Poem: Living Colors (Nursing Home, Staff Shortage, Poor Vision, Alzheimers Disease, Hospice)

"Living Colors," a poem by Frances Shani Parker, is one of several original poems from "Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes," her nationally endorsed book. With poems, stories, and general information, "Becoming Dead Right" explores hospice care, urban nursing homes, caregiving, dementia, death preparations, and bereavement. Strategies for improving eldercare and nursing homes are examined. This groundbreaking book is published by Loving Healing Press.

Author's Website: http://www.FrancesShaniParker.com
Author's Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog: http://hospiceandnursinghomes.blogspot.com

Book Praise

"This may be Ms. Parkers greatest gift to her readers: bringing to life people and events that are indeed so often invisible. This book is truly a gift. The writing is eloquent and powerful, and the stories are instructive and lasting."
Dr. Peter A. Lichtenberg, Director, Institute of Gerontology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan

"This book is filled with poetry, stories, wisdom and common sense that can help boomers, students, caregivers and policy makers understand their own aging and realize that our society can - and should - make important changes that can ensure safe, dignified, individualized care at the end of our lives." Alice Hedt - Executive Director, National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform

"The second part of the book is about what we as individuals and as a society must do to improve things for those who are dying. I particularly enjoyed the guided tour, conducted from a wheelchair, of Baby Boomer Haven."
Dr. Roger Woodruff - Director of Palliative Care, International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia

"Ms. Parker gives us a wonderful examination of the nursing home experience, volunteers, and how we, in all areas of social service, can partner together to improve the delivery of the hospice philosophy. "
Karyne Jones - President, National Caucus and Center on Black Aged

"I highly recommend this book for every individual who has ever experienced the illness and death of a loved one or who ever will. That includes everyone."
Dr. Naomi Long Madgett - Editor, Publisher, Poet Laureate of Detroit, Michigan

"There is no better description of cross-generation bonding and mutual learning than is found in "Becoming Dead Right." Parker opens an amazing door of possibility with her lucid description of the loving intersects between school children and nursing home residents. "
James C. Kielsmeir, Ph.D., President, National Youth Leadership Council

"Ms. Parker leans on her years as educator and hospice volunteer to challenge us to look beyond stereotypes that pigeonhole our beliefs about what the elderly and the young can do when given the opportunity."
Nelda Brown, Executive Director, National Service-Learning Partnership at the Academy for Educational Development

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Hospice Poem
• Nursing Home Poem
• Staff Shortage
• Poor Vision
• Dementia Poem
• Alzheimer's Disease Poem
• Hospice Volunteer
• Becoming Dead Right
• Book
• Frances Shani Parker

[55ella2007k]

You would make a very good nurse: a huge dose of empathy coupled with a bit of humor:) Most people in nursing homes have already been discarded by our warped consumer society, but some of them, in fact, most of them, are still lucid enough to tell their stories. Even if nobody listens....

[GEra1129]

Bravo !!! A wonderful showing of sensativity and love.

Thanks for caring about our ederly as do I. I pray our society will uphold those who have paved the way in so many areas.

[Arm1nta]

You string beautiful words together that form such an accurate and vivid portrait of this experience. My mother died earlier this year of Alzheimer's and I was blessed to be able to care for her in her final year of life. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I plan to order and read your book.

[puertoito]

that was very touching..thank you

[tiswright]

Wow, you hit the nursing home eating experience on the head. It is one of the saddest experiences to watch. Thank you for your beautiful poem.