This weekend was…..stable.

And in long-term care, stable is basically the gold standard — like, we don’t ask questions, we just say thank you and keep it moving.

It was Father’s Day weekend, which was noticeably quieter than Mother’s Day. We only have five men on our unit, so it wasn’t exactly a full production. No big sha-bang. No over-the-top decorations.

Well…except one of the aids understood the assignment and came in with balloon centerpieces — so we had some festive energy.

Add pizza to that, and we’re good.

The staff and I grabbed some for the residents, and they loved it. Simple, easy, no stress — my favorite kind of celebration.

We also had a new resident spending her very first weekend with us. She came in on Friday, and you could tell the anxiety was still sitting right on the surface. First weekends are never easy — new place, new faces, new routines….it’s a lot.

But this is where I have to give credit where it’s due.

One of the aides working with her was incredible. Calm, patient, reassuring — exactly what she needed. When she became upset and confused, he didn’t rush or brush it off. He sat with her, grounded her and helped her feel safe again.

At one point, he even did her nails just to give her something to focus on — something small, but it made a difference.

And what stuck with me the most?
At the end of his shift, when he was literally about to walk out the door, he turned back around to reassure her that he’d be back in a couple of days to take care of her again.

That kind of care…you can’t teach.

The rest of the weekend followed the same quiet energy.

No emergencies.
No chaos.
No “why is this happening right now” moments.

Which, if you work in healthcare, you know is just a little suspicious.

The weather was beautiful, so we got the residents outside for some fresh air and a little vitamin D. Those are the moments I always come back to — the quiet ones. Watching them sit in the sun, just enjoying the day.

It’s simple, but it matters.

Overall? A stable weekend. A peaceful weekend.

The kind where nothing goes wrong. And you’re just waiting for something to.

But it didn’t!

And honestly? I will take that!

Scrubs and Side Eyes
— Just trying to keep it together one shift at a time.