Book Review: Positive Spin on Nursing Home Life
Second Wind, by Neil Shulman, and P. K. Belville, published by Rx Humor, 1995, is inspired by the real-life experiences of the authors, both of whom have hands-on experience in geriatric care. This novel about a fictitious nursing home in small-town Georgia brings its characters to life in the humorous but touching story of a facility trying to stay open despite financial hardships. For the most part, plot is secondary to character development and painting a rosy picture of life in a nursing home. The book is primarily a series of character sketches interspersed with moments of high drama, sidesplitting comedy, and the occasional tragedy or near tragedy.
The cast of seniors ranges from an ex-convict with a heart of gold to a sheltered multimillionaire. Everyone’s distinct and colorful personality is highlighted in episodic sketches of fishing trips, moneymaking schemes, beauty pageants, romances, family visits, and practical jokes. Even eccentricities, including those with slight mental dysfunction, are shown as having odd but endearing traits rather than requiring pity. By the book’s climax, the reader will know the people at Milly’s Merry Roost and want to personally help them keep the nursing home on its financial feet.
Second Wind showcases nursing home life at its best. Despite financial problems, life at Milly’s is quite idyllic. The nursing home staff genuinely cares about the residents. Although death and residents in comas or otherwise confined to bed are mentioned, the main characters are, for the most part, intact mentally and physically. Fully able to enjoy life, this cast of seniors squabbles good-naturedly like any large family. This picture may or may not reflect the state of most nursing homes, but it does show what life could be and implies standards to look for when considering a nursing home.
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