A Voice for Others

Used with permission by Barbara Baranowski I looked at my dad’s 93-year-old body in the hospital bed, weakened suddenly by the stress of broken hip surgery.  He was understandably tired, frail and confused.  His normally clear mind searched my face through questioning eyes, looking for answers to what his life would be like in the days to come.  I imagined the next weeks and months—rounds of doctors and nurses visits, technician tests, weeks of rehabilitation, and the struggle for restoration.  How could I convey to the caregivers and professionals what my father had been like just a day before the fall—vibrant for his age, committed to sharing his faith in Christ wherever he could, mentoring those younger, and visiting nursing homes. He was active in church and an inspiration to others. Knowing that medical professionals are extremely overworked with patient loads that leave little time, how could I be a voice and personalize my dad to them?  I whispered a prayer, “How, Lord, can I make him more than a body to care for?”  As God spoke to my heart, I put the following answers into practice   Share interesting facts about your friend or family member, as time and conditions permit. This allows the caregiver to get beyond the illness or injury to the heart of the individual.Seniors especially have a rich past filled with a lifetime of experiences that their frail bodies may belie.Often they too have touched others with healing words. Share faith from the heart of the patient—thoughts either spoken yourself or by encouraging him/her to do so.My father used his dark days of physical difficulty to share the light of Jesus with those attending him.Without disturbing their very important work, he would slip them a word of encouragement or give them a small New Testament or his published inspirational book.   Share the patient’s appreciation with the caregivers.Often they are not able to do so, but we as advocates can.This may lift the day of a specialist in need of comforting and appreciative words.   An advocate is a helper, a voice, and an interceder for another.  An advocate provides the healing touch of words for the patient and thoughtful help for the professional. The Bible reminds us in Philippians 2:3-4, “in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  My dad could not always share his story, but because I was his advocate, caregivers knew that this was a beloved and special man— one whom they would be honored to call their friend if they had met him under different circumstances.  Why not be a healing voice for someone you love? Barbara Baranowski is a published writer and inspirational speaker devoted to family, educational, and spiritual issues.  She lives with her husband John in Roanoke, Virginia and is a retired middle school teacher.

Remembering Senior Citizens throught the Year

by Lois Breneman, © 2008, Heart to Heart Newsletter

Many of us have aging parents or grandparents who tend to be lonely and in need of a tender loving hug, a phone call, a card or a letter.  When it comes to gifts for an older person, it is difficult to know just what to give an older person to express our love and care for them.  When we ask for ideas, they most often say, "I don't need anything.  I already have all I need."  Many times they are trying to get rid of their extra personal possessions, because of down-sizing their homes and they certainly don't need new appliances or knick knacks.  So just what is a friend or loved one to give them?  Here are a few ideas. 

Give a sturdy decorated box (covered with fabric or gift wrap) filled with fresh fruit and snacks from the grocery store that they enjoy.  A shoe box lined with tissue paper works well.  You might bake muffins, cookies and bread for great additions!   Add a jar of jam made from only fruit.  A nice warm quilt or throw would be a cheery welcome on cold winter evenings as well.

Often elderly people living alone in their homes do not eat well, because they don't feel like cooking for just one or two people, and they will appreciate their favorite foods being ready to eat in an instant.  You could prepare several of their favorite dishes in multiple small portions and give to them already frozen, to use as needed.  Examples might be soups, casseroles, quick breads, muffins, mini meatloaves, chicken, mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes.  Package several of the same food item together in a larger freezer bag. 

Prepare a book of stories, memories and pictures for your parents or grandparents.  They will cherish that for sure!  Have all the grandchildren together to make a musical cassette tape for the grandparents.  They can sing some hymns and other songs.  I know grandparents would appreciate this gift for a long time to come. 

Give coupons -- one for each month -- for something you will do for them.  A back rub, foot rub, clean the bathrooms or the entire house, cook a meal in their home, offer to set up and take down some Christmas decorations for them, bake some cookies or muffins while you visit with them, give a piano concert just for them, give a foot massage, watch a Gaither Homecoming video with them, read a book to them, listen to their own childhood stories, help them to write checks and keep records, etc.  Many older people don't get nearly enough hugs and tender touching as they need, so a good back rub would be so appreciated.        

An aquatic garden with a Betta fish or a birdfeeder with black oil sunflower seed would provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment.  Give a "Reacher," or "Grabber," a long-handled instrument used for picking up things from the floor without bending or for reaching things on a high shelf without climbing up on a stool or chair (about $10).  Give a long handled sponge for applying lotion to the back, without the help of another person. (about $6)  How about a heating pad?  The previous three items can be found at most drug stores.

If your loved one is living in an assisted living facility or nursing home, a nice wreath for their door would be a welcome gift.  Be sure to also provide a wreath hanger.  An even better idea would be to change out their wreath to keep it seasonal.  Since they have limited space to store things, offer to store wreaths from other seasons for them in your home.  A good radio / CD player would be a very welcome gift, along with CD's of hymns and music they would enjoy.  A calendar with scripture verses or family pictures would be enjoyed all year long.  Calling cards are wonderful so they can keep in touch with friends and family on their schedule.  Even if they are fed three meals a day in the facility, snacks would be a welcome treat.  Take them a single rose or a few roses in a vase for many fragrant sniffs and smiles of contentment, but since many roses today have no fragrance, be sure the ones you give do.  If you enjoy sewing, ask if you could do any mending or special sewing for their room - make a pillow or dresser scarf. 

Hopefully these ideas will be helpful for a birthday, as well as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas or any time you want to bring extra happiness and joy to an elderly loved one or friend to let them know how much you care.  Send cheery cards.  If their sight is mostly gone, but their hearing is reasonable, send them a musical card.  Tell them how much you love them and care about them.  Above all else, faithfully pray for them, and let them know that you do.

Remembering Senior Citizens Throughout the Year

by Lois Breneman, © 2008, Heart to Heart 

Many of us have aging parents or grandparents who tend to be lonely and in need of a tender loving hug, a phone call, a card or a letter.  When it comes to gifts for an older person, it is difficult to know just what to give an older person to express our love and care for them.  When we ask for ideas, they most often say, "I don't need anything.  I already have all I need."  Many times they are trying to get rid of their extra personal possessions, because of down-sizing their homes and they certainly don't need new appliances or knickknacks.  So just what is a friend or loved one to give them?  Here are a few ideas. 

Give a sturdy decorated box (covered with fabric or gift wrap) filled with fresh fruit and snacks from the grocery store that they enjoy.  A shoe box lined with tissue paper works well.  You might bake muffins, cookies and bread for great additions!   Add a jar of jam made from only fruit.  A nice warm quilt or throw would be a cheery welcome on cold winter evenings as well.

Often elderly people living alone in their homes do not eat well, because they don't feel like cooking for just one or two people, and they will appreciate their favorite foods being ready to eat in an instant.  You could prepare several of their favorite dishes in multiple small portions and give to them already frozen, to use as needed.  Examples might be soups, casseroles, quick breads, muffins, mini meatloaves, chicken, mashed potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes.  Package several of the same food item together in a larger freezer bag. 

Prepare a book of stories, memories and pictures for your parents or grandparents.  They will cherish that for sure!  Have all the grandchildren together to make a musical cassette tape for the grandparents.  They can sing some hymns and other songs.  I know grandparents would appreciate this gift for a long time to come.  Give coupons -- one for each month -- for something you will do for them.  A back rub, foot rub, clean the bathrooms or the entire house, cook a meal in their home, offer to set up and take down some Christmas decorations for them, bake some cookies or muffins while you visit with them, give a piano concert just for them, give a foot massage, watch a Gaither Homecoming video with them, read a book to them, listen to their own childhood stories, help them to write checks and keep records, etc.  Many older people don't get nearly enough hugs and tender touching as they need, so a good back rub would be so appreciated.        

An aquatic garden with a Betta fish or a birdfeeder with black oil sunflower seed would provide hours of entertainment and enjoyment.  Give a "Reacher," or "Grabber," a long-handled instrument used for picking up things from the floor without bending or for reaching things on a high shelf without climbing up on a stool or chair (about $10).  Give a long handled sponge for applying lotion to the back, without the help of another person. (about $6)  How about a heating pad?  The previous three items can be found at most drug stores.

If your loved one is living in an assisted living facility or nursing home, a nice wreath for their door would be a welcome gift.  Be sure to also provide a wreath hanger.  An even better idea would be to change out their wreath to keep it seasonal.  Since they have limited space to store things, offer to store wreaths from other seasons for them in your home.  A good radio / CD player would be a very welcome gift, along with CD's of hymns and music they would enjoy.  A calendar with scripture verses or family pictures would be enjoyed all year long.  Calling cards are wonderful so they can keep in touch with friends and family on their schedule.  Even if they are fed three meals a day in the facility, snacks would be a welcome treat.  Take them a single rose or a few roses in a vase for many fragrant sniffs and smiles of contentment, but since many roses today have no fragrance, be sure the ones you give do.  If you enjoy sewing, ask if you could do any mending or special sewing for their room - make a pillow or dresser scarf. 

Hopefully these ideas will be helpful for a birthday, as well as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas or any time you want to bring extra happiness and joy to an elderly loved one or friend to let them know how much you care.  Send cheery cards.  If their sight is mostly gone, but their hearing is reasonable, send them a musical card.  Tell them how much you love them and care about them.  Above all else, faithfully pray for them, and let them know that you do.

Last Minute Homemade Gift Ideas

Jar of Memories ~ Find an attractive jar and cut lots of colorful note-sized pieces. Write a single memory you have about a special person on each piece and place it in the jar. Fill it full of special memories!  Tie a pretty ribbon around the jar for a priceless jar of memories for a special person. Wouldn't an elderly parent just love a gift like this?   Sending the notes in the mail would make it a special joy to receive as well.       

Gifts in a Jar ~  http://www.craftbits.com/viewCategory.do?categoryID=REC

http://www.thecomfortablelife.com/jargifts.htm

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/giftsinjar.html

http://www.dmoz.org/Home/Cooking/Gifts_in_a_Jar/

http://www.geocities.com/giftsinajar/

 

Calendar of Children's Art Work ~ Make color copies of your children's prized art work to make a calendar.  You could also scan twelve pieces of your child's art work and upload the images to an online photo site such as Shutterfly or any service that does photo gifts.

 

Night Light Lamp Shade ~ http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/nightlight-lampshade/index.html

Fridge Frame Magnets Handmade Gift Tags

Christmas Ornament CraftsFresh Ideas For Making Dazzling Holiday Decorations In A Snap! - www.BHG.com  - Enjoy these 14 videos of things to make for your home the holiday season or to give as gifts.  My favorite is the first one - how to redo old ornaments!

Brain Fitness News

www.PositScience.com

A Delicious Defense Against Dementia?
Scientists at Duke University have found more evidence that curcumin—a compound found in curry and other dishes spiced with turmeric—may help prevent the onset of dementia. The research suggests that eating curry a few times a week may prevent the spread of the amyloid brain plaques that are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Learn more about how curcumin affects the brain.  Or, you can click here to download an easy recipe for curry popcorn, among other brain healthy treats.

Sleep Helps Brain Find Solutions
“Sleep on it” is common advice when you’re facing a tough decision, and now researchers have discovered scientific evidence that sleeping really can help people come up with solutions to problems. In a study done at the University of California at San Diego, scientists asked participants to solve test questions before and after taking a nap. People who took a nap that included a phase of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep performed 40% better on the test than participants that napped without REM or didn’t sleep at all. Read why REM sleep may increase problem-solving skills.

Additional Gift Ideas

by Lois Breneman 2009 - Heart to Heart


Idea for Grandmas to Give: Kids' Quotes in Booklet Form
~ Many times I have advised moms to scribble down all the cute quotes of their children.  I often ask our children if their kids have said any cute quotes lately, then scribble down each one, just in case they miss any in their own records.  So Grandmas, try putting together a little booklet of your grandchildren's quotes to give to your children!  You know they will love it!

Scripture Verse Picture Book ~ Get a list of all the scripture verses your children or grandchildren learn in school, Sunday school or Awana.  Then make them a picture book with each scripture verse.  It will be a very special gift to help them review those verses, so they will be ingrained in their minds and heart all their lives.

Handmade Soap Recipes ~ Debbie Tuott in Minnesota says, "I want to make homemade presents for all my extended family. We have made soaps before, but I am inviting several families over at different times to make as big a variety of these soaps as possible-- tons and I mean TONS of ideas and recipes and pics here." http://www.millersoap.com/soapallveg.html#Sudsy

Make Rose Petal Soaps In Minutes - Video

Creative Handmade Projects for Christmas ~ http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/crafts/christmas-holiday-crafts/?sssdmh=dm17.405116& amp;esrc=nwxmascraftsNew5_10_1&email=2227786527

A Perfect Gift for Seniors would be to make them freezer meals!  


(This is another great gift for seniors, who are often cold).

The Snuglett ~ Debbie Tuott in Minnesota says, "My daughter and I made many of these for Christmas last year to rave reviews!! This is pdf file but it is easy to do and we hand sewed them all very quickly!!"
http://www.sissonfamily.com/Sewingroom/images/2006projects/thesnuglet.pdf