have caught physical and medical issues that I could not because I don’t have your knowledge, and you have expressed love and care toward my mother, who finally considers her small half of the room to be her home. She feels respected and loved by everyone at the Gardens. My mind is eased by your prompt response to any issues of concern, and you work with me to find solutions, then implement them. For the love and grace, you show my mother and me. I thank you.
Whenever Mom is away from the Gardens for appointments or pleasure, she is concerned: “No one will know where I am.” I tell her you do know, but she doesn’t believe me. Each time she returns in the afternoon or evening, more than one of you come to her room to greet her (sometimes before I can make it out the door), ask about her time away, and then start getting her prepared for bed and ask if there is any other way you can make her comfortable, if it’s not yet bedtime. She is so happy that her new friends…YOU…missed her! When I call later to let her know I got home safely and ask how she’s doing, she says, “I had some friends stop by soon after you left. They know where I am, I’m fine now.” When I ask who stopped by, Mom, who is bad with names and pronouncing them because of her TIAs and hearing issues (she still can’t say her roommate’s name correctly), she replies, “Oh, you know. The lovely lady who helps me with my shower and helps me get dressed” or “The nice person who gives me medicine” or “That sharp gal who wraps my legs” and so on.
I know your job of care for others’ loved ones is one of the most difficult jobs on the planet and you rarely receive the acknowledgement you deserve, but I want to assure you that your presence in the lives of the residents is profound. You make their lives better—you certainly do for my mother. And all that you do does not go unnoticed.
For you, my family and I are forever grateful. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!
Kathyrn
Daughter of Maxine