No Harm Done

About the Book

The following scenarios are presented as though seen through my mother’s eyes. She lived in two different nursing homes over a four-year period. The first purpose of these scenarios is to share experiences with which I had to work for the benefit and protection of my mother. The second purpose is to offer options, other than suing, to resolve anger and pain that others cause you through careless and thoughtless words and deeds. The third purpose is to let you know, that these are RNs, LVNs, and aides in nursing homes who care greatly about their residents. The fourth purpose is to stimulate your thinking about optional plans with which you can live out your life, other than in a nursing home. This is as important as spiritual, pre-need, and financial planning. Finally, the last purpose is to suggest that no one person can meet all the physical, psychological, social, leisure, and requirements for another human being.

About the Author

The author, Leah Palm, Lt. Colonel, US Army, Retired, worked as an occupational therapist for approximately thirty years. She provided services for special needs children, soldiers, and seniors. Some children suffered with Down syndrome and others suffered with fetal alcohol syndrome. The soldiers had amputations and burns. The senior’s experiences dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Colonel Palm’s formal education began with a business degree in 1957. She worked at the Kansas State Capitol and Ft. Riley, Kansas, for several years. Then she graduated with a BS degree in occupational therapy in 1966. Later she graduated with a MA degree in Language and Learning Disabilities. In spite of her extensive work experience, the most shocking occurrence happened in two nursing homes from 1998 through 2002. These were the four years her mother resided in two nursing homes. This case study describes the author and her mother’s scenarios during this period.