Captain's Log #38 - Any questions?!

I swear, my work-life reads like a county song. Last week I attended a new employee orientation where a couple of people in management spoke. Our acting Executive Director, a 33-year Army veteran, retired as a colonel, is about 5’7”, built like a string bean, couldn’t weigh more than 100 pounds but she got that commanding voice, “Any questions?!” I think the answer was supposed to be “No… sir!” But I haven’t been in the Army and I did have a question. “Yesterday I overheard the brother of a resident say that he’d heard a nurse say something that sounded like she was stealing his money. What should you do if you hear something like that?” I was expecting an answer like, “go to your supervisor” but she, and the head of licensed care who was there, said they wanted to hear more about it. Later, my (long suffering) supervisor called me into his office and asked what I thought of the orientation. I told him it was great, I really ‘got’ the sincerity and genuine caring of management and told him about my question. He was smiling when he told me to, basically, keep my ears and mouth shut and keep everything I hear in my office - in my office; that what I had said, “was like throwing a VW bus into a very quiet, still pond.” Huge ripples! Fortunately my indirect supervisor has been all over the issue of this member and his disappearing money like white on rice. I’m not sorry for bringing it up. Yes, it’s possibly an Elder Abuse issue and very important, and deserves to be investigated (but maybe not by campus security, the CHP and upper management.) My sense is that the case manager of this resident does as little work as possible, I was suspicious that nothing was being done. Not anymore. My indirect supervisor, who manages the 3 case managers, told me there’s all kinds of stories about family members and our residents, people taking financial advantage of them, etc. So, more stories to experience! You can be sure I won’t share them with upper management first.

I love that there’s a cafeteria on campus. While it’s not as fancy as the ones at Apple or Google, still it’s very convenient: a well-stocked salad bar, steamed vegetables, soups and usually something fried. The previous Friday was Seafood Platter with deep fried shrimp, scallops and some white fish, for 6 bucks. This Friday I handed my money to the attendant, a resident, which included a half-dollar. As I was getting my silverware and tray he said, “a 1973 half-dollar… not in great shape.” I asked if he collected coins and boy, did I get an earful! Yes he does, but only bullion coins struck from precious metals and kept as a store of value. He is ready for the apocalypse when there’s no electricity “and that plastic in your wallet is worthless!” Amen, brother.

While wearing one of my Kimono suits on the way to the cafeteria I met a short, very elderly Japanese man with a gap-tooth smile. He beamed at me, his whole body smiling. He stopped, stepped back and bowed to me. I laughed, stepped back and solemnly bowed to honor him.

I bow to you. Please let me know what you’re up to.

Many blessings,

Karla/k.j./mom