Share a Story in Honor of Assisted Living Week
Families and Stories Are Forever
People do not live forever, but stories can; that’s what makes them so precious. If you think about it, a person is never forgotten as long as his or her story continues to be told. The next time you plan a visit to a friend or loved one who lives in an assisted living community, think about how to elicit a story from him or her. Lasting stories honor the teller as much as the listener. The three magic words are “Tell me about … , ” then fill in the blank, as in:
Tell me about …
- When you first saw the man you would marry (or the woman who would become your wife)
- When you joined the military (or your brothers/sisters went off to war)
- Your first job
- Your mother (or father), cousins or favorite grandparent
- What downtown looked like when you were a child
- The church you attended as a youngster
- What it was like when you had your first baby
- What kind of chores you had as a child
- Your favorite radio or TV show
- What you did for fun as a teenager
- Where you lived when you were first married
- Your favorite car
- Your first job or early career
- What you liked to cook
Our Valley VNA staff spends every day and night caring for our residents, and we come to know and love them like family. We get very close to their family members who come to visit, too. The poet Maya Angelou once wrote, “Family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.” During Assisted Living Week, it’s a perfect time to say thank you for inviting us to be part of your family.
