This post is for friends of Dean Bishop. I am in Portland, OR, to visit Dean and has visited him twice. I've taken some pictures and a video of Dean saying hello to you all. Because of the number and size of the pictures and the video, this blog is the best way for me to share with all his friends. Otherwise, I'd have to send several emails to all of you and put the video on YouTube, which I really don't want to do. If you are not a friend of Dean, this post will be meaningless to you.
Dean is staying at the Gracelen Terrace, where he is recovering from his falls at St. Andrews'. If you want to know more about Gracelen, here is its website: http://www.gracelenterrace.com/
You can talk to Dean by calling Gracelen's phone number: 1-503-760-1727. Be prepared to wait, as it takes them time to find Dean and bring him to the phone. You can also write to him directly at the address: 10948 SE Boise Street, Portland, OR 97266, USA.
The facility is not very big but it appears to be very well run. There appears to be adequate staff members to take care of the patients. The afternoon that Jack and I first went there, they were getting ready for a jam session with some percussion instruments. Dean said he just watch and listen.
We sat outside in the courtyard and had a nice conversation with Dean. I was surprised to find him in good spirit and was his jovial self. He seems to accept his situation very well and is aware that he is having some medical and mental issues. On my second visit, I asked him if he knew what happened to him, he said he had a stroke. I brought up a lot of conversations and situations that he and I had and he had no trouble remembering them. I asked him about a couple of hotels that he used to stay in Singapore (Tai Ho) and Penang (Swiss Hotel) and he remembers them very well. However, when I asked him if he knows my name, he drew a blank. And I've known Dean for more than 40 years!
I asked him if he would like to go back to Thailand, he lit up and said yes. I asked him why and he said that's because he has lived there for a long time. I told him that he may not be able to get the kind of care that he is getting in the US, he didn't seen to be able discern the difference.
In my opinion, Dean is very well taken care of at Gracelen and I believe, at St. Andrews' as well. He realizes that he is having some issues but he is having a positive attitude about it. I know some of you think that Dean would be happiest in Thailand and I would agree with you. However, Dean is not the same Dean that we've all known and love for a long time. Even if he is medically fit today, he may not be 100% mentally able to take care of himself. Here in Portland, at both Gracelen and St. Andrews', he is constantly monitored by the facility staff. In Thailand, he'd have to be constantly monitored by someone. Another issue that all of us have to consider is the financials. In the US, he is taken care of by the VA (Veterans Administration) and Medicaid. Would these assistance be transferrable when he is in Thailand? If not, how is he going to pay for his medical bills and long-term care?Dean is staying at the Gracelen Terrace, where he is recovering from his falls at St. Andrews'. If you want to know more about Gracelen, here is its website: http://www.gracelenterrace.com/
You can talk to Dean by calling Gracelen's phone number: 1-503-760-1727. Be prepared to wait, as it takes them time to find Dean and bring him to the phone. You can also write to him directly at the address: 10948 SE Boise Street, Portland, OR 97266, USA.
The facility is not very big but it appears to be very well run. There appears to be adequate staff members to take care of the patients. The afternoon that Jack and I first went there, they were getting ready for a jam session with some percussion instruments. Dean said he just watch and listen.
We sat outside in the courtyard and had a nice conversation with Dean. I was surprised to find him in good spirit and was his jovial self. He seems to accept his situation very well and is aware that he is having some medical and mental issues. On my second visit, I asked him if he knew what happened to him, he said he had a stroke. I brought up a lot of conversations and situations that he and I had and he had no trouble remembering them. I asked him about a couple of hotels that he used to stay in Singapore (Tai Ho) and Penang (Swiss Hotel) and he remembers them very well. However, when I asked him if he knows my name, he drew a blank. And I've known Dean for more than 40 years!
I asked him if he would like to go back to Thailand, he lit up and said yes. I asked him why and he said that's because he has lived there for a long time. I told him that he may not be able to get the kind of care that he is getting in the US, he didn't seen to be able discern the difference.
I am hoping to see Dean one more time before I return to Phoenix next week. I am sure he'd like to hear from you, either by telephone or regular mail.
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| Dean and Jack |
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| Meng, Dean and Jack |
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| Dean |
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| Dean's bed and room |
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| Gracelen Terrace |
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