4/22/10 Growing really old pains

In the field of nursing (which I am in, FYI), I am a unique position that allows me to see how people cope with their problems. Since I've been on a nursing home rotation, those problems I see are usually many fold. Problems that, if I myself was struck with half of what most of the residents have, I would probably get in my car and drive off an embankment or something. I don't think I could deal with that stuff, but these people manage to lead somewhat normal lives, albeit with a few caveats like diabetes, renal failure, COPD, hypertension, dementia...to name a few. It is amazing to me that they find the fortitude to keep going and to be happy about it! Once you have a resident cheerfully tell you that they are ready for their dressing change or ask you to help them go to the bathroom, it puts your problems into a different perspective.