(If this is inappropriate or in the wrong place, mods, I understand you’ll deal with it.)
When son and I used to do nursing home visits, we once asked when we’d be most needed. The director of nursing and activities director blurted out an emphatic “February!” There’s no huge holiday to attract Scout or church groups, most of the country is too cold, unpredictable and/ or soggy to have frail folks go outside much. Flu and norovirus circulate constantlt. Boredom is a given even fir those there on temporary rehab after surgery. Most activities are geared toward the majority of patients being women. In other words, elder men are often bored beyond belief. Some suggestions (always call the facility first
If you’ve been looking for a place to leave old magazines, for instance OGR, most care homes will welcome a half-dozen or so.
If the facility allows visitors, or staff has a good grip on tech, show them how to get to trackside webcams, preferably the busy ones. (Even non-railfans enjoy the cams in pretty or distant locations.)
Many elders love jigsaw puzzles, especially 500 piece or less ones and those printed on thicker backgrounds.
Cheap binoculars may be a hit, depending on the person, because a lot of homes have bird feeders and it isn’t always easy to see who’s in.
Scout groups and such may send valentines, but most people like to get mail even though it never went through the post office. Dollar stores have class-sized boxes of family-friendly small ones, or you can print some from free image sites and drop them off. Staff can boost morale for those who never get mail, or residents can give them to one another.
Veterans’ Administration centers have a list of stuff their residents will appreciate anytime, but especially now. Here’s the one in Altoona:
https://www.va.gov/altoona-hea...volunteer-or-donate/
(Also, if you’re close to Cresson or happen to be at the Station Inn, and you look across the tracks and up the hill, that big low brick building is St. John Paul II Manor. Sister Mary Jo, who runs the place, would be glad to get some puzzles, word searches, train or other clean DVDs you’re done with, and the usual small personal items.)
Finally, if there’s no seasonal illness raging and you can go in, individually or as a club, consider taking a module or two and a couple of inexpensive cars. It’s not the place for your delicately detailed or sentimental items. Think old Marx wind-ups to eliminate electrical risk and less-scratchy plastic rather than metal. Printed sturdy buildings are the best bet. Think Plywood Pacific, not tremendous detail.
I’m trying to think of how to make an O-gauge module compact enough to wheel from room to room or unit to unit. Suggestions are, or course, welcome.
Becky
