elderly

Sally’s Impact on Me & Her Love of Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog

Posted by Barbara Techel

Frankies book2_v1c47Illustration from Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House children’s book

In Saturdays blog post I shared with you that Sally, a resident at Libby’s House (senior assisted living facility), who I had come to adore, passed away at the age of 100 earlier in May. The adoration was mutual as she loved it when Frankie came to visit. She would become quite animated watching Frankie roll into the main living room.

I was so touched by the friendship that transpired between the two that I wrote about them in my second children’s book, Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby’s House. While all the residents were special, some just left an extra special mark on my heart that will always be there. Sally was absolutely one of those people.

As a tribute to her, I thought I’d share the part in my book where I wrote about her. To protect her privacy at the time, her name was changed to Lila. Her name after a dear friend (a therapy dog tester) who was pregnant with a little girl, who she would name Lila, while Frankie and I were training for her therapy dog certification.

Excerpt:

The following month flowers are blooming with every color in the rainbow and people are outside cutting their grass. Kids are playing in the park. The warm wind blows my ears back as we drive to Libby’s House.

It is hard to know I won’t see Daniel anymore when I visit. But, I hold my head high as I roll through the front doors once again.

Patty is waiting to for us. She bends down to stroke my fur. “Frankie, there is someone new waiting to meet you,” she says happily.

“Her name is Lila, and she loves dogs. I have told her all about you and she is eager to visit with you.” Patty leads the way as Mom and I walk side by side.

Lila is siting in the chair where Daniel used to wait for me. Her hair is short and silver and her walker is resting next to the chair.

Patty quietly says to my mom, “It is hard to understand Lila when she talks, but she tries to communicate.”

Mom picks me up and kneels down in front of Lila. She rests the front of my paws on the arm of the chair while she holds the back of my wheelchair in her hands. Lila’s hands are shaking as she reaches out to pet my head. She looks deep into my eyes and chatters up a storm. I am not sure what she is saying, but my heart feels all warm and fuzzy again. I have made another new friend.

As I revisit the writing of this book again, I wrote it because I wanted young kids to not be afraid to visit the elderly in nursing homes. It can sometimes feel scary, but I wanted to make it feel less scary. To help them understand that sometimes older people are going through things just like they did when they were little. Sometimes needing help with brushing their teeth or needing help to remember to take their medicine.

Sally, and so many others, certainly taught me to appreciate life so much more. For that, I’m so grateful to each of them. And Sally showed me that even though she couldn’t communicate in words, it was her infectious smile and enthusiasm that conveyed to me how happy she truly was. Her connection with Frankie was such a gift and I’ll remember it always.

I Want to Live to Be 100 Years Old

Posted by Barbara Techel

Did I hear you say, “Seriously?” Or perhaps you said, “Are you crazy?”  Or maybe, just maybe, you are like me and want to live to be 100 years old?

I imagine this is me in the photo above tending to my flowers. I love the middle of May when I can go shopping for annuals. It’s like therapy to me planting all the colorful blooms in my clay pots. I imagine I will never tire of this.

I imagine I will live in a little white house with periwinkle shutters. There is a sweet little white house in my town where a cute little grandma resides. Every time I walk by, it makes me smile. I imagine I will have a sweet, handsome younger neighbor who will help me out when I need help with maintenance issues.

I imagine I will have a little wiener dog. Whether this one will be in a wheelchair or not, I am not sure. But I do imagine I’ll need to walk that sweet short dog around the block at least once a day, and talk with her throughout the day, and hold her each night on lap.

I imagine I may have some aches and pains but am hopeful my daily work of thinking positive and doing things that bring me joy will help those aches and pains seem minimal. And who knows, maybe my daily practice of yoga will be something I still do. I like to think that this is possible.

I imagine sharing my wisdom with neighborhood children and encouraging them to live each day to the fullest.

I imagine I will still like my glass of wine at the end of the day. Perhaps my end of day will start a bit earlier, since bedtime may come sooner too.

I imagine that John will still be at my side…at 104 years old.  Though if he does not have the same imagination as mine, this story may be a bit different. I will then pray for strength and comfort knowing I will see him again someday.

I imagine when my time is done on earth I will move swiftly to the other side in my slumber to the next realm, young in body once again, though in full spirit of knowing I was here on earth.

Yes, I want to live to be 100 years old.  Anyone with me?

 

 

 

 

 

What Does 105 Years Look Like? Meet the Very Special Libby.

Posted by Barbara Techel

From left:  Christine Thill (owner of Libby’s House and granddaughter to Libby), Libby, Phyllis (Libby’s daughter), Jeremiah (Libby’s great grandson) and Ona (Libby’s great, great granddaughter)

Libby, 105 years old is a real delight to know. Frankie and I have been honored and privileged to visit with this exceptionally beautiful and spunky lady on a few occasions when visiting Libby’s House, Senior Assisted Facility.

We have been going to Libby’s House once a month for 3 1/2 years. This year begins visiting only every other month so Frankie can enjoy her senior years, just like Libby. I’ll treasure our visits there even more now and am glad we are scheduled to go today.

We met Libby a little over a year ago when she came to live at Libby’s House, named after her, by her granddaughter Christine, who owns and operates the lovely facility.

When Frankie and I were training to become a therapy dog team I heard Libby’s House was looking for a therapy dog to visit. Though we were not yet officially certified I called them and let them know of my interest. They were excited to have us on board and told me to let them know when we were ready and they’d be ready for us.

I almost quit after my first training with Frankie at another facility, a nursing home. Sadly, not all nursing homes are as nice as Libby’s House. The facility we trained at was, in my opinion, quite sad. Initially, I was shocked and a bit freaked out at the condition of the place and of the residents. Driving home after our first visit, I cried, and thought, I can’t do this. But I’m so glad I didn’t give up. While I couldn’t change the circumstances of the facility, I could for a brief time make a difference in those patients lives with Frankie.

I was nervous beginning our work at Libby’s House as I also didn’t quite know how to be around people who had Alzheimer’s which Libby’s House is set up to take in. Not all patients have Alzheimer’s- some have dementia- as well as other health issues. But the biggest lesson I learned, especially with Alzheimer patients is that there is someone “still in there.” They may not resemble the person they used to be, but they are still there.

Often times I don’t understand what they are saying as they talk, but I nod as if I do. All they want is for someone to listen. And as you can imagine, having Frankie to pet and love brings them much joy.

It’s not often that one can say that they’ve met a 105 year old person. Meeting Libby at a young 104 was like meeting the Queen. She is remarkably sharp and has a great sense of humor. For most of her life she has not liked animals, but she adores Frankie– even letting Frankie sit on her lap now and then. During one visit Libby was petting Frankie’s back and she looked up at me and said, “Frankie is love.”

It is one of the highest compliments I could have ever been paid of my work with Frankie. There is no denying Libby has left a profound mark on my heart.

Being a therapy dog team with Frankie at Libby’s House is very rewarding. Writing my second children’s book that I published in 2010 about Libby’s House is no doubt, a path I was meant to travel. And to know Libby, who is such an inspiration, is such an incredible blessing. I can’t help think being with Libby is about as close to God as one can get. She is truly remarkable.

 

Libby, Frankie and me