2018 The Holiday Project's Direct Visits for groups of 5 or more - organized by zip codes to Nursing Homes throughout the Greater Houston and surrounding areas

The Holiday Project's Christmas Day "Direct" Family and/or Friend's Group Visit to a Nursing Home in your community, chosen by zip code!

(On this post I could only list one zip code but there are nursing homes in or near most zip codes in the Greater Houston and surrounding areas)

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Groups of 5 or more can sign up on this post or email me with a request to visit a nursing home in your community, to visit residents and rehab patients, pass out cards and sing Christmas Carols: 

If you have a question email me at (theholidayprojecthouston@yahoo.com) Thanks...Donna

For individual volunteers and for groups that prefer to be with a larger team I will also be posting the names of specific scheduled facility visits between now and the week before Christmas.

Go to the index page at www.holidayproject.info to print Christmas Songs or save them to an electronic device.

For a successful visit PLEASE read all the instructions below...thanks!

Bring the Spirit of a Holiday to Those Who Otherwise Might Not Have a Celebration!

Make a Difference!! Brighten someone’s holiday and help them know they have not been forgotten.

All ages are invited to visit but an adult must accompany children throughout the visit. Volunteers will visit as a team with the residents in community areas and room to room.

Time spent at the facilities will vary, but generally the visits last from about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the facility and other circumstances unique to the team and the facility.

(Sometimes the staff on duty want us to visit in a communal area of the facility such as a recreation room or dining hall. Other times we are invited to do both a communal visit and then break into small clusters to visit room-to-room for those persons who don't get out of their rooms. Which of these approaches is used also affects the total length of time we spend at a particular facility.)

Goal: To brighten up the holiday by passing out Christmas cards, engaging in conversation with residents when possible and singing Christmas Carols.

Upon arrival: Meet in Lobby of the facility until everyone arrives.

In the note section of this need sign up, please add how many will be visiting.

Please see detailed instructions for day of visit below....
Visit Policies:
1. Remember that you are in a medical facility. Be aware and be careful.
2. Do not assist a resident in moving from or to a wheelchair. Ask an employee to help.
3. Do not feed or offer food to residents unless directed by an employee.
4. When entering a resident’s room, always knock and introduce yourself as a volunteer. Ask permission before entering.
5. Stay with the group as you move through the facility.
6. Do not go into isolation rooms, those rooms will be marked with a sign to see staff before entering. If you are passing out cards please give staff cards for residents in isolation rooms.
7. Because of HIPAA Privacy Rules most facilities require a signed photo release for pictures of/with residents. Therefore no pictures of resident's faces are allowed on The Holiday Project visits. The best way to take a picture is taking the back of the resident and the faces of the volunteers. The experience can still be documented in a picture without the resident's face.
8. It is not required but volunteers can make handmade Christmas cards to pass out during the visit.
9. Have Fun! Together we CAN make a difference and REMEMBER...
"To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world!"
10. Any questions email Donna Martin at: theholidayprojecthouston@yahoo.com

Participant Notes:
Please ensure all members of your group are in good health for the visit. Thanks for sharing your time to brighten up Christmas Day for the residents in nursing homes!

We encourage you to send follow up pictures and/or stories, to Donna after your visit. Stories and pictures are always appreciated....email her at: theholidayprojecthouston@yahoo.com

To learn more about The Holiday Project go to www.holidayproject.info