Did you know there are younger residents in nursing homes?

I fist discovered this while doing volunteer work at nursing home in 1998 and 1999. There was one boy who was in his 20s. I couldn’t believe it. I felt sad for him being there. He had casette tapes and a tape-player. He had basketball jerseys and Nike shoes. He didn't "fit in" this setting.

Today, Debbie (of DH Services) and Kim (of Recreative Resources) shared a great article about younger people living in nursing homes on their facebook pages.

It is a sad story about a guy who had been accidently shot in the neck by his step-brother. He became quadriplegic as a result. His mother is too sick to care for his
needs. His father is away working as a truck-driver.

There has got to be a group home or better circumstance that he could go. I hope people wouldn’t expect him to continue to live out the rest of his life at a nursing home (being at such a young age.)

He talked about an activities calendar that shows the nursing home has activities. I imagine most of these are “group activities” and could imagine that Martin could feel isolated from the age-difference during these groups.

It said he has therapy five days a week. I wonder what types of therapies are being provided for him. I’m sure they doing everything possible to help him gain independent functioning skills in any ways possible.

My professional background is more in psychiatric and not so much with rehabilitation or skilled nursing.

Martin said had hoped to go to college and become an engineer. In the article, Martin said, “It makes you feel old. If that's all you're around, that's what you become." I’d imagine the social psychology of the situation would have a major impact on this young man.

I’m going to share this link with my professor from graduate school, Dr. Austin to hear his comments.

You can read the full link here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110107/ap_on_re_us/us_nursing_homes_young