Valentine’s Day celebrations often emphasize romance and happy couples. But nursing home residents, in particular, can get left out of such celebrations because they often are alone or without a mate.
“Valentine’s Day is a particularly lonely day for many residents in nursing homes,” Thomas Wright, executive director of missions for Mobile Baptist Association, said. “A visit from family is not as common as at other holidays.”
So if you have a loved one living in a nursing home, then be sure to visit him or her on that day, Wright suggested.
According to Emily Toles, a North American Mission Board US/C2 missionary in Mobile Association, contact with other people is what nursing home residents so often crave and Valentine’s is the perfect opportunity to establish such contact.
“The most important thing that you can do is sit and talk with them. Ask them about their lives and their family,” she said.
Churches can reach out as well with ministry projects on Valentine’s.
“It’s a good day for Sunday School classes to bring a valentine and appropriate snacks,” Wright said. “It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it does provide a point of contact.”
Through organizing Valentine’s events for the senior adults at her church, Patty Farrington realized others also might be alone on the holiday and decided to reach out to residents of local nursing homes with similar events. “We play games and give away special Valentine’s Day door prizes. We also do arts-and-crafts projects,” said Farrington, director of senior adults and singles at Calvary Baptist Church, Dothan, in Columbia Baptist Association.
“And we always talk about the day they met their spouses and fell in love, along with playing some love songs from their earlier days.”
And the children of First Baptist Church, Ashville, are proof that this ministry opportunity isn’t just for adults. “During Valentine’s week, our children in grades 1–6 take red carnations in bud vases and leave them in each patient’s room,” said Paula Brown, church business administrator for the St. Clair Baptist Association church. “Then the children gather in the common room and sing for them.”
Such ministry projects can have a strong impact, including planting the seeds for conversions and changed lives, Wright said.
“Many residents are coming to terms with their mortality and are willing to discuss eternity,” he said. “Even the hardest hearts can soften with loneliness and old age.”
Wright said every expression of love and concern toward a nursing home resident creates opportunities for continued ministry.
“It opens the door,” he said.
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