Comfort Zone

I'm a bit out of my 'comfort zone' this week. I usually am visiting nursing homes which are part of upscale Retirement Communities. The residents are retired physicians, lawyers, senators and generals and the average age is somewhere around 85. I feel like I am in a resort for senior citizens....which I am.


This week I am in downtown Milwaukee at a three story facility which cares for residents who average in age from 45 to 65 years old and who have complicated psychological and substances abuse histories. Many have spent at least some years on the streets, homeless. Some of the residents are the more typical nursing home resident....in their 80's, but not many. I am please to say, it is an excellent facility and does a great job with a complex population. Over the three days I have been here, I have become more comfortable with the situation. The regulations are the same, regardless of the clientele.


Not to say, I haven't had some startling situations. The first day I was here, the staff recommended an area with fast food for lunch. I headed that direction and found a KFC. I thought the grilled chicken a better choice than McDonald's, so I turned into the drive through lane. I wasn't there over a minute when a homeless lady accosted my car and started beating on the driver's window and yelling at me. At that point, my discomfort won and I left. I drove around until I found a McDonald's in a different neighborhood and bought a Happy Meal (11 points on Weight Watchers).


I may not loose weight, but at least I will survive.