Home Visits
So almost everyday, 2 students go out with the head nurse here and visit about 3 homes. Depending on the patient in the home, we do various things such as give a manicure or pedicure (minus the nailpolish), cut hair, shave their face. On every patient we take vital signs and we take blood sugars for all the diabetics. I have done 7 home visits so far and there are several that have stood out to me. So I have never shaved someone else before especially not a man’s face. I got my first chance to on this lovely old man who had a stroke several months before and didn’t have a lot of strength in his left arm. He told me he only shaved once a week because that was all he could do with his one hand. It hit me then how much these people need help with some simple everyday things. Another visit I really enjoyed was with this woman who couldn’t see because of cataracts. Unfortunately she wasn’t able to have the cataracts surgery because she also had glaucoma and her pressure in the eyes was too high. While I was taking care of her nails, she kept calling me her “madrino” which I had no idea what that was. I shortly learned that there are “madrinos and padrinos” which are younger people who come and assist their elders with grooming and it is customary in Peru for this to occur. Another visit was to this elderly couple who both had a hard time moving yet were still living alone. The wife was a diabetic and was not always very consistent with taking her blood sugars. While we were there, a neighbor came and brought them some food so they wouldn’t have to worry about trying to get up and cooking. I am constantly surprised at the generosity of the people here and how willing people are to help.
- Veronica DeBiase
Robin said,
June 11, 2009 at 11:44 am
Veronica, you’re witnessing first hand the power of community. What you’re living is the way things really SHOULD be – reverence for the elderly and willingness to help those who need it. Wonderful post – I look forward to hearing more soon!