Hi, I'm Carla Roeder and I've been a geriatric nurse, (RN,) for over thirty years. I love old people! My work with them is rewarding, and now I'm trying to help more of them, and in a different way. I've written a novel called 'From Here to Everlasting.' It's about the love and relationships between the residents and staff in a good nursing home.
I believe the negative image of nursing homes hurts older people, their families, and the nursing homes themselves. Older people often refuse to have needed medical and surgical treatment due to their fear of going to a nursing home. A hospital stay becomes even more stressful due to that fear. If they should have to go to a nursing home, the adjustment is harder because of their fears and negative attitude.
The negative view of nursing homes hurts families too. Adult children are burdened by guilt when their parent needs nursing home care. It can fracture family relationships when people disagree about what to do.
The negative image of nursing homes even hurts nursing homes! Who wants to work somewhere if your work isn't respected? It's hard to find and keep good help, adding to the poor image.
'From Here to Everlasting' takes readers inside a good nursing home. You'll meet the residents and staff, and see how a good nursing home feels and functions. There is romance, womens' friendships, and the special love between the residents and the staff who care for and about them. There is personal growth and reconciliation. More than a romance, From Here to Everlasting is a love story.