The first time I ever heard mention of the thin rat was in 2004. Enid, a resident living at the home, told me she saw a thin rat go through her closet door. I looked around her room and closet and found now sign of a rat. Since no sign of rodents being there was found, I passed the rat off to a part of her illness.
Several years later (2007) another resident, Peg, kept saying a thin rat ran all off her dresser and nightstand. Since Peg was a resident for physical problems, rather than dementia, several traps were set and nothing was caught.
Since than there have been reports of the thin rat in various places in the home, but never any physical evidence of the thin rat.
This year there have been two sightings of the rat. The first sighting was by Lily, a resident who just happens to stay in the room where Peg used to stay. She told a coworker and I that a thin rat was running around in front of her TV on her dresser. This happened in late September.
The most recent sighting of the rat was last week by an LPN. She was in the room with a family member of a resident who had just passed away, and she saw the rat run to a corner of the room.
I noticed a bit of a pattern to the rat showing up. It seems that whenever we lose a group of residents in a short time it shows up and is not seen again for a long time.
I know it could be put off to many rats over many years. But why does the rat always look the same to those who see it? Why do only a few people see it? I would think if it was an actual rat, there would be more sightings and evidence that it was there. Just seems a bit odd.
Loading comments....
