Writings by Jackie

Living with Seniors

Sleep

It is night. I wake slowly, hearing your nails click, click, click, on the parquet floors and I know that you are awake. It’s no guess; you’ve got to go outside to relieve yourself. I reluctantly rise from my sleep to open the front door, and stand there, waiting for you to finish, so that I can let you back in. It seems like it takes you forever, you moving slowly, a little disoriented from sleep. Once in, I watch you walk in circles, zigzag back and forth, walk again to the door forgetting that you just came in. Now, I’m wide awake and frustrated that I left my sleep to help you. It will take awhile to return to my dreams; until then I lay quietly, waiting for sleep to fall.

Teeth

Over time, you’ve had some dental work done that resulted in several extractions, one or two at a time. The years have worn down your canine teeth. Knowing this, I understand why you slobber when you drink water, and drool when you eat. I wipe up the floor under and around your bowl. Softer foods become your menu now; the hard bones of days past are over.

Accidents

I just let you out, but you urinated on the rug anyway. Your eyes have a look of guilt; you know you’ve done wrong. But you just had to go. Is this a lesson for me to let you out more frequently, or a lesson for you to use your time more wisely? Of course, I’ll do the clean up and we’ll move on. I’ll try to get you out more frequently, and you’ll try to remember why you were put outside. We’ll work it out together.

Patience

“You just went out! You don’t have to go out again, just because one of the other dogs went out. You can go in a minute. Just wait a minute and I’ll put you out.” Under these circumstances, you never seem to understand the meaning of wait.

Barking

Stop Barking! You don’t have to bark just because the other one barks (you just think you do). Don’t fight with each other – be nice. Get off (her. him)! Play nice, not too rough. I just told you that you are too rough; go lay down. Now quiet down and rest. The house is still, except for the gentle snore of a canine at peace; a beautiful sight, a beautiful sound. I forget why I was ever upset. Was I ever upset? It doesn’t matter.

Meal Time

Stay back while I feed the other dogs. Get down from the table. Don’t go in the cat’s food. The rest of you will get a treat, one at a time. Don’t eat each other’s treats. Now, get back while I get the other food bowls ready. Move out of the way so I can finish. You’ll get to eat quicker if you give me some room. The bowls are put down, calling each dog by name, and putting each bowl on the floor in front of them, another feeding done.

Hygiene

Don’t worry; I’ll try to get you out. Get up. I’ll help you stand/walk. There you go, you’re up. Once you get going you’re fine. Now, stay out a minute, while I change your bedding. OK, now I’m coming out to wipe you off and freshen you up, from where you wet yourself. You smell fresh again – all clean. Now, come in, your bed is changed and fresh. I’ll put the soiled laundry in the washer, switching over the washed laundry to the dryer, taking a load out of the dryer to use later in the day. With some seniors, laundry is a daily task, as bedding becomes soiled from bladders and bowels that lack the muscle tone of their youth, and a body that tends to be forgetful.

Hearing

Want to go out? WANT TO GO OUT? It’s time to go out. IT’S TIME TO GO OUT! Come on in, it’s dinner time; IT’S DINNER TIME! The other animals think that I’m yelling. But you appreciate when I raise my voice loud enough for you to hear. You still want to please.

Let’s go out. Let’s get out from the corner behind the front door. Let me open the door. Back up; let me pull the door open. O.K. that’s it, I’ve got the door open, now go out nice and I’ll wait for you.

Medications

It’s time for morning medications. You’re first: let me give you your meds first and the others can take them with their food. But you, I have to watch you swallow your pills down. I have to watch you – if I put the pills in your food, you might eat around them. You’re old, but you’re smart. We’ll be re-pilling you at the end of the day. We don’t have to worry about your sister; she’s only on a once-a-day medication schedule. 

I’m committed to staying organized. I used to have everything written out, but over time, the schedule of who-gets-what-when has become a part of me.