Caring staff makes Pioneers Home special

My father, a World War II veteran, died this morning, May 23. As I reflect on his life today, I am humbled and grateful for the care he received at the Palmer Veterans and Pioneers Home.

I brought my father to Alaska from his home state of Louisiana in 2008 when his worsening Alzheimer’s disease made it no longer possible for him to live independently. My personal experience with “nursing homes” in Louisiana made it clear that I could not put him in that kind of environment, so I cared for him at my home with the help of some wonderful and dedicated caregivers until November 2011, when his needs became physically impossible for me to meet.

Thankfully, we were able to admit my father to the Pioneers Home, and from his first day there to his last breath on Earth, he received the utmost respect, love and care from each staff member. I feel qualified to make this judgment, having worked in a variety of health care facilities as a registered nurse for more than 30 years.

I visited often and participated in my father’s care, which allowed me to observe many shifts and many of the activities offered to the residents. It is not easy caring for patients with Alzheimer’s disease, as it requires the caregiver to see the individual as the person he or she has always been at heart and look past some of the behaviors they may now exhibit due to the disease.

Seeing the staff at the Pioneers Home in action, I have wondered many times how it is that the state of Alaska could gather so many compassionate, kind and patient people in one facility. By observing their actions, I began to realize that for Pioneers Home staff, their work is not just a job, but a calling.

I am thankful for the administrative staff who guided us in the necessary work we needed to accomplish, the nursing staff that skillfully cared for my father’s medical condition, and for each of the CNAs who patiently cared for his physical needs. The housekeeping and maintenance department did a wonderful job keeping the facility super clean and in good working order, but it was their positive engagement with the residents that showed their true friendship with them.

While preparing delicious foods, the dietary staff also helped us stay together as a family by offering holiday buffets and special festive meals where all were welcome to join. The activities staff brought energy and variety to each day by dreaming up ways to engage the residents in life.

Each holiday and each seasonal change involved a party or activity to joyfully mark the passing time. My father and I both appreciated the scenic drives, the fishing trips, the potlucks, the picnics, the reading groups, and so much more.

The Pioneers Home staff must know that each of their acts of kindness makes a huge difference in the lives of the residents as well as their families. While I cannot name each person here, they know who they are, and each name is engraved in my heart and in the spirit of my father.

I also want to express my deep appreciation to the Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska for its faithful support over the years. Their involvement in our communities brings a lifeline to families dealing with this devastating disease.

Peggy Robinson has been a nurse in Alaska for more than 30 years.