"Mr. Ellis where are you going?" A sharp-eyed nursing assistant asked as she observed his movements. Jacob stopped at hearing his name. He turned around.
"I'm going to meet my wife and children. We'll be back to visit with mother." He explained and the assistant smiled slight shaking her head. She made her way around the desk and caught up with him by his side. She looped her arm with his.
"Mr. Ellis, I'm sorry but your wife and kids couldn't make it today." She said as she gently nudged him back around and began leading him back to his room.
"No, then where's momma? I've got to get back home." He explained in his dementia.
"Remember you moved here? This is home now. I'll call your son and daughter to see if they can make it soon." She gently explained. Mentioning his son and daughter always calm him down. Whenever he felt like there was some hope of seeing them he easily complied with going back to his room and waiting patiently for tomorrow.
"Markus and Dinah… Are they coming soon?" He asked and the excitement was evident in his voice.
"I'm not sure, but I'll call them tomorrow." The assistant knew the right words to say and for the nursing home it was good that tomorrow never came in the minds of their patients who suffered from dementia. The nursing home staff had long since stopped calling his children as most of the times the calls would go unanswered and be transferred over to voicemail.
"Now go to sleep Mr. Ellis and I'll give Markus and Dinah a call to see what time will they be here tomorrow." She assured him. With her assurance, Jacob climbed into bed quietly, happily awaiting tomorrow to come.
* * * * * * * *
Once the nursing assistant had gotten him into bed she went back to the front desk and reclaimed her unfinished work. She was organizing the delinquent accounts so that the morning clerk would have her list tomorrow of past due accounts to call for collection. She opened up the database on her computer screen and shook her head. Mr. Jacob Ellis name was at the top of the list. His account was more than three months behind. Another month behind and they would be forced to evict him and move him to a state ward. It was sad she thought. He was one of their less than difficult patients and seldom caused trouble. However it couldn't be helped if his family refused to pay the monthly fees.