Ardent Home Health Care

            For my Project Link Assignment, I volunteered my services at a nursing home on a early Saturday morning. My church Apostolic Church of God does this monthly with the young adults as well as teens. I volunteered at this nursing home for the first time, not being aware of what I was getting myself into whether it be a positive or a negative experience for me. This experience for me was a positive one, simply because all asked of us to do in the nursing home was listen to their stories and entertain them. In the beginning I was nervous because from others stories elders can be very mean and intimidating. I was partnered up with an older lady named Isabelle; she had one daughter as well as one grand daughter. When I walked in she smiled at me and told me to come to her. As I approached her she told me that I reminded her of her grand daughter. Knowing this information allowed us to click automatically on a positive note. Our church was able to prepare food for them from the dining hall before we left the church. Giving them the food that was prepared already, they all were happy to receive the home cooked meal. While they were eating, some of the young adults that came with us were apart of the liturgical dance ministry as well as the singing committee. They had pre prepared a routine to a gospel song “Take me to the King”. This song was a very touching song for everyone, due to some of the seniors getting emotional as we watched them. This experience was great experience for me, simply because just being in their presence made me think about my own grandparents. It made me think about them in a way that if they did not a play a positive role in my life my life would probably not be how it is today. Loosing my grandfather made me closer to them, because I was able to relate to Isabelle based on her warm personality. She was very quiet and observant and that is exactly how he was warm and loving. Being with these seniors allowed me to appreciate life a little more, here these individuals had little or no family and you never could have guessed anything was wrong with them. I will one day like to get old, and represent my lovely grandparents who would give you the world. Just simply talking to Isabelle brought to a positive place at that moment. It really is a great feeling for someone to touch your life in a couple of hours by simply their presence and just a few loving words.

            This service activity reflected concepts learned in class simply regarding elders in nursing homes that are put in these homes based on their disability, or simply because of their living conditions. When we were able to bring food to them, it reminded me of the conversation that we had in class regarding alternatives meal plans for elders when they are not able to cook for themselves. Many of them do not prefer food that is prepared at the nursing homes, so many do not eat. The meal that was provided on this day was probably their first meal of the day and it was a meal that they enjoyed. Doing this particular volunteer service will bring positive actions towards the community simply because the church has made this a habit for many nursing homes in the Chicago land area. Others outside of the church realizing that the church has participated happily with this good deed will maybe allow other churches as well as families to help bring happiness to many nursing homes across the land.