Mother just spent Saturday with her two new Saturday caregivers. Rebecca Field, who has known Mother for 40 years, is taking care of her two Saturday mornings a month. Christina Elston is taking care of her Saturday afternoons.
Rebecca is studying gerontology at PSU. She initially agreed to take care of Mother for two Saturday mornings because we were short staffed during Margaret's August vacation. She wanted to help us out and get some personal, hands on experience that her academic program can't deliver. She likes the Fremont Street Center for Healthy Aging so much she decided to continue.
Christina's last caregiving job was as home health aide to a man with cerebral palsy. She did this for a year. She also has worked in nursing homes, where she said she was responsible for delivering care to 20 Alzheimers patients - simultaneously. She and her husband recently moved to NE Portland (they live not far from Tom). She also works for Community Warehouse. Christina was born in Portland, but grew up in Missoula.
Mother's most active time of day is the afternoon. Today the block association was having a barbeque at 5:00. Mother, Christina, and I walked down to say hello and to introduce Christina to Mother's neighbors. Mother has no trouble recognizing John Morrison as her special friend. He spent time with her at the party, and walked back up the house with us, Mother holding his hand.
It is an artistic block. John Morrison's recent book of poetry has been nominated for this year's Oregon Book Award. He is up against stiff competition - both Judith Barrington and Brian Doyle have books nominated in his category. A few doors down is installation artist Jacqueline Ehlis , whose most recent exhibitions have received ecstatic praise. Inbetween John M. and Jacqueline E. is a family of Robert Hayden, a jazz musician.
It is an ingenious block. Dennis blogged about Russell Senior, who plants wheat every year in his front yard and makes strawberry shortcakes for the entire block with his harvest. Architects Kathryn and Howard have a container vegetable garden in their driveway which looks as if it will continue throughout the cold season.
Right now Dennis is out at the block party showing films. Mother is sound asleep. Christina is pedaling home on her bike.
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