"I Want to Go Home"

This phrase, "I want to go home", is probably a familiar one. We've all heard it from time to time, however for most people this phrase may come as a surprise when the person saying it wants to return home to their residence at a nursing home. This morning our Activities Director, Teresa Lopes, stopped me in the hallway to share a story that resident Helen Oliveira's family member had shared with her. They had brought Helen to their home to celebrate a family birthday. When dinner was done Helen told her son that she wanted to go home, her friends were waiting for her and would be wondering where she was if she didn't get back to Hale Makua soon.

With Luana our goal is to really transform Hale Makua into a place that feels like home to the residents so that residents are happy to call Hale Makua their home. Or as our CEO, Tony Krieg, says "we want to put the 'home' back into 'nursing home'". Part of this effort includes encouraging residents and their families to personalize the decor in resident rooms, which can include hanging photos and artwork on the walls, bringing in bedding linens, lamps and plants, hanging window coverings, etc.

Helen's daughter-in-law recently redecorated Helen's room for her birthday. Pictured here is Helen in here newly decorated room.