Russell Williams
Well-Known Member
Daily chair activism
If you do not believe in the existence of Louise Wolfe or you wish to tell me how you would not want me doing this for you please do not bother reading any further. I am not trying to get you out of the nursing home.
In the hospital Louise was flat on her back for 20 days. Monday night she was sent to the nursing home so that she could, through physical therapy, regain her strength and come home.
Tuesday and for half of the day on Wednesday Louise kept trying to find someone who would help her get into a wheelchair so that she could go to physical therapy. The people in physical therapy told her that it was the responsibility of the staff on her floor to help her get into a wheelchair. Those people on the floor who attended to Louise's needs told Louise that it was physical therapy's responsibility and besides they did not know how to use the lift and that there was not any extra help for them to get her into the chair. By Wednesday at 10:30 AM Louise was very annoyed and frustrated. I came to visit her, she told her problem, and I decided to pull Russell. Within 12 min. of the time I started she was out of bed and in a wheelchair.
What did I do? I behaved in a very friendly, and helpful, and cheerful manner. I went to the nurses station and explained to the person there that it was my understanding that the staff on the floor did not know how to use the lift machine. I explained that I had a Masters degree and that in the past I had been a certified teacher. I cheerfully explained that if they would give me the instruction booklets I would learn how to use the machine and then teach the staff how to use it. Before I got to the part about how I had helped the staff at Johns Hopkins learn that the bed Louise was in could have its width changed the staff member I was talking to was up out of her seat and headed down the hallway. She told the first person she met that Louise needed to be gotten into a wheelchair. The staff member explained that the staff member needed help. I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help!"
The staff member went further down the hallway and found another aid who also explained that she could not do the job alone. Again, I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help!"
The staff member saw third person and told her that she needed to get some help so that Louise Wolfe could be moved. . Again I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help!" This time my fingers hit the slowly rotating blade fan in the ceiling and made an interesting noise.
There was at least one more episode of, Again I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help! I then offered to find the lift and push it down the hallway so that was right next Louise's room. I was told that help was on the way.
I went back to Louise's room, told Louise that if nobody showed within 10 min. I would go down the hallway again and offer to help and teach. Within 3 min. of the time I entered the door to Louise's room four people and the lift came through the door and within two more minutes Louise was sitting in the wheelchair. Total elapsed time from the time I left to work on solving the problem to the time Louise was in the wheelchair somewhat less than 15 min.
Louise then said that it was too late to go to the morning physical therapy. I told her that we should go anyway, there might be somebody there and besides it had been 21 days since Louise was last out of a hospital type bedroom. We went to physical therapy and Louise got about 20 min. of physical therapy and before it was time to go to lunch.
If you do not believe in the existence of Louise Wolfe or you wish to tell me how you would not want me doing this for you please do not bother reading any further. I am not trying to get you out of the nursing home.
In the hospital Louise was flat on her back for 20 days. Monday night she was sent to the nursing home so that she could, through physical therapy, regain her strength and come home.
Tuesday and for half of the day on Wednesday Louise kept trying to find someone who would help her get into a wheelchair so that she could go to physical therapy. The people in physical therapy told her that it was the responsibility of the staff on her floor to help her get into a wheelchair. Those people on the floor who attended to Louise's needs told Louise that it was physical therapy's responsibility and besides they did not know how to use the lift and that there was not any extra help for them to get her into the chair. By Wednesday at 10:30 AM Louise was very annoyed and frustrated. I came to visit her, she told her problem, and I decided to pull Russell. Within 12 min. of the time I started she was out of bed and in a wheelchair.
What did I do? I behaved in a very friendly, and helpful, and cheerful manner. I went to the nurses station and explained to the person there that it was my understanding that the staff on the floor did not know how to use the lift machine. I explained that I had a Masters degree and that in the past I had been a certified teacher. I cheerfully explained that if they would give me the instruction booklets I would learn how to use the machine and then teach the staff how to use it. Before I got to the part about how I had helped the staff at Johns Hopkins learn that the bed Louise was in could have its width changed the staff member I was talking to was up out of her seat and headed down the hallway. She told the first person she met that Louise needed to be gotten into a wheelchair. The staff member explained that the staff member needed help. I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help!"
The staff member went further down the hallway and found another aid who also explained that she could not do the job alone. Again, I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help!"
The staff member saw third person and told her that she needed to get some help so that Louise Wolfe could be moved. . Again I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help!" This time my fingers hit the slowly rotating blade fan in the ceiling and made an interesting noise.
There was at least one more episode of, Again I raised my hand as high as I could and, in a cheerful voice, said, "I'll help! I'll help! I then offered to find the lift and push it down the hallway so that was right next Louise's room. I was told that help was on the way.
I went back to Louise's room, told Louise that if nobody showed within 10 min. I would go down the hallway again and offer to help and teach. Within 3 min. of the time I entered the door to Louise's room four people and the lift came through the door and within two more minutes Louise was sitting in the wheelchair. Total elapsed time from the time I left to work on solving the problem to the time Louise was in the wheelchair somewhat less than 15 min.
Louise then said that it was too late to go to the morning physical therapy. I told her that we should go anyway, there might be somebody there and besides it had been 21 days since Louise was last out of a hospital type bedroom. We went to physical therapy and Louise got about 20 min. of physical therapy and before it was time to go to lunch.
