Any conversation with dogs or other animals begins with food. Animals live and die around food, they learn to love humans through food, and food is a primary way to begin our great dialogue with them.
I see this every morning when Maria brings the hay out to the donkey and the sheep, and they talk to us and listen to us, and we do the same for them.
The elderly in assisted care are among the most vulnerable people in our world.
A psychologist who works with the elderly told me there is nothing that brings out their fragility and vulnerability more than a sudden change in their environment.
In a sense the elderly residents of the Mansion are helpless. They can no longer live alone and are dependent on others for their most basic and elemental needs.
They depend on ritual and consistency to feel safe and secure.
Many of them are bewildered and frightened by their sudden move out of the Mansion, which is an especially loving and nurturing place. They all seem to care about each other.
The aides are especially sensitive to this, and are working hard to reassure and comfort them. Red means a lot to them, his very appearance is calming.
I was so glad to see Sylvia yesterday (above), she needs her paper and stamps. I’ll bring them to her this afternoon, she is always studying the Bible and writing letters.
On Thursday, almost all of the Mansion residents had to be evacuated because of flooding and water damage. Some went home to their families, others to several different facilities to the aging.
Most went to the Danforth, an adult care center in Hoosick, Falls, N.Y. I have never seen the residents so anxious or happier to see Red and I, it feel good to be needed.
The Mansion staff is hoping the residents can return this weekend, but that depends on the various regulators who have to approve their return.
Some of the residents have asked me to help with individual needs – stamps, stationery, some clothes they need but didn’t have time to bring, some flowers or stuffed animals.
I’m thinking of sponsoring a pizza night, which they love, or some sugar-free treats. I think there will be some clothing needs, there was some damage in some of the rooms. But I’ll find out more today and tonight.
I’m also exploring getting some musicians in for some music when they return, to settle them down. Maybe some puzzles and animal books.
Please don’t send any packages or gifts directly to the Mansion, they staff is overwhelmed and there is a lot of work to do.
Last night I received $600 in donations, thank you very much. That money will all be used over the next days.
If you wish to contribute, you can send a contribution via Paypal, [email protected] or to my post office box, Jon Katz, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, and thanks.
I used up most of the money in the Mansion fund on various holiday gifts and celebrations for the residents and the aides. It feels good to fill it up.
The Army Of Good is always there when needed, I am grateful beyond words.
I’ve been meaning to take Charlie’s photo for sometime. He’s the Mansion chef, the man in the kitchen. This is not a simple job, there are all kinds of federal and state regulations, all kinds of individual needs and health issues.
Charlie works with a great sense of humor and patience, he has a lot of fussy and fragile customers. The residents were glad to see him there tonight, most of them have been evacuated to other residences while the Mansion’s roof and water lines are repaired.
Last night, there were only three or four people still in the Mansion with Kelly, an aide. Charlie made sandwiches for each of them, his cheerfulness and skill is much appreciated by the residents.
Good morning, an important day for me. First, I have to figure out how to help the Mansion residents, many of whom are scattered in different places as the Mansion works to repair roof and flooding damage.
Most of the residents were evacuated hurriedly from the Mansion a couple of day ago when some of the floors flooded.
I’m also going to Albany this morning to meet with Alex Borgess, a student at the Albany Academy, who wants to work with me to raise some scholarship money for a young refugee student who has applied to the school.
Alex has made it his school senior project to help make the school more diverse, and he proposes to raise $5,000 to $6,000 to make up the difference between what the school can offer and this gifted refugee student and her family can afford.
Alex has already raised a considerable amount and we will talk about ways to use my blog, perhaps a gofundme page, and the families at the school and people outside this community to raise some money.
Hopefully, the school will offer the bulk of the scholarship support.
My job has been to find the refugee students and help them apply. And to help raise money if needed.
I have the student, the school wants this to happen, it’s up to Alex and me to do the rest. The families in the school also want to help.
This can happen, I am sure of it, it is the new direction for me when it comes to helping the refugees, along with supporting the RISSE Amazon Wish List, which has two new items up today. So I look forward to meeting with Alex at lunch today, I’ll report back.
This afternoon, I hope to visit as many of the displaced residents as I can find, and then Maria and I will host a Bingo game at the Mansion, for the three or four residents who have remained there. Hopefully, everyone will get back home to the Mansion over the next few days.
Thanks for the donations which came in last night, support for the Mansion residents will be appreciated, I’m trying to figure out how best to help. I know we will be needed.
(Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]) And thank you.
(Tiffany, Tia, Red and I visit Sylvie in her temporary home)
The Mansion had to evacuate most of its residents on Tuesday night, they experienced sudden and serious water problems from leaks from the roof and damaged pipes.
Fire and police and state officials swarmed all over the Mansion, and it was decided to get the residents from the main part of the building to other assisted care and nursing facilities quickly.
I don’t know the details, but there was considerable water damage in some parts of the building, crews are scrambling to get the building in shape so that the residents can come home.
The residents were taken out in a rush, mostly at night, they are in Hoosick Falls at the Danforth Adult Care Center. They are confused and frightened.
One wing of the Mansion building was not affected, and a half-dozen residents remained. They asked if I could do a bingo game Friday night, I said yes, Maria and I will be there.
This was a traumatic event for many of them, they love the Mansion, they are comfortable there, and see it as their home. Their routines and understanding was turned upside down. Many are terrified that they can’t return. I told them they can and will.
Red and I went to the Danforth Center – it’s about 15 miles from the Mansion.
TIffany, a Mansion aide, met us coming in and showed us where all the residents were. The Mansion staff is caring for their residents at the Danforth, that is a great comfort to them, people who are familiar and who love them.
I’ve done therapy work at the Danforth with Red, it is a clean and comfortable and well run place, but the Mansion is unique, there is a warm and loving atmosphere about it that I have not seen elsewhere, the residents miss it very much.
Some are just bewildered.
Whenever I go somewhere else, I appreciate what is special about the Mansion, and why I feel so comfortable there.
I have to say I was deeply affected at how glad the residents were to see me, and to see Red. There were shouts of “Jon Katz is here, Red is here!” and I understood how much it meant to them to see a familiar face. I reassured them that they would return home soon, that this was a temporary move, not a permanent one.
They peppered me with questions, most of which I couldn’t answer, but our presence was clearly reassuring. In this work, there is nothing more important than just showing up. It sometimes seems to them that the rest of the world has forgotten about them.
I was reminded that this is important work, and it matters, never more so than when something like this happens. I saw today how important this work is.
I am asking everyone – staff and residents – what we can do for them. I’m putting a list together.
Sylvie was very much shaken by the move, she even hugged Red, which is against her religious beliefs, and asked me to sit with her, which I did. I’m bringing her pens, paper and stamps tomorrow.
“Jon, I feel so awful,” she said. “I feel sick.” She misses her tote bags, I know her room was damaged, but not how seriously.
I’m bringing her religious literature to her, she left them behind in the rush. One of her fellow church goers had rushed to the Danforth to visit with her.
I think I will need some fund-raising help.
Some of the residents may need some new things, there was some considerable water damage in a number of rooms. I’d also like to cheer them up with sugar-free cookies, some large type books, possibly some new clothes, a few flowers, they might need some new things for their rooms.
All of the residents asked me when they could come home, and if they can come home. All I could tell them was that they will be coming home, perhaps in a few days, perhaps longer. I don’t think anybody really knows yet.
This is a difficult time for frail and elderly people at the edge of life, clinging to safety and routines.
I deliberately didn’t fund raise much during the holidays, we did a lot during December.
I wanted to give people a break, but I’d like to be able to support these people, this is an hour of need for sure. The Mansion fund now has about $300 in it.
I can’t say precisely what I will need, that will be revealed, but I’m going to canvass everybody to see if and how we can support them, including the staff, they are also upset and their lives upended. Perhaps some flowers when the time comes, perhaps some stuffed animals, even some brightly colored hats.
Red and I went to the Mansion this evening, Kelly is on duty with the five or six residents who remain. Diane has left the Mansion and will not be returning, Matt is in the hospital. Ruth and Wayne were in the dining room, holding hands, their roofs were not affected.
Please don’t sent any packages or gifts directly to the Mansion right now, the staff is overwhelmed with the work they need to do to re-settle everyone, and I’m not sure precisely what they will need. Letters will be appreciated, I won’t know the exact names to send letters to for a few days.
Sylvie told me she was praying to Jehovah to get her back home to the Mansion, she is a devout Jehovah’s witness. We prayed together. It was hard for me to see the residents so upset, Red was remarkable, he picked up on the tension and went to work, he is a canine empath.
Tia and Tiffany were quite wonderful, attentive, professional, calming.
I saw brother Peter and Art, they both seemed in shock. So did Alanna and Alice. Jean, they told me, spend the entire day sitting in her darkened room with her baby doll. I sat with her, she seemed lost but never let go of her baby. “At least she’s safe,” she told me.
There’s a lot I don’t know.
When the residents will return, how many, or over what time period. I think they will need some routine and brightening up. Several asked me if we could do some Karaoke singing at the Danforth, but that’s not feasible. I was surprised how many of the residents thought about that.
So I’d like to help out if I can. I don’t need to deal with the large things, the Mansion will take care of that. I want to deal with the small things, the inexpensive things, the small acts of great kindness. Any help would be appreciated..
If you can help, please send your contribution to me, Jon Katz, The Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816, or via Paypal, [email protected]. You can also contribute by clicking on the button below, “Support The Army Of Good.” Just put “Mansion” somewhere on your checks or messages.
The money will go where it is supposed to go.
Thanks much.
