Lifespan of Rochester, New York Sponsors Golden Wishes for Seniors

Imagine living in a nursing home and wishing someone would take you fishing or to the ballet. Golden Wishes, sponsored by Lifespan of Rochester, New York, does just that- fulfills wishes of seniors living in long term care facilities. Lifespan is an agency that provides services to older adults. These services include everything from care management for eldercare to helping retired seniors find employment.

Golden Wishes consists of a committee of eight to ten volunteers. Each month the chairperson of the committee goes to two long term care facilities to solicit wishes from the residents. Once a month the volunteers meet and review the wishes, deciding among themselves who is able to fulfill each wish.

Most of the wishes are simple requests to do something that, years ago, the resident could do on their own. The volunteers take on the role of Fairy Godmother and make these dreams come true. Here are a couple of examples of wishes fulfilled.

Once a wish recipient is chosen, the volunteer fulfilling that wish, announces the winner at the facility with a flourish often bringing balloons or flowers. One gentleman winner wanted to go fishing and have a picnic lunch. His Fairy Godmother arranged an afternoon outing for the two of them, plus his aide, at the lake complete with a picnic basket.

Another winner wanted to go to the ballet and have it made special in some way. She also wanted to include her sister and niece. The volunteer arranged for four tickets to an afternoon performance of the Rochester City Ballet at Nazareth College Arts Center. Contacting the arts center ahead of time, the volunteer was able to get two free tickets and discounts on the other two. Accompanying the trio to the performance, the volunteer also arranged for the wish winner to meet the dancers. Thus she had her afternoon at the ballet and it was made special for her. The volunteers are reimbursed by Lifespan for any expenses they incur up to a certain amount.

We are never too old to have dreams and wishes. Many seniors are fortunate to be able to fulfill their own dreams. For those who are unable to do so on their own, Golden Wishes volunteers deserve a gold medal for making their dreams come true.

Sources: http://www.lifespan-roch.org/

Personal experience of a Golden Wishes volunteer