Jan's Blog

Jennie, our founder

To everyone, this is going to be VERY out of the box for my blogs BUT it can't be helped. For some reason many people still don't understand how 'fragile' some of our the Elderly population is? Now I certainly can't understand how they can't know. It baffles my mind to see this 'in action' in this day and age and if you can imagine, under the watchful eyes of Volunteers who Volunteer their time to visit these facilities and actually see the 'neglect' for lack of a better word. Neglect in the fact, facilities are understaffed OR have staff that have NO business working in a Care facility. I and several members here in Tampa have witnessed this first hand at one of our facilities. After finding unacceptable conditions for Memory Care Residents a letter to Corporate was sent explaining what we found and how dangerous this was for those living at this facility. Corporate even has a disclaimer on their website how they do 'not retaliate' against anyone bringing up any concerns? Well retaliation did come to me for writing this letter. Our visits were 'suspended' just before Christmas. With a sudden memory lapse and after the media became involved our visits resumed. We have been continually harassed in one way or another while making our visits to this facility. Corporate has yet to respond in writing to two letters sent? I have no doubt they are busy, BUT they collect a monthly income from these Residents and expect them to be treated like they are unimportant. An Assistant Activity Director even told me while I was there on a Sunday and questioned where the activities were? It was like walking into a tomb? Her response was something I will never forget. She replied laughingly 'we have activities Monday to Friday and on the weekends we let them rest' I replied geeez with memory Care Residents do you really believe they know if it's a weekend? With some almost falling out of chairs and sitting like zombies?? Sure surprised me. Then we were escorted out on Super Bowl Sunday by a new employee, if you can imagine, their new Community Relations Director. She informed us there was a Super Bowl party for families and Residents at 10:30 AM and she escorted us both immediately out. This was at 10:45 AM.
Even though the sign in the front entrance stated the Party was at 1:00 PM and that was even changed to
2:00 PM. We were told we were 'not' on their calendar to be there. The Memory Care Director had given us a hand written note several visits before stating our time to visit, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. Seems misteriously absent from any calendar we found, actually we never did find their calendar? We have taken a stand and been contacted by some family members that will tell us what they see and hear but are afraid to come forward for fear of retaliation against their loved ones there? How incredibly sad is that? I can tell you I wouldn't place anyone I knew at this facility, we will continue our visits with our friends at this place and I will continue to not recommend this facility to anyone who asks me for a recommendation of where to place their loved one who is now in need of 'extra care'. Sometimes I wonder how some people can sleep at night knowing this is what they are doing and NOT doing to the Elderly? Just amazes me. To all of you out there that have someone you love in a Care facility, question things if you see something not right, don't be afraid to ask the questions that need to be asked. If you love them as you say you do? protect them as they would protect you. Thanks for listening and the name and location of this facility I am NOT recommending is Emeritus at Northdale in Tampa, FL. Thanks and take care.

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Noah the Dove

These little bunnies, about 6 days old, were attacked by a dog and orphaned. Two out of the litter of five did not survive, and these three were not doing very well.

Noah is a non-releasable, one-legged homing pigeon/rock dove that is in the rehab centre. Noah kept going over to the bunny cage and looking in -- even sleeping in front of the door to the cage.

Then, suddenly, there were only two bunnies in the cage. But when Noah moved a bit from the front of the cage to everyone's surprise...there was the tiny bunny...under Noah's wing...sound asleep! That little bunny rabbit had crawled through the cage, preferring a featherbed, no doubt to snuggling up with its littermates!

Now, they are all together and the bunnies are doing GREAT. When the bunnies scoot underneath Noah's feathers, he carefully extends his wings out to surround them and then they snuggle. When one of them moves and they start sticking out here and there, he gently pushes them back under him with his beak! It is beautiful and amazing to see...
This is what God does with us when we need the warmth and love He offers. He gathers us under His loving wings to a warm cradle of protection. All we need do in return is give Him the thanks and praise for being with us.
Update on Noah the pigeon:
We are Bob and Georganne Lenham of Wild Rose Rescue Ranch in Texas, home of Noah the Pigeon.
After finding many posts online featuring Noah and the bunnies and reading about the many lives he has touched (his story has been forwarded around the world) we thought we'd post a follow-up and a few new photos.
We knew there was something special about Noah the moment we saw him.
Although the bunnies seem to be his favorite, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch...

Noah's first litter of bunnies, almost raised and ready for release.
Photo © Bob Lenham
Now, Noah helps out with many rescue babies here at the ranch...
How wonderful it is to have a full-time soft-feathered nurturer here at the rescue ranch! He cuddles with all the babies as they snuggle under his warm feathers...and he "coos" as if singing them to sleep with a lullaby.
Noah is truly, truly a God-send.