Ethnorgraphy

The Nursing home I work at is a great home and rehab facility that takes care of elderly and sick. It provides food, shelter and a place where residents can sit back and relax. They have an excellent adult daycare, assisted living, and senior apartments. I first started working there on January 31st of this year. When I first started I was nervous and didn’t really know what to expect. I was not handed any major responsibility during my first week, just entertain the residents, and bring them outside for some fresh air and hoping to get to know a little about everyone.

On my first day, I went and gathered all the residents to the activity room where they spend time with their friends, and finally have a chance to leave their room. Everyone gets in a circle and we play cards, catch the balloon or even watch movies. As I was sitting there playing a card game I noticed an adorable lady named Anita. I went up and started a conversation with her. She was very quite and to herself didn’t really socialize too much, just sitting there with a smile.

An hour went by and I decided to get to know Anita a little bit better since she didn’t really say much at first. I asked her name and what she likes to do, she said a few words then opened up more as time went on. Anita was telling me she loves to look good and always have her hair washed and colored and nails painted in dusty rose. She told me how much she loved getting dressed up in her fancy dresses, high heel shoes and her to die for expensive jewelry her husband bought her only on special occasions. I noticed she loved looking her best, as she would say, “I rather go outside looking my best then looking a fool”.

Anita and, I became very close during those short few hours in the activity room. She would start telling me stories about how she met her husband and how long they were married for. Anita adores her six children all three boys and three girls all born 2 years apart. As she was telling me about herself and what she likes to do for fun, Anita started becoming overwhelmed, and said she missed the good old days, when she could do things for herself and her family instead of depending on nurses to look after her and having to be told what to do.

I started feeling sorry for Anita and realized I was there to help her and take her mind off anything bothering her. She’s an amazing 98-year-old woman who still has so much to offer. I learned so much from Anita she’s smart, funny and still has so much energy for someone her age. So far working there I grow a bond with her and look up to her as if I knew her my whole life. She still tells me till this day, take nothing for granted and to live everyday to it’s fullest because you never know when it can all change in just a blink of an eye.