EMM LAUNCHES “APPRECIATE THE ELDERLY” CAMPAIGN
Last week we had the incredible experience of speaking at Google. We were a part of their lunchtime speaker’s series. What an amazing company. Unbelievable.
After 45 minutes of speaking, and a bit of Q&A, we asked the group in the room what they thought our next EMM Campaign should be. One of the Googlers quickly jumped in to share how much she appreciated our Thank-A-Firefighter letter campaign. She felt that we could do a similar campaign, but have it focus on a different group of people. Not bad for someone who hadn’t read the book yet, since the book also includes groups like the disabled, the elderly, law enforcement officers, teachers, etc.
So we asked her what group she had in mind.
She then went on to share with us an amazing story about a friendship she forged with an elderly woman. It kind of reminded us of the amazing book ”Tuesdays With Morrie.” They weren’t family, they weren’t neighbors. Rather our Googler felt that she needed to get more involved in the community and started visiting an elderly home because she wanted to “serve” them. Well, this is where the irony kicks in.
Our Googler visited the elderly woman until the day she died. You could see the emotion in her eyes as she talked about it. And then she said, “She gave me more than I could have ever given her.” That’s the irony. That’s the beauty. But that’s just how it works when people reach out to make a difference. The lines between the giver and the receiver become very blurry. Everyone wins. That’s EMM.
So, we are officially launching the “Appreciate An Elderly Person” campaign. Here are a few simple ways you can get involved:
1. Post a letter to an elderly person on our site. They can be a family member, friend, neighbor, or even a total stranger that you’ve never met.
2. Post a story about something you have learned from an elderly person. Their life stories need to be heard by the world.
3. Volunteer to be one of the delivery people. Email us at movement [@] everymondaymatters [.com]. Once we gather a good amount of letters, we will have you and your friends or family handwrite them out and deliver them to an elderly facility near you.
Thank you to our Googler for sharing. And thanks in advance for getting involved. You Matter.
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I spent every Thursday for a month at an assisted living facility playing gin rummy with Ursula. Afterwards I would ask questions about her life, growing up with immigrant parents, living through WWII, raising twins, etc. It was fascinating.
Since my grandpa has passed, I’m writing this to all the grandpas out there. You are courageous men that I respect. Men that fought for our country in war times, protected their wives and children, and taught their grandsons how to fish, sail, and just hang out telling stories. My memories with my grandfather are some of the fondest I have. I admire him and miss him.
Since my own grandma passed away in 2005 it has been heavy on my heart to spend time with the elderly and let their stories of strength, wisdom and experience be heard. I knew that giving myself to others was a selfish gesture, so I have held back, waiting for the right time to be ready. Reading some of these stories has made me realize that it is they who have so much to give to me and I am just one part in the intertwined circle of life. If I don’t step up to do my part, it is me who is missing out on these great people and the wonderful knowledge I can gain. I am excited to move forward and show the elderly the dignity and respect they deserve.
Once every two months on a second Sunday, I go and sing at an old folks home and play the piano.
Elderly People are so gracefull, not in the way they move(slow) but in the way they love, elderly people are so full of love it makes you want to run up and hug them and smile
Bailey: Almost everyday I go and visit my great-grandmother at the nursing home. One of the things we like to do is watch the old movie Smokey and the Bandit. That is her favorite movie ever; she had a stroke not too long ago. The stroke made her left side paralyzed; so I have learned to cherish every moment I have with her.
Allison: I used to go visit my great-grandmother almost everyday after school in the nursing home. She was 95 years old. We used to play cards, dominoes, and we used watch old movies. She passed away a few years ago and I was devistated. I learned to get over my sorrow and move on, just like she would’ve wanted me to.
Sometimes I go to the community home and help with bingo night.
a elderly that influenced me is my grandma even when she is sick she goes on about her day she gets her stuff she need even when shes not feeling up to doing anything. but she influenced by by the stuff she does dad by day…
I appreciate my Grandfather, because he’s amazing. Spending time with him is the funnest time of my day. My grandpa is also a babysitter with my grandma and babysits us 4 kids sometimes. I like playing cards with him also, although he beats me most of the time. lol
He always has something nice to say, and he’s not like some old grandpa’s who are grumpy, so he’s a good grandpa. I Love you Poppop James. 
♥
All of my grandparents live far away. So, i try to visit them as much as i can. My Grandma on my dad’s side is not doing so well, so my family and I have been traveling to visit her more and more. Everytime i go there it always brings back memories of when i was younger and when my grandma was well. We use to sit by the pool and she would always have a surprise everytime i would visit her. Everyday i just hope that she will be okay, she has been through so much so far and i have a lot of faith in her.
I spent time with people in an assisted living home. My favorate person there was a young man name Charley. He spent time with me and we really got along. We help each other with daily activites like playing games and reading books to each other or just keeping each other busy. We always had something to talk about. His was always about the hot ladies and how he like them.
My story about an elderly person is about my best friends grandparents. When I in elementary school his grandparents used to pick us up from school and make lunch for us. Afterwards they helped us doing or homework.
They did all that just because they liked spending time with us. It was really nice to have someone helping me. Unfortunately my parents had no time and so they helped me and parents, because they didn’t have to worry that i don’t have lunch or don’r do my homework.
This old lady gave me coupons at A.C. moore because she didnt need them anymore so i am grateful that she did that and i appreciate it very much. It helped us because i was on a budjut of 30 dollars and she gave me a 50% coupon and it was great.♥
My grandmother has had a great impact in my life. She has helped me in various ways. Almost every sunday i go over to her house to work on projects. Some projects we do are for my dance costumes. Right now we are working on christmas things, liek making blankets for my cousins, pillows, everything you could think of we are making it. One dayy in the next couple weeks we are going to make christmas cookies for the family. And soon when christmas roles around we have to start cleaning her house because she cant do it by herself. I love my grandmother very much and i am glad she is apart of my life.
Chelsea- In the past I volenteered at an assisted living home. I would play games with them such as cards or a simple board game. I also would take them around the pond, go to the beauty parlor, or back to their room. I also would help out with certain activity classes. such as cooking or bingo. It was a good experience for me because I felt good giving my time back to the community.
Inge- When i was younger there was always a woman who babysat me. She is still always there for me, i have known her already for 17 years and when i see her she is always happy to see me. I really appreciate that. I love her with whole my heart and i’m really happy that i had such a nice nanny and that i still see her.
Hey i’m writing about my grandma. She is always there for me when I need help. I can talk with her kinda bout everything. She just listens to me and gives me advice when I need it. When I need a ride she drives me. She just does everything for me. And I do everything for her when she needs me. I just love her.
My grandpa is the best person i’ve ever met. He’s help out my family with a lot of things. He’s a lot of fun to be around! Whenever we needed him he was there to help out. He’s an amazing person inside and out. He always looks at the bright side of things and is never negative. Especially right now when he’s about to pass away! =(
There were many things my grandma done for me that have helped me over the years. My grandma was always there for me when I woke up from multiple surgeries. When one of my surgeries turned out bad she would hold my hand when I could not wake up and have me squeeze her hand when I felt some pain. She was always helping my mom when i was crying my eyes out give me food, makeing sure I am getting liquids and all household chores. She always told me I don’t know why you have to go through so much pain but god has made you a stronger person. When I was losing faith in god she made sure I did not lose faith. She had me confirmed my junior year in my lutheran church and it was the prodest moment of my life. I am still an active member of my church. She may not make it through christmas because she has ovarian cancer but she is a wonderfull person and her legacy will be fullfilled throughout her life and death.
about 16 years ago on october 29th, 1993 a baby girl named Shannon Rose Bushnell was born to Joan Bushnell and Peter Bushnell. Two and a half years later Peter and Joan Divorced and Joan moved to Pennsylvania with Shannon and Peter stayed in Las vegas, Nevada. Later on Shannon moved in with her father until she was about 4 or 5, then she was given the choice of moving to her mother’s house and going to school there, or moving every 3 or 4 years and changing schools every so often with her father, she choose her mom. since then she has visited her dad every summer and everyother Christmas. She had a father figure with her mother because in 2001 she remarried. Currently Shannon is in high school, and her mother is in the middle of another divorce. “My mom and Dad have been great parents to me, they both have different styles of punishment and other things, but i love them both.”
When I was in third grade, my parents and I moved in with my Grandmother. This was mostly due to her need of assistance due to her recent medical history. I am now a Senior in High School and we are stil currently living with her. Although just about a month ago my Grandmother had to have an emergency surgery on her collen. The surgery took a very long time and durring of which they had to remove a whole foot of tissue that had gone bad. But eventhough she quickly recovered from her surgery, she had pick up two cases of nemonia and became to week to go home. The hospital became her home for the rest of the month and into the next. It was very hard for her especialy due to the fact that she would be missing the birthdays of one of her daughters and grandchildren. She even had to spend Thanksgiving in a hospital room and even her own birthday. I have every inch of respect and admiration for my Grandmother. For even though this was all in all a very frightening experience for her, she still managed to find the strength to keep trying to bring our family closer. Although her attemps were just not enough. She is currently in a Nursing home (STRICTLY FOR THERAPY) and eventhough she’ll miss Christmas and New Years we know that she will try her best to get better and no matter what the comming year will be a better one. For she will know that she does have people that love her, and that she is (will be) thought of everyday. SO THANK YOU GRANDMA FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME! I LOVE YOU, NOW AND ALWAYS. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3