We often take the little things in life for granted. Stopping by a friend’s house on the way home from work. Grabbing a movie on a Tuesday night just to get out of the house. Maybe a last-minute decision to get away for the weekend. Small occurrences, yet we’d likely miss those activities if they didn’t occur.
The Veterans residing in the Wilkes-Barre’s Community Living Center (CLC) find the importance of these “small occurrences” more significant than most. All too often, their thoughts of health care center on exams and medications without considering the importance of smiles, laughter and camaraderie.
Veteran Charlie Anistranski takes part in the fishing trip.
High-quality care includes social activities
At Wilkes-Barre, we recognize that high-quality health care must include a variety of social engagement and activities.
A recent day trip to Lake Ladore had residents talking for weeks, both before and after the trip. Lake Ladore gave residents the opportunity to take in some fresh air, boast about their fishing skills and reminisce of past catches with anyone who would listen.
Sitting at the water’s edge, there were few thoughts of wheelchairs, medications and limitations.
The fishermen didn’t measure their catch. Still, to hear their tales of the trip, you might think they were catching marlin in the Florida Keys.
The importance of variety
“It’s important that we offer a variety of activities to our residents,” said Linda Zaneski, associate chief of Nursing Services – Geriatrics & Extended Care. The particular activity isn’t really important. Our residents get excited for the anticipation and expectation. It’s the activity that helps them forget their worries and allows their memories to take them to another place and time, even if it’s just for a little while.”
At the Wilkes-Barre’s CLC, it’s our goal to treat the entire Veteran.
John Baloga is a public affairs specialist at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. He has over 30 years of experience in the creative services field.
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Thanks to anyone who makes a day in the life of a VET Senior or not a little HAPPIER !!!!! God Bless all who are willing to raise their hand and swear to give up everything to protect this Great Nation of Ours.
My name is Lisa Ann Warder King and my parents were Jesse Elden Chancellor a 100% US Army disabled veteren, and Daisy Mae Breshears Chancellor. They both passed in 2018, him with full “Entitlement”, that he passed on to me and my mother, since he passed first. then the next thing I know my children are staying away and I dont know why, Im worried about my grandchilren and I call the police in Cattosa, Oklahoma, county of Rogers to no avail. Instead they put me in jail for no reason and let me out the next day. then our postal lady starts yelling obsenities at me on two seperate occasions and I still dont know whats going on. Then I find out my children are asking people to kill me for money. And believe it or not I learn what something called sympa-phi is in Creek county. I understand that sympa phi is a military tactic and maybe an honor in the military. But in creek county its used to get current and past inmates to perform this tactic on people that have estates or inheritance coming that pass through their jail. A jailer is looking your name up in the jail which probably shouldnt be because there should be no jailers looking up probates in the jail. Then use their the authority to manipulate prior and/or current inmates to perform these militay tactics which arent an honor to either drive the victims they assign them to suicde or death, in order to steal the esate or inheritance.
Thanks for all that you do for our Veterans!