I have seen many nice volunteers at nursing homes. When my mom was in rehab at a nursing home I saw a man playing a violin. I saw gospel singing on Sundays, guitarists, piano players, arts and crafts volunteers, people who volunteered in the gardens, etc.
I did something so simple but I became popular very quickly! LOL
I brought individually wrapped ice cream and cookies and handed out to the people who the staff said could have it.
What gave me the idea was as I was buying a snack for my mom out of the vending machine and a woman rolled up to me in her wheelchair and asked me to please buy something for her. She said that she had no money and wanted something sweet. I asked the nurse if I could and she said anyone without diabetes I could buy for. This lady didn’t have diabetes and she loved her package of cookies.
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Some people truly are an inspiration! We need more in this world with the attitude like the man you knew.
Perfect! My mother loves lotions. My great aunt used to drown herself in Oil of Olay!
Their skin gets so dry.
The Knights are awesome!
I’d like to hear you play! Sounds cool.
The only dulcimers I've heard are the hammered dulcimers, through the music and recordings of Maggie Sansone, as well as a concert at a wonderful fall arts and crafts show.
It was a perfect day and background for a dulcimer concern (with other instruments as well) ...ducks were swimming in the narrow stream that ran through the campgrounds, people were sitting on the ground enraptured by the music, and elsewhere vendors were selling their wares.
It's where I met both of the herbal suppliers from whom I buy, where charming dogs accompany their owners, and where I once got to hug a big, drooly, affectionate and loveable Newfie.
When edema happened with mom, size 11 became too small so I had to buy men’s socks that run larger, same with shoes.
I had to buy men’s tennis shoes because they were available in larger sizes. So I would say not to forget people with big feet.
Great idea to donate socks, JoAnn.
I think socks is one of the number one request for the homeless. I didn’t realize it with the nursing homes. So true though about laundry losing socks! I do it all of the time. Hahaha 😂
Would you suggest non slip socks like my mom uses? That is what the occupational and physical therapist recommended for her.
Usually Medicaid recipients get an allowance from SS every month but its not much. My state its $50. Maybe find out what she needs clothing wise. Socks are a big thing. The more the better. They seem to be the last thing they fold. Think of it, hundreds of socks that have to be matched and made sure they get to the right person. Might need a new top or two. A nice bathrobe.
You are so right about the children singing. I volunteered at my children’s schools.
I always said yes when the teacher asked me to chaperone my children’s preschool classes to sing Christmas carols to the residents at nearby nursing homes.
There was a beautiful grand piano in the lounge area where the teacher would play lovely holiday music. The children loved it as much as the residents of the home.
At Mardi Gras time we had the seniors up and dancing along because we had parades and marched through the home! Hahaha, I forgot about that until just now.
We threw beads and trinkets to them. Many of the seniors loved Mardi Gras in their youth and loved our parade performances.
We made costumes for the kids. Of course, we played music for that too to do our famous, ‘Second Line!’ It’s part of New Orleans culture.
So many smiles from the seniors and lots of hugs for the children too! It was a win win situation!
Your posting on music gave me goosebumps!
What a special treat for them and you! Music feeds the soul. It truly does. It’s stimulating too. I like to exercise to music. It’s boring without it!
Music is something we can all take pleasure in together or enjoy alone. I love people but I cherish my solitude as well. Music and literature enhances our lives in so many ways.
So bravo to you and Margaret for volunteering in this manner. Did you read where Margaret not only read to residents but sang to them as well? Our voices are instruments too!
I can’t even count how many times I was comforted by music or simply enjoyed as entertainment! There is enough music to satisfy everyone’s taste!
I adore listening to music. It’s truly therapeutic, it’s lifts us up when we are down, it brings us joy, it’s soothing, it reflects our feelings, it causes us to feel emotions, etc.
Good for you, GA! You brought tremendous joy to those residents 😊. I feel joy just hearing about it. Thanks for sharing your talents and telling us about it.
Our first experience with placement was for Mom's rehab after breaking a leg. She loved music, so I brought bundles of sheet music, took her and a friend she had made while there downstairs to the music room, and played.
I hadn't practiced a lot at the time, but still the residents rolled their wheelchairs into the music room and listened. It was gratifying but also heartbreaking to see so many lonely people.
That continued when my father had his long 7 month recovery. The facility had 4 pianos, including a player piano in the activities room and one in the memory care unit. I played the baby grand in the dining room.
Dad and I liked classical and semiclassical so I played some of our favorites. But I was really pleased when I saw the reaction to old songs, like Little Brown Jug, Bicycle Built for Two, and more. Some of the people sang, others tapped their feet. One other visitor conducted a solo waltz when I played the Black Hawk Waltz.
But the real climax was when I played the Marine Corps Hymn. Men suddenly stood or sat up ramrod straight, saluted, and sang along with my playing. It was really emotional, and still is when I remember those times.
NeedHelpWithMom, I'm really glad you posted this b/c I had literally forgotten all about the "concerts". I enjoyed them, and I need to start practicing so I can play again once the pandemic is either under control or, better yet, over.
Yes, that is what I do! I listen as I am driving. A reader just read Grapes of Wrath. It’s wonderful to hear books read to us.
That’s awesome! Many seniors loose their eyesight and this is a wonderful service that you are providing.
In our city we have a radio station that reads to the blind. It’s nonprofit and all of the readers are volunteers.
They read fiction and nonfiction best sellers plus many magazines, several newspapers, articles from medical journals, etc. Just as many sighted people listen to the station. I do from time to time and enjoy it immensely.
Good for you!
I think all youths should volunteer in nursing homes, and the community my daughters high school has a whole class on just community service it’s also a civics class.
volunteering is good for the soul