What a beautiful day

This morning as I walked to the Ilima neighborhood wanting to wish Uncle Bud Uyenoyama a happy 97^th birthday. When I got there, care partner CNAs Dee and Faina were setting up a table in front of Uncle Bud. They both sat with him to wish him a happy birthday, and knowing that he likes to play cards they started a card game. Both beautiful young ladies taught Uncle Bud how to play a game called Monkey Monkey. Soon care partner Jay came by to join in the fun. I left to print a picture for Uncle Bud, and when I got back Uncle Bud’s roommate was playing cards with all of them and was teaching them how to play poker, which is Uncle Bud’s favorite card game. 

What a beautiful morning, I couldn’t help but play a couple hands of poker myself.

This is a great example of several Eden Alternative Principles:

• Principle 6: "Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health." - Dee and Faina gave Uncle Bud the opportunity to do something that was meaningful to him. 
• Principle 4: "An Elder-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness. - Uncle Bud's roommate taught Dee, Faina and Jay how to play poker. 
• Principle 5: "An Elder-centered community imbues daily life with variety and spontaneity by creating an environment in which unexpected and unpredictable interactions and happenings can take place. This is the antidote to boredom." - Uncle Bud's roommate and care partner Jay unexpectedly joined in the card game.
• Principle 8: "An Elder-centered community honors its Elders by de-emphasizing top-down bureaucratic authority, seeking instead to place the maximum possible decision-making authority into the hands of Elders or into the hands of those closest to them." - Dee and Faina knew that Uncle Bud enjoyed playing cards, and decided to celebrate his birthday with a few hands of Monkey Monkey and poker. A manager or supervisor didn't ask them to do it.

Thank you Ilima staff you are awesome and you made my day!

- Teresa Lopes, Activities Director