Many hands helping others is the theme of the volunteer effort at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Albert Lea. About 125 adult volunteers, mostly retired seniors, join 25 teenagers in the challenge of enhancing the social and cultural lives of residents.

An auxiliary group is another key element for providing support and encouragement for people who can no longer live in their own homes. Strong support from the community and area churches is cited as an important factor in providing services for residents, said Carla Reichel, volunteer coordinator at St. John’s.

“We try to plan daily activities for the residents, so their lives will be full of a sense of accomplishment and purpose,” Reichel said.

Reichel coordinates the efforts of the various volunteer groups who help facilitate a sense of constructive endeavor at the large nursing home on the city’s west side. The workers and the volunteer groups who aid them try to focus on maintaining lifetime skills, such as baking, gardening, sewing and crafting.

Social interaction is important for residents who may have lost spouses or longtime friends. Playing cards, games and music can help relieve the sense of loneliness that can often beset nursing home residents.

A snack and gift cart is rolled through the various gathering areas at St. John’s, giving residents the chance to buy goodies or purchase greeting cards to send to friends and family. The gift cart provides another chance for residents to meet and greet, consulting on which of the many daily activities they want to be a part of.

Residents are encouraged to get involved in running their own affairs at St. John’s, which is divided into nine neighborhoods, each with its own resident council that meets regularly to decide on what events residents would like.

Each Friday afternoon a group of five students from Southwest Middle School, accompanied by a faculty adviser, comes to St. John’s to interact with residents in card playing and other activities. A licensed day care center, a satellite of The Children’s Center, has an on-site facility at St. John’s. Residents can often be seen pushing baby strollers through the hallways.

“The residents love having the kids around,” Riechel said.

Activities at St. John’s have gotten a big boost recently through the fundraising efforts of volunteer groups. A new kitchen and dining area was added to the activities area in June of this year. The kitchen gives residents the chance to maintain skills and interests from their earlier, more independent lives.

Diane Wichmann has worked at the nursing home for 15 years, the last two as activities director.

She supervises a permanent staff of four daytime, two evening and one weekend employee, who help organize and run the many daily events at St. John’s.

An outdoor garden program was enhanced by fundraising efforts that resulted in the installation of 11 new planters in outdoor areas surrounding St. John’s. The planters were placed at a height that allows residents using wheelchairs to work comfortably in the garden area.

Produce from the garden was then used in special meals for residents, who helped plan and prepare the meals with the help of the activities staff. These activities help maintain lifelong skills and give residents focus and a sense of purpose.

“They love to work. They miss the work of the past, and they take great pride in what they do,” Wichmann said.

Volunteering to work actively with seniors is often as much a benefit to the volunteers as to those they help, says longtime volunteer Kathy Vokoun. Volunteering at St. John’s two or three days a week for the past seven years has given Vokoun a unique appreciation for both residents and the activities workers who help them. She helps residents write letters, assists them on shopping trips, and helps get their Christmas cards prepared and sent, among many other things.

“It’s a rewarding and heartwarming experience to work with the residents. The activity department here is just awesome,” Vokoun said.

A privately funded organization which continues to accept contributions, the St. John’s Foundation helps fund ongoing improvement and maintenance projects at the nursing home. The auxiliary buys Christmas presents for residents, among many other projects designed to enrich the lives of those who live at the long term care center.

A second bus was recently purchased for use by residents, which offers shopping excursions and sight-seeing trips, as well as functionality for doctor and dentist appointments.

The Albert Lea High School choir recently visited St. John’s for a Christmas caroling sing along. Marlys Johnson, a St. John’s resident for the past three years, said she enjoyed the song fest, as she does the many other events available to residents.

“I will volunteer to do anything. It feels great to stay busy,” Johnson said.

Larry Kimpell has lived at St. John’s for the past six years and says he loves having so many things to do, including volleyball, cards and gardening. Kimpell also enjoyed the enthusiasm displayed by the high school choir as they interacted with he and his fellow residents.

“The kids just seem to have a ball whenever they come here,” Kimpell said.