Recent Articles | About Authors | About the Syndicate | Archives

To receive a plain text copy of this article by email, see info at the bottom of this page.

Real Answers™
jd37
Copyright: © ©2007 Jill Darling
685 words

INVESTING TIME IN NURSING HOME RESIDENTS PAYS DIVIDENDS

By: Jill Darling

I visit nursing homes on a weekly basis to pick up patients and take them to the dental office where I work as an assistant. I go to one woman’s room and see a bulletin board filled with family pictures punctuated with red and white Valentine hearts.

She wears hunter green pants and a matching vest; her gray hair is pulled back in a neat braid. Her daughter Sharon helped pick out her clothes, dressed her and waited to accompany her to the dentist. She dotingly slides on her mother’s coat and ties her scarf and makes sure her paperwork is in order before we leave.

I compliment Sharon on her attentiveness and kindness toward her mother and she says that it was the least she could do. Her mom was a wonderful, caring mother so she wants to be there for her in her time of need.

In contrast, other residents aren’t even aware they have a dental appointment until the last minute. Some are roused out of bed by overworked aides, quickly dressed and leave for their appointments with hair in disarray and teeth unbrushed. Some of these same people don’t have family members who keep tabs on them so they are left at the mercy of caregivers.

I worked in a nursing home as a high school senior and will never forget how shocked I was to hear that some residents never received visits from their relatives. I couldn’t fathom how family members could neglect their loved ones.

In comparison, I’m impressed with the dedication of good-hearted people who give to those, who, in many cases, are ignored by their friends and family. Volunteers make a difference in the lives of nursing home residents, but it requires a personal sacrifice.

The leader of my church’s nursing home ministry is a good example. It’s a typical Thursday night and Ed Thoman is done for the day. He spent his workday inspecting three cars, painting a van and tinkering with the engine on a truck he’s repairing. The self-employed auto mechanic feels like putting up his feet and relaxing in his recliner for the rest of the night, but instead he does what he usually does most Thursday nights. 

The 70-year-old takes a shower, trims his mustache, grabs a bite to eat, loads his guitar and music stand in the van and drives nearly an hour to visit old friends who are excited to see him. Ed and his wife, Thelma, make the trek to three nursing homes each month. For twenty years the Rome, Pennsylvania man has overseen the nursing home ministry of Faith Christian Fellowship Church and, along with his team, conducted church services for residents.

Once the team arrives, strains of “In the Garden” set the tone of the meeting and usher in the guests. Doris, a white-haired woman wearing a hot pink top and white beads, shuffles with her walker into the dining hall. A pouch attached to the walker holds her belongings: a can of orange soda, a bottle of lotion, tissues and a magazine. An aide pushes the wheelchair of another resident into the room, as others saunter in on their own.  Soon the hall contains a dozen people. Members of the team offer them a cheery hello with hugs all around.

Ed, with his mild-mannered down-home country style, starts the informal service by playing lively praise music on the guitar. He strums the chorus, “This is the day that the Lord has made…,” as several residents clap their hands and belt out the words, while others sing softly and a few just listen. One man starts dancing, bringing smiles to the sea of wrinkled faces. Before long, the peaceful presence of God permeates the room.

The Bible speaks about “pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father” as visiting “orphans and widows in their trouble.” It’s refreshing to see people like those in our church’s group and other organizations—scouts, musicians and artists—give their time and talents to nursing home residents regularly.  I believe it makes God smile and, in turn, warms the heart.

"Real Answers™" furnished courtesy of The Amy Foundation Internet Syndicate. To contact the author or The Amy Foundation, write or E-mail to: P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091; amyfoundtn@aol.com

Request this article:
To instantly receive a plain text copy of this article by email, enter your publication title, city and state, and email address, then retype the article number (shown in bold below). Then click the "Send It" button once.
Fields marked (*) are required

back to top