Numerous studies have shown significant physical, mental, and emotional wellness benefits for seniors who participate in lifelong learning and volunteering opportunities. At John Knox Village of Central Florida, we offer residents several ways to experience these benefits every day. We spoke with two of our resident experts about some of the opportunities available for learning and volunteering in and around our community. Let’s hear what they have to say.
You Learn. You Live.
Mary Ellen H. moved to John Knox Village in 2021 and was quickly recruited to join the Healthcare Committee. It was right after the height of the pandemic and an onslaught of questions emerged from residents seeking information on guardianships, trusts, end-of-life issues, and other topics most of us don’t think about until we reach a certain age. “There were so many issues at that time to be addressed, so we formed an advisory committee,” Mary Ellen says. “We sent out a survey asking residents about their concerns and then developed a plan to address them by bringing in speakers and creating presentations about these ‘late-in-life issues.’ Inspired by this term, we shortened the name of the program to LILI.”
Since its inception, LILI has helped residents get answers to many questions that have been on their minds—and many more they didn’t even know they had. Topics to date have included paper organization, daily money management, survivor checklists, things to know when you go to a doctor’s appointment, taxes, estate planning, how to talk about death, planning a burial, and so much more. Residents can find information on all these topics in the healthcare section of our resident portal.
Planning the Next Chapter
In 2023, we hired Amanda Logan as our wellness liaison to help further the efforts of LILI. Together, Mary Ellen and Amanda have done an outstanding job in continuing to put together presentations and bring speakers to campus to talk about the topics that are on the minds of residents. Today, the program’s popularity and list of topics continue to grow.
“You want to know about 2025?” Mary Ellen teases. “Amanda and I are doing a series on Caregiver Burnout for the Caregiver Group that I’m so excited about because it’s really important for caregivers to get as much support and help as they can.”
Additional topics slated for this year include presentations by volunteers with AARP on brain health, downsizing and decluttering, social security, and senior fraud prevention. “I spoke with my liaison at AARP and they’re coming back next year to present other topics, which is wonderful,” she says.
“These people are volunteers. The biggest challenge I’ve had as a project manager is finding presenters. “If we can bring someone in, and they can say one thing that makes a difference with one resident, and the resident can use it, then we’ve succeeded.”
Residents are never at a loss for ways to boost their mental wellness. John Knox Village hosts regular workshops, lectures, and social and cultural events—and we encourage residents to join or start a group where they can discover new hobbies, games, or interests. Right outside our community, they can explore museums, theaters, and historical sites, and even take classes at local colleges.
Giving Back. Getting Back.
When it comes to boosting the overall health and happiness of older adults, the lifelong learning opportunities at our Central Florida community are a big part of the equation. Volunteering is another. Not only does helping others provide a sense of purpose, but it’s also known to improve the social, emotional, and physical wellness of older adults.
As a retired schoolteacher, Debra S. has always found great satisfaction in helping others. And now, she continues to do so at John Knox Village. “When I first moved here in 2017, I was still working, and my mother who lived in Michigan, was very sick,” she recalls. “I wanted to do something to give back, so I volunteered to help residents in assisted living and memory care. After I was recruited to join the Residents Council, I realized just how many opportunities there were to volunteer, but at the time all of the information was very scattered. There was a list here and a list there, so I made it my responsibility to create one list. In doing that, I found great joy in getting other people involved in volunteering.”
Debra has combined her love for teaching with her passion for helping others. She has been instrumental in helping residents learn how to use our community-wide portal, which is a lifeline for many residents looking for information, events, resident names, contact information, and more. She also does a lot of volunteering off campus. Her involvement with the Orange City Elementary School turned into an annual food drive that Debra started in 2020 with the help of Shannon Finley, our marketing and communications specialist.
Every year, we stock the school with enough food to last until the next food drive. “Someone said to me once, if you wake up in the morning, and you don’t want to go volunteer, and you’re begrudging it, then it’s not the one for you,” Debra says. “But if you wake up and you are so excited because of what you’re going to go do that day, then that’s where you should be, and I think if it’s that kind of experience, you get way more out of it than you can ever give.”
The Only Skill You Need Is Compassion
The most popular volunteer opportunities at our Central Florida senior living community include teaching classes or games, helping in the library, welcoming new residents to the community, knitting hats and blankets for newborns at the local hospital, and making prayer shawls for our Majestic Oaks Nursing Center residents. We also have so many volunteers who help residents in our assisted living take part in community activities and events. They go every day to take residents to whatever activity it is and then take them back to their rooms.
For anyone looking for ways they can help, currently more than 100 volunteer opportunities are available on campus, and new ones are constantly being created. There’s something for everyone. “Sometimes people just don’t know where they can volunteer or what they can help with,” Debra says. “People think they don’t know how to do it or they’re not good enough. I’ve had people tell me they can’t help in a school because they don’t know how to teach, but really what they need many times is someone to sit in a corner and listen to a second grader read them a book. That’s all. Sometimes, we don’t give ourselves enough credit. The only thing we need to do is open our hearts and be there for someone when they need us. Every gesture matters no matter how big or small.”
Residents and staff contribute to our culture of helping others live their best lives. Every year, we host a volunteer fair to share information with residents and answer any questions. This year’s fair will be held during Volunteer Week on April 21. There’ll be people from the local school, the hospital, our Knitters Club, book clubs, and more. We pack the entire auditorium. And on April 22, to celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Day, we have an ice cream social for residents who donated their time, skills, and compassion throughout the year to help others live their best lives. This is a mission that is near and dear to our hearts. On average, 59% of our residents volunteer on campus and 27% volunteer off campus—and they spend more than 26 hours a month helping others. And that’s the cherry on top.
Want to discover the key to senior wellness? Contact us today to learn more about all the opportunities for lifelong learning and volunteering at our Central Florida senior living community. Call 386-775-0788 to schedule a tour.