I am working the front desk at an assisted living facility when two family members come up to look at the outing lists I have posted on the side of the desk.
Woman: “So… this outing today to [Mexican Restaurant]. Can she go on this?”
Me: “It looks like there’s enough space left! You’re welcome to sign her up.”
Woman: “But… then there’s this bus ride to tour [Local University Campus], too. How can she go to both?”
Man: “Yeah, that might be too much for her.”
Me: “Well, they’re both on different days.”
He points at dates in bold on the two sheets.
Man: “This one for the restaurant is for today and this one is for next week.”
Woman: “But if she goes to this one—”
She points to today’s outing.
Woman: “—at 11:30 and then the other at 1:00, she’ll have a really busy day and might get over-tired.”
The man is nodding along.
Me: “But… they’re not on the same day, so that wouldn’t be a problem. The restaurant outings usually take about two hours, sometimes two and a half or three with driving time. The bus tour takes around an hour. And our staff will always bring residents back who aren’t feeling up to it anymore.”
The woman nods while staring back and forth at both sheets.
Woman: “Okay… I’m just worried that two outings in one day might be pushing it.”
I am looking back and forth between the two.
Me: “They’re on separate days. This one is for today—” *points to it* “—and this one—” *points to it* “—is for next week. We only ever do one outing on a day.”
Woman: “I’m not sure… That’s quite a few hours out of the community in one day.”
Me: *Inner sigh* “Here.”
I pull out the calendar and point to today.
Me: “This is today. Today is the outing to [Mexican Restaurant].”
I slide my finger through the rest of the week and on to next Friday.
Me: “And here is the outing to [Bus Tour], a week from today. Each outing is a week apart, on different Fridays.”
Woman: “Hmm…”
Man: “But if she gets too tired doing two outings today, she can come back early?”
Me: *Giving up* “Yes, they will bring her back early if she gets too tired.”
Woman: “Okay, let’s sign her up for both of today’s outings, then.”
They signed the resident up for both of “today’s” outings and left. I have no idea where their brains were. Seriously, how else could I have explained it?! People have real issues paying attention.