Two
years ago, we were able to visit my father-in-law on the Fourth of July. The Assisted Living Home where he stays had a
picnic in their parking lot. It was a
great time and I remember realizing that most of the men there had served in
the military during World War II. I felt
honored to celebrate the Fourth amongst such great company.
I think too many times, we forget
what interesting lives our elderly relatives have lived. Maybe it’s because we’ve heard the same story
over and over again. Maybe we need fresh
ears. But, if it’s fresh stories you
yearn for, there are volumes in the nursing homes.
Often times, the residents of
nursing homes feel isolated and alone. Most
nursing homes have activities such as Bingo or Birthday parties to try and curb
those feelings. These activities are a
great volunteer opportunity for those who enjoy working with the elderly. Meal times give residents an opportunity to
socialize, but many of them need to be transported to the dining room by
volunteers.
Taking some time to let a resident “bend
your ear” for a while, is a wonderful volunteer opportunity which enriches the lives
of the resident as well as the volunteer.
The resident can tell a story that their family has stopped listening to
and the volunteer will gain lasting memories.
It’s a win-win situation. I’ll
never forget the story a resident at a nursing home told me about taking the
train to Chicago. At the time, she was a
teacher taking her class on a field trip.
One of her students lost their tooth on the train. The description the teacher gave me of her “back
end up in the air” looking under the seats for her student’s tooth was
priceless. We both laughed until our
sides hurt.
In the month of January, please think
about those who are sitting in the nursing home alone, waiting for someone to
talk to. If you have a story about your
experience volunteering at a nursing home that you would like to share please
email me at sowaseednow@gmail.com.
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