Rhonda Baker

Administrator, Shelbyville Rehabilitation & Health Care Center

With our nation's annual National Nursing Home Week commencing on Mother's Day, May 11th and continuing through May 17th. This special week is the ideal time to showcase the abundance of Love within our community. From our nursing home residents who make our lives richer, and to our caregivers who provide compassionate service to our community's most vulnerable seniors-the display of boundless love is always among us.

Appropriately, “Love is Ageless” is this year's National Nursing Home week theme. When we think of Ageless Love, some of us think of eternal love for a spouse, parents or children while others may think of love of country, or even love for a special time period or event during one's life. Regardless of what or whom we choose to love, there is one characteristic if love everyone can agree with: real love endures beyond life itself.

An individual's age, gender, wealth, or beliefs do not matter, because genuine love, like genuine caring, transcends the daily trials, tribulations and challenges for the aged, their families and those who care for them. Throughout life, love can come at us fast and stay forever. It can be profound-creating memories that seldom fade. Or, Love can be simple acts of humanity - such as respect, selflessness, kindness, gentleness, helpfulness, patience, and caring.

Attending to another's health and well-being remains one of the finest and noblest callings imaginable, and the men and women staffing America's 17,000 nursing facilities demonstrate daily their ageless love and commitment to helping others. The fact Mother's Day coincides with the beginning of National Nursing Home Week should give us the pause to consider the many challenges to long-term care that must be addressed in order for our mothers, parents, friends, and neighbors to receive the care and dignity they deserve in their golden years.

Let us aim this year to focus on the love we experience daily, within our own midst. In our facility, and within our larger community, are the residents, staffers, volunteers, family members and others who always make a positive difference, and who merit attention due to their kindness, compassion and sense of selfless empathy for friend, acquaintance and stranger alike. Those of us at Shelbyville Rehabilitation &Health Care Center, urge our community to join in this year's National Nursing Home week observance by sharing their ageless love-by visiting our residents, sharing some life stories, and recognizing the high quality of care our facility is working hard to provide every day of the year.