Beauty of responsibility
I spent almost three months in an nursing home for my research to evaluate the therapeutic role of plants for elderly residents in an long term care. I have brought many plants in the living room for residents to look after, and observed the impact of plants on the well being among participants. Through this study, I have met so many wise and kind residents, which made me extremely difficult to leave the site after the study.
Although I did not find the significant difference between before and after the plants were brought into the living room over eight weeks. I witnessed so many positive impacts on residents' everyday lives. The only concern and frustration for this type of study is that I needed to leave the plants and the friends behind due to the research protocol. I think about all the elders whom I met every single day, and sometime feel guilty that I cannot be there with them to put our hands into dirt together and just laugh. Two months after the resarch was completed, I have received an beautiful e-mail from a resident who was suffering from brain injury.
Hello Emi I am doing fine how are you ? How are things where you are? The plants we have from you are doing fine. I will be planting my garden box soon. Will probably put flowers in it. The snow is all gone and the trees and grass are all green. It is going to be 23 here today and 25 tomorrow and the next day, bet you find that hard to believe because we only had snow when you were here. My Mom is good and my girlfriend is fine.
(from I)
I imagine that it took for a long time for him to write this e-mail because his hands and fingers do not function well. This short message encouraged me to keep me going what I believe, which is regardless of age, physical function, and cognitive deterioration, everybody enjoys the opportunity to provide care for others. By doing so, people regain the sense of pride becasue they feel that they are useful for others. I hope that we can all live in a community that everyone can feel the sense of purpose to be useful/helpful to others by living together.
I may be able to grow plants easier and faster than him, yet I am sure that his plants will be much more beautiful and meaningful not only for him but also for me and his friends and family. This beautiful e-mail reminded me how caring and wise elderly residents in long term care facility are.
We have an ethical responsibility to care for elders as much as they do to us. We should be mindful about what we are given from elders every step of our lives. We will find tremendous love and wisdom that elders are constantly and patiently giving to us without expecting any reward everyday for many many centries, if we just learn to be mindful about our life...
Although I did not find the significant difference between before and after the plants were brought into the living room over eight weeks. I witnessed so many positive impacts on residents' everyday lives. The only concern and frustration for this type of study is that I needed to leave the plants and the friends behind due to the research protocol. I think about all the elders whom I met every single day, and sometime feel guilty that I cannot be there with them to put our hands into dirt together and just laugh. Two months after the resarch was completed, I have received an beautiful e-mail from a resident who was suffering from brain injury.
Hello Emi I am doing fine how are you ? How are things where you are? The plants we have from you are doing fine. I will be planting my garden box soon. Will probably put flowers in it. The snow is all gone and the trees and grass are all green. It is going to be 23 here today and 25 tomorrow and the next day, bet you find that hard to believe because we only had snow when you were here. My Mom is good and my girlfriend is fine.
(from I)
I imagine that it took for a long time for him to write this e-mail because his hands and fingers do not function well. This short message encouraged me to keep me going what I believe, which is regardless of age, physical function, and cognitive deterioration, everybody enjoys the opportunity to provide care for others. By doing so, people regain the sense of pride becasue they feel that they are useful for others. I hope that we can all live in a community that everyone can feel the sense of purpose to be useful/helpful to others by living together.
I may be able to grow plants easier and faster than him, yet I am sure that his plants will be much more beautiful and meaningful not only for him but also for me and his friends and family. This beautiful e-mail reminded me how caring and wise elderly residents in long term care facility are.
We have an ethical responsibility to care for elders as much as they do to us. We should be mindful about what we are given from elders every step of our lives. We will find tremendous love and wisdom that elders are constantly and patiently giving to us without expecting any reward everyday for many many centries, if we just learn to be mindful about our life...
