Guest imported_klb Posted March 8, 2004 Share Posted March 8, 2004 I just got an email that made me wonder about something.The guy was asking if they could use one of my photos in a newsletter type thing for a nursing home. That just struck me as a cool idea.It also made me wonder if it wouldn't be kind of fun to get a few folks together to take their cars over to the local nursing home or retirement center so the folks living there might have a chance to see some of the cars of their younger years.Could be especially fun for those who can'tget out much anymore.Just a thought that seemed like it might be worth sharing.Maybe folks are already doing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BruceW Posted March 8, 2004 Share Posted March 8, 2004 Our club participates in an Open house that a retirement home in our county holds every year. The home has a band, food and entertainment. Our club usually takes about 8-10 cars of various years and diplay them. We then offer to take the residents and their families for rides around the neighborhood. It doesnt matter if they are in a wheelchair, can get along on their own, or need assistance, they all wait anxiously for a ride. Often they will get out of one vehicle and get into the next. Sometimes it looks like taxis at the airport witrh full cars leaving and other cars pulling up right behind to discharge passengers and get a new load.The residents enjoy our participation and we enjoy doing it. The residents often have great stories to tell of when they had this or that car back in the 20s or 30s. We've even had residents bring pictures along to show us what they had. The staff of the home say that the residents talk aboutour visit all throughout the year. The residents have fun and get great memories and we get wonderful day of giving our hobby out of it. I enjoy this day as does everyone else that participates.Just take a look at the attached pic that someone tooka few years ago of an elderly lady in our 1931 Ford waiting for her ride. The expression on her face says it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_klb Posted March 8, 2004 Share Posted March 8, 2004 Bruce; Man that sounds like fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted March 8, 2004 Share Posted March 8, 2004 Our club did the same thing at a grand opening at a Rest Home last year. All of the residents came outside and sat with us while reminises about the cars they used to have. There was one gentleman with all of the women folk at this new place. The old fellow took a lot of ribbing over making all those women happy. It was a fun day. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rcirilli Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 One of the clubs I belong to also makes a visit to a home each summer. two years ago we started giving rides, now we have lines waiting for us to come. I'm beginning to wonder if the bus people in. Loads of satisfaction regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Guy Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 Our local Buick club does this every year. We go to different places every time as there are numerous ones in the area. We have not given rides in the past, because to tell the truth ,we did not think of it. I will bring it up on our next trip to an old folks home. Thanks for the GREAT idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 The Chesapeake Region AACA in Baltimore has been doing it for over 30 years. At least I know we were doing it before I moved to Wyoming. hvs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_klb Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 Great stories. It's fun to hear how well this has gone over where it'sbeen done. I hadn't thought of giving rides, but I can sure see where that would bring a smile to many folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Bookreader Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 The concept of taking the antique cars to retirement centers and nursing homes is a great one. Our Historical Car Club of Pa did this for years and it was a great hit with the residents. On a personal note, a group of people, and I never knew what club, did this for the Homewood Nursing Home in Frederick, Maryland when my Dad was an Alzheimer patient there. My Dad did not know me or by then nothing elicited a memory for him. BUT, when the cars arrived, a smile came on his face and he walked over and stroked the car and according to the nurses, said my name at one of them. I think for an instance, he had a flash of memory and that was worth everything. As the Masterdcard ad says-"priceless." So go give someone a memory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronbarn Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 The North Alabama Region traditionally provides rides for a local senior citizen home for the annual Veteran's Day parade. On a more personal note, my Dad was in an Assisted Care home for the last couple of years of his life. Several times a year I took my 1911 Hudson touring down there to give rides. Dad would sit in the back seat with a grin on his face and while we would rotate passenger status for other residents, he would never give up his seat. This is a great experience and the stories you hear is indeed "priceless". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Green Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 At the annual Amphicar meet we spend the best part of a day giving rides in the lake to the many people in the nursing home. Some wait all year for this event. Most of these older people have more experience in a Amphicar then most in the world, kind of odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest SalG (Sal Grenci) Posted March 9, 2004 Share Posted March 9, 2004 Those of you in the New York metro area can come out on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 15, 2004 to the Long Island State Veterans Home at SUNY Stony Brook. This is the 8th year I have run the show. It is held at a nursing home for vets that the state of NY sponcers. I run it for the Long Island Motor Touring club and we get cars from the Greater NY, Vanderbilt Cup, and F. R. Porter Regions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RVAnderson Posted March 11, 2004 Share Posted March 11, 2004 I've done this myself, including giving talks on the Model T and early American motoring in general. I'm glad to see you're thinking about it, but let me tell you: stop thinking about it and DO IT. NOW. These folks won't be around much longer, and believe me, as much as they will enjoy it, YOU will be a major beneficiary of the experience!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex98thdrill Posted March 16, 2004 Share Posted March 16, 2004 The politically correct term for old is "youth impaired" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 I also took part in a club function at an "Old folks home". They were very enthusiastic and thrilled to be able to talk about their experiences at the time that the cars were in stile.One old gentleman (about 90 or so) went for a ride with me in my 1931 Model A Huckster Wagon. After a great little tour together we pulled back up to the nursing home and he said "wasn't Henry Ford the smart one?" I asked him what he meant and he showed me how you could lift up on the gear shift and flip it forward toward the dashboard out of the way. He them explained that trick enalbled him to access the entire front seat unobstructed and for the first time was able to be alone with his soon to be bride - if you know what I mean.The interesting part of the story is that I (personally) restored that transmission and never knew at the time that the shifter did that trick.I guess the day you stop learning is the last one of your life!!!! And Henry WAS pretty smart!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Great story. Thanks for sharing it. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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