THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 22, 1994 TAG: 9412200167
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Two years ago, after putting his wife into a nursing home, Edward Simms gave away all of the family's Christmas decorations.
Without his wife there, he just didn't have the heart to string the lights and decorate the tree anymore.
But this year, Simms' home in the Fox Hall section of Norfolk is trimmed with borrowed garland, miniature Santas and a lighted tree in preparation for a true family celebration. Mildred Simms, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, is coming home for the holidays.
``Even though she hasn't known me or where she is for the last five years, I know she would want to be home for Christmas,'' explained Edward, a 68-year-old retiree. ``The children and grandchildren will come in and bring lots of food and presents. Rather than me sitting beside her bed in that nursing home like we do every day . . . having her home will be like Christmas used to be.''
Simms is able to bring his wife home thanks to the generosity of the employees of Olsten Kimberly Quality Care, a home health agency based in Virginia Beach. The employees raise about $6,000 in funds throughout the year so they can pay for the care necessary to send home as many area nursing home residents as they can. This year, five nursing home residents from Norfolk were selected for the free home health care.
A Suffolk woman, Karen Dickson, also was chosen by the employees to receive help. A special education teacher at S.P. Morton Middle School in Franklin, Dickson cares for her elderly grandmother at home. Health-care workers will relieve Dickson during the Christmas weekend, so she can have time with other family members.
The contest is open to anyone who needs home health care and can't afford it, and wants to be home for the holidays. Family members or social workers submit letters to Olsten Kimberly, explaining why they should be considered.
``The Simms (story) really touched our hearts,'' noted Susan Hines, chairman of the contest. ``It's a true love story.''
Retired from the Navy and the civil service, Edward Simms cared for his wife at home for seven years before placing her in Sentara Nursing Center-Norfolk on Newtown Road in February 1993.
``It was one of the hardest things I ever did in my life,'' Edward Simms said. ``But it had gotten to the point where it was a day-and-night job caring for her. I had to put locks on the doors because she'd wander off. I couldn't even mow the grass because I was afraid she'd turn on the stove and burn herself. Once, I lost her at Be-Lo's (grocery store) and had to call the police to help me find her.''
Now, Edward Simms spends most of every day at the nursing home, helping to dress, feed and bathe his 76-year-old wife. He arrives at about 11 in the morning and leaves at 7 that night. He has missed just four days being there, time he spent in Georgia helping an ill sister.
``My wife and I have been through a lot in our 38 years together,'' he said. ``I've had cancer and TB, and she was right there for me.
``But I don't want no one to think I'm doing all this to pay her back. I love my wife dearly. Seeing her like this hurts. It really bothers me.''
Having her home, with her family gathered around for the holidays, will help ease the pain, he said.
``I'm so grateful to those people at (Olsten Kimberly),'' he said. ``There are only so many words to say thank you, and there's some things you can just never put into words. They're doing a very wonderful thing for me. I know it will be a very nice Christmas.'' by CNB