Today, an amazing thing happened for Generations! Book Donations. It grew. It grew!
We have decided to reach more then the need of books. Something that took a long thought process. Here is an OFFICIAL list of the programs that we now run and sponsor.
Year Long Programs-
We constantly are taking donations of books, clothes, blankets, socks, games, art materials (ex knitting needles and yarn). Tip: When thinking of what you may want to donate, think about those things you couldn't live without.
We will provide birthday celebrations conducive to the dietary restrictions of each resident.
Currently, we make birthday cards each month for residents of nursing homes. Eventually we want to start providing small presents just to mark the occasion. Not big things but little things that fit. This program is still in development.
As always, we accept and distribute book donations. We hope to give nursing homes standing libraries to provide books for residents of nursing homes. A functional library full of books is an amazing gift that many of us take for granted.
We love to provide soft cover large print books to nursing homes. Not only are they easy to hold but they are easy to see! There needs to be no time for books because as we have learned from Charlotte Bronte (who died about a hundred and sixty years ago!) books last forever, as do memories.
Another fresh idea is to poll to see what people did with their lives. Their majors in college, their hobbies, the things they hold dear in their hearts! Intellectual Stimulation is essential in any part of life from the infant years to the twilight stages. Arranging speakers to come and speak to residents to teach and to develop new ideas is a good idea to keep people's minds going.
Each
Religion
Personality
Culture
and
Traditions
Come with different things to do. Each person holds their own religion tight to their hearts because it is their path. To honor and respect one person's religious expression is to honor and respect the religious expression of every resident, staff member, or visitor.
The list below details the events of each month. Yet does not go specific with each unique religion. I do not mention each religion but check out the page entiled "References"
A new program that has yet to take a firm establishment is the Memories program. Please see the tab entitled "Memories"
January-
January is a rest period after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. No programs are currently in state of January but this could change in the future so keep your eye on the site.
February-
Some of us spend Valentine's Day alone pining for love and some of us spend it surrounded by love. Some though the elderly look back and it is a reminder of the one's that were lost along the way. Husbands, wives, children, aunts, uncles, parents people that you and me could not live without!
So in the month of February we collect little gifts to give out for Valentines Day. We also collect (make!) cards for residents wishing them a happy Valentines Day!
March-
March is a quiet month but it is the start of spring. Celebration should occur for the start of Spring. A great program that you can start locally is the planting of a garden. A beautiful garden can make a world of difference.
April-
The start of April is the beginning of the "end period" through the months of April and August volunteering diminishes in light of the end of the school year.
June-August-
Under consideration .
September-
Reinvigoration Program
October-
October is the start of a very busy time. Our program hands out Halloween programs. Some people have even started programs where residents hand out candy to the residents and then send children (sometimes children that can not Trick a Treat anywhere else) around the home.
Our program also hopes to fund or start a program to encourage people to decorate. Decorate and celebrate though such programs must be approached with caution because of the religion issue that can arise from the holiday.
Yet October is the start of fall! Did you know that? Winter doesn't officially start until a few days before the Christian holiday of Christmas. It is important with each season to commemorate and celebrate.
A dear friend of mine taught me to celebrate each day.
November-
Comes November, comes Thanksgiving. It is great to hand out cards around Thanksgiving and it is a program that Generation runs. Making home made cards to hand out to residents. As the holiday season begins people worry that no one is thinking about them
Greeting cards are so "passe" and not many people respect them anymore thanks to ECARDS but Generations supports and runs a program to hand out cards to people in nursing homes.
December-
Come December comes Christmas, Bodhi Day, Chanukah and being alone during December is hard!
Generations runs a program to make sure that all people in the Home get presents for the holidays.
We also make cards and hand them out.
This page will change and develop as Generations grows and develops.
