BOREDOM BUSTERS – Part 1 | Sharon Village Care Homes

Below are a dozen ideas … in no particular order. Simply choose the one(s) you find most appealing and bust that boredom.

Listen to Music

Whether on CD, an mp3 player, an iPod, or the radio, you can listen to your favourite music. Not only can music lift your spirits, but studies show that music often awakens memories long buried. This is especially helpful if you’re concerned about increasing forgetfulness.

Listen to Radio Programs

With the right device, you can listen to your local station, satellite radio, or online stations. The possibilities—from music to news broadcasts to talk shows—are virtually endless. A great boredom buster!

Lend a Hand

Although you may not be able to do what you once did, offering a kind work or a helping hand can go a long way to making you feel better—as well as brightening someone else’s day.

Redecorate Your Room

It doesn’t take much effort to completely change the feel of a room. You can switch up the pictures, buy and new throw cushion, add a small shelving unit and regularly change what you display. And if you enjoy decorating for the holidays or different seasons, think of adding a few key pieces. These touches can add that special something to even the smallest living spaces.

Surf the Internet

Of course there are some precautions you should take before exploring the Internet, but it is a wonderful place to learn new things, keep in touch with family and friends, and explore and develop new interests. It computers and the Internet intimidate you, ask someone who is comfortable online to give you some pointers.

Go on a Virtual Vacation

An actual vacation is far more fun, but there are options when that is not a possibility. Check out Google Earth online and choose a place you’d like to visit. Many locations have street view options and you can tour countless exotic spots without leaving your residence.

Participate in Online Social Networking

What’s all this talk about Facebook and Twitter? If you have access to the Internet, you may want to open an account to stay in touch with family and friends. If you don’t know how to go about it, just ask one of your grandchildren—or someone else’s. They would likely get a kick out of guiding you through the process. Emailing and learning to use Skype are two additional options you might like.

Plan an Event

Before moving into the residence, you may have loved to plan events and throw parties. Of course it isn’t exactly the same now—far from it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t let your imagination run wild and put together an event for you and the other residents.

Start a Club

Do you enjoy scrapbooking or stamp collecting, knitting or reading? Why not gather a few likeminded people together for meetings once every week or two? It will give you—and them—something to look forward to.

Attend a Social Event

Many seniors’ residences plan regular social events. This may not be your “thing,” but why not attend. Who knows? You might have a really great time and make a new friend or two.

Throw a Party

Why not reserve one of the community rooms, decorate it with matching paper tablecloths, napkins, plates, and cups? Invite some of the other residents for a theme party or a “just because” get-together. Serve punch and cookies, play some music, and have fun.

Help a Charity

With the holiday season fast approaching, there are many charities asking for contributions. One way you can help out is to choose a reputable charity and ask for contributions from staff members and fellow residents … if this is allowed. For example, Samaritan’s Purse sends shoeboxes filled with daily necessities, toys, etc. to underprivileged children. Relief organizations like International Needs and World Vision have catalogues of items you can buy for various impoverished communities around the globe.

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21 TIPS FOR BEATING CHRONIC FATIQUE | Sharon Village Care Homes

The following are general suggestions and may not apply to you specifically.

1. Eat several small meals throughout the day.

Large meals require a lot of energy to digest and often make you sleepy. Eating several small meals and snacks gives you ongoing energy. Plus, your body doesn’t have to work so hard to break down the food.

2. Stay active—physically and mentally.

Sometimes, you may drift off because you’re inactive and/or bored. Go for a walk. Invite a few people to play cards or a board game. Put together a puzzle. Read a book.

3. Exercise.

Ask a physiotherapist or personal trainer to put together a simple exercise routine for you and do the exercises every couple of days.

4. Make a habit of chatting with family, friends, and fellow residents.

It’s usually harder to nod off when you’re talking to someone. And sleeping during the day can make it hard to do so restfully at night.

5. Do what you can to minimize stress.

Pay particular attention to those things that cause you stress—and avoid them as much as possible. Do what you can to develop a genuinely positive attitude. This goes a long way to fighting stress.

6. Check with your doctor if you think your medication is affecting your sleep.

If you suspect that something you’re taking is making it difficult to rest through the night, arrange to talk to your doctor and see what he or she can do for you.

7. Determine whether an afternoon nap revitalizes you or makes you more sleepy.

An early afternoon nap may be just what you need to prevent you from falling asleep too early. On the other hand, it may have the opposite effect. If you feel groggy for an extended period after your nap and find it interferes with your sleep at night, it would be good to do things differently. Instead, you could do your exercises or visit with a friend.

8. Don’t consume too much liquid in the evening.

Having to get up in the night to use the washroom leads to a broken sleep, and not everyone can fall back to sleep quickly after they’ve been up even for a few minutes.

9. Avoid foods and beverages that give you energy—or agitate you—especially at the end of the day.

It’s definitely best to avoid refined sugar and caffeine in the evening—most anytime actually.

10. If possible, have a warm bath or shower in the evening.

This isn’t always practical, but a warm bath can be just the thing to relax and get sleepy.

11. Choose the right pillow.

If your pillow is too hard or too soft, too fluffy or too flat, it can affect your sleep. Some people rest well with no pillow. And others need two.

12. See to it that you’re not too hot—or too cold—when you’re in bed.

Some people like a nip in the air and enjoy having their window open all year round. Others need to be warm and toasty. Perhaps having several layers of blankets is the best option for you. That way you can pull them up or toss them off accordingly.

13. Listen to relaxing music or purchase a white noise machine.

Music can be very soothing, especially instrumental music that doesn’t bring lyrics to mind. If that doesn’t work for you, you may want to purchase a white noise machine that will mask other sounds while you sleep.

14. Keep reading material on your night table.

Reading at night makes many people drowsy. There are backlit electronic readers (Kobo and Kindle, for example) that are lightweight and may be the perfect solution. It isn’t always practical to keep the light on and try to hold a physical book while you’re trying to fall asleep.

15. You may also want to keep a pen and notepad by your bed.

If you think of something you don’t want to forget, simply jot it down and the note will be waiting for you in the morning.

16. Make the room as dark as possible.

Many people sleep most soundly if their room is totally dark. You may want to purchase room-darkening blinds and ask that your door be shut when you are in bed for the night.

17. Don’t wait until you’re overtired to head to bed.

Being too tired can have the same effect as not being tired at all. Try to get to bed before you reach this stage.

18. Give yourself time to wind down.

If you’ve had an especially busy day—mentally and/or physically—give yourself time to decompress before trying to get to sleep. Watch a little television. Listen to some music. Read a chapter or two in your favourite book.

19. As much as possible, follow the same nighttime ritual every evening.

Routine can be very helpful. It trains your body and your mind to know it’s time for sleep.

20. Keep to a fairly strict sleep schedule.

Whenever possible, go to bed at the same time every night and rise at the same time every morning.

21. Count your blessings.

And instead of counting sheep, why not count blessings as you nod off? Talk about a great way to develop a positive attitude, de-stress, and rest peacefully.

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17 Ways to Deal with Losing a Loved One | Sharon Village Care Homes

It’s probably the hardest thing you will ever have to deal with, losing a loved one.

No one should tell you to get over it—no matter how long ago it was, but there are things you can do to move forward, to deal with your loss.

17 Ways to Deal with Losing a Loved One:

1. Allow yourself to grief. You don’t have to pretend everything is alright when it isn’t. While it has been said that there are stages to grief, it has also been said that sometimes those stages get jumbled; a stage that you think has passed will resurface with no warning. Such is the nature of the process.

2. Keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. It often helps to work through things on paper. You don’t have to write it for anyone but yourself. It’s perfectly acceptable to be 100 percent honest with yourself and write openly. Don’t pretend. Be real.

3. Go through old photographs and allow yourself the time to revisit the memories surrounding each picture. You may laugh or cry—or both. That’s fine. And if something you want to be sure to remember resurfaces, make note of it and keep the paper and photo together.

4. You may want to scrapbook these thoughts and pictures—or have someone do it for you. Even better, work on the project together with another individual who was also close to your loved one, a friend or family member.

5. Make an audio recording of your memories for yourself or for your family. Just like writing, it sometimes help to verbalize thoughts and feelings.

6. And don’t forget to share your heart with a compassionate friend, family member, pastor—even a professional counselor. That individual can help you work things through.

7. Listen to your loved one’s favourite music. Be aware that this can bring an onslaught of emotions, but it can make the individual seem closer and can stir happy memories.

8. You may want to write a letter to your loved one. Pour out your heart to him or her. Again, it may make him or her seem closer.

9. If you’ve kept cards and notes he or she wrote to you, you may want to reread them. Don’t rush. Savour each one. Think of the occasion and again, make note of memories that surface that you don’t want to forget.

10. Did your loved one have a favourite book? It might be a good time to read it and see why he or she liked it so much. A favourite movie? Watch it. A favourite food? Enjoy.

11. There are organizations that bring dogs and cats into care centres. Interacting with a pet can be very therapeutic. If you’re an animal lover—and even if you’re not—you may want to ask if this service would be available to you. You might be surprised at the comfort and joy you experience when you interact with an animal.

12. And speaking of therapy, art therapy is also a great way to work through your emotions. You may not be particularly artistic, but you can express your emotions in abstract art. Dark colours and harsh, angular, geometric shapes often reflect “negative” emotions, while bright colours and flowing lines often reflect joy and happiness. It’s perfectly acceptable if your work is a combination of the two.

13. Don’t feel guilty if these things are just too hard. Maybe you need to otherwise occupy your mind for a while. (One woman had to put away all the photos of her father-in-law after he passed away. The two were very close and it took quite a while before she could put them back out, but she did—eventually.)

14. This might be the perfect time to start a new hobby, something you’ve always wanted to do.

15. And how about making some new friends? It’s never too late to do that.

16. Though your laughter may sound strange in your own ears. You may even feel guilty about laughing, but you don’t have to. Watch a comedy, read a book of jokes, whatever makes you laugh.

17. And remember . . . there are people who care about you and what you’re going through—and those who are going through the same thing. You are not alone.

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The Tapestry of Life | Sharon Village Care Homes

Each thread in a tapestry is important. Some stand out right away. It may even seem that the other threads are unnecessary. But take just one away and the whole tapestry changes.

It’s the same with life. Each of us has an important part to play. Just because your part, your thread, doesn’t seem to stand out like it once did doesn’t mean it isn’t of great worth.

Have you ever considered the following?

1. Some threads are bold and dynamic. Perhaps you’re an extrovert and even now brighten up a room whenever you enter. You may wear the label “Life of the Party”.

2. Perhaps you’re warm and caring. If you were a colour, you would be a rich, warm brown or green. You exude calm and peace. And who doesn’t need more of that in their life?

3. You may be shy and reserved. You may feel like you have no colour, eggshell white or beige perhaps. Don’t underestimate your importance to the tapestry. Too many loud colours can be overwhelming. Too many similar earth tones won’t provide the needed contrast. You come alongside people and temper the effects of the other threads. You are vital.

4. Each thread appears on the surface of the tapestry of life at times only to run along on the underside for a while. Enjoy these times. Be refreshed. Prepare yourself for your next appearance. Think your time is over? As long as you draw breath you are part of someone’s tapestry. Think of your children, grandchildren, friends, even the staff of the care centre. Seek to be a beautiful influence no matter what your colour.

5. When some people think of tapestries, they think of the large works of art that hung on the walls of medieval castles. These amazing pieces portrayed important events in the life of the kingdom. They told a story. Each thread was added carefully and skillfully with the completed work in mind. When that completed work was hung, everyone saw the same picture and likely knew its history and meaning. It’s wonderful to realize you are part of something important, something that will speak to the current generation and generations to come.

6. Other tapestries are what you may think of as modern or postmodern art. The threads are rougher, more textured. They are woven together into what looks like abstract art to some, a jumbled mess to others. But when you step back and see the overall effect, it is easier to see the beauty. There is order and reason—even if it isn’t evident at first. Life can be like that. Sometimes it takes looking at things from a different perspective to see beauty in the tapestry.

7. It is a good idea to not only look at your place in the tapestry of life but to see your own life as a tapestry as well. There are bright threads that represent the joyous times; dark threads that represent the hard times and, even so, add depth and definition; and more subdued colours that represent the day-to-day.

8. Can you envision the tapestry of your life? Just for you—or maybe to share with others—try to describe that tapestry in words or, if you’re artistically-inclined, in a drawing or painting. Let your mind travel over the years. What was an ordinary day like growing up? As an adult? Most days are ordinary, made up of quiet colours that act as the backdrop for the other threads. They may overwhelm your memories. You may have to look carefully to see the bright threads—and you may be tempted to turn away from the dark ones, but together they make up the work of art that is your life. Contemplate that work of art; deliberately look for the beauty even when it’s hard to see—and seek to add beauty to the tapestry of other’s lives each day.

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How to Make Friends | Sharon Village Care Homes

When life changes dramatically, there are many things you may have to relearn. One of them is how to make new friends.

Before we consider how, let’s consider why.

If you have recently moved to a care centre, you may not know anyone else who lives there.

Your family and friends may live far away and be unable to visit regularly. (They may also be busy or unable to travel for various reasons.)

People are social creatures; we need one another. Interaction with others keeps your mind stimulated. Exercise for your mind is as important as exercise for your body—maybe even more so.

Conversation can turn to humorous things your grandchildren or great grandchildren have done. Laughter really is good medicine.

Those you befriend will also benefit from your newfound relationships. Though it can be discouraging when you can no longer do what you once did, you can still brighten someone else’s day and that’s a very good thing.

Let’s face it, you can’t have too many friends.

According to the Mayo Clinic, friendships . . .

• Increase your sense of belonging and purpose

• Boost your happiness and reduce your stress

• Improve your self-confidence and self-worth

• Help you cope with traumas, such as divorce, serious illness, job loss or the death of a loved one

• Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise

This and further information is available on the Internet at http://ift.tt/1j2O23m

How do you make friends?

Participate in planned activities and strike up a conversation with someone new. Even if these activities aren’t your first choice, give them a try if you’re able. You just might discover a new interest—and a new friend or two—in the process.

If you’re an extrovert overflowing with ideas, why not work with the staff to plan an activity that isn’t already on the schedule.

Eat meals in the dining room rather than your own room. If you have assigned seating, strike up a conversation and get to know the people at your table. If you can choose where to sit, try to make connections with a number of other residents.

Don’t simply migrate to the same table for each meal.

If you enjoy reading, why not start a book club with a few of the other residents?

Invite one or two friends back to your room to play cards, knit, or watch TV.

Do you like to paint? Draw? Take pictures? Ask around and see if one or more of the other residents would like to join you.

Find someone who spends a good deal of time alone and strike up a conversation. Maybe they’re shy and just waiting for someone to make friends with them.

It is of course fine to spend time on your own—introverts especially need to do so in order to recharge. Though it may seem awkward and uncomfortable at first, express appreciation to those who approach you. As you chat, you may realize you have lots in common and a new friendship is formed.

While interacting with your friends in person is important, that doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch with people and make new friends online. Facebook, for example, can be overwhelming, but it is a great way to connect with others. Ask a friend or family member to help you set up an account and show you the basics. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask for further instructions. You don’t want to set up an account that you never use.

The same is true of Skype, it’s an amazing way to stay in touch with family and friends—especially those at a distance. The video option is a great way to watch the grandbabies grow up when you can’t be with them.

Whether in person or online, the simplest way to make friends is to be friendly.

While it’s sad that anyone would have to issue a warning in an article about making friends, the truth is some people will try to take advantage of you. If someone does something or asks something of you that makes you uncomfortable, discuss it with a third party you know you can trust. Don’t let this warning deter you from making new friends; simply proceed with caution.

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