Making Dreams Come True

SUMMARY

Many residents at Cedar Village Retirement Community in Mason, Ohio wish and hope for things that might seem small to the rest of us. It could be something that will make them smile, ease their pain or loneliness, make them feel loved or simply make them feel useful and valued. The goal is to improve the quality of their lives in their later years, and that is exactly what we are doing. 

SOLUTION:

There are abundant examples of making dreams come true and making life more meaningful at Cedar Village. In recent months, residents enjoyed a range of activities, including petting miniature therapy horses that were brought in from a nearby farm and enjoying the lovely classical and popular tunes played by a harpist.  A resident choir has been established to fulfull residents' need and desire for the beauty of music.

Recently, residents painted small rocks and inscribed them with messages of love and peace. The rocks were part of a public art display at an arts and cultural festival at a park in the heart of Cincinnati. Residents also have created murals for the local Jewish Community Center and painted designs on paper lanterns that will be carried in a parade for an art and light festival next month Downtown. A group of residents learned, in recent days, to take dough and shape it into round, braided Challah egg bread for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Speaking of food, one of our residents conducts a cooking class for other residents once a month.

Through our Resident Life program, residents create flower arrangements for other residents. Once a month, a volunteer comes to our campus to help residents craft necklaces and earrings. Twice a month, two volunteers come to Cedar Village to do manicures for residents.  Our campus has a store called the Cedar Closet, which provides residents with the undergarments they need.

This spring, residents wrote a children's book, which our art therapist is illustrating. The  hope is to get the book published by early next year. Residents also keep busy writing their own newspaper, the Chai Times, which publishes only light-hearted and positive articles.

Residents are encouraged to share their knowledge from their previous careers. One former city tour guide has presented a lecture on the history of Cincinnati. Another resident, who had a career as a scientist, has presented talks on topics ranging from "Einstein the Man" to the recent Solar Eclipse.

Foreign students are brought to our campus and paired with residents who help them learn English. Every Thursday, residents take part in a "Sabbath Basket" project that provides gift packages to patients in nearby hospitals. This week, a group of residents has volunteered to go to the local Ronald McDonald House and help families who are staying there while a critically-ill child in those families gets medical treatment at the nearby Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Our residents who go to the Ronald McDonald help serve lunch to the families being housed there.

Long-Term Impact

Through these programs, initiatives and volunteer projects, our residents have their spirits buoyed, feel useful, feel loved, have their minds stimulated  and enjoy an enhanced quality of life that is not typical of many so-called nursing homes or retirement communities. The spirit of caring and compassion permeates our campus and is passed on to each new wave of people who spend their final years with us.