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CREATING A VILLAGE AT TURNER-DUVALL

Each Executive Director has a dream of how they want to serve the elders at their location. For several years I have wanted to make the inside of the center into a true village. Finally, my dream for the center is finally coming true!

The village concept is simple. Each apartment will be painted to represent a regular house. Just like in real neighborhoods, we will have a variety of different houses such as stucco, brick, stone, board and batting, log, and much more. Each elder gets to pick out their style of house and color as much as possible. Our only requirement in selection is that it has to be different from the other houses around them.

We began the transition last Fall. We started with the elder that has been here the longest and are working up to the newest. The list of who gets their house done next is posted in the lobby so they will know when it is about time to do their house. As each house is completed, we mark it off the list. It was hard for the elders at first to understand what we talking about doing. We did a vacant room for the first house so the elders could understand the concept. That was all it took, they loved it and all started talking about what they wanted their house to look like. I have a photo album that I made up of house, door and window options for the elders to choose from.

The elders are really loving the fact they will have a place to call their own. I am sure when all is done it will no longer be come to the apartment number 11to direct someone to their apartment. New directions to apartments will sound more like, "Come in the front door, make a right and go until you get to the house on the right that is a log cabin," or "I'm the house with the red door."

This will also help new residents get acclimated. Before when they came in it was hard to remember which room was theirs because they all look alike. This will make their apartment easier to find. It will also help them locate the friends they have made at the center. It's easier to recognize a house than remember an apartment number.

For about the last six months I have been collecting paint. I would go by the local hardware store and buy the paints that were mixed wrong. By doing this I was able to get the good Valspar paint for $10.00 a gallon. I would buy all they had within the color scheme of what we could use. I found 16 shutters at a thrift store for $20.00, which we are using on some of the windows on the houses. At Dirt Cheap, I was able to buy painters tape for 60 cents to $1.20 a roll depending on the size and probably have all we will need to complete this project. My goal is to complete the entire project for under $1,000.00. This is not a budgeted project so there are no dedicated funds to make these changes.

Right now, we are just painting the houses, doors and adding windows to the houses. We will then go back and add the window boxes, shrubs, trees, flowers and various decor. We have volunteers who have offered their services to help us with this part of the project since it will take a lot of time. Once school is out, we hope to have some youth come help us with this also.

The first elder to have her house painted was Willene Walters. Ms. Willene has trouble hearing which makes communication a challenge at times. Once we got her house painted she was so positive and wanted everyone to see "her house." I came around the corner from my office one morning and she was standing outside her door with a cup of coffee talking to herself about how she loved her house. At that point I knew I was doing the right thing. There is a renewed sense of pride and identity among the residents. Now when she talks of her apartment it is "my house."

Now, when people come in to the center, they want to see what we have done since the last time they were here. This has really created a lot of excitement for the staff, elders and community. Often Ms. Willene will say to people when they come in, "Go look at my new house. They really did a good job."

We are hoping to have all the houses painted by the end of 2018. When all houses are completed, we hope to have an open house so the community can come and see what we have done.

ALL IT TAKES IS 1 SONG TO BRING BACK 1,000 MEMORIE...

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Methodist Senior Services

Telephone : 662-844-8977
Fax : 662-844-9053
Email : info@mss.org

 

 

109 South Broadway
Post Office Box 1567
Tupelo, Mississippi 38802-1567

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