There May Not Be Enough Time

Mr F has been with us for almost two and a half years.  During that time he and his wife have enjoyed the comforts the residence has to offer including “News & Views” discussions, Art Shows, Museums, Reading Clubs and anything that represents education or information.  They did enjoy a couple of City Tours but they decided that a weekly trip around the city, which they had already heard about and researched, would not be stimulating enough.

In any case, Mr. F has had breathing issues and a recent bout of pneumonia did not help him.  In fact he has declined considerably over the last six months.  He used to walk daily around the block, and even had me take him to Point Pleasant Park in the south end where he first would walk the park then back to the residence [a significant walk].

Early in 2016 he booked a ride to Gladstone Medical where he was going to get his hearing aid replaced (lost in the laundry).  As always, I asked him how he was making out lately.  His comments about his health did not surprise me as he related that his lung had not improved and he feared the worse of course.  He added that he is going to take part in a Robbie Burns function and as a Scot he felt a kilt would be in order but realized his shape had changed somewhat since he last wore it and “maybe it wasn’t worth altering as he may not last long enough to justify the alterations.”  On the way back he was pleased with the result of a ‘loaner’ hearing aid and said they were ordering a new one using his former health plan in Ontario.  He felt that “since he probably does not have long it would not make any difference about the cost anyway so why not.”

This attitude and I suppose coming to grips with your final days must weight heavy on the people at the residence regardless of finances or education..

[I should add here that two years seems to be the length of time a person has after they move into the residence if suffering from physical issues at the start]