The 19^th of January will be a memorable day for my
Mother. She’ll be 99 years old, although she probably won’t remember.
Mother came to live in Sheridan when she lost her capacities to be on
her own from a stroke in 2001.  We were lucky, as we found a most
endearing caregiver to help take care of her so I could go to work and
raise my son.

The best situation for our parents when they become frail, forgetful
and dependent is to have our parent in our home to be taken care of. 
Finding the caregivers for morning, noon and night in a small town like
Sheridan is very difficult, and managing their schedules is a full time
job. With our caregiver in tow, the nursing home became our only
alternative. But what about the elderly in a nursing home, who cannot
speak, walk, see, or hear who have no advocate?

While the nursing homes are necessary, what is the ideal for our
elders when they cannot be safely on their own?  A for-profit
institution is a corporation based in another state whose focus is to
make money while providing care for the elderly. That very principle of
turning a profit mandates that the facility meet (not exceed) the
minimum legal requirements of law for staffing, food prep and
cleanliness. Their mission guides them–to make a profit and meet
regulations. Does a nursing home whose corporation located in New York
City really care about my Mother in Sheridan?

The Green House® Living for Sheridan is a non-profit,
community-based, eldercare home whose mission is to focus on elders
continuing their life journey with dignity and respect. My Mother at 99
requires a level of nurturing and loving kindness that simply cannot be
met by the caring and overwhelmed staff at the nursing home. She needs
someone who is there for her-to give intimacy and love that only an
advocate can provide. Sheridan’s Green House model would provide
intentional direct care not available yet to my Mother at 99. And would
still cost the same as a traditional nursing home situation.

When I am visiting my Mother and see those CNAs and RNs who are
working so hard, I know how we have to change the fundamental way we
take care of our elders-for those who want to care and those who need
care.

This is our call to action! Happy birthday, Mom!

Liz Howell is a passionate volunteer for the Green House Living for
Sheridan project. You only have to read the story above to know why she
feels the way she does. Thanks, Liz!