Ron's reprieve.

My Alzheimer-riddled friend Ron deserved better. Far better. Than the care he was receiving at the posh Clare Bridge  nursing home. For an incredible fee of $10,600 a month.  Ron’s family was being ripped off. So was Ron. Being taken advantage of. Receiving only the rudimentary care one might expect in a Spartan-type nursing home. Where one pays $5,000 to $6,000 a month. At Clare Bridge, Ron deserved a full-time attendant. Someone that saw to it that Ron received several hours of mental and physical stimulation. Daily. Trips outdoors. Face to face contact. One on one mental stimulation. Good vibes therapy. The kind that puts Ron at ease. Into a relaxed state. I practiced such an approach. On Ron. When I came over to provide supplemental care.  I saw change in Ron. For the better. But when warehoused and left to his own devices, which too often happens in a nursing home setting, Ron’s condition deteriorates. Rapidly. When it doesn’t have to. If only nursing homes provided truly effective care. The kind that produce good results. Better behavior. Better living. Unfortunately, it doesn’t happen. Not only at Clare Bridge. But at many, many nursing homes. At every nursing home I’ve ever been in. Believe me. It doesn’t have to be. I’ve spent overwhelming amounts of time. In nursing homes. When my dear sweet wife Jeanne was placed. For the last 38 months of her life. I was there. As a supplemental care-giver. An unpaid advocate and protector. Seeing to it that Jeanne had a nightly shower. Went outdoors every day. In a wheelchair. Even in mid-winter. Tucked in a thermal sleeping bag. Jeanne was hand-fed. Lunch and supper. In the subdued privacy of her room. Yes, Jeanne was stimulated. Every day. Didn’t miss a single day. I was on the scene. Most days for 8 to 10 hours. That’s the same kind of care Ron deserved and didn’t get. Especially for $10,600 a month. Adds up to $127,000 a year. I want an explanation. Little wonder that Ron deteriorated. Until his family came to the rescue. Withdrew Ron from Clare Bridge. Brought him home. And now Ron is thriving. He’s out of his medicated stupor. Conversing. Feeling alive once again. Of course, That won’t always be. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease. Things will get much worse. Sooner or later. But better later than sooner. Thank god. Ron is out of Clare Bridge. Never to return. He’s been blessed. With a reprieve.  –Jim Broede