by Katie
“You can’t explain what it’s like to mourn someone who’s still alive unless you’ve experienced it firsthand.” - Jessica Seay Soto
My grandmother, whom I affectionately call Mimi, is funny, young at heart, and sweet. Even though she has Alzheimers, she still has a good sense of humor. When she still lived at home, we would play hide and seek. I would hide underneath her bed covers and she would sit down on the bed and say: “what a comfy pillow”. Then we would laugh for what seemed like forever. Another experience I had with her was when I was very little, on sunny spring and summer days, we would sit on the front porch swing and watch the cars go by. It was very calming,
Mimi had to move to a nursing home a while ago because of her Alzheimers. I feel sad because she has gotten so skinny and is losing her sight. To make her feel better, we take walks with her around her nursing home. We also sing her favorite songs like You Are My Sunshine and Playmate. Sometimes, when she remembers some of the lyrics, she sings along too. When she is happy, it feels good to see her that way.
I know it is hard to work at a nursing home because there are so many people that the staff needs to care for. Sometimes it is difficult for the staff to give the residents indulgences. GrannyMani is special because it gives the residents a chance to get a manicure and a hand massage, something they might not often get. That is why GrannyMani is so great; the volunteers give simple, yet soothing, little luxuries to the residents so they can feel good again. Having volunteered for GrannyMani, it is good to know that even with the smallest little things, you can still make a big difference in someone's life.
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