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（接上期）
丙、住客
8.藥物：建議所有藥物應集中儲藏於藥櫃內，在每一小格上，標註每個住客的姓名與藥名。為了安全起見，住客的藥不得放在自己房內。應確定這些藥物確實服用了，因為有些人不愛吃藥，就會把它丟掉。
9.睡眠：老年人睡眠要充足。盡量避免他們白日或午後睡覺，因為這樣子晚上睡不著時會給自己及他人添麻煩。要確定屋內及住客都夠暖和。
丁、問題住客
1.夜遊者：這類人晚上睡不著在屋內遊逛，開旁人房間。把他鎖在房內是不合法的，可是對其他人他又真是大麻煩。跟他家人和醫生研究，有什麼方法可以減輕問題。一定要確定他不要在半夜無人注意時跑出房外去。
2.抱怨者：這類人，時時刻刻，凡事埋怨。他可能打電話給外面人去訴苦。跟他的親友談談，有沒有辦法幫助他。
3.阿爾滋海默氏（一種早老性癡呆症）：這種病嚴重時會使病人腦筋糊塗，自己或孩子的名字，什麼也不記得。目前科學還無法治癒這種侵襲腦部的濾過性病。病患可能表現得安靜而不傷害人，不過有時就變得很暴戾，所以您要拿定主意，是不是可以應付得了這種住客。
4.巴金森病患：病人時時會發抖，關節漸漸萎縮。疾病初期，他仍能行走並且自己吃飯；但到病情加重時，四肢僵硬，甚至無法將食物從盤子舉放口中。您要決定能不能幫他忙。
以上這兩種病，就我們所知是不會傳染的。
戊、佛化環境下，看護老人的幾點考慮：
1.是否要有執照。有政府執照，便會受到種種政府法規的限制；不過在申請政府或私人的贊助費時，則比較有利。
2.有執照的老人院，若有六位以上老人住院時，政府的規定比較嚴格，例如：
–消防部門規定：門要有四十吋寬，還有測 煙器和灑水噴嘴等亦為必要。
–州政府第廿二號法規，對老人院裡的工作人員與老人安全有許多規定。
3.建築設備須包括大眾的活動空間、臥室、餐廳和一間佛堂以進行日常佛事。這樣老人在冬天時，則不必露天走到佛殿去。
4.住客可分成男女兩組，各指定或選出一位或一組領導人。
5.在社區內，住客如能接近一位師父、法師、有愛心的工作人員和守望相助的同伴，都會有莫大的利益。
6.只提供素食。
7.工作人員照顧住客時，可以修行孝道，對待他們如同親身父母一般。
8.日常功課可以包括早晚課、大悲懺、靜坐、聽經和懺悔等適合之活動。
9.可以派法師們來講經或帶動法會。
10.每一位住客和工作人員，皆遵守萬佛聖城六大宗旨。
11.以淨土法門的修行為主。使住客熟悉念
阿彌陀佛聖號和使用念珠。教他們預做準備，在臨終時無有恐懼。
12.在適當情形下，安排生日宴會、朝聖、陘帡悒[其他地方的典禮宴會，如法界佛教總會一九九三年洛杉磯和一九九四年沙加緬度的敬老壽宴等。
編按：孝養父母長上，不僅是宣公上人經常對弟子的訓示，也是佛制諸佛子的要項。謹以此文提供讀者一些實際的著眼處，並歡迎您回響有關照顧老人的心得或困難。
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（Continued from last issue）
III. The Resident
8. Medication: It is recommended that all medication be centrally stored. A medicine cabinet is used to this effect, with small compartments bearing the names of each resident and containing their medicines. No resident is allowed to keep medication in his own room for safety reasons. Make sure the medication is actually taken by the resident, because you will find out that some do not like the medicine and throw it away.
9. Sleep: Older people need to get enough sleep. Avoid daytime naps if possible, because those who take siestas are less likely to sleep at night and may cause more problems for themselves and for others. Make sure that the room is warm enough, and the resident is warm enough.
IV. The "Problem" Resident
1. The wanderer: This type of person cannot sleep at night and wanders around the house, opening other people's rooms. It is not legal to lock him up in his room. But he is very bothersome to the others in the house. Talk to his family and/or to his doctor to see what can be done to help ease the problem. Make sure he does not go out of the house in the middle of the night unnoticed.
2. The complainer: This person complains all the time about anything. He may use the telephone to complain to people outside the Residential Care Home. Share this with his family, and discuss with his relatives what can be done to help.
3. Persons with Alzheimer's disease: At an advanced stage of this disease, the patient is confused and does not remember anything, even his own name or the name of his children. At present, science cannot cure this illness, which is caused by a virus that attacks certain parts of the brain. The patient may ordinarily be quiet and harmless, and yet at times become violent. It must be determined beforehand whether or not you can handle this kind of resident.
4. Persons with Parkinson's disease: The sick person shakes frequently, and his joints shrink gradually. In the early stage of the malady, he can still walk and maybe feed himself. But at an advanced stage, his limbs are stiff and he can't even bring the food from the plate to his mouth. You must decide whether or not you can help him.
Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are, to our knowledge, not contagious.
V. Some Thoughts on Caring for the Elderly in a Buddhist Environment
1. Decide whether or not a license should be obtained. A government license places us under the rules and regulations of the issuing agency, but it would be helpful in case we want to apply for grants from government or private foundations.
2. If more than six persons are served, and if a license is held, the applicable laws are much more stringent. Examples:
- Fire Department regulations: doorways must be 40" wide, smoke detectors and sprinklers are required, etc.
- Title 22 of the state government contains many rules and regulations concerning personnel and the safety of clients.
3. We would have a compound including living quarters, bedrooms, a dining room, and a Buddha Hall where the daily ceremonies would be performed. Then the elderly would not have to go outdoors to go to the main Buddha Hall in the winter.
4. Residents could be organized into two groups: males and females, with a leader or team of leaders appointed or elected by each group.
5. In such a compound, residents would benefit from the presence of a Master, the Dharma Masters, a caring staff, and a mutually supporting group of peers.
6. Only vegetarian food would be served.
7. The staff would learn to practice filial piety while serving the residents, considering them as their own parents.
8. Daily living would consist of morning recitation, the Great Compassion Repentance, evening recitation, sitting meditation, lectures, and repentances as appropriate.
9. Dharma Masters would be assigned to lecture on sutras or to conduct ceremonies as applicable.
10. All residents and staff would follow the Six Guidelines of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.
11. Pure Land practices would be the prevalent form of cultivation. Residents would learn to recite Amitabha Buddha's name and to use recitation beads. They would be taught to prepare to face the last moment of their lives with courage.
12. As appropriate, we could organize birthday parties, pilgrimages, and trips to attend ceremonies at other facilities and banquets in honor of the elderly like those held by Dharma Realm Buddhist Association in Los Angeles in 1993 and Sacramento in 1994.
Editor's Note: The practice of filial piety toward one's parents and elders is not only the frequent topic of the Venerable Master Hua's instructional talks, but also the essential regulatory practice prescribed for all Buddhist disciples. We provide the practical points in this article for you to consider, and sincerely welcome your responses regarding your experiences or any difficulties you have encountered in taking care of the elderly.
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