There are many givers in senior care facilities. Sometimes they don’t even realize it themselves. This holiday season is a good time to recognize them — and the things that make smiles bright.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in LTC
On the first day of Christmas, my residents gave to me a thank you for my good care.
On the second day of Christmas, my residents gave to me two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the third day of Christmas, my residents gave to me three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my residents gave to me seven jokes for laughing, six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me eight songs a-singing, seven jokes for laughing, six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me nine hard mint candies, eight songs a-singing, seven jokes for laughing, six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me ten cards from family, nine hard mint candies, eight songs a-singing, seven jokes for laughing, six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my residents gave to me eleven bake sale cookies, ten cards from family, nine hard mint candies, eight songs a-singing, seven jokes for laughing, six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my residents gave to me twelve fancy hairdos, eleven bake sale cookies, ten cards from family, nine hard mint candies, eight songs a-singing, seven jokes for laughing, six warm handshakes, five beaming smiles, four graham crackers, three candy canes, two knitted mittens and a thank you for my good care.
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, PhD, author of The Savvy Resident’s Guide, is a 2014 Award of Excellence winner in the Blog Content category of the APEX Awards for Publication Excellence program. She also is the Gold Medalist in the Blog-How To/Tips/Service category of the 2014 American Society of Business Publication Editors Midwest Regional competition. A speaker and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience as a psychologist in long-term care, she maintains her own award-winning website at MyBetterNursingHome.com.
