Programs aim to make the season bright for seniors

Christmas is now a month away and that means church groups, civic groups and civic-minded folks will be looking for people to help during the holidays through the donations of gifts or services.

With more than 50 assisted living homes and many seniors who rely on in-home service providers such as Home Instead Senior Care®, there are many seniors on the Coast who are away from their families during the Christmas season and a small gift could be something to help brighten their spirits.

Home Instead is sponsoring the Be a Santa to a Senior program, which provides gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

"There are so many seniors, right here in the Mississippi Gulf Coast area, that have nothing and no one," said Mary Sukiennik, owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care office, via a press release. "Through this program, we are able to show them that they are valuable members of our community and that people still care."

Home Instead Senior Care has teamed up with Saad Healthcare, Amedisys Home Health of Biloxi, Deaconess Homecare of Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula, Mississippi Homecare, the Area Agency on Aging and the Jackson County Civic Action Committee to identify gift recipients.

Act fast

CVS Pharmacies are displaying Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees through Dec. 7 that feature ornaments with seniors' first names and their gift suggestions. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them to the store unwrapped, with the ornament attached. But Sukiennik said the ornaments are going quickly.

"We only have a few ornaments left, and they are at the Ocean Springs and Pascagoula locations," she said. "We hope that everyone that got an ornament will follow through with the gifts."

Participating CVS Pharmacies are at 2190 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs; 3657 Market St, Pascagoula; 12024 Lamey Bridge Road, D'Iberville; 1422 E. Pass Road, Gulfport; 11022 U.S. 49, Gulfport.

Program partners will take care of wrapping and distributing the gifts to the seniors, who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.

For more details on the Be a Santa to a Senior program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 818-6110.

Practical gifts well received

June Griggs, activity director at Woodland Village Nursing Center in Diamondhead, said to be practical when selecting a gift for an assisted living facility resident.

"Our residents love to receive gifts," Griggs said. "They like to get hats and scarves and diabetic socks, body spray, sugar-free candy and electronic devices such as CD players."

She said people who want to do something for the residents at Christmas don't necessarily have to spend money.

"If people want to come and sing Christmas songs or play the piano or lead a worship service, we welcome things like this," she said. "We are always looking for volunteers to read to our residents or play games with them or just come out and visit with them."

Sandy Fairley, Executive Director of Brookdale in Biloxi, said personal hygiene items also make excellent Christmas gifts.

"Our residents are required to provide their own personal-care products," Fairley said. "Things like shampoo and soap and toothpaste make great gifts for our residents."

A little something sweet

Another popular gift item this time of year is food, Fairley said.

"Our residents love to get food," she said. "They love to get snacks for their apartment, and fruit baskets are always popular gifts. You can bring the baskets already made or bring the items, and we will put the baskets together."

Those wishing to bring gifts to area assisted-living homes are encouraged to follow proper procedures.

"People that want to bring gifts to residents at Woodland Village should give us a call," Griggs said. "We have a social worker who knows the needs of the residents and she will be able to recommend help for the people who most need it. We can also help with clothing sizes and we will know if the residents have any food allergies."

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 7:43 PM with the headline "Programs aim to make the season bright for seniors."