Alas, that hasn't been what I typically observe. It seems to me that when a "senior lifestyle residence" talks about personal care, their definition is far from mine. The realities of Personal Care units are typically so distant from anything remotely personal, I was tempted to consider the term a callous marketing device. But that possibility is contrary to my experience of the dedicated people who administer the senior communities I've come to know over the years.
Today, in the midst of baking blueberry muffins for our local college (exam week - I always keep them stocked with nibbles), it hit me. The heavens opened & enlightenment showered down! They mean personal attention, which they DO provide. People who live in the independent living section are almost entirely on their own; in the Personal Living unit, there's significantly more one-on-one interaction between staff & resident.
If that last sentence sounds a little cool, almost clinical, it's because that's how personal care units strike. While more personal attention is giving to the maintenance & management of each resident, I don't get much of a sense of truly personal care being the norm. The first focuses on a person's level of wellness, the latter to his or her well-being.
Amazing, the enlightenment that can strike setting a pan of just-baked muffins out to cool. I finally get what they mean by personal care. Are they able to get how I mean it?
Will more AH HA! moments come my way, as my baking continues through the week? Stay tuned!
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