My Hands Photo Challenge

Cxene Brooks

Submitted

As Activity Coordinator at Homestead Lodge, I have been hard at work finding new fun activities for our residents to enjoy as volunteers are not allowed to enter our facility just yet. We still have some restrictions but are allowing scheduled visits from their families.

As I was researching some fresh ideas to keep my residents engaged, I came across an idea for a photo challenge which I felt would give our Residents something to treasure and share with their families. That was where the “My Hands” Photo Challenge came into being.

We use our hands all our lives, but what I wanted to convey was how much our hands can accomplish in our lifetimes. It’s more than just gripping, pushing, pulling, lifting.…it is the pat on the back, a high five, or wiping away a child’s tears. Hands have the power to soothe, comfort, and support those around us. I am lucky to have so many wonderful subjects for my project…..all with such unique experiences that I felt it would be good to document it, not just for the resident, but for their families.

For the residents who participated, I spent some time with each of them and asked them about their lives, and the things they accomplished using their hands. How many children did they raise? Did they farm? Did they have a career? Did they have culinary skills and what did they make for their families? Did they volunteer? Hobbies? The information gathered was documented on a poster board and residents posed with the information they shared. Each resident received an 8x10 of their photo to share with their families.

I came away from this project with a profound sense of love and admiration for my residents….. deeper than ever before. Their hands may be sore, arthritic, and wrinkled. They may not be able to do as much with their hands now, but looking back at their lifetime of using their hands to better themselves, their families, and their communities was truly inspiring. And I thank them all for their participation. With their permission, I would like to share some of them with you.

Homestead Lodge resident Louise Dubuc with her project.

(Homestead Lodge/Submitted)

Homestead Lodge resident Denise Sokoluk with her project.

(Homestead Lodge/Submitted)

Homestead Lodge resident Gerald Adams with his project.

(Homestead Lodge/Submitted)

Homestead Lodge resident Nettie Zaleschuk with her project.

(Homestead Lodge/Submitted)