In my last post I barked about exploring the new Hospice House. I had rounds to make on my patients, so I didn't get to explore it all at once. Since then, I've visited every room, and I like what I sniff!
The biggest room in the House is the Living Room. There are big, comfy couches where I can curl up in someone's lap, along with a gas log fireplace that will be wonderful in the winter.
A piano sits on one wall, and a cafe table is against the other. It might be a nice place to have a cup of coffee, but it's too tall for me to sneak crumbs from! I really must speak to the management about that.
Speaking of crumbs, there is a beautiful dining room next to the living room. It seats six people for big dinners or light lunches. My friends in wheelchairs and walkers can get there easily, and there's plenty of room for me under the table where the good stuff drops. Hooray!
Also off of the living room are the Sunroom and Screened Porch. The Sunroom is full of big windows that let in the light. You can rest on the sofa or read a magazine. The view is pretty nice, too—it's just right for dozing and watching butterflies, birds, and the occasional squirrel. Both rooms have nice sitting areas and those tall cafe tables for snacking or relaxing.
The Screened Porch is more shady than the Sunroom. A nice breeze comes through the windows and makes little wind chimes ring. You can hear the birds chirping and playing on the lawn, too, and you can see more squirrels! I think it's one of the nicest places in the House.
(The weather has been just right for enjoying the Sunroom and Screened Porch, but the heavy pollen this spring has made the Screened Porch less popular. Our patients and staff with allergies have been very unhappy lately. Even I don't like it—if I stay out too long, I'm afraid my fur will turn yellow! But once the pollen improves, I'm sure we'll all be out there more often.)
I hear there are plans for the outside areas, too. A short sidewalk already leads away from the Screened Porch, but I overheard my coworkers talking about expanding it into a wheelchair walk for the patients and a nice gazebo for sitting outside. I approve of the gazebo plans, because that could mean more games of fetch for me! I'm sure there will be more work on that throughout the summer.
If you're not feeling sunny, you might take a seat in the Library. The Library is full of books and kids' activities. A desk area is provided, along with a small TV. There's a special table and chairs for the little ones, perfect for coloring or putting together a puzzle. Mom or Dad can stay nearby in the big recliner. It's a good place to get your mind off of things.
For more privacy, try the Meditation Room. If you want peace and quiet, there's no better place. When a local pastor comes, or a family needs to talk, the Meditation Room is the place to go. Sometimes I can hear soft music coming from under the door. It smells pretty good in there, too.
Last but not least is the Spa/Salon. While each patient room has a private bathroom, it can take a lot of effort for a bed-bound person to get into the shower. Sponge baths may be necessary, but they aren't much fun. Instead, the person can roll into the Spa and have a real bath in our padded, adjustable "tub." Imagine having a shallow bathtub on a gurney. It raises up and down like a hospital bed, allowing the person to simply slide into it or be gently lifted. We make the person comfortable and add warm water— bubbles are optional!
For the "Salon" part of the Spa/Salon, we have a real salon station! Our patients can have a shampoo, shave, or makeup application, just like at a barber or beauty shop. Our nurse aides do a great job every day with personal care, and volunteer hairdressers, makeup artists and manicurists are welcomed!
I hope you enjoyed seeing more of our Hospice House. Bark atcha later!
