Seasoned Citizen Activities

Seasoned Citizen Blogger Published in Eternally Yours Anthology

2009-02-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

Seasoned Citizen blogger, Mary Emma Allen has stories featured in the new release, Eternally Yours, an anthology of poetry, light essays, devotions and meditations, edited by Mary Ellen Grisham and published by Xulon Press.

Featuring some of the best Christian writers on the Internet, this book represents work that has appeared in the Eternal Ink E-zine since it’s inception in 1999.

In addition, Mary gives presentations and teaches workshops at schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, and for other groups. Some of her talks include topics such as Alzheimer's and caregiving, quilt history and quiltmaking, New Hampshire history, and writing.

I was pleased when Ms. Grisham selected some of my stories for inclusion in this anthology. It's exciting to encourage and inspire others with my writing.

Valentine's Day Tea Parties & Celebrations

2009-02-05T06:04:00.000-08:00

What are you doing for Valentine's Day? Are you planning any parties? Do you have memories of parties and tea parties of your childhood?

This was an exciting time when I was a youngster, with parties at school and at home. My mom made this an occasion for us four children, even though she was busy with farm work and housework.

The schools still have Valentine parties. Where I substitute teach, the youngsters in grades K-5 are looking forward to a special afternoon on the day before Valentine's Day because they won't be in school on the 14th.

Adults often celebrate with a special dinner for two, giving flowers and gifts. A friend, who works in a florist shop, says this is the busiest day of the year for them. They start preparing and taking orders two weeks ahead.

Senior centers and nursing homes usually have Valentine's Day events. Sometimes this is introduced by card making, followed up by card exchanges. Perhaps there's a party with family and friends invited. Here there may be tea and punch and goodies in red and white and silver made into heart shapes.

What are you doing for Valentine's Day in your family and your life?

A Fan of Giveaways? Here are Some for the Youngsters in Your Life

2008-12-04T04:33:00.001-08:00

One Book Two Book Giveaways

Are you a fan of giveaways? Is this something you like to participate in? If so, you'll find a series of giveaways at a blog I co-author, One Book Two Book, running from Dec. 2-7.

Check out the rules and leave comments at the following links. You can enter any or all of the giveaways. These will make great Christmas gifts for youngsters, too.

Book Swim Giveaway
Readeez DVD Giveaway
Baby Can Read Giveaway
Wii Pop Star Guitar Giveaway
Fly Me To The Moon Giveaway
Giveaway - Celebrity Arthur Book from Speakaboos
Giveaway - Countdown to Bedtime Soundbooks
Giiveaway - ECO Baby Organic Playdough
Baby Potential Teacher Onesie Giveaway
Natural Pod Giveaway
RideMakerz Giveaway
Happy Green Bee Giveaway
Mead Writing Fundamentals Giveaway

ENJOY!

Tea Parties for Seniors

2008-11-30T14:48:00.000-08:00

Tea Parties

Ladies, and sometimes gentlemen, of the era currently residing in most nursing homes, enjoy tea parties. Tea often was part of their heritage, as it was my mom's.

So sometimes the activities committee in assisted living and nursing homes plan tea parties. A friend engaged a party planner to put on a Victorian tea for her mom's birthday at the nursing home. It was a very special occasion, going back to "an era of kings and queens."

Lady Victoria, the planner, provided refreshments, party regalia, fancy hats, and displays. She talked about tea parties and manners of that era. It truly sounds like such fun...a party you could plan for many occasions, whether one resides in a nursing home or at home. All ages could find pleasure in such a special party.

You can read about The Victorian Tea Party in the anthology, Finding the Joy in Alzheimer's. It will delight your heart and give you ideas for special occasions for Alzheimer's family members and others who still remember the pleasure of tea in the afternoon.

(Incidentally there are many special stories in Finding the Joy in Alzheimer's. I have two there, Generation to Generation and A Child Shows the Way.) and the second edition,

Compiling Family History Memories

2008-11-29T14:03:00.000-08:00

Delving into the past and compiling memories fascinates many of us as we approach our "seasoned" years. I've also worked with groups of young and older people who enjoy writing their memoirs and doing scrapbooking of family photos.

I've even conducted scrapbooking classes in the Alzheimer's unit of a nursing home and had such a delightful time with the ladies and a couple of gentlemen.

My classes have ranged from very simple projects to those that could evolve into a book.
Preserving the family history for current and future generations is so important, I think.

Share with us what you're doing with your family memories...whether writing them down, recording them, taping them, or preserving them in scrapbooks...manually or on computer?

Activities for the Seasoned (Senior) Citizen

2008-11-28T11:45:00.002-08:00

As I state in the description for this blog, I'm concentrating on activities to provide mental stimulation and enjoyment for seniors and Alzheimer's residents, whether at home or in assisted living and nursing homes. Boredom, discouragement, loneliness and a feeling of uselessness become common when elderly people don't have something to do.

I've often been told that someone's parent seemed much younger and was more active once they joined an assisted living or nursing home. At first, they may have been reluctant to participate, as my mother-in-law was. However, they soon found themselves engaged in a variety of activities...new ones, familiar ones, and relearned ones...that gave them new interest.

Teaching these activities and organizing them is rewarding, too, I've found. So I'd like to share with you my experiences and those of others to give value to later life.