4-H Members Address Needs & Bring Joy to Nursing Home Residents

Published: 2020
By Inga Hawbaker

In working with Daniels Memorial Healthcare staff, Daniels County MSU Extension and 4-H organized a "Window Parade" in the spring of 2020 for nursing home residents; the parade entailed 4-H members bringing pets and baby farm animals to the nursing home windows to show and interact with residents. This event was not only fun for the 4-H members, leaders, and Daniels Memorial Healthcare staff, but provided some much needed interaction and excitement for nursing home residents that had been unable to see their family or friends for some time due to COVID-19 restrictions. 4-H is a youth organization that is well known by the county nursing home residents as many of their own children and grandchildren were or currently are 4-H members. As described by the local paper, this was a “simple but great” event for the residents that left a lasting impact on 4-H members and adults alike; its success was one that could only be measured by the smiles and joy felt by all involved. Addressing another need at Daniels Memorial Healthcare, 4-H sewing members set out with a goal to sew multiple adult clothing protectors for the nursing home residents. Facilitated by a county 4-H sewing leader, the project was timely due to a donation of funds from the local Lions chapter and community members for the purchase of sewing machines for the 4-H sewing program. Utilizing donated fabric, the sewing members met with community volunteers for a project day to test the new sewing machines and continue working on their sewing skills; a total of 75 clothing protectors were sewn and donated to Daniels Memorial Healthcare.