Carveth Care resident ‘imparts knowledge and goodwill to the end’
‘People who come into nursing homes have more to give than just what they did in the past,’ says activity director
Wednesday March 3, 2010 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
The late Lappen O’Hearn, who lived as a resident of Carveth Care Centre for the last nine months of his life, demonstrated that elderly people have an important contribution to make to their communities, says activity director Donna Gibson.

“We’re getting to the stage where people who come into nursing homes have more to give than just what they did in the past,” Gibson tells the Morning Report.

She notes O’Hearn spent much of his final months reflecting on life and encouraging his family, residents and other community members with his words and attitude.

“He was just the kind of person who was always imparting knowledge and goodwill . . . who utilized his life fully even at the end,” the director notes.

In his final months O’Hearn, a former long-term care home operator and well-respected community member, wrote an article sharing his thoughts on aging and death.

Gibson points out that he did not hesitate to refer to his frailties, while maintaining a positive outlook.

“Due to my failing health I am now a resident in a nursing home, and I require assistance on a daily basis,” O’Hearn writes.

“Growing old is a very difficult process. As you slowly start to lose your abilities, your pride and your humility are shaken.”

He goes on to relate how dependent he has become on family and God.

“Everyone is born into this world . . . truly innocent and fully dependent on their parents. The same holds true later in life. You revert back to that childhood stage and you once again become dependent on family, friends and particularly God.”

He also mentions the Gananoque long-term care home where he resided.

“In a nursing home we are all at the same stage of our lives, and therefore you do see people in a different light. Humility should no longer be a factor, and the elderly are very much like children.”

O’Hearn adds that despite his circumstances he continues to be thankful for all his blessings, and that he looks forward to life after death in light of his Christian faith.

Gibson says she was affected by the article and impressed at the 87-year-old man’s decision to offer his reflections.

“I thought it was neat. How many people sit down at that age and pen something about the present, about being in a nursing home?” she says. “(It’s easy to) resign ourselves to, ‘Oh, we’re old, who will listen?’”

Gibson published O’Hearn’s article in the long-term care home’s newsletter, thinking other residents might relate.

“After we put his article in the newsletter we had people stopping and saying, ‘He was a great man,’” she notes. “People did listen.”

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