Over the past few weeks, there have been some minor renos and improvements at dad's care home. Currently, they are finishing up an Internet area; where the residents will be able to go online to check their email and surf the web ;) As well, the club manager will have a iPad that he can take around to the residents to use. He had better hang on to it around dad! Every time dad sees my iPhone, he eyes it up and thinks it is his! Today I was showing him how to swipe through pictures and he was getting the hang of it.
I am once again reminded of what a bummer this disease is. They have asked me at the care home what dad's hobbies were. I usually say that he worked hard 6 days a week, and read a newspaper in the Blue Chair the rest of the time. This is true.... but I had forgotten how much dad loved computers. In 1985ish, he bought a Commodore 128, which I believe cost somewhere in the vicinity of $5000!!! From then on, he always had a computer. I recall seeing him sit in front of the computer for hours, referring to his DOS for Dummies book. (Again, my memory is a bit fuzzy... it could have been Computers for Dummies.) An early adopter, he also had a massive 'brick' phone, complete with battery pack. So when he sits there and eyes up my iPhone... it isn't hard to be bummed out by the turn of events. He would have loved to have an iPhone. He'd be amazed at how far technology has come (aren't we all?) and what is available at your fingertips these days. He would have happily sat in the Blue Chair for hours, quietly looking things up on Google!
Anyway... he once again has access to the Internet and to his email. (Well, it should be implemented within the next week or so.) The staff will be able to help him log onto his email account... so should you wish to drop him a line or two... please feel free to email him at normanvercoe@gmail.com
Among the other improvements at the home... an al fresco dining room is being added. This means that once a year, family can organize a catered meal for family and friends. (Actually, it can be organized for more than once a year, but then the catering will be an additional cost.) This is a lovely addition, as it's a way to include the residents in family events. It can be very difficult to arrange for them to leave the care home. Also, when family visits from out of town, sometimes the resident can get left out of family functions.
As well, they have just purchased a Wii system. I was (slightly) excited to learn about this, as I have read that seniors can experience a slight improvement in their condition in using the Wii. When I mentioned this to the club manager, he said that was the reason they bought it! So I might just be playing a tennis game with dad yet! Unless he decides he wants to play Rock Band!
It is a lovely summer day here in Rose Bay... a slight breeze keeps it from being too hot! Dad and I sat out on the patio and shared a ginger beer this afternoon. (Ginger beer could be described as fizzy water with strong ginger flavor. It's yummy - if you are a ginger fan. It's non-alcoholic... dad isn't partying it up in his old age!) I do have a photo to upload... but will have to do that later. I have been having more computer issues - not sure what I do to them - but I have crashed the second computer in three months. It is in the shop being repaired and I hope to have it back tomorrow. (This time it seems to be the a virus, not the motherboard, so I don't think the problem is with the user!!) I hope. I have been without a computer for five days and it is hard to get bookwork done on borrowed computers. Or any photo editing for that matter. With items spread between a bedroom and a storage locker 10km down the road, it's already awkward in the organization department, let alone not having a personal computer to work on.
Anyway, I am rambling now. The point of this post was to let you know you can email dad if you wish. Can't promise that he'll reply, but he would love to hear from you!
No comments:
Post a Comment