The Living With A Purpose Club

Erica Rattray-St. Jean

PARKER at McCarrick

Beginnings

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During a resident council meeting, 8 long-term care residents at Parker at McCarrick approached me with a request:

“We don’t feel like we have a purpose. We want to contribute and help others through purposeful and constructive actions.”

We began a club for residents who felt useless or without a purpose. “The Living with a Purpose Club” began with 12 members in March, 2015. There are now 15 members in the club.

Additional programs were developed to support residents’ emotional health

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Bi-monthly support groups with/without guest speakers Book club Special events connecting resident to staff, family and community.

First event: Spring Tea Party for 2015 National Nursing Home week.

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Topic: Can long-term care residents live a

purposeful life in nursing homes?

Objectives:

Define purpose in the context of the “Living With A

Purpose Club”

Explain how quality of life is tied into providing residents

with programs like the “Living with a Purpose Club.”

To really provide purposeful programs for residents,

break away from planning monotonous, fruitless

programs.

How do you empower all staff to think outside the box?

Learn how to establish purposeful programs in your

setting.

Define ‚Purpose‛

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Define purpose in the context of the “Living With A Purpose Club”

Merriam Webster defines “purpose” as the feeling of determination to do or achieve something. The reason something is done. Our residents made a conscious decision

to take action, and live a purposeful life in their new home.

Quality of Life

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Quality of life is tied into providing residents purposeful programs.

A club brings people with similar interests together. Residents in a club develop new friendships and provide each other with peer support. It is very important for residents to have a strong sense of self-worth

Purposeful Programs

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To really provide purposeful programs for residents:

One must get off task Break away from only providing the traditional, monotonous and fruitless programs Capable residents should be directly involved in program planning on a regular basis. Residents have a wealth of knowledge and can do more than they were allowed to do in a traditional nursing home setting.

Empowerment

Provide opportunities for all to share ideas and inspire change.

Care partners have the best vantage point and a front row seat in residents’ lives.

Staff/care partners must “actively listen” to their residents.

Become familiar with residents’ psychological needs and desires.

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To empower all staff to think outside the box:

Purposeful Programming

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Purpose programs are for residents who desire to do more for themselves and others.

Usually an extension of what residents did before moving to the long-term care community

They led busy lives – went to Adult Day Centers, volunteered, wrote, taught, decorated, built and invented.

Overall, at the end of a purposeful program, the participants leave with a sense of fulfillment.

It evokes a sense of accomplishment, feelings of pride, and brings a smile on one’s face.

Start a Living with a Purpose Club

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Learn how to establish purposeful programs or start a Living with a Purpose Club in your setting

Appropriate club members have a desire to do more, expressed feelings of uselessness, want to work, or feel that they don’t have a purpose in life.

Program type should be defined by the members, not staff.

All you need are willing participants who share ideas.

Is there something in your care center/in the world that club participants want to change? Ask them if they want to be part of that change. If so, start planning your first program.

Work with other staff members to decide of the best approach or idea for this project. All ideas are important.

Assign club duties to residents: bookkeeper, treasurer, scribe, etc.

Remember, every person in the group has something valuable to offer and is equally important.

First Project: Jennifer Howland Garden Dedication Ceremony (July 16)

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Club members worked with the landscape designer to select the flowers, fountain, and lighting for “Jenny’s Garden” (formerly the Koi Pond)

Club members participated in the dedication ceremony

Second Event: Culture Fest! Week of June 8, 2015

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Different continent/region celebrated daily America, Africa, Asia, Europe, & the Caribbean Fashion shows with native outfits modeled by resident, staff and family members Gallery of Culture: Staff and family provided arts and crafts; gallery was staffed by a resident Special international menus for lunch International music Paraded throughout the building

Culture Fest

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Culture Fest

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Culture Fest

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Second Project: Fundraising for Worthy Causes

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Club assembled and sold fall baskets

Raised $200

Presented $100 check to the Alzheimer’s Association

Presented $100 check to Living Waters Children’s Centre Fund

Fundraising

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Residents presented a check to Dorothy Schwartz for the Living Waters Children’s Centre Fund.

Residents presented a check to Rose Berger as a donation for the Alzheimer’s Association, NJ Chapter.

Founding Principles

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PURPOSEFUL- If we don’t help others in need, if we don’t help ourselves, and if we have talents and do not use them to bless others, then we are empty by spiritual and societal standards. We all need to feel like we have a purpose and that we can contribute. We need to feel worthwhile and of value. This is a part of our upbringing and our society places a great impact on giving to others. As long as we have a ‘mind’ of our own we will feel that need to do something meaningful. This does not change when we become seniors. Elders might not be interested in monetary gains or accolades, but in doing something that contributes to their own or others’ well-being. Examples include walking, tending to their own needs, gardening, caring for a pet, and reading to children.

Founding Principles (continued)

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SELFLESSNESS- Members must show a desire and passion to do something for others without financial gain. They work on projects internally to support their residence and work hard to raise funds for various charities. DETERMINATION- The members don’t believe in leaving any of their fellow members behind. They assist each other in areas where one might be deficient. They must be able to stay on task and work in sub-groups and as a whole group with limited supervision. Members inspire each other and stay positive.

Third Project: Fundraising for Students in Nairobi, Kenya

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Club members made 16 wine glass candle stands, raising $206. Funds were used to buy school supplies,

sporting equipment and toiletries for young students in the Joy House School in Nairobi

Club members packed suitcases with supplies Dorothy Schwartz delivered them to the students in Nairobi, Kenya

Holiday Candle Holders Fundraiser

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Candle holders sold for $13 each Club members “packing party”

The Joy House School in Kenya

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Students Opening Supplies

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Future Plans

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Continue quarterly fundraising efforts and charitable giving

“Make A Wish” type of initiative for residents

Mentorship Program

Seniors vs. Junior car wash

Home improvement projects

Club Goals

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Seasonal fundraising with 100% of proceeds going to a cause:

Alzheimers’ Association

The Joy House School

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Club Members

Fight Song By Rachel Platten

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This is my fight song Take back my life song Prove I’m alright song My power’s turned on

Starting right now I’ll be strong I’ll play my fight song

And I don’t really care if nobody else believes ‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me!

Conclusion

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Gellis and McCracken, retrieved 5/23/16, http://www.cswe.org/File.aspx?id=23509, http://www.define-your-purpose-in-life.com/

• Gellis and McCracken:

• 1 to 4% of community dwelling older adults suffer from major depression (higher

percentage among women)

• 6 to 24% of long-term care residents suffer from major depression

• May lead to physical, mental and social dysfunction and a decrease in quality of

life

• Club members reported feeling happy to be part of something bigger than

themselves:

• A greater sense of fulfillment

• Elevated themselves above feelings of uselessness

• Constructive actions benefitted others in their home, community and abroad.

“I am only one, but still I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse

to do the something that I can do.” - Poem by Edward Everett Hale