Friend in Winter: Ministering in Nursing Homes
Most nursing homes strive to meet the needs of residents, but many seniors languish in desperate need of companionship.
Modern elder-care facilities have come a long way in providing clean, attractive environments where the elderly can live out their sunset years with dignity and in relative comfort. Most quality nursing homes strive to care not only for their residents' physical needs, but to offer recreational and learning opportunities — everything from exercise classes to pet therapy. Still, nursing home staff may not have the time to provide the conversation and companionship so many seniors miss.
The problem is exacerbated by circumstances that put seniors in care facilities far removed from immediate family. Isolated from loved ones, many retreat into dreams of the past, simply waiting to die.
Some potential volunteers stay away from nursing homes, turned off by the sights and smells or perhaps frightened by the specter of their own looming old age. But for those who are able to move beyond their reservations, the rewards are worth every bit of the effort.
Consider the following suggestions for ministering to elderly nursing home residents in your community:
Are you "crafty?" Lead a small group of ladies in creating simple holiday centerpieces. The nursing home activity director may be able to provide supplies.
Are you creative with words? Lead a poetry workshop, using ideas and exercises gleaned from books like The Artist's Way.
Do you play the piano or love to sing? Print a few copies of classic church hymns (be sure to use large print) and lead a Sunday worship gathering. How about a game of "Name That Tune" using recordings of Big Band favorites?
Are you a gardener? Bring a bag of potting soil, some small clay pots and an eight-pack of fragrant herbs like rosemary or mint, and let some old-timers "dig in the dirt." This kind of sensory activity will stir fond memories for both men and women.
There are also one-on-one activities that can help coax a depressed senior out of a dark mood. Offer to style hair, polish nails, or do a cosmetic "makeover." No matter their age, women never tire of looking pretty.
Offer to play cards, write letters, and record happy childhood memories to pass along to distant family members. Such activities keep minds engaged and sharp.
For someone who is bedridden, you can bring comfort simply by holding a hand and reading Bible verses aloud.
These are activities that anyone at practically any age can facilitate. But as a midlife adult, you have a finer grasp of the emotions, needs and frustrations that accompany the aging process. Sometimes your ear and your empathy are all an elderly person needs to feel hopeful and valued.
Old age is a bridge we will all have to cross eventually. By making yourself available to a lonely senior today, you plant a seed that will assuredly yield fruit when comes the time that you, too, need a friend for comfort in this last life passage.
Roberta Rand Caponey is Senior Editor at Family Life Communications in Tucson, Ariz. She is formerly Online Editor of Focus Over 50.