Reality Check 11

As the weekend approached, the lives of the residents in the retirement home returned to normal, at least what was considered to be normal for them. 

Over the weekend, the security guards would change every twelve hours, as usual. The young female trainee had the weekend off, as would most of the regular staff. The kitchen staff was reduced to a minimum, as were the  laundry room attendants and those who were responsible for keeping the retirement home clean.

The matron always took every weekend and holiday off. The nurse supposedly had the weekend off too, but both her and the doctor could be called in at any time, for any emergencies.

"This has been a very, long week," thought the nurse to herself, as she prepared the weekend medications and distributed them to the residents.

"If they can take responsibility for their medication on weekends and holidays, they should be able to do so the rest of the time too, with the exception of a few who are mentally impaired."

Everyone did surprisingly well without supervision on the weekends.

"Not having the matron around is a blessing in disguise," the nurse thought to herself, as she watched her leave earlier than usual. "That woman gets away with murder. I don't agree with her idea that no one is needed to  supervise the residents though, as anything could happen."

"If something does happen, you will deal with it then," the matron had told her when she expressed her concern previously. To the matron, the residents were never her concern, as the budget did not allow for that. Her job description was that of 'running' the facility and she saw to it that it was 'run like a tight ship'.

"But times are changing," the nurse had argued. "People are changing too and seniors are extremely vulnerable."

"That is why we have twenty-four hour security guards here." 

The the nurse, that was not her understanding of the role of matron.

The missing resident, Amos, still had not returned or notified anyone of his whereabouts, not even Yvette, who thought he might try to contact her. The interpreter was now spending about an hour a day with her and according to her, Yvette did not say anything about where Amos had gone. Maybe she really did not know. When the interpreter suggested to her that he might not return at all, she burst into tears.

"He is the only one I can talk to," she had replied, when asked why she was crying. "He has to come back!"

The police decided not to lay any charges against Yvette, at least not at this time because there was no evidence that there had been a crime committed. She was already distraught enough, agreed the security guards who promised to keep an eye out for her, because if he did return, there could be a problem. They also suggested that he might have to be sent to a nursing home where he could be supervised more closely.

The interpreter suggested that maybe another person could move into his room, but the police officer advised against doing that. They told the security guard to treat him as if nothing had happened, but to let them know if he returned. 

"I have a better idea," suggested the nurse to the interpreter. "You probably know someone around her age who can speak Spanish fluently. Maybe she could become a resident here at some time in the near future." She knew that there were always residents moving in and out. 

"Yvette really seemed to like that idea," she told the nurse, just as she left for the weekend. "I will see what I can do. That might solve the problem, too."

"I will see you on Monday," said Ralph, smiling at her.

She smiled back thinking, "Hopefully not before then."