What do you want to wear in that Nursing Home?

One of the saddest tasks I have ever undertaken was to find nursing homes for my Step Dad and then my Father in Law, 2 years later. They both had advanced dementia and were unsafe at home. As a nurse and the family gofer. I visited every EMI (Elderly Mentally Impaired) nursing home in two counties in South Wales UK. to find the best suited to their needs.

Now begins my point. There were homes with excellent standards, plenty of staff and clean relatively contented residents. There were also the opposite, unhappy neglected people covered in food and worse. One thing very many of them had in common was very grandiose clothing for their environment. In the better homes, ladies had hair dos to match their finery. But still wedding attire is not what Id be comfortable in at the best of times.

Its one of those realisations that become crystal clear with hindsight. What are our wardrobes full of as we get older? All that stuff we keep for best. Or never liked anyway. Both my Dads had suits, shirts, ties and blazers galore. Their comfy stuff was worn out. Fortunately we were there to make sure they had what they needed.

Moral of the tale. Wear your good stuff, that you like, now. Charity shop the rest. And if I outlive my nearest and dearest I will be leaving a ‘living will’ with clear instructions. Comfy joggers and tops please and absolutely no sequins. Sequins and porridge; bad look!