Woman of Achievement

WOMAN OF ACHIEVEMENT

This weekend is an exciting opportunity for me. I am participating in the California Woman of Achievement Pageant. This program emphasizes community service and a woman's desire to make a difference. The great part is that not only will I be competing, but I will have the opportunity to share with others my work with senior citizens!

At the orientation last weekend, one of the staff members revealed she does work with seniors and I almost leaped across the table.  I was so excited to share with her about SAS and asked if I could incorporate some of the residents at her facility into the program.  She was enthusiastic and I am looking forward to receiving my first batch of residents from her.  Let the writing begin!

During the time at the pageant, I am hoping to recruit some secret pal volunteers.  It seems like a wonderful group of women, and I hope to enjoy their platforms passions as well.  Maybe even some audience members might sign up!

Either way, this will be a time for sharing my passion and my work with seniors.  I hope many doors open and some seniors can enjoy a little sunshine in their future!!

As I am trying, once again, to add a nursing home to my "Send Anonymous Smiles" project, I am reminding of the inherent distrust of people. My first reaction to others is that of love and trust. But I am facing the challenges of trying to reach out to others and not face their disbelief that i really am trying to help. In 1995, my friend Terry and I decided we wanted to do something special for the residents of nursing homes. My love of seniors began with my wonderful relationship with my grandmother. She was such a joy and taught me that life is never over until you decide it is. She continued her volunteer work into her 80's. She has been such an inspiration to me. I also noticed in my care as a nurse, that patients with strong support networks did better than those who were alone. Thus hatched my idea to help decrease the loneliness experienced by seniors in nursing homes. It is really very simple. Send cards and notes to lonely residents in nursing homes. make it anonymous so they have no obligation to do anything in return. They simply get to receive. And who doesn't love to get cards? We began recruiting volunteers at the hospital and then coordinated with local nursing homes to find the people who would most likely appreciate the cards. And it took off from there! It became very successful very quickly. There were a few unexpected challenges. Volunteers sending cookies to diabetic residents (we don't know the medical history)and a resident with paranoia being very frightened by anonymous cards. But it was so rewarding. After the death of one resident, the family found every one of the cards they had ever received and wanted to tell us how much it was appreciated. While visiting the nursing home on a Hug Patrol, I found cards taped to the walls. A little something like a card can mean so much to someone who is lonely. As I have moved during the years, keeping up the program has been challenging. And that lands me in Southern California where I am having a hard time getting homes to participate in the program. Calls and emails are unanswered. No one wants to be part of it. HHmmmmmm. Well, I am determined to keep trying. I have another home to call.....