This morning Administrator in Training, Connie Miller, shared a story from her volunteering experience at this past Friday's Bon Dance at Hale Makua Kahului, where she helped with transporting residents to and from the Bon Dance site. The evening's entertainment of taiko drumming and Bon Odori (Bon Dancing) went on for more than an hour, and many residents got into the spirit, clapping their hands or even doing the dances along with the Bon Dancers.
The resident that Connie was assisting was having a fabulous time enjoying the instruments, the beat of the drums, and the beautiful, colorful kimonos. As Connie helped the resident back to his/her room, the resident commented that usually (s)he has a difficult time falling asleep at nights and typically has to take medication to help with going to sleep, but that night (s)he wouldn't need to take anything to help with sleeping, (s)he would be sleeping well without it.
I thought that this was a wonderful, heart-warming example of how getting a resident engaged with something that they truly enjoy, and have a great time doing, is often the best "medicine".
