Search Results for: Madeline

Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech was a big deal to me, I watched it and listened to it many times. When Julie, the Mansion Activities Director, asked me if I would consider reading a part of the speech to the Mansion residents who were not evacuated, I readily agreed.

I brought a copy of the speech to them and talked about it, and the civil rights movement – which I covered later as a reporter, and also about King and what he meant to the country and to African-Americans.

These eight residents have remained in the Mansion while extensive work is done in the rest of the building. They are also a bit disoriented and restless, I know they love being read to, so I plan on doing this several times a week, both at the Mansion, and at the Danforth Adult Care Center, where the evacuated residents are.

I saw the culture divide right away. Madeline grew up in a Jewish orphanage in the Bronx, there were no blacks or people of color in the orphanage, and she said she never heard race ever discussed. She said she had vague memories of Dr. King as a “gentleman” who spoke softly and courteously.

I asked Matt if he remembered Dr. King or his famous speech, and he said he knew the name. “But where I grew up, here in Cambridge, there weren’t any black people so we never talked about him or them.” The Mansion residents were eager to hear the speech, but they didn’t really have anything to say about racism, except that it was a bad thing. And perhaps that was more than enough. I didn’t push it.

What was important to me, needn’t be important to anyone else. In my small rural farming town, the travails of race and the South were very far away.

I asked each of the residents what they might have put in their own “I Have A Dream” speech, but there were no responses. This was such a central event in my life, but it had no real meaning for them. I  understand that and respect that. I didn’t wish to force it.

There were a lot of nodding heads, so I decided to drop it and just read stories to them.

I brought several books with me, “A Loving Voice: A Caregiver’s Book of Read-Aloud Stories for the Elderly;”and “An Elderly Lady Is Up To No Good,” by Helene Tursten.

I read two or three stories from the first book – one was about a boy terrorized by a big dog, and another was a spooky tale about a gardener who was in fact a ghost,  a former lover named Mrs. McCready who had rejected him. He haunted his lost love for decades (lovingly) until she died, caring for her garden. The children of the story saw the gardener very clearly.

When she was found by some neighborhood children,  there was a bouquet of flowers by her body.

They absolutely loved “An Elderly Lady…” a series of stories about Maud, an elderly widow who lives in downtown Gothenburg, Sweden. Now in her late eighties, Maud leads a solitary life, but she has a surprising way of resolving other people’s troubles: she murders their tormentors. The police can’t believe this sweet old lady could be a murderer. She has a lot of fun killing people who deserve it.

I wasn’t sure how this story would play, especially on Martin Luther King Day. They just soaked it up and begged me to come back tomorrow and read more Maud stories. The idea of this savvy and bold old lady murdering the bad guys was wondrous to them.

—

I’ve ordered some cakes for both groups of residents from the Round House Cafe. I’m getting more DVD’s puzzles and crafts for the residents during this hard time for them. I will also be bringing some flowers and some new stuffed animals.

If you wish to support this Mansion work, you can send a donation, either by Paypal: [email protected] or by sending a check to me: Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y. 12816. Thanks. I believe we are making a real difference to these people in their time of need.

Maria and I went to the Mansion today to visit with the remaining residents, and also to make some signs for the displaced residents at the Danforth Adult Care Center in Hoosick Falls. We all spent about an hour drawing and signing two signs, one that read “Come Home Soon,” and the other that read “We Miss You.”

Julie Harlin, the Mansion Activities Director, brought them over in the afternoon.

It looks like the displaced residents will be away for another two weeks, so I am compiling a list of things to do to help ground them and get them through what is a long and difficult time for them, their families, and the Mansion staff.

I’m planning outings – lunch trips outside of their facility. Tomorrow, I begin regular readings both at the Mansion and the Danforth. Maria and I are planning tea parties – food and cookies and tea – and some talking to one another.

Tuesday,  I’m going to the Mansion to read Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream Speech” (part of it) after my regular reading. There is a MLK day celebration in the afternoon.

I’m also gathering special books, puzzles, photo books and DVD’s to help the residents at both places get through long days. The mold remediation is underway, they are just about to finish their tests. There is work to be done with carpeting, some sheet rock and ceiling tiles. The target date for the residents to return is February lst.

I  welcome some  help to keep the residents stimulated and grounded – flowers, more stuffed animals, crossword and other puzzles, food and readings. If you wish to support this work, your help would be welcome. This is a longer and tougher haul than I envisioned.

You can donate via Paypal,  [email protected], or by mail, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. You can also donate by clicking on the “Support The Army Of Good” button on the bottom of the page.

Thanks. We had fun working with Madeline, Julie, Maria (and me) and Wayne And Ruth. They are eager for life at the Mansion to return to normal. It will happen.

While most of the Mansion is shut down, five or six residents have been able to stay in one wing, they are fortunate and they know it. The Mansion is such a comfortable place for them, and the care center they are staying in is very different.

Even today, there is more activity going on in the main residence than is in most adult care centers in a week. Madeline was watching  a movie today, “Grease,” and Julie Harlin, the Mansion Activities Director was hosting a bingo game for Matt, who has stayed behind in the Mansion, and Peggie, who came to the Mansion from her daughter’s home to spend the day.

“I miss being home,” Peggie said. She was playing cards with Julie and Matt – they were playing “Rummy.” I wanted to cry, seeing how at ease and secure the Mansion residents feel in their home, and how upset the evacuated residents feel where the are.

I have not seen a single activity at the Danforth Adult Care Center all week. The Mansion refugees are struggling and feeling especially fragile there, while state bureaucrats pile up one investigation after another – today it’s the possibility of asbestos.

We visited with the Mansion left-behind residents today – Ruth, Wayne, Peggie, Matt, Ben and Madeline. I brought some photo books and Bud, he did well visiting, he loves to be petted.

(Above. Madeline has a cold, she was swathed in blankets and, she said, “warm and cozy.”)

Julie put up a new Mansion Amazon Wish List this afternoon , it looks like we will need some help with clothes for some of the residents. Two residents in particular, are in need of help with clothes.

I’ve gotten some of them, I’ll leave some of the other for people who want to help. I know others want the chance to contribute, I respect that.

The items are inexpensive, they range from $6.75 to $28, they are for T-shirts, elastic pants, pajama pants, sweatshirts,  flannel shirts and some other winter clothes.

You can see the list here, I’ll purchase two or three and leave the rest. This will be very helpful to the residents, I appreciate your support.

The new Amazon Mansion Wish List is right here.

This morning, I brought a dozen Word Search Puzzles to the Danforth, where the evacuated Mansion residents are staying. I’ll go back this afternoon to read some stories to them, and come tomorrow morning to do another reading.

Thanks again for your help. Practical Good. In The Real World. Every Day.

Life can happen to anyone, but when it happens to the extreme elderly, there is something heartbreaking about it.

Most of the Mansion residents have been pulled out of their lives and routines, and it is wrenching to see how frightened and disoriented they are.

Routine and familiarity are so important to them.

The residents who were transported to a different adult care facility – the Danforth in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. – seem the most confused and anxious. They were hoping to get to the Mansion this weekend, but the repairs there will take more time, possibly well into next week.

Some of the residents are staying with their families. Some don’t have any families.

The Homecoming Party we are planning for them on Wednesday might may have to be pushed back a day or so.

Maria and I went to the Mansion tonight – the dining and Great Rooms were untouched by the flooding, and all of the residents still at the Mansion turned out for Bingo.

There were three of them, they were eager to play. They miss their friends and all of the activity. But there was an eerie quiet in the building.

We have gotten very comfortable with one another. We trade phrases that rhyme with the numbers called, they razz me about my voice and calling techniques.

I’ve been canvassing the residents and aides, I think I’m going to go to the Danforth tomorrow with some stuffed animals, a couple of colorful hats and some sugar-free raspberry chocolates.

Also some cards, colorful books about animals and some stationery and stamps. I’ll see what clothes might need to be replaced.

I’ll bring Red too, he is skilled at lifting spirits, or at least comforting and distracting them. The Bingo game was fun, it was a quiet and intimate game, everybody won.

Madeline is struggling to remember that she isn’t yet allowed to go back to her room, she’s sleeping in a room upstairs. I can see the confusion in her face.

I feel for the residents, there is something heartbreaking about life erupting at such a fragile and vulnerable point. Acceptance is one of the ways they come to terms with this point in their loves, and being uprooted in this way arouses their worst fears.

I’m certain they will be back in the Mansion sometime over the next few days, and they are excited to hear about the Homecoming Party we are planning – music and the Chinese takeout food they have been wanting for many months.

The aides are taking their usual great care of the residents, everyone is working to keep them informed, calm and settled. Thanks for your support. It will be put to good use.