Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 2, Number 42, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 March 1933 — The Household [ARTICLE]

The Household

By LYDIA LE BARON WALKER

There are certain things which can be done without cost for the comfort of an invalid or aged person, which things so smooth the wrinkles away from life that they react to the actual good health of the one cared for. It will be found that everything mentioned today is a trifle in itself. These same things mount to the size of large ones if one cannot change them, and has to endure or add to the work of others by asking to have them altered. One trifle is in shutting bureau drawers so that there is no little line of opening through which contents of the drawers are visible. How one can be bothered by such a trifle! Instead of the decorative front of the bureau being presented to view a gaping front devoid of beauty stares one in the face. The person who has a restricted area within his vision should have this area as pleasing to look upon as possible. Let No Door Slam! Another trifle is in the noiseless shutting of doors, especially those into the room of the invalid or aged person. Sudden sounds are distressing, yet there are many invalids who have to endure them silently, or be called querulous. If an invalid once gets catalogued as impatient, or exacting, such characterizing clings. It helps both caretaker and patient if the former learns to close doors silently. It can be done, if not absolutely silently, with a minimum of sound. A little practice will prove this. Turn the knob as far as it will go before opening or shutting the door. Hold the knob firmly. Close or open the door before releasing the grip, and then do it slowly. In a short time this can be done almost as quickly as carelessly opening and closing the door with noisy results. Be sure to oil hinges which squeak. And, by the way, rub edges of drawers with soap when they stick or squeak, and remove such an annoying sound. Disturbing Draughts Beware of letting air filter through a crack in a door not quite closed. It matters little whether the current be of cold or warm air, the draught is

disturbing. Either leave the door wide open or closed tight. To have to remind a person just leaving a room, to please close the door, bothers the one making the request almost as much as the one listening. A little care can eliminate such bothers. Specific instances of disturbing sights and sounds have been given, indicating their trivial nature. Other examples will occur to you, such as pictures hanging a trifle out of plumb, the rustling of paper, either of newspaper or pages of a book as they are turned. Whatever disturbing sounds or sights can be avoided in a sick room, should be eliminated both for the comfort of the Invalid and the caretaker. ©, 1933, Bell Syndicate.--WNU Service.