Helpful Tips

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As the end of the school year quickly approaches, I know many of you are planning family activities for the summer. Do your plans include volunteering together at a nursing home? I hope so, and I’ll explain why in this popular post I shared a couple of years ago.

When my children were young, we loved to volunteer at the nursing home. I still cherish many happy memories of the time we spent with each other and with the residents.

[Read more…] about 7 Great Reasons To Volunteer As A Family

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. 

Last month, I shared a post about the importance of continuing to visit friends and relatives who live with dementia. I also included 50 ideas for meaningful activities you can enjoy together.

Recently I heard from two of my readers who expressed feeling discouraged when they visit the nursing home. In both cases, their husbands recently entered memory care units, and they become angry and upset when their wives visit.

I’m so grateful that my readers brought up this concern. That’s because it’s a genuine problem for many people. By discussing it openly, I believe we can all work together and come up with helpful suggestions.

[Read more…] about When Your Loved One Gets Upset During Visits

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. 

We volunteer because we want to make a difference. We do it because of the personal satisfaction that comes from helping others. We keep coming back because we love what we do. Yet, it’s always nice to hear that we’re appreciated.

National Volunteer Week is coming up from April 7-13 this year. What is your organization doing to show appreciation for its priceless volunteers? I would love to see your ideas in the comment section!

In the meantime, please check out these 20 suggestions for thanking volunteers during Volunteer Week and all year round:

[Read more…] about 20 Ways To Thank Volunteers

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. 

Over the past couple of days, I’ve been scouring the Internet looking for ideas to help welcome new residents to the nursing home. Why? Because I think we become so accustomed to residents coming and going that it easily desensitizes us to what it feels like to be a new resident.

Let’s begin by looking at several issues a new nursing home resident might face. (Many residents make a smooth transition to the nursing home. I don’t want to give the impression that it’s always difficult. Rather, I simply want to make everyone aware of potential challenges.)

Lack of choices

Some people have the luxury of researching and visiting long-term care facilities in advance. They can choose the one they feel best meets their needs.

However, many times, the decision needs to be made swiftly. The individual ends up knowing almost nothing about the place that will become their new home.

[Read more…] about How To Welcome New Residents

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. 

What do you think of when I mention library services at a nursing home? You probably picture someone going up and down the halls with a cartload of books that residents can check out. While this is a tremendous service, it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to library resources that benefit our residents.

Book Delivery

Of course, the most popular library service involves residents requesting specific books and having them delivered right to their rooms. Residents can also check out books and magazines online for use with e-readers.

In addition, you can let the library know about the interests of individual residents. The librarians will then make book recommendations for each person.

[Read more…] about How Libraries Enrich The Lives Of Nursing Home Residents