By ML Van Everbroeck
“Help…. Help…. Over here. Come Quick….” Ada cried out.
“I’m coming. I’ll be right there,” Julie said.
“We’re going to drown!” Ada yelled.
“No. No, you’re not. I’m almost to you.” Julie said.
Julie jogged through the hallway of the memory-impaired unit of the nursing home as the water-soaked carpet sloshed against the sides of her shoes. She knew she only had a few seconds before the other residents stuck their heads out of their rooms and saw the water; and that they’d panic. She had to let them know everything would be alright; that she had things under control.
Dave huffed out a breath as he quickened his pace. “Julie, I’m right behind you.”
She turned her head and looked back at him. “Thanks, Dave. The water is coming through that darn crack in the foundation again.”
He dropped his jaw. “Not again.”
She sighed. “Yes—again!”
Julie faced forward and scooped Ada into a hug. “There…I’ve got you. You’re safe.”
Dave stood beside Julie and whispered in her ear. “What can I do?”
She turned and looked into his eyes as her chest tightened and her stomach knotted.
She’d suspected for the last week she’d be walked to the door tomorrow by her boss. She’d planned to tell Dave today. From the first day she’d hired him as Director of Nurses she knew he’d be determined to do what it took to make sure the residents received whatever they needed. At least she’d have the satisfaction of knowing she’d chosen someone who would advocate for them when the corporate bosses attempted to decrease staffing or cut the special programs she’d designed for the cognitively impaired residents.
“We’ve Got to keep them calm,” Julie said.
He stepped back and gazed at Julie as she massaged Ada’s shoulders. He’d never dreamed he’d have a boss like Julie. He’d never met anyone who’d fought as much for the staff as she had for the residents. She’d not only pushed the bosses at corporate for the nurses to get more money, and not be forced to work over their 8-hour shifts, but she also reminded them every chance she got that both the employees and residents of the nursing home needed to be treated with respect; feel as if they mattered and were valued by corporate staff.
He’d struggled for a week whether to tell her what he’d heard through the grapevine; that the last raise she’d gotten for the nurses, aides, dietary, and housekeeping staff sealed her fate. He knew that tomorrow, she’d be fired the heartless, inhumane corporate way; walked to her car by a security guard with no opportunity to say goodbye to anyone.
He nodded, as he leaned forward and cupped his hand around her elbow. “Agreed, we need to keep them calm. I have two residents to give meds to and then I’ll join you back at the nurses’ station and we’ll come up with a plan. Okay?”
Julie shook her head. “You’re amazing, Dave. With all your responsibilities of supervising the nursing staff and administering meds and treatments to the residents, you still take time to help me.” She tapped him on the arm. “Thank you, Dave.”
He half-turned and turned back. “Oh… And Julie, you’re not lugging that wet vac through the hallway…not this time. Not going to let you do that again. You could hurt yourself… permanently. Don’t think your husband would forgive me.”
She nodded. “Okay, Dave, thanks. Happy to know someone’s got my back here.”
Julie turned back to Ada as the door handles of the two adjacent rooms next to Ada’s clicked and unlatched.
Dave waved to Julie as he turned towards Rita and Sal’s rooms. “I’ve got them.”
Dave loved spending time with Rita and Sal along with the other residents. He’d never forgotten how he’d stared at the letters from Presidents Carter and Ford taped to the wall next to Rita’s bed. And although she’d forgotten the courageous acts she’d done as an Air Force pilot; the lives she’d saved, he’d decided to behave as a knight whenever he was in her presence to show her the deep respect she deserved. It always brought a radiant smile to her face.
He cracked open Rita’s door as he swept his arm through the air and bowed. “Good day, my Lady. And how are you this fine afternoon?”
She giggled and blushed as she’d always done whenever he’d talked to her.
He stepped forward and murmured. “Everything is fine, Rita. You can go back inside. I just have a little cleaning up to do.”
She nodded and whispered as she closed the door. “Don’t forget me.”
He cleared his throat as he stood to attention. “Never, my Lady!”
Dave turned as the door to the room next to Rita’s flung open.
“What the…” Sal’s mouth opened and shut as he stared into the hallway. “Oh boy…. Water…What’s going on?”
Dave had heard from Sal’s VFW buddies who’d come to visit that he’d been a very busy man in the community helping anyone he could. And so far, since Sal arrived six months ago, he’d observed, that neither his age nor his memory loss quelled his desire to help when something needed to be done.
Dave stepped forward and shook his hand. “Hey, my man, Sal. I know this looks—”
“Insane!” He poked his head out and looked up and down the hallway. “How high is it going to get?”
Dave peered down at the floor. “I think it’s over, Sal. Now it’s just the clean-up.”
Sal’s eyes widened as he turned towards his closet. “Wait…Let me get my boots.”
Dave waved at him. “Hey, buddy, hold up there. Come on back here.”
Sal frowned as he turned. “You mean… I can’t…I can’t… Help?”
Dave shook his head as he studied Sal. Once again, he was reminded of how much the residents yearned to do things—anything that helped and that mattered to people.
Dave nodded as he looked Sal in the eye. “My man, you can! Julie and I are going to need you—”
“Really? He high fived the air as his frown flipped into a wide smile. “To do what?”
Dave nodded as he rubbed his chin. “The ladies…”
“The ladies?”
“Yes. The ladies, Sal.” He leaned forward. “Can I count on you to help us calm them down?”
Sal pointed to Rita’s room. “You mean?”
Dave nudged his shoulder. “Exactly. We have Rita plus 5 other ladies who live on this wing. They’ll need a calm guy.” He waved his hand toward him. “You’re that guy, Sal.” He chuckled. “You’re going to be mighty busy.”
Sal looked down at himself and turned towards his closet. “Better get cleaned up.”
“Hey, Sal…” Dave said, pointing to his closet. “I like that brown and blue striped shirt and that navy blue blazer—dapper! That’s what the ladies will say.”
Sal’s eyes sparkled as a smile stretched across his face. “Then that’s what I’ll wear.”
Dave turned to leave. “Excellent! Now close your door while you get ready. We want to keep the water outside—”
“Out…” He looked down at the carpet. “Out…” he repeated as he looked up at Dave. “Outside, yes. I…I get it,” Sal said, chuckling as he shut the door.
Ada pointed at the water as she clung to Julie’s arm. “It swallowed up the carpet.” She raised her head and stared at her. “Help! Help!”
Julie couldn’t help but smile. She’d learned that Ada called out ‘help’ whenever she was with someone she felt close to. Julie treasured these times with Ada; honored that Ada trusted her. Her termination tomorrow could never undo the beautiful memories of the wonderful times she’d spent with the residents and the ways she’d helped them have better lives.
Julie took her hands and guided her as they turned away from the view of the hallway.
“Ada… Ada, everything will be fine.”
She looked up at Julie and smiled. “Is Ada here?” She peeked around the corner of the partial wall that separated the living room from her bedroom. “Oh… Violet.” She turned to Julie. “Oh, the pink…. Bedspread… And pillow…. Are lovely.” She walked into the bedroom area and looked out the window. “Oh…” She cupped her hands against the glass of the window and looked through. “Oh… What a…Lovely Garden.” She turned to Julie as her eyes glistened. “You are very fortunate. Thank you for showing me where you live.” Ada leaned against the wall and looked from Julie to the floor, back to Julie. “Do… Do you…Do you know…. Where…. Do I live?”
Julie looped her arm around Ada’s and guided her to her couch. “Now, how about you sit and wait for me here while I clean up the mess. Okay?” It had always been a sacred experience spending time with and helping people like Ada. She’d often wished that if she ever lost her memory, she’d maintain the grace and beauty Ada exhibited.
Ada jerked her head to the side as she pulled her arm away from Julie and stepped back. “Who are you?” Ada snapped as she looked from side to side. “I don’t know you.”
Julie had come to understand that when the residents’ routine changed, so too had their sense of safety. Their anxiety led to fear and often erupted into anger. She’d been grateful she’d been able to teach the staff techniques that helped the residents feel safe. To help Ada, she had to separate from her for a few moments during which time Ada would forget what had happened; then Julie could approach her as if two friends were greeting one another. Julie made an about-face, walked towards the door, and pivoted back with her arms stretched wide. “Well, Ada…” She cupped her hands over hers. “How is my beautiful bright-eyed girl today? It’s so nice to see you again.”
Ada giggled. “Oh…” She stepped back and folded her hands in front of her as she stared at the floor. “You say the sweetest things.” She looked from left to right and right to left, as she raised her head. “Come…Come…” she said, as she took Julie’s hand and walked to the door. “I…. I… I think….” Her eyes drifted down as she pointed at the water. “Is it raining?” She looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t see it falling.”
She’d known she couldn’t tell Ada or any of the residents that the floor was wet because the owners of the Nursing Home were greedy; selfish, heartless individuals. The mission she’d set for herself, and her staff, had been to de-escalate any situation that had the potential to cause the residents’ anguish. And although it gave her comfort to know that she’d accomplished what she’d set out to do before they fired her, she wondered if Dave and the rest of the staff would continue to be the way the residents needed them to be. She’d prayed that they would; the residents’ happiness depended on it.
Julie placed her arm around Ada’s shoulder and hugged her. “Ada, it’s Tuesday. We have the carpet cleaned on Tuesday.”
She patted Julie’s hand and nodded. “Oh…Isn’t that nice, dear?” She looked up at Julie and smiled. “Do you know when it’s going to stop raining?” She raised her hands and tapped her fingers together. “Oh, I hope the Sun comes out.” She leaned against Julie. “Don’t you?”
Julie winked. “Yes indeed. I do.” She held on to Ada’s waist as she turned them around. “Here, let me help you to your sofa, Ada—”
“Ada?” Ada called as she looked around the room. “Ada? Oh…. Ada?” She looked up at Julie and giggled. “Yes, dear…Ada…That’s me.”
Julie wrapped her arms around her as she sniffed back tears. “Of course! You’re Ada with the beautiful smile.”
She had been grieving over leaving them ever since she had suspected she’d be fired but vowed not to let them know. She’d seen the pain and suffering they’d experienced whenever they had moments of clarity and re-lived painful events. She didn’t need them to know how much she’d miss them. She’d have them in her mind, heart, and soul—forever!
Julie turned the corner of the nurses’ station as Dave locked the medicine cart.
“Dave everyone okay down your end?”
He shook his head and sighed. “As okay as they can be seeing the water outside their doors.”
Julie shook her head as she pressed her teeth against her lower lip.” This makes the third time this season and corporate still hasn’t fixed the leak.” She took a deep breath. “Thank God we’re used to—”
“Please…. I want to help.” Dottie cried out and stepped between them. “I can help…” She held up a wastebasket. “See…” She turned over the wastebasket. “I emptied it. I can help.”
Both Julie and Dave had known that the residents yearned to do anything; anything other than sit alone in their rooms and watch TV. They also knew that while these types of situations made life a whole lot more complicated for the staff, they were great opportunities for giving the residents something meaningful to do.
Julie turned to Dave and looked into his eyes. “Your call, Dave. Starting tomorrow you’ll be on your own to make these decisions.”
He winced. “So, you know?”
She leaned forward and tapped him on the shoulder. “You know?”
He shook his head. “It’s a damn shame. They’re idiots.” He leaned close to her face. “And evil.”
She nodded as tears formed. “Quick! Dave…. Tissues. I don’t want—”
“I know. You don’t want to upset them.” He snatched a handful, pulled one apart and handed it to her as he placed the rest on the counter beside her.
Julie winked at Dottie as she pointed to Dave. “I think Dave has a thought or two on how you can help, Dottie.”
He picked up a clipboard and pen. “Absolutely, Miss. Dottie.” He pointed to himself as the corners of his mouth curled up. “I need your help.”
Dottie put the wastebasket down and tapped her fingers together. “Oh good…But…” She stared down at the wastebasket. “But…Where’s the mop?”
Dave took her hand as he picked up the wastebasket. “There now, we’ll put that behind the nurses’ station—”
“But…” She pulled her hand away. “But… I want to—”
“You will, dear.” He patted her hand as he walked her to the nurses’ station. “I have something much more important for you to do.” He turned to her. “I hope that’s alright?”
She chuckled. “Why that’s wonderful…. Wonderful.” She tugged at his arm. “What? What can I do?”
He took her hand and guided her to a chair at the nurses’ station as he placed a tablet and pen on the desk in front of her. “Here we are. May I?” he asked, as he pulled the chair out for her.
She giggled as she looked up at him. “Why yes, kind sir.” She curtsied. “You may.” She shifted in the chair and straightened her posture as she looked up and down the hallway. “Oh… I can see everything from here.”
Julie tucked the tissues into her pants pocket as she squatted and gazed into Dottie’s eyes. “Yes, you can, Dottie. You can tell us what’s going on as Dave and I clean up.”
She smiled as she clutched onto Julie’s hands. “Oh…good. I so want to do something…you know…”
Julie nodded. “Do something important—right?”
Dottie sighed as she bowed her head and stared at the tablet of paper and pen. “Yes…. Yes… Like this.”
That had been Julie’s goal. She’d wanted more for them; much more than seeing to it that they received good nursing care. She’d wanted to give them a reason to wake up; to look forward to living their day. She’d worked with Dave and the staff to make that happen despite budgetary restrictions put on her by Corporate. But over the last couple of weeks, she’d been anxious about whether Dave and the staff would continue the programs she’d created.
She patted Dottie’s hand and nodded. “Thank you for bringing that to my attention. You’re correct. We should do more things like this—and more often, right?”
Dottie nodded as she looked into Julie’s eyes and smiled. “Yes…. That… That would be wonderful.”
Julie waved at Dave. “Dave, can you come over here? Dottie just made a good point that we wanted to run by you.”
Dottie picked up the pen and wrote, ‘made a good point’ across the top page of the tablet in front of her and looked up at Julie. “I did?”
She tapped her lightly on the shoulder. “Absolutely! You sure did. Now let’s see what Dave thinks.”
Dave stepped lively up to them and winked at Dottie. “Okay ladies…” He leaned against the nursing station counter and raised his clipboard. “Shall I take notes?”
Julie looked at Dottie. “Should he?”
Dottie giggled and shrugged. “I…. I…don’t know. What about?”
Dave placed the clipboard on the counter and folded his hands in front of him. “Okay…. no notes. I like that…” He winked at Dottie. “Nice and comfortable, like.”
“Well…” Julie nodded to Dottie. “Dottie brought up the fact that she wants to help and do something…” she leaned towards her, “Dottie what’s the word we used…”
Dottie squinted and stared at Julie. “Word?”
“Ah ha…” Julie placed her hand on Dottie’s arm. “Now take your time…”
“Um…. Um… I want…” Dottie looked at the tablet and pen. “I want to do something important!” She took a deep breath as she looked at Dave and smiled. “Is that it?”
Dave had decided when he was hired that he’d stay put for a while. He’d learned he’d needed the residents; their smiles, innocence, and the child-like wonder lens through which they looked at life, as much as they needed him. He’d fallen in love with them on his first day. But ever since he’d heard the scuttlebutt about Julie being fired, he’d questioned whether he’d be able to do as much for them as she did. Nevertheless, he’d vowed that he’d try; he’d continue what she’d started.
He knelt beside Dottie, tilting his head towards her. “Dottie…Yes…Having something to do that is important—is very important.”
Her eyes widened as she touched his cheek. “You…You… Look like….” She gasped as she cupped her hands over his chin. “Larry… Is that you?” She bobbed her head as tears streamed down her cheeks and stared into his eyes. “Oh….my.” She stroked his face with her fingers. “Oh, my boy…. sweetheart…It’s so good to see you.”
It always warmed Dave’s heart; made him feel special whenever a resident mistook him for a beloved family member, spouse, or dear friend. He considered this the highest compliment he could receive from the residents he cared for.
Dave took a deep breath as he pushed back tears and hugged her. “Dottie, it’s so nice to see you, too.” He leaned back and looked at the tablet and pen on the counter. “Ready to help me?”
She shook herself. “Oh… yes. What can I do?” She winked at him. “Is it important?”
He nodded. “Very important.” He put his hand on her shoulder and pointed to the tablet. “I’d like you to write down everything you see and tell me what happened.” She nodded as a smile stretched across her face. “Oh my, that is important.” She pulled the hem of his nursing smock toward her. “Larry…. sweet…. Thank you.”
Dave cleared his throat as he patted her hands. “No…I want to thank you, Dottie. I sure do appreciate your help.” He laughed. “And… Oh… boy, there’s a lot more to do.” He winked at Dottie. “And I’m counting on you to help me.”
Julie held the tissues against her cheek as she gazed at Dave and Dottie. She’d gotten her answer as to whether Dave would continue the programs she’d started to help the residents enjoy their lives. “Thank you, Dave,” she murmured, as she turned away from the nurses’ station and walked down a flight of stairs to her office, knowing in her heart that the residents would be well cared for and loved by Dave.
ML’s inspiration comes from the diverse and vibrant experiences of individuals she has encountered throughout her life, each with their unique, sacred, and exhilarating journey. Through her writing, she aims to explore the richness of human relationships, the complexity of emotions, and the shared moments of triumph that bring us together. Her goal is for her stories to make even the tiniest difference to those who read them, whether it’s a smile at the end of the story or the spark of a new thought.
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