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

30 Days Of Thanks

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Image of hand holding pen next to than-you note and envelope.

Have you ever sat in a church service and felt like the pastor was talking directly to you? This happened to me back in May. Let me explain.

Ever since I made a new year’s resolution to do more acts of kindness this year, an idea had been floating around in my head. I wanted to find a way to express gratitude to people who have made a positive difference in my life over the decades. Perhaps, I decided, I could do this by writing a thank-you note to someone every day for one month.

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What You Need To Know About Heat-Related Illness

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Woman cooling herself with a hand-held fan

The temperature hit a high of 101 degrees here in my city on Sunday. That’s hot for North Dakota, especially in June. The heat wave prompted me to share an article I posted last year. Let’s make it a priority to check in on older people this summer and see if we can prevent these tragedies. 

According to the CDC, an average of 702 people in the United States die of heat-related illnesses each year. Most of these deaths occur in people over the age of 60. Sadly, we can assume this number will rise this year because of the intense heat waves predicted across our country.

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3 More Ways To Improve The Lives Of Older Adults

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Last month, I shared three programs from other countries meant to enhance the lives of elders. They made for some interesting discussions! So, this week I searched to see what other ideas I could find. I think you’ll find these programs equally fascinating.

Senior Citizens Day

Have you ever heard of Palau? It’s a small country in the western Pacific with a population of about 18,000 people.

A unique feature of Palau is their celebration of Senior Citizens Day every year on May 5. The day remembers and honors the contributions of the nation’s seniors. Interestingly, the people of Palau consider a person to be a senior citizen at age 55.

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Is It Time To Hang Up My Stethoscope?

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Image of black stethoscope on marble table.

The past month has been another roller coaster on my cancer journey. As has happened in the past, my treatments work for a while, and then I run into complications. After lab tests, a PET scan, another biopsy, and visits with my oncologist, I started yet another new medication regimen last Friday.

Because of the ups and downs of my cancer and the related treatments, I haven’t been able to work since March 2021. (For those of you who are new to my blog, I’m an RN by trade, and I also love to serve as a volunteer at nursing homes. My diagnosis has put both roles on hold.)

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12 Ways To Honor Juneteenth

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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. 
Red, black, and green flag with the word "Juneteenth" in the center.

I didn’t originally have this topic on my schedule for June blog posts. However, a few of you asked for ideas on how to honor Juneteenth with your residents and staff. I’m glad you did because I think this is an important day to remember.

In case you’re unfamiliar with Juneteenth, it’s a day to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. While many African Americans have celebrated the holiday since the 1800s, it only became a federal holiday in 2021. You might also hear Juneteenth (June 19) referred to as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

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