Gingerbread Scented Holiday Cheer

Last week ginger and spice hung in the air around the Aloha Cafe where many of the residents at Hale Makua Kahului were treated to some sweet treats in the form of gingerbread cookies. The residents and Activities staff beautifully decorated dozens of gingerbread cookies for the holidays, which was reminiscent of my own family Christmas party where adults and children alike enjoy making and decorating gingerbread cookies. While many of the residents had fun expressing their unique personalities in their use of sugary confections, decorating a variety of cookies with frosting and sprinkles, I think several enjoyed eating their works of art much more!

Finding a Spontaneous Moment

Earlier this week I was helping with the layout and adding photos into a PowerPoint presentation to be used for basic staff education about what Luana is and the Ten Eden Principles. I was having a difficult time finding photos that helped illustrate Principles Four, Five and Six, which state:

• Principle 4: A Resident-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness.
• Principle 5: A Resident-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.
• Principle 6: Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health.

I found that as one of the primary picture takers for Hale Makua Health Services, I really haven’t taken any photos of spontaneous moments. The photos I take are mostly of planned activities and events. In order to capture more of these spontaneous moments in photos, I would need to be constantly patrolling the neighborhoods with a camera in hand, something my other job responsibilities don’t really allow.

However, today I witnessed one of these unexpected interactions where one resident had the opportunity to give care. It actually happened to me as I was carrying a box with 70+ canvas tote bags to a craft fair in our Aloha Café. A resident seeing me struggling under the weight of the box, offered to help me by carrying the box on his lap while I wheeled him to my destination. This resident didn’t need to help me, he could have just watched me pass by, but it truly felt wonderful that someone who uses a wheelchair took the time out of his day to make my life a little easier.