A family member came to us, a daughter. She was very concerned about her father, and she felt that he was dying. She had heard about our program at Gloria Dei and wanted us to go to the rehab that her father was at to evaluate him to see if he would be appropriate to come to us. Donna Yerkis, our Director of Nursing, and myself went out to see him. Who we found in the wheelchair was a man that was not really alert, that could not really communicate to us, and who looked to us like he was dying. He had had a stroke and was deteriorating.

We said yes, bring your dad to us and we will take care of him. We will see him through. She brought her dad to us. Her dad did very well, his medications were reviewed by our physician. Some of theme were changed, some of them were discontinued. He began to blossom. He began to talk. He began to participate in his life again.

The daughter said to us that we gave her father back to her. That she was able to rekindle that relationship that she had lost. And for that she was forever grateful. So I think that was one of the most rewarding experiences that we had as a facility. It meant so much to the family to have their family member back, if even for a short period of time. That they could talk and laugh and reminisce and have a relationship once again. That she could talk to her father as her father. That she could be a daughter again and not necessarily a caregiver or power of attorney or someone that had to be depended on for everything. She could be the daughter once more. So that was one of the most poignant experiences we had.

Michele DiVincenzo
Administrator, Memory Care at The Park and Personal Care at The Park