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Enhancing the Lives of Nursing Home Residents One Volunteer at a Time

Diane

How To Add Laughter To The Nursing Home

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This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

laughter in the nursing home

We’ve all heard it said that laughter is the best medicine. And a good laugh feels great, too! Numerous studies demonstrate the positive effects of laughter in the nursing home. Here are just a few:

  • Increases energy
  • Provides natural pain relief
  • Soothes anxiety
  • Increases oxygen intake
  • Improves sleep
  • Decreases depression
  • Fosters communication
  • Improves circulation
  • Promotes socialization
  • Increases staff satisfaction
  • Reduces blood pressure
  • Lifts the spirits of those around us

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Creative Ways To Use Virtual Reality In Healthcare

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This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

When we think of virtual reality, we usually picture a teenager playing video games. But virtual reality is becoming increasingly common in healthcare. Through the use of a virtual reality headset and other equipment, people get the impression that they are in another 3-dimensional world. Check out the ways virtual reality enhances the lives of nursing home residents:

Pain Management

Virtual reality helps residents cope with chronic pain by temporarily taking them to a happy, peaceful place. In addition, it provides relief by guiding residents through relaxation exercises and meditations. Virtual reality can also provide distraction during painful procedures like dressing changes. It is especially helpful for amputees who are coping with phantom pain.

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My Favorite Quotes About Volunteering

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This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

quotes about volunteering

  • Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless. (Sherry Anderson)
  • Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. (Albert Einstein)
  • Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overcome the world. (Desmond Tutu)
  • Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart. (Elizabeth Andrew)
  • Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. (Sally Koch)

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Operation Christmas Child: Week 5

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Operation Christmas Child

Before shoeboxes are sent overseas they need to be inspected and prepared for shipment. About 80,000 people are needed annually to help with this enormous project.

If you’re interested in helping at an Operation Christmas Child processing center, check out this link. These centers are located in Atlanta, Boone (NC), Baltimore, Charlotte, Denver, Dallas/Fort Worth, Minneapolis, and Southern California.

I’ve removed the list of deals for Week 5 since they are now expired. Please check back next Wednesday for the new weekly deals!

Benefits Of An On-site Children’s Center

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This post may contain affiliate links, and I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) when you make a purchase by clicking on my links. 

childcare centers in nursing homes

I worked at the nursing home for about five years before our on-site children’s center opened. This allowed me to witness the amazing impact children have on the lives of nursing home residents. And it’s a two-way street; the residents benefit the kids just as much as the kids benefit the residents. Here’s how:

Residents have a positive impact on children:

  • Kids learn to accept people who are living with disabilities and impairments.
  • Children are less likely to display ageism when they grow up around multiple generations.
  • Kids enjoy the extra unconditional love they receive from the residents.

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