Waiting with the call light on…

It happened again and it happens once in a while. Yesterday morning I was put in the bathroom before 7 AM. I'm always careful to put the call light on so my day shift aide does not have to wait for me..

I was pretty sure the call light went on at 7:05 a.m. Ten minutes later no one had come to answer it. I wondered what was going on. I had a feeling one of the aides called off, or was coming late. On the weekends we only have three aides anyway. So, if one of them calls off, it can be a challenge. Usually, one of the aides steps up and helps out.

When I was sitting for what I thought was fifteen minutes (with no clock or watch to check), I started getting concerned. I thought maybe there was a problem with one or more other residents.

I listened for what I could hear. The female resident in the next room had her radio or CD player on, which made hearing difficult. I heard no nurse closing med cart drawers passing medicine. Nor, did I hear anything else.

It was just so strangely and deadly quiet.

When I realized it was probably twenty minutes since I put my call light on, I considered calling "NURSE" to try to get some attention. But, I was afraid the aides would think I was exhibiting a behavior. So, I sat quietly. I tried to pray to keep me occupied, but it didn't work very well.

The minutes ticked by, and I didn't know what to think. I realized if an aide did not get to the bathroom until 7:40 a.m., or so, there would not be enough time to get me washed up and ready to go to breakfast at 8 AM.

At one point while I was waiting, I heard the door to my room open and close. I thought it was an aide coming to check on me. I thought I heard voices, but then I heard nothing. I figured maybe my roommate just walked out of the room and closed the door.

About five minutes later an aide came in. She was followed by my aide who got to work late due to car trouble. I was upset. I wondered why no one had helped me, or even started my washup. Then, I asked if they wanted to put me back in bed. The nurse acted perplexed, like she hadn't even considered that, and I dropped it.

Because I was upset, the aides got the nurse who supervised and assisted with my abbreviated washup. They washed only vital parts that they felt needed it. Then, the nurse assisted my aide to dress me and comb my hair. I was transferred into my power chair and headed to breakfast.

They had done things so quickly my head was spinning. I was upset, and distressed at being left, or maybe forgotten. But I dropped it.

I guess I can never adequately explain how terrified I felt waiting in that bathroom with my call light on.