This particular incident happened within the last year, and it just occurred to me to post it. I worked for eighteen years as a Medic. After that time period it was beginning to take a toll on my back (there are more back injuries in the EMS field than 'any' other occupation.). After I withdrew from working with an ambulance squad I did home nursing care for four years until I got hired where I am, working now.
I am, now, a full-time Receptionist in a senior nursing facility (not mentioning the name-it's a state-wide organization) that has Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, and Memory Care all within one location. We offer a very wide range of services for the elderly.
I work in the independent living area, which is also the main entrance, and the main switchboard to route calls to the appropriate areas. It's located in Westlake, Ohio. The particular road it's on is called nursing home strip due to the fact that there's a long line of nursing homes stretching from Rocky River to Westlake.
The area I work in is manned twenty four hours, seven days/week, three-hundred sixty-five days/year.
My medical background is what attracted my supervisor's attention when she spotted my resume' on Indeed. She called me. We set up an interview for the next day. I went there, and met her. She seemed very impressed that I was a former medic because there do arise medical emergencies in independent living as there are elderly residents living there. She wanted someone that could address those incidents in a timely manner, but keep a cool head whilst evaluating the situation. I seemed to fit the bill. Unbeknownst to me, I was hired after I left her office. She called the next day to send me to an Urgent Care Office to get a physical. I passed. Yay!
The residents that live there were quick to spot a new face at the front desk. They would introduce themselves, and inquire about my name, and the like. They are all very sweet. I really like working there. I seem to have an affinity for working with the elderly. I'm good at it, and I really enjoy helping people. That is why I went into the medical field in the first place. I enjoy helping people.
You simply cannot help but get close to those residents after seeing, and addressing their needs day in, and day out. I'm not an emotionless robot. I'm a person, and I have feelings for them. It's too hard not to. We are to the point that we are like an extended 'family' to them.
They're wonderful!
This one little lady, Ruthie, was quick to familiarize herself with me. She was especially excited when she found out from another coworker that I was a retired medic. She told me that she was a former Registered Nurse who used to be the head nurse in a downtown hospital in Cleveland. She was delighted. We had some very enjoyable conversations swapping our medical exploits. She loved talking to me, but she was respectful of the times when I was busy. Like when I did the evening dinner/welfare checks. She would wait until I was done with them, and come back down to the desk around 8:00 at night so she could visit with me. She would, then, bid me a 'good night', and go back to her apartment to get ready for bed by 9:00.
We got very close in the first three years I was there. I met her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. They came to see her to take her out frequently. Unfortunately, after those three years, she began to decline. She was in her late eighties, and had several health issues that were getting worse. I hated seeing that happen to her, but it happens to a lot of them that reside there. She went from walking on her own to a walker, and then a motorized scooter.
Eventually she wound up over in the skilled nursing facility. She was there for a couple months, and her family would visit her regularly.
After those two months she passed on during a day off that I had. When I got back to work the day receptionist informed me of what happened to her. I went into the employee restroom, and cried. I pulled myself together by reminding myself that she was in a far better place now with her husband, and other loved ones, and no longer suffering. However, I still missed seeing, and talking to her. I thought of her often.
It was several months later that I was working the evening shift. I was doing my dinner/welfare checks. Those that I called that didn't answer their phones I had to physically go check on. Her apartment was rented to a new resident that I had to check on as he did not come down to dinner, none of the other employees had 'seen' him, and he didn't answer the phone when I called. I gathered up my equipment-cordless phone, pager, paper, pen, and master key to enter the apartment if need be. I knocked on the door of #115. No answer. I let myself in. I called out that it was me, and proceeded to do a sweep of all the rooms. He wasn't home. As I was leaving the bedroom, and coming back into the living room, there on the couch, as plain as day, was Ruthie. She was sitting there looking as robust as ever. She had a broad smile on her face, and she smiled, and waved in recognition of me. I was overwhelmed. I said "Ruthie. It's wonderful to see you. I miss you!". After I said that she grinned again, and gave me a little wink. Then she raised her hand to wave at me again, and then she faded away. I got a little emotional, and had to choke back the tears. I thought I was just hallucinating for a moment, and went about finishing my checking rounds.
Once I returned to the desk, I had time to sit, and evaluate what just happened. I wasn't about to tell my fellow workers about it for fear of them thinking that I was either, two short of a six-pack, or possibly, scaring them. I kept it to myself. Yet, I had to ponder about it.
I know what I saw. Was it possible that she just came back to see me one last time, and assure me that she was alright now? That was the only theory that made any sense to me.
Funny thing though. The other evening/night-shift women that work the desk told me that, for 'some strange reason', whenever 'they' did the welfare checks in 'that' apartment, that it always felt extremely cold in there. I didn't notice any difference in temperature when "I" went in there. Now I have to ask, was Ruthie just staying around, and 'waiting' for me to come on duty to make the rounds so she could make herself known to me? I didn't see her anymore after that. Almost wish I would, but I realize she's much better off now.
I am continuing to develop close relationships with the other residents living there. We even have a couple local famous people living there. However, out of respect for their privacy, I won't give their names.
I am something of a senior myself (I admit it!). My age is another thing that was in my favor when my boss hired me. She appreciated my background, and experience due, largely, to my age. I, personally, cannot afford to 'retire' as it were. I 'have' to keep working. One of these mornings after I've pulled the third shift, someone will come in, and find my corpse sitting behind the desk, in front of the computer. Actually, that's not such a bad way to go. Performing my duty, lol!
Seriously though, I enjoy the work I do. However, I never expected the added bonus of seeing a resident that I grew very fond of who passed on, showing up to smile, and wave to me. I am very grateful that I met Ruthie, and feel I'm all the 'better' for having know her. Since it is a senior facility I work in I'm sure I have other encounters waiting for me! Thanks for reading!
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