Humor in a Nursing Home Part Two

Thinking about that funny time we had at the nursing home made me giggle about so many other times, And how could I not share them with you?

Halloween is always a great time at the facility. Everyone getting excited for the trick-or-treaters to come by in costume and even the residents looked forward to dressing up. The aides would have so much fun working their magic with make-up and the end result was always a treat.

All holiday activities are planned out so carefully to ensure particiption from as many residents and their family members as possible. Big dinners, musical programs, dancing and visiting. It is a tremendous job and without an on-the-ball activities director and a support staff, it could end up disasterous.
Some residents don't need to wait for a big planned activity. They make their own fun to help enjoy the day. One of our residents likes to dress up on occassion as "Pinky". She will wear a bright pink, long haired wig and travel throughout the building with cheerful greetings for staff and residents alike. It may sound silly to some people but making residents smile or giggle has an enormous affect on the entire facility. It is people like this resident, that can totally change the atmosphere in any facility.

Last Halloween our facility had a "Shrek" themed celebration. I quickly chose to be the donkey (before anyone could choose it for me :) and asked my daughter to teach me some dance moves and put together a little dance mix for me so I could entertain the residents. My darling daughter refused to be responsible for teaching me any dance moves that might, after seeing me do them, unwittingly include her name as the tutor. She did, however, furnish me with music.

The fateful day arrived. Dressed in my best fur (the donkey costume) and a mask that completely covered my identity, I arrived just after the big dinner. Family and friends where there and I danced my donkey-butt off to the likes of MC Hammer's "You can't touch this", "I like big butts" from the Shrek movie as well as "The Macarena"...getting as many involved as I could.
I had a beautiful view from the eye holes of my donkey mask and watched these people that I loved so much laugh, shake their head and eventually join in.
Many of them didn't even know it was me. That made it even more fun.

How blessed am I am to be able to make someone laugh or smile? How it changes their day and sometimes, their perspective on life. I hope some of these stories will help you make a difference in the lives of those being cared for not only in a facility but in a home situation.  Laughter truly is the best medicine.