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Originally Posted by limey
........and felt glad* and privileged to be the one to "lay out" two of the residents after their death, feeling that this deeply personal service should be carried out by someone who cared for them in life..............
* this just is NOT the right word, but I'm damned if I know what the right word is ...
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honored?
I worked in a nursing home as a teenager. I was a CNA and assigned to several terminal patients. In one case, I was on what they called the "Death Watch" where the patient was expected to die within 24 hours and someone was to be at their side constantly. The lady was tossing and turning a lot, so I had to keep a close eye on her IV (which was in her ankle at the end). I also had the honor and priviledge of laying her out after she died, bathing and dressing her in preparation for the funeral home arriving to collect her.
Another lady had a severe joint disease and her joints were tightened to the point she was unable to eat normally (not even spoon fed). She had to be fed with with a giant syringe and you had to put your ear as close as possible to her mouth to understand what she was saying. She was a beautiful, delightful woman and I treasured those times. Other CNA's were less gentle and caring. I used to get so furious at their callous behavior.
Later, I worked in the nursing home laundry. Now that was a nasty job...washing the soiled bedsheets and dirty, cloth diapers from all the patients. I spent hours using a pressing machine to iron pillowcases in the sweltering heat. Yuck.