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Christmas at Springs a joy
BY MARGO OXENDINE • STAFF WRITER
 | | Sandy Nuckols, activities director at The Springs Nursing Center in Ashwood, gazes lovingly at the angel tree, where people can adopt a resident who wants something special from Santa. (Recorder photo by Margo Oxendine) |
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ASHWOOD - Perhaps it's time to reveal the secret of The Springs Nursing Center, for those of you who don't already know. The secret is this: A visit there is the best thing you can do for a Springs resident, and truly, the best thing you can do for yourself.
If you're looking for euphoria this holiday season - and, who isn't? - you can find it at The Springs. Want to know the best part? That holiday spirit can be harnessed, and ridden throughout the year.
The opportunities are endless; just ask activities director Sandy Nuckols. The holiday season is probably her busiest, and Sandy is one of those folks who are happiest when they're busy.
There are several things to consider if you want to capture the spirit of Christmas at The Springs. First, you can pop in and adopt an angel or two from the Angel Tree in the lobby. A few simple gifts -
a cardigan sweater , some warm fuzzy socks, a bottle of sweetsmelling lotion - can go a long way to brighten and improve the life of a Springs resident. Those who adopt an angel should bring their wrapped gifts to The Springs before Dec. 20; Santa arrives that day at 2 p.m.
You can also make an elf of yourself, and help Springs residents shop for loved ones. "I call it the Santa Shop," says Nuckols. "The residents arrive in small groups and look over all the displays of the gifts we have for them to choose from. These gifts cost them nothing; they are donated by people in the community."
When a resident arrives at the Santa Shop, "I already know if they have grandchildren," Nuckols notes. "I already know if there is a daughter, or a son. I have all this written down before they come in, because a lot of them are unable to verbalize what they want. I talk to them as they go through and they look, and then I suggest, 'I think your daughter would like this.' They usually give me a look or a nod, and I pick it up for them. Those that are cognitive, well, they know exactly what they want when they come in; they go right to it and get it."
Nuckols categorizes the shop, much like a department store.
"I have sections for jewelry, sections for perfumes and colognes, sections for puzzles, for candles and potpourri, sections for linens. People donate linens all the time, and it is wonderful. The residents pick out what they want, or I assist them. Then, we have a giftwrapping station. We have volunteers who come a couple hours at a time and set up a gift-wrapping table - they have their paper, their ribbons, and they let the residents choose the paper they would like to have. We make a gift card for them, and then they hold the gifts in their arms and take them back to their rooms."
Each room at The Springs has its own fiber optic tree, which adds an air of festivity to the facility.
"They go and put their packages under their trees, and then when their children and grandchildren come, they have gifts to give, as well as receive. It has been just the greatest thing for them, as far as the smiles, and being able to just be part of Christmas again."
Think about this the way Nuckols does. "These are people who have shopped all their lives," she notes. "They've gone out and bought gifts they've thought about, for people they love. Now, Christmas comes around, and they can't get out and shop. I want to give them as much as possible of what they were used to. You know, they lose so much of their independence. The Santa Shop lets them be a part of Christmas again."
When you consider donating new or very gently used items to the Santa Shop - no clothes, please - consider yourself a part of a caring, giving community.
"Can I just say, the people in this community are the greatest people in the world? They are wonderful. Their response to this Santa Shop is almost overwhelming. I have a conference room we convert in December to storage for the Santa Shop. Well," she laughs, "you can't hardly get in the door. We've got things stacked halfway up the wall, all the way around the room. It is just wonderful."
So, what is the very best gift one can give a resident at The Springs? Time. A visit, in the midst of your busy day of your busy life, can be the one thing that makes a resident's day memorable.
In addition to a visit, Nuckols knows what it is that each resident might need.
"Each individual person has individual needs," she said. "There are my little ladies who like to smell good; they like light-smell- ing colognes. And they all love, love, love to get flowers. Oh, when a florist comes in here, let me tell you, all eyes are on that florist; they're watching to see where those flowers go. It's a big deal," Nuckols adds, "because they don't really get a lot of flowers. Even on Mother's Day, we only have a handful."
Here's something to remember: Because of safety issues, no glass is allowed in the guest rooms. "These residents like to water their flowers, and that can be dangerous if a vase breaks," Nuckols says. "Plastic vases are best; if you do have flowers delivered, please ask the florist to use plastic, rather than glass."
In these days of electronic communication, one might forget about "snail mail." Please, Nuckols says, think again. "All the residents really love to get mail," she notes, her eyes gleaming at the thought. "Especially in the Alzheimer's unit, where they never get mail. I had a friend who was studying to be a nurse. She got her entire class interested, and they sent a stack of cards every single week. These residents, they just carry the cards around, and keep looking at them. They have no idea who might have sent it, but just the thought that they received a simple card pleases them so much. We have another little lady whose niece sees that she gets a newspaper once a week. Now, she's an Alzheimer's patient, but that newspaper is her connection to the outside world. She may forget, but she can still read."
Nuckols adds, "If people want to do something, and they can't get up here to visit, please, just send a card. Even if you don't know anybody at the nursing home, just send a card addressed "To a Resident, Springs Nursing Center. I will find the resident who needs that card. They will get that card. Mail is important."
If your Christmas list includes a resident at The Springs, Nuckols has some gift suggestions.
"Some can use nightgowns," she says. "But more than anything, these little ladies can use cardigan sweaters. These ladies get cold, even in summer. Cardigan sweaters are great for them; they're easy to put on; even the men can use the cardigans. Lots of them need socks - socks that stretch, or those fuzzy socks made of chenille. They really like those, and many of them are unable to wear shoes."
Another idea: "They do like jewelry," Nuckols notes. "Our ladies love jewelry, and not expensive jewelry. They just like to look nice, and jewelry helps them do that."
There's plenty of fun and lots of activities on tap at The Springs this holiday season. Dec. 5, visitors from an area Mennonite church will visit to sing and minister, Nuckols says. Dec. 12, the Warm Springs Presbyterian Church - "These people are wonderful!" says Nuckols. "They come every other Wednesday, throughout the year" - will make their Christmas visit special with crafts and carol singing. On Dec. 13, the bell choir from Ashwood United Methodist Church makes a muchanticipated visit. Dec. 17, it's "Feliz Navidad!" with the Spanish class from Bath County High School. They'll sing traditional carols in Spanish, and then serve special food to give residents a flavor of Latin cuisine. The Santa Shop throws open its doors all day on Dec. 18, and Santa himself visits Dec. 20, along with the Bath County Business and Professional Women's Organization.
Nuckols loves her volunteers. "The BPW throws a breathtaking Christmas party, and they give us a Thanksgiving party, as well; they always make such a fine effort, and give so much time." Another valued volunteer is Alden Shriver of Hot Springs. She visits every Monday morning, and starts the residents on their week with exercise, piano playing, and stories. Not yet on the holiday schedule, but expected, are the Valley Elementary School students, who put on a play and sing carols. Also in the lineup are the Mountaintop Gospel Singers, and Heartlighters, a group from West Virginia who visits every fourth Sunday.
To find out more about The Springs' angel tree, donating presents to the Santa Shop, or just lending a hand in hopes of making someone happy, call Nuckols at (540) 839-2299. You'll really be doing yourself a favor.
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