Recently we had a 99-year-old female patient admitted to our unit. She was alert and oriented to everything and was very spunky. She lived on her own and was hospitalized due to a fall at home. Her son was very attentive and would come to visit every other day and stay as long as permitted. Marcy, the son, and the mother developed a friendship. The son would call Marcy for an update on the days he could not visit. Social work was looking for a placement at a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF).

The son came by my office one evening to tell me how much he appreciated the care his mom was receiving. He hoped for the same at the SNF she would be moving to. He complimented all the nursing staff but was especially fond of Marcy. He complimented her kind attitude, enthusiasm, and compassion. The son was somewhat sad about putting his mom in a nursing home but accepted it would be safer than living alone. He said that he had expressed his feelings of sadness to Marcy. He said that she listened attentively and comforted him with her words. She explained to him that he was not failing his mother but making a difficult decision to prioritize her health and safety. He said she encouraged him to check with the staff and advocate for her needs.

He additionally complimented Marcy for letting him know that his mother was scheduled for a pacemaker. He said the medical staff had not notified him. Neither the patient nor the son wanted any invasive procedures. The son said he would not forget the kindness that was given during his mother’s stay and said Harbor-UCLA has excellent and knowledgeable nurses. Thank you.