Sharing with the Elderly
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
United States
December 28, 2009 5:31pm CST
This Christmas I had quite a houseful. We started out with only 3 guests and ended up with 9 all together. I love to cook for a crowd. Surely it is a lot of work, but I feel it is a labor of love.
Even though my nephew's wife wasn't there he took a plate to her after he left. She works in a nursing home and couldn't be with us for dinner. Another person that I would have loved to have with us couldn't get into my home because she is wheelchair bound.
This lady is 94 years old and lives with her cat. Her daughters do not have anything to do with her so she was spending Christmas without a dinner. I bought her a couple of small gifts for her to open on Christmas day and one of her friends also brought her a few gifts. The one thing I wanted her to have was a nice dinner.
So, I cooked a cornish hen for her, filled a platter with all the fixings and sent it to her. She was delighted with her Christmas meal.
Do you know someone who is elderly and has no family or friends to share special occasions with? Would you invite them to your home for a meal? Have you ever brought them a nice meal? Little things like this can make a big difference in the life of someone who has nobody.
Sharing brings many rewards to your heart and can lift your spirits high.
Many blessings and big huggers to all.
7 people like this
17 responses
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
28 Dec 09
My husband takes really good care of his grandma. He goes over there all the time and sorts out her pills for her and fixes things around the house. Unfortunately she is not that tolerant of kids so the whole family does not go over there very often. But my husband is really wonderful to her. I just hope she really appreciates it. I made manicotti yesterday and I will send some for her.
2 people like this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Trust me, even if she says differently about appreciating the gesture, she truly does. I often hear of how someone has done something nice for a person and that person just feels like a burden to those that help. It is a sad part of aging I guess. But, they do appreciate the help.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Good morning, u ARE A VERY KIND PERSON TO THINK OF OTHERS. I know u made their day by thinking of them. I had a couple of people i use to do things for but they have both passed away now. I know there are other people out there that i could help but not being out & about like i use to be haven't found a new person to help. I get way too attached to them. I have lost alot of elderly friends over the years. Most of them were my customers at the shop. It is very awarding to help people. U are a 'GOOD GIRL'. hAPPY NEW YEAR!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 10
Thank you Antiquelady. I enjoy helping others. It leaves me with a warm heart.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Hi Alvaro, Thanks for your comment. Thank u, i hope u have a verry HAPPY NEW YEAR.
1 person likes this
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
29 Dec 09
Hi antique lady: I basically think the same. To spend some time with a person that have no friends and no family it's a precious gift but the oportunity of passing a good night as this they had passed. Thanks for your answer Antique lady. Hope you are having a nice day. Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays. Take Care.
-Alvaro.
2 people like this
@sweetlady10 (3611)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I am so glad to hear what you did during Christmas. I really appreciate it. Helping someone and giving someone happiness is the best thing to do. If I know someone like that I would have done the same. We live in apartment and in our complex or in the neighborhood there is no one like that that we know of.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 10
Through my work I know many that are alone and some are alone all year. Holidays are just another day to them. But, when I bring them a bit of cheer, it brings back meaning.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 10
Every year I make homebaked goodies for my clients. When I can do something a little extra I do it for them. It does your heart good to do for others.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 Dec 09
How sad for an elderly lady like that not to have anybody come and spend Christmas with her! You did such a lovely thing for her and you are right, gestures like that are the most rewarding and can make a huge difference to another person. I would like to invite someone to my house who has no one to spend the Festive Season with; it would teach my little girl to appreciate the love of her family on such a special day. Best wishes to you and your family for the New Year!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 10
When my kids were younger and living at home we often brought a meal to our neighbor who was elderly. She was happy to receive the meal.
1 person likes this
@Tuanshun (138)
• China
29 Dec 09
Hi, ElusiveButterfly! It's kind of you to do so. I think it's very helpful to the elderly if we do such things for them. I used to send some of our decilious food to my grandma, or invite her to eat with us on festivals. But i seldom go home, i work far from my hometown, and don't have much chance to take care of my father, mother and grandma. But I will do my best to make it up. Thank you for you topic.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 10
From your words I know that you are a caring person and will do right by your parents when they need you most.
@GardenGerty (160488)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Dear friend you do all the right things for all the right reasons. I do not seem to have time to do much of anything lately. I applaud you with all my heart for the love and generousity you share.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
2 Jan 10
Thank you ever so much. I do enjoy helping others. I get so much joy from it.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Dec 09
elusive butterfly we used to do the same thing when we still had our own home, and always invited three or four older people who were alone on Christmas. it made us all feel so good plus these particular p eople we invited were really fun to be with so we all had a great time.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
28 Dec 09
I wish I had a bigger home that was handicap accessible. That way I could have people in more often.
@neelianoscet (9615)
• Philippines
29 Dec 09
I do have know but they resides far from my place but my father have a friend who are slightly retarded and the things about him which is so funny. he always laugh like no one could imagine he have work as a pedicab driver and have no relatives, Yet deeply felt totally abandon and you could not notice it to him as he always laugh. Every time he go my home i always offer him something to eat as i know he have no family to celebrate Christmas with and manage only to live with his meager income.
1 person likes this
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
28 Dec 09
Kudos to you!!! WAy to go!! I love things like this, it makes the world a much better place! I stay in a nursing home with my son and see a lot of the elderly who are passed by. I know it was very special to those whose lives you touched with such kindness!!
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I try to do a little something for all of my clients. They all received a baked good or two this year. Wish I could have done more. I know I can't save the world, but bringing a little joy to someone is a good feeling and something I will continue to do.
@Clicker625 (196)
• United States
7 Jan 10
What a kind heart you have! This is a wonderful idea. I live in a senior center and know that many of the 90-year-olds would love to have such a meal brought to them. So many don't want to leave their apartments because it can cause them extra pain or be uncomfortable. Being able to remain in their own apartments is both safe and secure. So, bringing her a feast was so thoughtful.
@SharonJohnson (459)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I loved reading your post here Elusive. I know your a sweet heart already. I am glad to read you did such a nice thing for her. I don't know anyone in this position. I am really glad I don't. Happy New Year!
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
29 Dec 09
Awww...thank you ever so much. I work as a personal care attendant and unfortunately know quite a few that have similar lives. I try to bring them a bit of joy. Happy New Year to you as well.
@adriennem10 (165)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I usually dont cook meals. I would invite people to my house to eat, even if they invite people. If I had left over food i would letepople take it home. I usually dont like left overs.
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
2 Jan 10
Oh Elusive, that was such a wonderful, thoughtful thing for you to do for the 94-year-old lady! I so wish that I had thought of something so special. I am relatively new to my area and haven't met that many people yet, but I am sure that there were many for whom I could have made Christmas a bit more special! We should all spend more time doing these types of deeds rather than focusing on so much commericalization and greed. You have inspired me to find someone who needs a 'friend' and to 'adopt' them!!
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
29 Dec 09
I do.....I used to make cookies for all the elderly in our neighborhood but mostof them have passed now...but I still have two elderly gentlemen who don't have families that I give little gifts and send cards on holidays...one is in a nursing home....and I do visit him once in a while....but this christmas it was so cute....I sent him a card and when the weather is nicer I have a little gift for him....well yesterday I got the mail and there is a birthday cards with Christmas wishes ..he scratched out birthday and wrote Christmas anyway at the end of the card he wrote...I love you.....he is 86....nothing could have made my day more then getting that card yesterday.....when you give...you get back so very much more!
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
29 Dec 09
Hi Elusive Butterfly: I simply want to say that this is a very beautiful thing you have done and it's difficult to find a person with those feelings. Congratulations for your good actions, this will receive a reward from God definetly. I have not done this before first because I don't know a person like this and two because it's neccesary to have a great talent and dedication to share love with elderly persons. Thanks for sharing with us your story. Hope you are having a nice day. Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays. Take Care.
-Alvaro.
