Laurel brings smiles to nursing home residents.
My kind hearted daughter-in-law (in black pants standing just behind Laurel) has always had a soft spot for the elderly. She strives to nurture this trait in her children by example and by regularly offering opportunities for them to interact with senior citizens.
So what does this have to do with sewing? Well, it made me think that perhaps I should follow her example and reach out to this fragile age group, giving them a few sewn gifts and a few hours of my time.
Of course, it is always a joy to sew for family and friends, especially the children. But it wouldn’t hurt me one little bit to reach a little further and periodically stitch for those at the other end of the age spectrum, especially some forgotten nursing home patients.
Before my sweet Aunt Aileen passed away last year, I found great pleasure in taking her special little presents, like this lap robe. She treasured the soft, personalized fleece throw, as well as a satin pillow embroidered with her name, made by her sister Rheeta.
It gave me a warm glow every time I thought of her snuggled under that warm blanket. But my gifts and visits were all for her, not for any other residents.
my Aunt Aileen, 1921-2011
Betty Ludwig regularly showers her elderly mother with a variety of gifts. She proudly shows off her latest treasures to the other nursing home residents and glows with happiness. Betty said that her mother is thrilled with any little gift, not just big ones. So it is easy to please her with an embroidered refrigerator magnet or a paperclip book mark.
Betty’s book marks with embroidered button covers
Maybe because I am approaching the “elderly” category, I feel especially moved and motivated by Shelly’s efforts. I plan to sew gifts for some of Aunt Aileen’s contemporaries, especially lap robes, as the residents always seem to be cold.
But more important than gifts, I think, is spending time and recognizing society’s senior citizens as individuals. She is not just one member of a homogenous group, like a single sheep is one of many nearly identical creature in the flock. Each elderly individual is a real, unique person with real stories and a full life behind him. Sometimes she may want to tell someone her story and about the full life she has led. Sometimes, he just needs someone to be there, quietly acknowledging his worth.
At Ponderings of Life, Beckie wrote a beautifully poignant post about a quiet, nearly silent visit with her mother at her nursing home. That post and the Youtube video posted by my compassionate daughter-in-law on her Facebook page, have motivated me to commit more time and energy to helping/visiting/acknowledging the elderly people in my community and my life. I hope you will watch this short video.
Have you stitched any special projects for elderly people? I would love to hear about it.
Meanwhile, please listen to this poem, entitled Crabby Old Man, written by one.
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