Seniors Love the Gift of Time and Talents All Year

This time of year many groups want to share their Christmas cheer with oth-ers. Activity directors at skilled-nursing facilities are overwhelmed with calls from choir directors and scout leaders looking for an audience for their groups. Little children have made ornaments to share, study groups want to share the Christmas story and others want to take holiday meals to the needy.

These are wonderful offerings of time and talents to spread one’s blessings upon those who are not able to do for themselves. Assisted-living and nursing-home residents adore the hustle and bustle from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Beautiful decorations with bright red poinsettias adorn the doors and lobbies. The staffs have worked tire-lessly to make it special. It is a glorious time!

Our suggestion is to consider sharing these talents during the entire year, not just late November and through December. Some of the residents have limited visitors outside of holiday time. The regular décor is attractive but not as excit-ing as during the holiday season.

Music may be played in the back-ground but it is not as inspiring as the familiar carols from ones’ past.

When your club or organization gets back together in the New Year, talk about how you can spread the holiday cheer for 12 months during 2012. Each month has something to celebrate, so put on your thinking cap and create a reason to visit seniors. We suspect that every activity director would welcome visits, crafts and sing-alongs. Nothing brightens the day of a senior more that watching a precious child singing at the top of his lungs.

We want you to know how much we appreciate all of the visits and gifts that you have shared with our senior community.

Merry Christmas to you and may you have a wonderful 2012.

Photo: Assisted-living and nursing-home residents adore the hustle and bustle from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day