Lady Links

 

Do you remember folding fans?  At a recent lady-Links visit, we enjoyed unfolding these folding fans and reminiscing about times we used them as children.  I’m sure our grandchildren can’t imagine a time without air conditioning, but we certainly do.  These types of fans provided a much needed breeze during many hot and humid events.

Some of the memories we “unfolded” as we held these folding fans included going to church revivals when we were children “back in the day.”  Whether inside a church or outside under a tent, we all agreed that hand-held fans were a must.  Most of us brought our own folded fans, but for those who didn’t have them, the church typically provided individuals with a fan that was a solid piece of cardboard on what looked like a long popsicle stick.  Sometimes those cardboard tops had advertisements on them from local stores or even scriptures such as John 3:16 printed on them.  Other memories involved trying to keep cool in unconditioned schools.  Usually each classroom would have one electric fan that would try to provide some relief from the heat, but unless you sat right in front of it you were hot!

Folding notebook paper to make a quick fan was what we had to do, especially in some of our schools that were three stories tall.  It got hot on that third floor!

But whatever the place or event, fans were a big part of our childhood and we enjoyed reminiscing about those times.  All of us agreed that we are glad that fans are a part of our memories and not currently a necessity like they once were!  So if the electricity goes out and we lose our air conditioning, at least we know what to do….that is, if we can find a piece of notebook paper!

 

Summertime is here, and the Lady-Links know how to make some “cool” connections with their dear friends, those ladies in our community with various types of cognitive decline.  In addition to our visits where we make seasonal crafts, we also enjoy making seasonal cards to send to them.

Recently our focus was on summer, with lots of designs to represent this season of the year.  Making these cards was what we call a “win-win” event.  We had such fun getting together to make the cards, and we know the ladies who receive them will have fun opening the envelopes to find a cheerful card inside!

Our crafts coordinator had plenty of colorful combinations for us to consider….no two cards were alike!

From ladybugs to butterflies, the designs were so colorful and cheerful that we were all smiles as we worked.

The Lady-Links know how to say “hello” to summer in a “cool” way!  May you have a summer filled with nice days (and lots of cool ones too)!

Who knew that a set of trolls could bring such smiles to our Lady-Links at a recent Show and Tell visit with one of our dear friends.  We never know what will happen at our Show and Tell visits because the items we bring range from something ordinary to something very unique.  But we can always count on smiles, conversation, and connections at each of these visits.  What was unusual about this visit was that our dear friend wanted to share something she had that was meaningful to her….so out came the trolls!

Along with the set of trolls came an explanation of the meaning of trolls in European folklore.  It was a great visit with lots laughter shared as we looked at the features on these rather weird-looking creatures!

But “unusual” items don’t surprise us….in fact, they add to the spontaneity of the Show and Tell visits.  One of our most fun visits with this dear friend was when a Lady-Link brought a ceramic mushroom she made and began to tell us some of the legends surrounding mushrooms….such as the idea that mushrooms can communicate with one another!  A talking mushroom… we’d all like to see that!  I can’t remember laughing so much as when we tried to figure out what one mushroom might say to another mushroom!

Even something as “ordinary” as string can bring lots of memories and smiles.  One of our Lady-Links brought a large spool of string that reminded us that string was used to wrap packages at the store when we were young.  That prompted memories of shopping with our parents in local stores long before plastic bags were “invented.”  Memories were shared such as how packages were sent through the mail after they were firmly secured with brown paper and string, rather than the packing tape or self-seal boxes that we use today.

Other more common items, such as jewelry and pottery are just as effective and are always sure to inspire conversation. Pieces one of our Lady-Links brought to a visit have a southwest look to them, coming from Arizona and South America.  This prompted conversations about color and design combinations, travel, and what type of souvenirs we like to bring back from a trip.

Are you getting the picture here?  It’s not so much about what you bring to your visit with your friend or loved one in cognitive decline….anything will do….it’s what you do with the object that you bring that makes for a successful visit.  Here are some tips to remember:

1. Talk briefly about the object such as where you got it, what it’s used for, and why it’s meaningful to you. (This is not a report that you are giving to an audience. What you say should be more conversational in style and tone rather than as if you were making a presentation.)
2.  Engage your dear friend or loved one by letting them hold it.
3.  Let the object inspire conversation.
4. Find a connection…a similar experience perhaps from childhood or shared memories of when something similar was used.

The Show and Tell visits are some of our most successful visits because there are so many ways to find connections.  And that’s what we want to do….we want to keep our dear friends connected (linked) to their surroundings because it improves their quality of life and helps them feel a sense of purpose.  We’re named Lady-Links for a reason,  and we enjoy helping to keep those links strong!

 

Most of us have enjoyed a hot beverage each morning throughout our adult lives, probably coffee or tea.  So it should be no surprise that at a recent Lady-Links visit with our dear friends, those ladies in our community with various types of cognitive decline, that we could connect through shared memories of those early morning times.  A collection of cups and mugs sparked conversations about favorite teas and coffees, and times spent with family and friends.

We talked about coffee and tea served in our kitchens, and times when we needed a container to take it “on the go.”  

Those memories of shared experiences based on a simple morning routine provided lots of love, laughter and joy during one of our recent visits.  As Lady-Links, we are friends with our dear friends, and the sharing of love, laughter and joy comes naturally during our visits with them.  If you have a loved one or friend in cognitive decline, “what’s in your cup” that you might share to spark memories that inspire conversations and connections?  You’ll be glad you did….we were!  It’s what friends are for!

Creating colorful, cheerful cards to send to our dear friends is always a special activity for the Lady-Links.  We have such fun getting together to make the cards, and we know that it will be fun for our dear friends, those ladies in our retirement community in various stages of cognitive decline, when they receive them.

 

We did some preliminary work before this event to get Spring-themed stickers made on a Creative Station sticker machine in addition to purchasing some  adhesive-backed foam cutouts.

The Lady-Links find meaningful ways to connect with our dear friends, and making cards is one of our favorites.  The spouses and caregivers tell us that our dear friends hold and cherish the cards we send for days, bringing an emotional connection as well as a physical one.  It’s a way of linking love and letting them know that we care.

There are so many ways to engage in St. Patrick’s Day activities with our dear friends, those ladies in our community with some type of cognitive decline.  At our March Lady-Links visits, we always enjoy making crafts and sharing Show and Tell items that reflect a St. Patrick’s Day theme.  This type of socialization helps sharpen memory and cognitive skills, plus it’s fun!

It’s always a delight to see our finished products displayed in the apartments of the residents in our continuing care community where we send the crafts that we make.

The Show and Tell visits are just as much fun as the craft visits.  Looking at St. Patrick’s Day decorations and collections brings back memories of how we celebrated this holiday when we were children.  Stories of getting “pinched if you didn’t wear green” were some of the most popular ones shared.  There were memories of corned beef and cabbage dinners, parades, making Irish Soda Bread, looking for Leprechauns, rainbows and pots of gold and, of course, the importance and meaning of the shamrock.  We really felt the results of this Irish blessing at our St. Patrick’s Day themed visits with our dear friends:

May your troubles be less and your blessings be more,

and nothing but happiness come through your door.

 

The Lady-Links wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

The annual Lady-Links Valentine Party was another success.  Thanks to our Crafts Coordinator, we made over 100 original valentines to send to our community care residents and to our dear friends.  It was an afternoon filled with love and laughter as we created beautiful valentines, enjoyed delicious refreshments, and engaged in a special time of memories and shared experiences.

The special moments included fun around the refreshment table, lots of talking and catching up.

The party served a worthy cause that will bring lots of smiles on Valentine’s Day.

Happy Valentine’s Day from the Lady-Links!

 

Our Lady-Links enjoy sharing memories with our dear friends, those ladies in our retirement community with various types of cognitive decline.  When we bring an item for our Show and Tell visits, there’s a wide variety of things to see and interesting stories to be shared.  As this Lady-Link sat at her breakfast table with a view of her backyard before moving to our retirement community, she took notice of a pair of cardinals that returned every year to build a nest and raise their little ones.  We enjoyed looking at the plate she purchased to remind her of the cardinal sightings, and that prompted each of us (including our dear friend) to share related stories of our own.

Some of our Show and Tell items span decades in our lives….this “Outstanding Homemaking Student of the Year” trophy dating back to high school years brought lots of laughter as we remembered some of our first experiences with baking.  Crisco remains the favorite shortening ingredient for making flaky pie crusts back then and now!

The Lunar New Year was a special topic to remind us of the way other cultures celebrate the calendar year.

Holiday decorations are fun items to share and discuss.  With Valentine’s Day approaching, there’s lots of items that will spur memories and inspire conversation. Collections that our Lady-Links have are exciting to see.  This Snoopy collection was a big hit at one of our visits.

One of our most interesting Show and Tell visits was when our dear friend said she had something to show us.  It was her nurses uniform from when she was a student nurse in Kansas City from 1948-1951.  What a joy that was to hear her share stories from her early days as a nurse, and to know that we gave her an opportunity to discuss something that was meaningful in her life.  Show and Tell visits are truly a win-win situation.

There’s always something interesting when we have a Show and Tell visit.  Our dear friends love it and so do we!

 

 

It’s a new year and that brings an opportunity for new ideas to incorporate into our Lady-Links program.  We’re not changing our mission…to engage our dear friends in activities they can enjoy…but we are looking for ways to increase our connection with those ladies in our community who are experiencing various types of memory loss or cognitive decline.  To do that requires thought, planning, and coordination with other groups who have the same compassionate outreach for providing socialization for those with various types of cognitive concerns.

We want to reach as many dear friends as possible and that includes volunteering at events designed for those with cognitive issues.

We’ve also learned that a card connection with our dear friends is a great way to bring joy into their lives when a personal visit isn’t possible.  COVID taught us that.

The Lady-Links organized in 2013, visiting dear friends in their homes engaging them in various activities such as crafts, games, music, or with Show and Tell items.  We want to expand that vision to include volunteering at events, setting up a Card Connection with pen pals, and engaging in group craft activities creating projects that we send to our dear friends..  We’ve done some of that in the past, but we want to do more.  Our focus has been primarily on home visits but now as our community grows, we want to broaden our vision for how to reach ladies with cognitive issues in additional ways.  This will be an exciting year for Lady-Links!

Happy New Year from the Lady-Links!

Each year since the Lady-Links were organized in 2013, we have met at Christmas time to make ornaments to give to residents in our continuing care community.  It’s a wonderful time of giving in the spirit of Christmas.  Throughout the year, we visit the ladies in our community who have some type of cognitive decline engaging them in activities they enjoy.  For our December activity, in addition to our visits, we meet as a group to make over 100 ornaments to share with everyone in our assisted living, post-acute care and memory care community.

Everyone enjoyed making the ornaments, but the real joy came in knowing that the residents who receive them would experience joy as well.

Even the husbands and guests got into the ornament-making mode!

Delicious refreshments, wonderful fellowship, and decorations added to the joy of the event.

The finished ornaments filled an entire table.

The Lady-Links agree that giving is the best part of what we do.