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!

Green House Living for
Sheridan Invites Comments from Nursing Students

Several second year nursing students at Sheridan College recently had the good fortune to be present at Dr. William Thomas’ presentation on not just the Green House Project, but providing care for the elderly in general. Dr. Thomas conveyed his message in a non-traditional style, utilizing a Grimm’s fairytale and stories from Greek mythology to make his message more immediate. While some may have been dismayed at his storyteller’s approach, others were intrigued and entertained by the unique methods he used to relay his sincere beliefs regarding care for the elderly.

“Dr. Thomas reminded me of Robin Williams in the movie ‘Patch Adams’. His ideas were grand, his methods were unconventional, and he was so patient oriented. I was impressed that he went from the excitement of the ER to geriatrics because of his compassion for the elderly. His use of Greek mythology clearly explained his position and reasoning for his proposed change, and the need for us to look closely at our current long term care status. He has devoted his career to the pursuit of solutions to this concern and I applaud his initiative and drive.” -Barbara Anderson
I started nursing school with no sense of where I wanted to practice. My participation in weekly clinicals at several different nursing homes helped me make a decision; I do not want to practice as a geriatric nurse. Why? Perhaps the idea that these individuals require more care and assistance, or the idea that they are at the end of life, that I have to repeat myself several times, or that they need reminders to put their glasses on and put their dentures in. For some reason or another, I knew this type of nursing was not worth my effort. Enter Dr. Thomas and the Green House: I became captivated by the idea that elders possess the richest of qualities-that is, life experience. Elders are alive, full of experience, dynamic, and fortunate for having reached their elder years. Dr. Thomas conveyed his passion for our elders by way of showing, not telling. No suit, no tie, no podium to stand behind, no prepared speech but rather just himself, his ideas and experience, a small microphone, a simple chair, a hooded sweatshirt, casual khakis, and bare feet in Birkenstocks. From here, Dr. Thomas welcomes the audience to join him on a journey, a journey where old age is the goal and there is continual growth in all members involved. This journey forces the audience to reconsider their ideas about becoming an elder and how elders are treated once they get there. Dr. Thomas shares his own experiences in practice, tells ancient Greek myths, and somehow comes out making sense about why the elder is the most valuable asset to a community. I leave the forum thinking “Awesome. I want to be a part of this transformation where elders live with dignity and respect.” Through sharing his passion as a nursing home abolitionist, Dr. Thomas transformed the way I think about geriatrics-It is a privilege to work with elder individuals. Thank you Dr. Thomas! -Josie Granger

Perhaps the most essential element that Dr. Thomas imparted on those gathered is the fact that our elders are a gift to our communities, not merely a problematic portion of the population that needs taken care of. Far from the typical modality of treating elders as a burden, Dr. Thomas encourages us all to pay respect to those that have come before us. In providing care for the elderly, it is essential that our perception of the elderly (and the aging process in general) must change. Wyoming, owing to its relatively small population, is well situated to become the first “nursing home free” state in the nation. Dr. Thomas believes that this can happen, and community based movements like that taking shape in Sheridan are path towards that greater goal.
Sheridan College Health Science Division is excited about the opportunity of working with The Green House Living for Sheridan Project, as it unfolds in our community.

Barb Anderson
Diana Charlson
Tami Elmer
Josie Granger
Stacey Oven
Erin Smart
Daniel Walton

Trudy R. Munsick

Dean of Health Sciences

Sheridan/Gillette Colleges

PO Box 1500

Sheridan, WY  82801