Volunteering at the Nursing Home
志愿工作 Hi there! My name is Emma and I'm 10 years old. I go to Oakwood Elementary School and I'm in 5th grade. Today I wanted to tell you all about my plan to volunteer at the nursing home near my house this summer!
It all started a few weeks ago during our school's career week. We had people come in to talk about all different kinds of jobs - doctors, police officers, chefs, you name it! One visitor was a lady named Mrs. Jenkins who works at Shady Oaks Nursing Home just down the road. She told us all about her job taking care of the elderly residents who live there.
Mrs. Jenkins explained that a nursing home is kind of like a big apartment building, but just for old people who can't really live on their own anymore. The residents get help with things like meals, taking medicine, getting dressed, and other daily activities. There are nurses and care aides working shifts around the clock to assist them.
What really stuck with me was when Mrs. Jenkins said that even though the staff do their jobs well, it's still hard for a lot of the residents. Many don't have family who visit much, or they've outlived their spouse and closest friends. She said they can feel very lonely, bored, and kind of sad sometimes. That's why the nursing home is always looking for volunteers to come spend time with the residents!
After hearing that, I knew right away I wanted to volunteer at Shady Oaks this summer when I'm not in school. I love spending time with my grandparents and hearing their amazing stories about what life was like when they were young. I know a lot of the nursing home residents probably have fascinating tales to share too! I can't wait to meet them and become their friend.
Plus, there are so many fun activities volunteers can do with the residents. Mrs. Jenkins said they love playing board games and card games. I'm a whiz at Crazy Eights and Go Fish, so I'll definitely be challenging them to some games! We can do puzzles together too. I find those can be pretty tricky, but it's so satisfying to put in that final piece. I'll bring my stash to share.
Arts and crafts are another biggie at nursing homes. I've been practicing all sorts of skills in my art class at school like drawing, painting, and making potholders on the little loom. I can teach the residents some of those crafts and maybe they can show me some old-fashioned crafting too. Like back in their day, did people crochet or knit or embroider? I'd love to pick up those kinds of vintage hobbies from the experts!
Reading out loud is something else volunteers often do. I've been a strong reader since 2nd grade and I even made it to the district spelling bee finals this year! The residents might enjoy having me read them chapters from classic books, the newspaper, or maybe magazines. We could take turns reading parts if they're able. Back-and-forth storytelling could be fun.
Of course, I'd be more than happy to just sit and listen if the residents want to share memories from their lives. I find elderly people have the most interesting stories - like living through major historical events, how different technology was, crazy family drama, you name it! I'll bring my handy notebook to jot down anything I find really fascinating to tell my parents and friends later.
There are some practical ways I can lend a hand too. If any residents play instruments or used to be musical, I've been taking piano lessons for years so I could accompany them or we could have little concerts together. My dexterity and energy could come in handy with certain chores too, like pushing the mail cart around the halls to deliver everyone's letters and packages.
I'm also happy to just keep the residents company, whether it's going for walks around the pretty courtyard area or hanging out in the activity room watching movies and chatting. Having a young friend to pal around with for a little while could really brighten their days, I bet.
Now, I know what you're thinking - why would an elderly person want to hang out with a 10-year-old kid they don't know? Well, you might be surprised! Like I mentioned, I visit my grandparents pretty often and they seem to really enjoy my company. My youthful high energy gives them a little boost, plus kids see the world with a totally fresh perspective. I find adults are always fascinated to hear what wacky ideas I come up with. The residents and I can learn from each other!
I bet I'll hear all kinds of "back in my day" stories that show how different life was for past generations. That gives me a cool glimpse into history beyond what we study in school books. And maybe I can share some modern lingo, trends, or games that will seem novel and hilarious to them. We'll get a kick out of exploring our different eras!
发布评论