A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.”
Abraham J. Heschel quotes (Jewish theologian and philosopher, 1907-1972)
I only ran 3 miles this morning (I’m very busy these days) and it was hardly enough time to conjure up new resolutions to old problems!
However, thoughts on compassion come freely to me, since I work in the most compassionate environment at Regency Nursing Centers in New Jersey.
The truth is one needn’t be religious to cultivate feelings of compassion for another. Even an apostate has the ability to develop compassion since the apotheosis (yes, it’s a word: ‘google’ it) of compassion isn’t fettered by belief or religiosity.
I speak to families regarding our compassionate care ad infinitum. Alas, I cannot stop and I cannot help myself, because above all else, Regency Nursing Facilities are compassionate places.
Our compassion is palpable and it starts at the very top with our Regency Founder, whose big heart and compassion flows and flows, freely and bountifully.
So what’s the big deal and why does compassion carry the day in senior healthcare?
The answer is simple, yet profound.
A nursing home can have the most beautiful grounds, the most delicious food, the best therapy and recreational programs and an aeviternal set of other attributes. However, without compassion, they are a complete zero and a disaster in the making.
When you read about horror stories in certain nursing homes, the common theme is always their basic lack of compassion.
As a case in point, I have been closely monitoring an unfortunate developing story recently, where a Polk County Florida, jury awarded $1.1 billion in damages for the death of Arlene Townsend, who died after her 17th reported fall in three years at the nursing home responsible for her care (Arlene Townsend v. Briar Hill, Inc., 2009CA-00125 Polk County, Florida). The verdict is the largest amount of damages awarded, undoubtedly getting the attention of both large nursing home conglomerates and nursing home attorneys alike. (See July 24, 2013 Christian Post)
“Aside from the sheer magnitude of this nursing home negligence verdict, this case is notable because it is representative of an emerging trend where the public has started to recognize that patients in nursing homes are truly at the mercy of the people who control these facilities. Sure, anyone can make a mistake, but when there are ongoing problems at a facility, there is a larger problem lurking which really is a broken system,” noted attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, a law firm that represents individuals and families in nursing home negligence matters.
One has to ask, why do such things occur at nursing homes where caregivers are entrusted with the care of other human beings?! How does it come to pass that a resident should be neglected in such a significant manner?!
The answer, in my opinion, is that it stems first and foremost from a severe lack of compassion.
Where there is no compassion, there is no humanity.
If you or a loved one require skilled nursing or post acute rehabilitation in the State of New Jersey and wish to experience real compassion in action, you owe it to yourself to schedule a tour with any of our statewide Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers across New Jersey.
Visit us at www.RegencyNursing.com
