Ways To Celebrate & Boost Moral

[Pennie 26]

Hi All,

Here are some things I thought I'd pass along to everyone.

 

Share with the administrator:

Evaluate the area where your staff takes a break. Is it a lounge or lunchroom? Is it a comfortable place to relax? Offer diversions such as books, magazines, comics, videos that are NOT long-term care related. Encourage employees to make decoration suggestions.

 

These next two could be done by activities or dietary:

Hold a contest to determine the best overall meal of the week, the best breakfast, lunch and dinner, the best entree, best salad, etc. Post the results and repeat the contest periodically.

 

Initiate a Menu Committee and invite residents to participate. (I would do this with the Dietary Manger or let them do this themselves)

 

Below be sure to check out this website, it has a really neat way to share you're Veteran's stories.

This day can also be celebrated on Nat'l Nursing Home Week as well as a bunch of others. Check out all of the possible days to celebrate the veterans in your home, located at the end of this posting.

** The reason that I have Nat'l Nursing Home Wk is that it is a good PR Tool. When you go to the link they eill explain how.

 

One activity that lends itself well to our theme of reflection is the Veterans History Project organized by The National Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. This projects aims to preserve the memories of our veterans from World War II. The project is collecting and preserving war-time memories and memorabilia of veterans and those whose supported their efforts. Collecting stories from nursing home residents is an excellent activity for National Nursing Home week and one residents and future generations benefit from.

 

Vivid as if they happened yesterday, these heartfelt accounts make us laugh, cry and remember. The stories are not a formal history of war, but a treasure trove of individual feeling and personal recollections. Through stories, we can form a personal connection with the storyteller and begin to truly know and understand the human experience.

 

Our primary focus is on first-hand accounts of

U.S. Veterans from the following 20th Century wars:

 

World War I (1914-1920)

World War II (1939-1946)

Korean War (1950-1955)

Vietnam War (1961-1975)

Persian Gulf War (1990-1995)

In addition, those U.S. citizen civilians who

 

Days to recognize:

Feb 4 USO Birthday Founded on February 4, 1941, the USO was a collaborative effort of the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the YWCA, the National Jewish Welfare Board, and the National Catholic Community Service to provide recreation for on-leave members of the U.S. armed forces and their families.

 

May

National Military Appreciation Month Designated by Congress in 1999, the month is set aside to honor our military and acknowledge its history.

7 Military Spouse Day A day to honor military spouses for the support they give to their own and to other military families, to honor their contributions to their communities, and to acknowledge the sacrifices they make in support of their country. It was first observed in 1984.

8 V-E Day The anniversary of the German unconditional surrender in 1945, ending World War II in Europe.

starts on Mother's Day National Nursing Home Week An annual event since 1967, the observance was created to focus attention on America's elderly population as well as the contributions of their caregivers.

15 Armed Forces Day In existence since 1947, this is a day of combined celebration and honor for all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

22 National Maritime Day The U.S. Congress approved in 1933 this annual day of tribute to the U.S. Merchant Marine.

24 The Day of Honor Established by joint resolution of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on May 23, 2000, the date is designated to honor the service of African-Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans in World War II.

27 - 30 World War II Reunion, Washington, D.C.One of the events coinciding with the dedication of the World War II Memorial will be the "Tribute to a Generation: National World War II Reunion," produced by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Commission, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

29 World War II Memorial Dedication, Washington, D.C.The Memorial will be dedicated in Washington, D.C. in a formal ceremony on the National Mall. The purpose of the Memorial is "to honor all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms."

31 Memorial Day, Observed Originally titled Decoration Day, this annual observance dates back to May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery by the Grand Army of the Republic.

 

June

6 D-Day Anniversary The anniversary of the World War II Allied invasion of Europe, 1944.

14 Flag Day The anniversary of the 1777 adoption by the Continental Congress of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States.

14 U.S. Army Birthday The Air Corps became the aviation branch of the U.S. Army in 1926.

27 National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day The anniversary of the 1953 signing of the armistice that ended the three-year Korean War.

 

August

4 U.S. Coast Guard Birthday The forerunner of the service, the Revenue Cutter Service, was established on this date in 1790.

7 Purple Heart Day A day to remember and recognize Purple Heart recipients--members of the Armed services who have been wounded or killed, died as a result of a wound in battle, or otherwise designated by the President of the United States. Gen. George Washington first awarded this medal on August 7, 1782, as the Badge of Military Merit.

14 V-J Day Anniversary of the 1945 informal surrender of Japan, effectively ending World War II.

 

September

17 National POW/MIA Recognition Day The date is observed to honor America's POW/MIAs who have returned or are missing and unaccounted for from our nation's wars.

18 U.S. Air Force Birthday The Air Force was established as a separate armed service on this date in 1947 by President Harry Truman.

26 Gold Star Mothers' Day Established by Presidential proclamation in 1936, the day is observed in tribute to American mothers of sons or daughters who died in service to their country.

 

October 13 U.S. Navy Birthday The Continental Navy was established on October 13, 1775. Since 1972, this anniversary is observed as an internal activity for members of the active forces and reserves, as well as retirees and dependents in order to enhance a greater appreciation of Navy heritage.

27 Navy Day First observed in 1922, Navy Day is sponsored by the Navy League to give recognition to the naval service.

 

November

10 U.S. Marine Corps Birthday The service was established as the Continental Marines by the Continental Congress on this date in 1775.

11 Veterans Day This observance, originally known as Armistice Day, became a national holiday in 1938 to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War I. Renamed Veterans Day in 1954, it now honors the service and sacrifices of all U.S. veterans.

 

December

7 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Anniversary of the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor.

13 National Guard Birthday The service was established on this date in 1636 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

[Diana 0]

HI Pennie,

thanks for this posting, though I was confused.

 

I am now head of the Retention Committee at work and the first part of your post was just what I was looking for - I'll bring up these ideas at our next meeting.

 

But then you started talking bout Veterans. Did you mean to do two different posts?

 

Thanks for checking into it

[Pennie 26]

Hi Diana,

Sorry about the mix-up. I was trying to do to many things at one time :-o I have reworded it. Hopefully it will make more sense now.

On the Veternas info. It could be done then or any number of the dates listed. The reason I put Nat'l Nursing Home Wk is that it could be a good PR Tool for one of the days celebrated during that week. Go to the web link & they explain it much better. Let me know if it is still confusing, please. P