It's a new beginning

I retire on January 10, 2013, after being the volunteer coordinator for several years. The pay is horrible, the hours are short, but I have the best job at Champaign County Nursing Home.

It is time to travel; in 2013 my wife and I have 10 weeks of cruising planned. Once cannot work and cruise, too. So, I will end this blog with a fond farewell.

I have enjoyed posting my things here and we have had great success with people who read this and then respond. I won't be here to be able to be contacted, but someone will be sitting at this desk.

I strongly encourage you to call the Volunteer Coordinator at Champaign County Nursing Home and come in to do the right thing by volunteering. Here is the number: 217-693-5016.

Thanks,
Jim Hronek

Greetings for 2013!

You have my best wishes for a good 2013.

You can make your 2013 better by becoming a volunteer at Champaign County Nursing Home. We have some volunteers who have been commited to CCNH for more than 15 years! We don't require a lot of time, only an interest in adding to the quality of life of our residents. One hour a month would be great; and, if you can do more, it will be appreciated.

Here is the link to our volunteer application: http://www.co.champaign.il.us/ccnh/ccnhvolapp.pdf

Do the right thing...volunteer!

Jim

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Please help us!!

We need more volunteers!

The volunteers that have been helping are doing a good job. But, we need more of them to become a part of what happens here. I have said it before...we don't require a certain time commitment from our volunteers. You come in as your schedule permits. One hour a month is good. 2 hours a week is wonderful!

High in the list of needs is visiting with the residents. Be a good neighbor; sit and chat for a while, talk about whatever. You might surprised at how good you feel after spending 10 minutes with one of our elders.

It doesn't take much to get started. You complete and information sheet, we conduct an interview and then give a tour of the building. We talk about being with elders in a nursing home. And, then you are set to go! If you want a 'target list' of people to visit, we can provide that for you; or you might want to just go about the building and visit randomly.

We do require an appointment for that first meeting. Call 217-384-3784 ext 5240. OK? OK!

Jim

I have been busy!

Greetings,

I have been busy and have not had the time to post anything new. That's the way it is around here late in the year. Once we get through Thanksgiving, then we have lots going on. Family members have been here to spend time with their loved one.

But that is almost over and we will soon be in the doldrums of January. Please, please, please! Consider coming to the nursing home to visit with some of our community's elders. With all the excitement ending, our residents need to be kept from being depressed.

Send me an email and we'll set up something! OK? OK!

Jim

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Christmas Caroling

We are almost at the season for Christmas Carolers at Champaign County Nursing Home. We welcome both small and large groups. We do have a calendar set up so that we don't have too many on any given day. You will need to contact me so that we can make sure that what you want to do will work with our schedule.

Our residents enjoy these kinds of things, as the December weather generally gets gloomy and the singing brightens spirits.

As long as I am mentioning singing, if you would like to share your talent, let me know. We would really like to have you on our calendar of events. A one-time performance is great and a regular monthly gig is better.

Let me know about this. OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Pet Visits at Champaign County Nursing Home

We love pets!

Pets are wonderful volunteers (their owners are too!) and we have several pets that come here on a regular basis. We will always welcome more.

You will need to provide evidence from a Vet that indicates all shots are up-to-date. You will need to meet with me as we talk about pets and elders in a nursing home. We'll walk around the building, exploring new sounds and smells. All pets must be on a leash.

As with most volunteers, we don't set your hours. You come in as your schedule permits.

Ask me questions! OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Bible Study at the nursing home

For a long time, we have had Bible study on Wednesday morning at the nursing home. The woman who had been volunteering her time got a job that conflicted with her time here. So, we are seeking a person who would come here on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday for a 30 - 40 minute Bible Study session.

You control what to do. We won't tell you all the whats and hows and stuff. We will have several residents in our chapel and you will be able to do the Bible Study in whatever way is appropriate. In the past, there was a person come in and a couple of hymns were sung, too. That is an option to consider.

Let me know about this opportunity. We would like to re-start this activity. OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

George Washington

I recently discovered "George Washington's Rules of Civility" on the internet. There are 110 maxims that helped shape and guide America's first President. I have read them all and I am including some of them, without comment, here. (Some grammar items have been modernized.)


When in company, put not your hands to any part of the body not usually discovered.

Shift not yourself in the sight of others, nor gnaw your nails.

In writing or speaking, give to every person his due title according to his degree and the custom of the place.

In your apparel be modest and endeavor to accommodate nature, rather than to procure admiration; keep to the fashion of your equals, such as civil and orderly with respect to time and places.

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company.

Think before you speak, pronouce not imperfectly, nor bring out yours words to hastily, but orderly and distinctly.

Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise.

Drink not too leisurely nor yet too hastily. Before and after drinking wipe your lips. Breathe not then or ever with too great a noise, for it is uncivil.

Rinse not your mouth in the presence of others.

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

Jim

January Opportunities

When the University of Illinois students are gone, we need help with some activities where the students generally assist. Among the things are Bingo on Saturday afternoons and Game Night on Monday.

We need helpers with Bingo on the following Saturdays: 12/22, 1/5, 1/12 and 1/19. The games start at 2:15, however set up starts before that. Ideal time for arrival is about 2:00. After the games, we will need help with transporting the residents and clean up of the area. That is generally done by 3:15. One hour and 15 minutes is all that we are asking. This would be appropriate for one to four people to help those residents who might have vision or hearing deficits; or there might help needed with motor skills.

Monday evening game night begins at 6:45. Again, help is need before and after for set up and clean up. The times needed would be about 6:30 until 7:45 (at the latest). One or two people (no more than that) would be wonderful.

If you want to help, let me know. OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Giveaways!!!

We need some help giving away things.

We have too many clothing items. Some of our residents gain or lose weight and their family members donate clothes to us. We have some clothing items that don't have resident's name on them and are thus 'lost' for long periods of time. We need to give away these things.

We have more books than the residents will read. Friendly neighbors donate them to us and we have too many. We need to clear off the shelves. We need to give away these things.

Are you aware of an appropriate place to give these items? Let me know!

We are NOT SOLICITING books or clothes or TVs or furniture or medical equipment.

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Dementia training

Every new employee at CCNH is required to attend a 4-hour dementia training as part of the 2-day orientation. Some employees are required to attend a yearly 12-hour training. Neither of these is required of our volunteers.

However, if you would like to attend one of these sessions, you are welcome. If you would like to spend a significant amount of your volunteer time being with some of our residents with dementia, then I strongly suggest that you attend.

These are once a month sessions. Let me know if you want to attend, I'll give you more information.

OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Why are we here?

We care!

People don't go to a nursing home to die! People go to a nursing home because they need 24 hour nursing care. Sometimes, it is a matter of need some daily medications and there is no family member who can do that. We have people here who don't have much wrong, but they need to be here because they cannot live on their own and have home health aids come in is not practical.

Our residents have bad hearts, poor lung function, kidney failure, circulatory issues, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and more. Come in a visit with them, learn about the aging process.

I need 90 minutes of your time for interview, orientation about working with elders and a tour. My usual office hours are 8 - 3 Monday through Friday. Contact me, let's get together.

Jim Hronek, Volunteer Coordinator
Champaign County Nursing Home

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

County Music at CCNH

Do you play?

We have requests for certain kinds of music at CCNH. We have Celtic harp, singing, piano playing, bluegrass and big bands. We don't have County Music. Do you play? Do you know someone who would be willing to donate about 45 minutes once a month to share their talents?

Let me know. OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

October, 2012

Lots of things happening this month!

Oktoberfest will be at 2:15 on Friday the 12th. Lots of fun for this annual event.

A Pumkin Social will happen on the next Friday, the 19th.

We will also have a Halloween Party on the 31st. Costumes and all.

Please consider coming to enjoy the fun and getting to meet our residents.

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Join our auxiliary

We need new members in the CCNH Auxiliary.

Our auxiliary has been a part of what we do since the mid 1960s. The members donate hundreds of hours each month to help our residents. Some do neighborly visits, some help in our general store, others do filing and other office chores and more.

However, our members are getting old and are not able to do as much as in the past. The members are moving to the side and we don't have enough new members to take over. I cordially invite you to consider joining our auxiliary. The dues are modest and you are not required to spend lots and lots of hours here. You don't need to attend meetings, although that would be good.

Let me know when you want to come in and explore what a rewarding experience it can be by volunteering at CCNH.

OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Donate iPods

Don't toss them! Donate them!

Our residents need to learn new technology. We are wanting to try something with those devices that are due to be replaced. As long as they work!

Let me know ! ! OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

POPCORN! MOVIES!

A different kind of volunteering!

We have started something new at Champaign County Nursing Home. Movie night. With popcorn.

However, we would like a donation of a popcorn popper. Our thought is that the smell of fresh popped stuff will help draw residents to the movie. We have done some looking around and investigating many things. Walmart has a nice one (not too big and not too small) that has wheels for easy mobility. It is $147.00. Please consider donating a popcorn popper to CCNH.

Let me know when you will bring it to us.

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Life is made up of years that mean nothing and the moments that mean it all.
C. P. Snow

Share your musical talents!

We have many opportunities for you!

There are several organized activities that occur each month and music would be a welcome addition. Generally, on Friday afternoon at 2:15 we gather together to do something special. A themed party; most would be appropriate for music.

The last Friday of the month is Root Beer Floats.

The first Wednesday of the month is Ice Cream Social.

There are other times that music would work. Will you share your talents?

Let me know! OK? OK!

Jim
jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Current Events

Monday afternoons at 2:30.

Although several of our residents subscribe to a newspaper and some watch TV, many don't keep up with what is going on locally or nationally. We offere current events in our chapel on Monday afternoons. It lasts about 30 - 40 minutes and we would like to have a volunteer come in weekly to help with this activity.

Let me know - OK? OK!

Jim

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Guys Getting Together

Men's Meetings

Once a week, several of our male residents get together to talk about...whatever. We have set aside about 30 minutes for this group discussion/activity. We are seeking a man who will be able to relate to what these guys find of importance. You don't need any special training or knowledge, just a good attitude to spend some time with the men at CCNH.

Want more information? Send an email. We'll come up with a plan.

Jim

jhronek@co.champaign.il.us

Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.
William Law