How to Start a Nursing Home Ministry (for families, churches or homeschoolers)

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Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Posted in: Journal
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How to Start a Family Nursing Home Ministry

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:37-40)

If you are looking for an opportunity to teach your children to serve and to unselfishly give of themselves, a nursing home may be the perfect place.  The needs are so great.  Whatever your particular gift, you will find the opportunity to use with these dear people.  When you see their faces literally light up with a smile or when someone finally warms up to you after months of earning their trust, or when they cry over some small gift you brought them, you will be the one who feels blessed.

Pray about this and seek God’s will for your family.  There is probably no way to completely prepare you or your children for what you will see if you have never been in a nursing home.  I can only say that it will get easier.  Always remember to talk with your children about the things they see and hear.  It may not be easy at first.  In the beginning my children and I both wondered at times if this was the place for us, but we are glad now that we hung in there and met this new challenge.  My children now know the blessing of serving.  They have learned compassion and understanding for the elderly.  They have also developed confidence in themselves for meeting this challenge and learning the skills needed to help.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galations 6:9)

If you are interested in volunteering at a nursing home, I recommend contacting the Sonshine Society for a Free Power Packet.  This includes a training guide, samples of large print materials, and information material on the Sonshine Society.  This material would be helpful for you to read with your children before you get started.  When we got started in this ministry, we did not know of this resource and knew absolutely nothing about nursing homes or the elderly.  This is not the easiest way to start.  Take advantage of this wonderful resource.  The more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy this ministry.

After you look through your Free Power Packet from Sonshine Society, I would suggest contacting the activity director of a nursing home close to your home.  Choosing a nursing home close to your home makes it easy to stop in often.  Ask if you and your children can observe a few activities or assist with one before you fly solo.  It is very helpful to watch someone with experience to see how they interact with the residents.  Be creative.  Think about how to use your particular gifts as you serve.

Here are a few suggestions on areas that you could serve at a nursing home:
(Some of these would be great for one on one activities, others would be great for group activities, and some would work well for both.)
  • Games (e.g. checkers, tic-tac-toe, bingo, bean bag toss, etc.)
  • Read to them – Many cannot read.
  • Visit – Sometimes this means more than anything with them.  Pray with them.
  • Share the gospel
  • Write letters for them
  • Scripture reading
  • Arts and crafts
  • Nails – They love polished nails!
  • Singing – This can be done with them or for them as a group activity. I have read that residents love this!  This, however, is not my gift.
  • Plays & skits performed for them
  • Bingo
  • Adopt a grandparent
  • Pet therapy (check with the activity director first)
  • Christmas gifts – This would be a great project for a homeschool group or church.  Make up gift bags using colored lunch bags and fill them with little gifts.  Remember, never give a resident any type of food or candy without first checking with a nurse or activity director.
  • Ask for a list of residents who have little or no visitors, new residents, or birthdays for the month.  If the activity director has time, ask if she will tell you a little about the resident before you visit. Use this list for the following ideas:
    • Be the welcome wagon and welcome new residents with a visit and small gift. Remember, this is not an easy time for them.
    • Birthday basket – Decorate a basket and fill it with items from a dollar store. (e.g. socks, stiffed animal or doll, Bibles, jewelry, perfume, deodorant, lotion, toys, etc.)

Always ask a nurse or the activity director before you give a resident anything to eat.  Some have special treats they like while others may not have anything at all because of diet restrictions or health.

Stay tuned for more on how this experience changed our lives. You don’t want to miss part two.

I originally wrote this article over 10 years ago and had it on an old website. I had lost track of it and spent most of the day going through old floppy disks trying to find it when I remembered that someone had published it and sent me a copy of it!  I am so glad they did because the stack of floppies setting on my disk is is pretty dang daunting.  I will be continuing this soon with a part two sharing how much this changed our lives and how it affected us 10 years later and the lasting impression it made on our family.
Resources:
The Nursing Home Companion by Pauline Innis
Life Worth Living by William H. Thomas, M.D.
Reminiscence by Carmel Sheridan
With Faces to the Evening Sun by Richard L. Morgan
With God’s Oldest Friends
Pastoral Visiting in the Nursing Home by Henry C. Simmongs, Mark A. Peters
Websites:Faithful Friends Nursing Home Ministry
Sonshine Society
Call or write for your Free Power Packet (Special Note: The Sonshine Society has requested that when ordering your FREE Power Packet that you include that you found out about them through Extraordinary in the Ordinary.
The Sonshine Society
Box 327
Lynnwood, Washington 98046-0327
(425)353-4732
32Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD. Lev. 19. 32
27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
it was interesting to see the different personalities after time and disease had ravaged their bodies and minds.
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About Extraordinary in the Ordinary

I am a professional photographer who lives and works from her heart. My goal is always and in everything to be better today than I was yesterday. I’m an ordinary person dealing with what I like to believe are ordinary issues, but in all the ordinary days, I want to live an extraordinary life. I am the mom to two grown sons, and there has been nothing I have loved more than being their mom and being home with them. And while you are always a mom, there is a certain part of that time in my life that is over now that they are grown. I miss hearing them play and having them with me all the time and having all their friends over, but it is time to move to the next stage of life or at least trying to figure out what that is. I am making a list of personal goals, connecting with friends, and still nesting even though the children are grown. I think I will always be a "nester". Home is where the heart is. I love home and love making it a healing place of peace and comfort.