(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19/BLM: “Where are the Dodgers?”
My mother, in her late 90s, fell at home and broke a hip. She needed surgery, then one week of rehabilitation.
This was last year when the Dodgers were again heading toward the playoffs, and she was lucky to have cable TV at home that carried the games. But not at rehab!
“Where are the Dodgers on this TV?” Nary a complaint about the food, staff, or therapists…”but no Dodgers?!”
The cable lineup was stark and pitiful, not dissimilar to all nursing homes I visit. It definitely became motivation for her to get out as fast as possible.
With the present pandemic and residents being isolated in their rooms, the cable TV lineup makes entertainment non-existent. Furthermore, I’ve never seen a library at a nursing home.
For those who might want to do something for captive seniors in these facilities, consider (sterilely) providing:
Books on tape;
magazine and newspapers;
jigsaw and crossword puzzles;
coloring books;
array of reading glasses;
and of course contributing to upgrade their cable lineup.
As for my mom, she again has access to the Dodgers on cable, but is upset with players and management threatening not to have a season.
Play ball!
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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