Thank you

Scott Evans,

I am writing to you to show my appreciation and that my family, in regards to the around the clock care my mother, Evelyn Ballard de Ghetaldi, MD (picture above) has received since she entered in as a resident at the Elms several years back. Please also share this information with Kathleen and June. The three of you have been there with either admitting her or helping with her twice a year reviews.

It seems to me that time does fly by and the years have gone by since my mother did move into your "home". She is now 98 years "young" and it is clear she is changing, weakening and has increased needs, it has meant your staff has needed to adapt and help her with the various changes. I know that the demands must be overwhelming for the staff at times, but I do know it is done with true caring.

I am on the first to call list for her everyday needs while my brother Larry, oversees her medical needs/ questions with your staff and my brother Dario, oversees the bill, ect. As you know we are very busy with our careers and my sister Anne and I both live in San Diego area. Visiting her is often a challenge as we live so far away. I do call my mother everyday at 4:00 and I also call her again during the day if I receive word from the staff at the Elms addressing any new needs my mother might be having.

Maribel Carino has been my main link with every day updates, as needed, and I cannot thank her enough. She is always on top of things and shows a clear caring regard how we all can help my mother through life's transitions. David Madero has recently also been on the phone with me and he too, is so caring. I have never felt otherwise. The PCA's that help and assist my mother are Dora Aguilar, Shirley Osorio, Anabel Velasco, Rosario Toledo and Flor Flores. We all have observed them at one time or another and even when my mother has had a struggle with a particular issue needing help, they have always treated her with empathy. That is something that I address with my students at my College of Education and Health and Human Services at California State University San Marcos. We have students pursue degrees in medicine, nursing (in fact our Nursing program had the #1 Palliative Care rating in the entire CSU system), PT, OT, RT, Kinesiology, Health Sciences, Human Development, Speech Pathology and Education. I oversee all graduating seniors in Kinesiology and Health Science in a 495 level Internship course. The first meeting we have, I show this very video clip of Brene Brown talking about the differences between Sympathy and Empathy. Your staff knows the difference and for that I am eternally grateful for. Here is the link for "Sympathy vs. Empathy"

It is the empathy that it is which draws connections between the residents and with their Caregivers. Because of this, I send my deepest thank you's and sincere gratitude for the care my mother is receiving at the Elms.

Of Course, thank you to you also Scott!

Sincerely,
Dr. Laura de Ghetaldi
Faculty Lecturer
Department of Kinesiology and Health Services
College of Education, Health and Human Services
California State University San Marcos
Daughter of Evelyn Ballard de Ghetaldi

P.S.
My brother Lawrence de Ghetaldi, MD, mentioned that the other day, as he watched my mother's care givers help her, he later expressed how touched he was to see that my mother was treated with such caring dignity. That word dignity need to be capitalized - DIGNITY. Our lives unfold, change, evolve and begin to close up like a nighttime flower. That flower sleeps until the next sunshine, whenever it may rise. If the morning comes and does not do so upon that next rising, I know that you are all doing the best you can to care for your family at the Elms. Thank you all for watching over those that are closing their long-lived blossoms.