How to Honor Veterans in an Assisted Living Home

Organize a special ceremony to honor veterans

Veterans deserve a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude in return for the courage and selflessness they gave their country, and veterans in assisted living homes are no exception. Events such as barbecues and softball games at your local Veterans of Foreign Wars post can help unite veterans and community members in honoring veterans' service. But some veterans, especially those in assisted living homes, must grapple with age, health, and other considerations that can limit them from participating in outside events that honor their service. The honor, then, in many cases, must be brought to them.

Instructions

1. Listen to a veteran's stories. Some veterans may be more or less willing to share their experience, but an eager ear shows veterans that they are important to you and that their story is worth telling. On Veteran's Day in 2010, schools around the U.S. visited nursing homes to hear the stories of veterans. Simply knowing that someone else is listening to them and that they care can be a cathartic experience for veterans in assisted living homes who may not always have an outlet for their thoughts.

2. Organize a reunion with fellow veterans. Talk to your local V.F.W. about introducing other veterans to veterans in assisted living homes. The respect among veterans is difficult to replicate, so being recognized by other veterans is a tremendous honor to veterans in assisted living homes. Asking the visiting veterans to show up in uniform will heighten the sense of honor conferred upon veterans in assisted living homes.

3. Write a letter to a veteran in an assisted living home. Call an assisted living home and ask if there are any veterans residing there. If there are, ask an employee if you may write a letter to one or more veterans, and if your request is granted, write a letter of gratitude and appreciation for their service. Include your contact information to encourage future correspondence with veterans who wish to reply back to your letter.

4. Plant a garden at an assisted living home housing veterans. The presence of a garden will constantly remind veterans of the recognition and respect they deserve. The inherent beauty of a garden will also offer comfort and peace to veterans who may have limited outlets for happiness.

5. Invite a veteran in an assisted living home to speak at your school, work, or local community event. Such an invitation can bestow a veteran with an immense sense of pride and importance. Be advised that some veterans may need assistance in getting to an event outside their assisted living home. In such cases, make arrangements to ensure that veterans will arrive safely without overwhelming difficulties.

References

• Guide to Nursing Homes: Veterans Honored in Nursing Homes Across U.S.
• Library of Congress: Community Events and Other Ways to Gather Veterans' Narratives