Imagine yourself living in a nursing home, relying on 24 hour care, and owning nothing more than the clothes on your back. Picture a life with no family and an overwhelming feeling that you have lost your control, freedom, and rights. Although this scenario may seem unimaginable, unfortunately it’s a sad reality for many elders anytime but especially during the holiday season. During a time that is typically filled with joy, compassion and family, for many nursing home residents, the holiday cheer is replaced with feelings of isolation, loneliness and depression.

Through the Second Wind Dreams® Be a Santa to a Senior program we provided a sense of holiday joy for125 elders. Their wishes are usually quite simple – like socks and underwear, personal care items such as lotion and small gifts like blankets, stuffed animals, or sugar-free candy - but when you have nothing, these little items make a big difference. Henry County Homemaker Club members gathered items to provide gifts for 118 seniors including 60 at the local nursing home, 25 at the local assisted living, 25 shut in seniors who receive Meals on Wheels from the Senior Center and 8 needy independent living seniors.

But the Seniors were not the only ones who benefited from these acts of kindness.  Research has shown that there are actual health benefits to being kind besides just making you feel good.  People who perform the acts of kindness have been found to have increased levels of oxytocin a hormone that causes an expansion of the blood vessels thus reducing blood pressure and protecting the heart.  Studies have also noted that those who perform acts of kindness also have increases in serotonin levels, increases in energy, lifespan, and self-esteem while at the same time noting lower levels of pain, stress, anxiety, depression, blood pressure and signs of aging.  Like exercise, kindness also releases endorphin the hormone that improves mood.  It has also been proven that the positive effects of kindness are also experienced in the brain of everyone who witnessed the act of kindness thus improving their health levels in a domino effect!  So our Second Wind Dreams program not only improved the lives of 118 seniors but also of 105 Homemakers, and over 50 staff and family members.