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Many of you have told me wonderful stories about the wish-granting programs you’ve provided for the residents of your senior living communities. Sadly, I’ve also heard how COVID interfered with your ability to grant wishes over the past couple of years. Now that our communities are opening up again, I hope you’ll begin making plans to grant lots of new wishes.
Here in my home state of North Dakota, we have a program called Cherished Hopes. Sponsored by the Long Term Care Association, they help senior living communities grant wishes to their residents. Funds come from raffles and the sale of Cherished Hope bracelets.
Even though the Cherished Hopes program only serves North Dakota, I believe it’s an excellent resource if you want to start your own wish-granting program. For more information, check out the Cherished Hopes flyer, which includes contact information.
Today I’m also sharing seven organizations that help grant wishes to residents of senior living communities all across the country. Note that I have no personal experience with these groups. So I would love to hear if they’ve helped you grant a wish for any of your residents.
Twilight Wish Foundation
With a vision to “make the world a nicer place to age, one wish at a time”, this organization grants wishes to seniors over the age of 65 or permanent residents of eldercare facilities. A separate program grants wishes to veterans.
Funds come from monetary donations, corporate sponsorships, grants, and donations of goods and services. Individuals may nominate themselves or someone else.
Dream Foundation
The goal of the Dream Foundation is to “provide end-of-life dreams that offer inspiration, comfort, and closure”. They grant wishes to people with a life expectancy of 12 months or fewer.
Funds come from a variety of sources, including donated airline miles, in-kind donations, employee giving programs, and private donations. Over the past 25 years, the Dream Foundation has fulfilled over 32,000 dreams!
Second Wind Dreams
The mission of Second Wind Dreams is to “connect society to a forgotten truth about seniors: the truth that age does not erase hopes and dreams.” They offer a variety of programs benefitting elders, including a wish-granting program.
Unlike the other organizations described here, Second Wind Dreams is a membership-based program. The senior living community pays a low annual membership fee to collaborate with Second Wind Dreams and access its many resources.
Stella’s Wish Foundation
Created in memory of Stella Czerniewski, Stella’s Wish grants wishes to adults with stage 4 life-threatening cancer. Funds come from corporate sponsors, private donors, and fundraisers.
Individuals can request a wish on behalf of themselves or someone else. A physician’s documentation of stage 4 cancer is required.
Wish Upon A Wedding
During the 20 years I worked as an RN at the nursing home, two resident couples were married in the nursing home chapel. While love in our elder years is precious, many residents lack the resources to plan a beautiful wedding ceremony.
Here’s where Wish Upon A Wedding comes in. Since 2009, they’ve served a multitude of couples facing serious illness or life-altering health concerns. Besides providing wedding resources, they also help with wedding vow renewals. You can learn about one of their lovely wedding vow renewal ceremonies here.
Seniors Have Dreams Too
The goal of this organization is to “create opportunities for seniors with limited resources to experience a life long dream”. They specialize in fulfilling the wishes of people at least 70 years of age who live at or below the poverty level.
During the worst of the COVID pandemic, Seniors Have Dreams limited the fulfillment of senior wishes. But now they’re again seeking applications, so be sure to check them out.
Wish Of A Lifetime
While Wish of a Lifetime has granted wishes since 2008, it became a charitable affiliate of AARP in 2020. Grant recipients must be a minimum of 65 years old, and they don’t need to be AARP members.
Its mission is to “shift the way society views and values our oldest generations by fulfilling seniors’ dreams and sharing their stories to inspire those of all ages.”
Now let’s all go out and ask our residents about their dreams & wishes! I would also love to learn about other organizations that help grant wishes for residents of senior living communities.
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