Aging & Identity

A long-term care ombudsman responds to a hotline call and uncovers severe neglect, then helps a dying nursing home resident reclaim dignity and choice.

A long-term care ombudsman meets a resident who can no longer speak—but still creates joy through handmade felt pins and quiet resilience.

“But one place isn’t the same as another. Not to the person who lives there.”

When I heard Pink Floyd playing in a nursing home, I realized the soundtrack had changed—and so had my place between my students and the residents. The work hasn’t changed. The people haven’t changed. Only the generations have.

“I wish I’d gone to Hawaii.”

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Stories Today’s issue might sound trivial to someone not living in an assisted living facility. Residents were frustrated that when CNAs wear their name badges on lanyards, the badge flips over. When it flips, residents can’t see the CNA’s name. That means they either have to wait for the badge to turn back around—or ask. Several staff members were in attendance. The administrator suggested something simple: ask the CNA their name. The residents were

When a vintage Duncan & Miller glass finally breaks, a grandmother reflects on heirlooms, memory, and the quiet freedom of letting cherished things be used.