A story of Celebration. Vintage aircraft rides for senior living community veterans.
I first Darrell Fisher, president of Mission Senior Living when I approached him about using the Vigil Health Solutions emergency call systems. As we chatted, I told him about Senior Housing Forum and he shared his limitless passion for Ageless Aviation a not-for-profit organization he founded to celebrate elders living in senior communities that served in the military. This celebration happens in a very unique fashion.
Dream Flights owns and operates three open cockpit world war two era primary trainer Stearman biplanes. These airplanes have been meticulously restored and a few times a year Darrell takes one of these planes on tour in order to give these seniors what is for most of them their last airplane ride.
He charges NOTHING to the veterans, the senior communities or their families, thanks to number of generous sponsors. A few weeks ago, his tour made a stop in the northern California town of Tracy to honor the veterans at Astoria Gardens. Darrell invited me to come check it out.
Included in the invitation was the ultimate enticement, the chance to go for a ride. Back in college I used to teach flying and I have close to 2,000 hours in my logbook I had never flown in an open cockpit biplane. It was easy to say yes.
The Best Part . . .
The ride was a blast enhanced by the chance to actually do a little of the flying, but honestly as great as the ride was, the very best part was watching the seniors take these last rides. It’s a gentle and mildly challenging effort to get these seniors from their wheelchairs and walkers up on two the lower wing of the airplane and then into the front cockpit. But honestly the “little kid” grins on the seniors as they return from their ride is priceless.
Tour Information
If you are interested in having Darrell and Dream Flights come honor your veterans you can check out the Dream Flights website for most current tour schedule or to make a request that he come honor your veterans.
Sponsorship/Donations
This is a great way to honor those who have served our country. If you are interested in helping Dream Flights has a number of terrific sponsorship options that you can find on their website. If you like this story it would be a great honor to me if you would subscribe to our email list.
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Finally: If you know anyone who is looking at emergency call systems I would appreciate the opportunity to talk with them about Vigil Health Solutions.
From LinkedIn Groups from the question: What is the coolest even you have ever done at your senior community?
I didn’t offer it but our Activity Director did. I had a new puppy at the time and she had a baby shower for her. It was so cool, she invited lots of people and they came, brought gifts and brought their dogs. We had pup corn and everyone welcomed the new addition to my family. She said she had always wanted to do it but with me having a new puppy it was the perfect time. She had such great ideas, never a dull moment.
By Janice Butler
From LinkedIn Groups
Wow! I like this a lot! Will pass this on to our Life Engagement Coach and work towards making this a reality at our community. Thanks so much for sharing.
By Sherry Christiaens
From LinkedIn Groups
Ageless Aviation sounds wonderful. I would love to be able to offer this to our seniors. Where would one go about finding someone to do this?
By Vickie Sword
As an activity director, the best event I hosted was the Guide Dog Graduation Ceremony. Training families turned their dogs over to their disabled (new) owners. Not a dry eye in the house!
From LinkedIn Groups
Personally – I liked our “Westminster Dog Show” – we opened it up for all pets, of course, allowing our residents to show off their pets, talk about them and what they meant for their lives. We also invited staff to bring their pets in for a visit, so they could show them as well. No prizes, but it was quite exciting, what with cats and dogs all over the place, and all the residents enjoyed showing off their loves.
But maybe even better – one of the places I visited in my current job as a Senior Placement Consultant had a Dog Psychic when I was on their campus – and family members were streaming in from all around for a reading.
Michael
By Michael Brodie
From LinkedIn Groups
A great idea. I am imagining that WW II aircraft might be particularly interesting. Going back up in a B 24 …. that would be something.
By Tom Doucette
From LinkedIn Groups
I’m so glad you posed this question. I hope you get some wonderful inspiring stories.
By Patty Hopker
From LinkedIn Groups
As a Food Service Director, I enjoy taking the dining experience to the next level. One time I offered the residents a Brazilian Bar-B-Que. We had the dining room decorated in bright colors, I had my staff and myself walking around the dining room with three foot skewers filled with meat which we carved for the residents tableside, we served capiranas (sp) brazilian rum drinks and to top it off, we had some brazilian dancers come in and dance during the lunch. I was sure one of our residents were going to have a heart attack when they saw the dancers move in those skippy costumes.
By Glen Culbertson
From LinkedIn Groups
Our Heritage Woods of McHenry affordable assisted living community hosted an interactive Laughter Yoga program conducted by a Laughter Yoga Leader. The residents thoroughly enjoyed it and requested repeat sessions. Afterward, I sat down with the community’s Resident Services Coordinator and Director of Marketing and we talked about the program as can be seen in this video we posted on You Tube –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvvLeDaZxMw
By Rick Banas
From LinkedIn Groups
I offered the History of Sex And Prostitution from Sneakpeak Productions. We had record male attendance, and overall attendance! It was racy and historical, and it was very well received. We have to remember that these are all adults and they are interested in the same things anyone else is interested in. There are only so many routine events, and it can get boring. This was NOT boring! People commented that they felt ALIVE again.
By Michelle Drumm
From LinkedIn Groups
For National Nursing Home week, we did something different every day. We had an open house scheduled that we coordinated with a home health agency that baked cookies in the living room during the open house and offered to those that attended, The 2nd day of our week was Zoo day, we took our residents to the local zoo and packed picnic lunches for each. Weds we had pet day and invited the community and residents to participate in pet day giving away prizes for the best pet (letting the residents vote) Thursday was community performance day, the community were invited to perform at different times for the residents that day, Friday was popcorn and movie day, and the grand finale was the Carnival on Saturday that included a car show, live entertainment, miniature train rides, sidewalk chalk art, games and prizes, silent auction, cake walk and popcorn, hot dogs, soda’s and cotton candy for all! We had a truly busy week, but had so much fun with it.
By Tracy Billingsley
From LinkedIn Groups
I have used the Cornell University study Lessons for Living Book to facilitate a Life Lessons Discussion Group to learn more about each resident and decisions they made along the path of life in areas such as Marriage, Careers, Volunteering, and Parenting. Each resident really enjoyed talking about why they made the choices and what the outcomes were for the future good and bad.
By Patrick Gray
From LinkedIn Groups
Love this topic. In a past facility, SNF, we were able to rehab a resident enough to follow through with his wishes for an Honor Flights Trip (for WWII vets)….one of the most exciting and meaningful experiences I ever participated in for both the resident and myself!
By Rita Quigley
From LinkedIn Groups
I’ve not done this is a senior living environment but I created a music & trivia system that I have used for other types of events. I have always wondered if it would be something I should offer to senior living facilities. The song selection drives the selection of trivia from the same time period or through free association. Audience members or teams hear the music play and are prompted to interact using a screen projection or big screen t.v. Trivia questions are presented with or without hints and multiple choice options. Teams interact using audience voting keypads. The interesting part is that residents can select their own songs, research and write their own trivia and host their own events if they like.
From LinkedIn Groups
One of our homes was able to offer free hot air balloon rides on Christmas Day (teether).
We had free opera talks from LA Opera Community Services and also got to attend several wonderful operas at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
There is opportunities to see evening Shakespeare show, “As You Like It,” at our nearby open air stage at a walking distance Japanese Garden.
By Teri Fukushima
From LinkedIn Groups
The event I put together wasn’t super cool but a great eye opener. I was DON at an IL/AL. which were in the same building but opposite sides. Those who lived independently referred to the assisted living as “over there” with negativity. As I monitored those that lived independently and declined, needing more assistance the stigma was present and rebelled until a misfortune would happen leaving them no choice.
I had an OPEN HOUSE with appetizers so they could tour and speak with others. Great success!! Within the next 2 months, several folks did transfer without the fear. The best part, were very happy!!
By Barb Przybylowicz
From LinkedIn Groups
We adopted a soldier and sent him care packages from the AL residents. I think the families enjoyed that more then the residents sometimes.
By Kendra Knight, LBSW, MHA
From LinkedIn Groups
Some years ago, as Executive Director of a 66-bed facility in Arvada CO, I formed a club that we called “The Long Straw Club”. The intent was to dive into the meaning of our lives, and look at it’s components with a sense of context, accomplishment, appreciation and fulfillment. We chose Dante’s “Inferno” as a place to start, and as we read through each chapter, we discovered common themes in our lives that then turned into discussions and discovery. It became a standing room only event, and was featured on Channel 9 in Denver.
By Robin Avery
From LinkedIn Groups
wanted to take my dad to see a restored Yellow Peril he learned to fly in WWII training — guess it was a stick and rudder pedals. Sadly, we didn’t make it, but know that he knew.
By F. Todd Winninger
From LinkedIn Groups
It’s much easier to have ‘cool’ events when your community is one of apartments. Those residents are more able, mobile, can handle, relate to an enjoy really neat stuff. But I would also like to hear about ones where people live in a common home or building, which means more hands-on immediate daily care needs. How to do that in the setting we are challenged with, would be such a blessing to those of us with those extra obstacles to overcome.
Thanks, everyone, for all the posts.
By Doreen Campbell
From LinkedIn Groups
I am planning an Oktoberfest Jazz Festival this coming fall and will have local brewers give tastings plus have a brewer help my residents start their very own brew to bottle! It’s still in the beginning stages, but I am extremely excited by the multi-faceted FUN we are going to have!
By Jen Drake
From LinkedIn Groups
We had a well known (in Canada at least) fiddler by name of Mylie Barron. He was in his 90s but could still play well.
Near the end of his life, when everything started getting obvious, his son, also a musician, had some of Mylie’s friends and people he had mentored come by to say goodbye. It was astounding who showed up. Some very famous fiddlers from the US and Canada.
It wasn’t anything we did. It was all Mylie, his son and his friends. They all played and he joined when he could. It was a truly inspirational experience for all of us.
Two weeks after that Mylie passed away. What he left us with is the drive to keep positive, keep doing what you like doing and stay humble. He was all of that and more.
That is the best thing that has happened in our Assisted Living Facility.
By Doug Murray
From LinkedIn Groups
We have a wine and cheese event planned for October! We will have Door County Winery provide us with a taste or two of vintage wine and a retired cheese maker, who’s wife resides here, demonstrate the making of cheese and serve a variety of cheese from local cheese factories. This idea was brought to light by our resident council meeting. The best ideas come from within, I think.
By Kris Dart
From LinkedIn Groups
There have been so many that it is hard to choose one! I loved our Castle Week, because it carried the theme throughout the week. Each day I planned an activity that had something to do with castles. I did a power point presentation on 20 of the most popular castles, giving time for discussion on each one. The great finally was when our administrator appeared in full period dress, original from Hearst Castle. She was a volunteer docent there and was fortunate to be able to borrow the outfit for the day. She put on an awesome monolog as if she was waiting for her train. She gave us a full account of what it was like to be a guest of William Randolph Hearst on the Ranch.
By Toni Ford
From LinkedIn Groups
How awesome was Toni’s Castle week! (This would work during St. Patrick’s Week or during the summer or anytime) I think it was equally awesome that the Administrator took interest and time to participate in the themed week. Kudos for everybody… for a great idea, creativity and enthusiasm for having a themed weeks, overall support from staff including the amazing administration in her grand finale.
By Teri Fukushima
From LinkedIn Groups
I did this when I was a community relations director…we had Christmas in July every year. For one week, we would decorate the whole community (tree and all!), show Christmas movies for the evening movie, play Christmas music in the community and culminate the whole thing with a full Christmas dinner. We had Santa and Mrs. Claus, carolers in full Dickens dress and I even had snow brought it. The “entrance fee” to the event was an unwrapped toy which was donated to CHP’s for Kids. (Toys for Tots does not have the ability to store toys until the holidays which is why we picked this charity.) We would have 200-300 people attend. The residents and their families loved it, we always got press coverage for it and I would routinely get at least 2 move ins. People still talk about this.
By Janet Feely
From LinkedIn Groups
Think about offering Social Media classes to your residents! Social Seniors is a new company located in Atlanta, Ga. We specialize in teaching senior citizens the benefits and applications of social media platforms in an easy, friendly way. As you may already know, senior citizens are one of the fastest growing segments in wanting to learn and participate on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Blogging and much more. If you are in the Atlanta area please contact us for a brochure and more information!
Raisa Morgan
[email protected]
By Social Seniors