December 11, 2006

To the Editor:

With the holidays soon approaching, people will be spending hours at their local stores to find perfect gifts for their loved ones, young and old. Unfortunately, there will be thousands of Illinois nursing home residents who will be getting few if any gifts this season. Many of these elderly individuals have no friends or family and would benefit greatly in receiving presents from the caring members of their community.

The Illinois Council on Long Term Care, an association of nursing home professionals, encourages readers to consider “adopting” a resident at a local nursing home and purchasing this person a special gift for the holiday. Readers should check their yellow pages for the phone numbers of local facilities, or visit our Web site at www.nursinghome.org. Pick one and call, asking to speak to the home’s activity director. He or she can assist in “adopting” a resident and choosing the perfect holiday gift, so that this individual will not be forgotten.

What is the best gift to give a nursing home resident? It is the gift of one’s time. Consider visiting a local nursing home this holiday season to connect with residents who feel lonely and forgotten. Speak with the facility’s activity director ahead of time to arrange the visit. Bring along your children and grandchildren to add to the experience. These simple steps can make a world of difference in brightening the holiday season for our communities’ frail and elderly citizens.