The Next Step of the Journey

I didn't intend to work with elderly people.  I didn't know the career of Life Enrichment Leader existed. I didn't even know the definition of the word "dementia", nor did I have much more than a cursory knowledge of Alzaheimer's. I didn't. But God did.

The Lord knew me. He knew how my heart ached after leaving 32 years of extending my skills, creativity, and heart to all of my students.  All I did one day was read a paragraph in my church's bulletin inviting members to volunteer at our Assisted Living facility next door.

I went over to see what were they doing these days in such facilities that I could possibly help with.

I'd always loved seniors.  Used to sit with the widows at church when finally old enough to not sit with Mom and Dad.  Then volunteered in high school to start the equivalent of Candy Stripers in hospitals in our local "convalescent hospital".  And, oh, OH, how I loved my grandparents. Was tickled that I got to share my room with Gramma when she moved in with the family after Grampa passed.  Yes, always had a heart for our seniors.

After an assessment of my skills and talents, the Activity Director asked me if I like to playthe  piano and lead sing-a-longs at our church's nursing facility.  What fun! It fed my soul to get to play piano, sing, and tell song histories to those lovely grammas and grampas. I also tried one on one visits when they asked me to. Hey, anyone who knows me will tell you I do love to visit (aka talk !) I just didn't realize I'd be having conversations with grammas and grampas who were aphasic (lost ability to speak due to stroke or other).  But, you know, I began to come prepared.  I'd bring beautiful nature photos and animal photos then admire the pictures  withthem. I'd ask them yes and no questions.  I was on a talkin' roll haha!

Then I began to notice these employees with name tags that said, "Activities Assistant". I'd watch what they did and I thought, "Well, I could do that!"  And sure enough, on internet job sites there were jobs with those titles and I applied and got one!  at Belmont Village, Sunnyvale, CA.     I was a part of a five member team of amazing young women at BV. They are still my dear friends even though we've all move on to other careers or places. When I had to leave the job to move and help take care of my own sister, these amazing ladies put up an early Christmas tree so we could celebrate together and gave me a grand, though teary, send off.

I'm the back blonde who'd cried off her makeup that night.

But God does work in mysterious ways.  I wasn't ever able to find an Activities Assistant position in Visalia, CA so I moved back to San Jose though I didn't get to go back to BV. And I still love this career that lets me be who I am. Now I am a certified leader that plans and executes the Memory Care program to wonderful retired nuns. Yep, that's right, Sisters!  The skills I've learned have taught me so very much how to plan a fun day of activities. Science has proven that when people with dementia are kept engaged in more than television watching or staring out a window it dramatically staves off the rate of decline into their dementia.  How rewarding. I love my job.  I. serve. people. 

Activities you ask? What kind of activities?  Oh, my! That's the fun....there is no limit to ways to have fun so I get to think it up, mix it up, and help them live it up every single day I walk in the door.  We have conversations about interesting topics from holidays to nature over snacks and drinks.  We play chair basketball, soccer, and volleyball for exercise. I seek out and bring in entertainers like our harpist and David, our "accordian guy" who my residents love.  They help me make snacks and desserts in our cooking class activity, We play a lot of card and table games.  Some of them are still fiercely competitive!  But it's all in the name of good times with good friends.  Yes, when I am in their presence that's how I refer to them....as my friends. "Hey! Where are my friends? Oh, there you are! All the way  here I was thinking, 'What if no one comes today?' "  and they all chuckle as we start our day.

My residents have been missile defense engineers, physicists, homemakers, real estate moguls, oral surgeons,  teachers, well, you get the idea. I have the joy of learning about each one of them through our daily interactions and it amazes me who God has put me in the presence of...hard-working citizens of our country.  

"Thank you for this new career after teaching, Lord, it truly feeds my soul every morning."

". . . those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. " 

-- Proverbs 11:25