In 2018, Marla Carter began Faithful Friends Ministry at Pleasant Valley Community Church with one goal — connecting nursing home residents with church members.
“We wanted nursing home residents to know they weren’t alone,” she said.
Since then, she and her husband have formed a nonprofit to work with other community churches and connect them with members of the long-term care community. Almost a year ago, Faithful Friends Kentucky received nonprofit status.
“It has taken that long to get the ball rolling,” she said.
Carter said that all four skilled nursing facilities in Owensboro – Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation, Twin Rivers Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Signature Healthcare at Hillcrest, and the Hermitage Care and Rehabilitation Center – have been adopted by local churches, but each can also use more community involvement.
“The national statistic says that 60% of nursing home residents don’t have visitors,” she said, adding that the statistic was using pre-pandemic numbers. “We can do better.”
Carter said that before she began the ministry, she was “pretty oblivious” to what happens in nursing homes. She remembers caroling as a child, but that was it.
When her mother-in-law lived in a nursing home, she was shocked by the loneliness she witnessed among seniors there. After several visits, she saw just how big the need was to visit, connect with, and help those seniors.
Many residents are wards of the state, meaning they do not have much money left after Medicaid pays for their care. Many need haircuts, snacks, and hygiene products, among other things.
“We get requests for shoes, pajamas, clothing that no longer fits,” she said.
So, Faithful Friends adopted a motto – be a friend to one.
“That can be one resident, one unit, one facility,” Carter said.
The first time Carter’s church visited, they created a summer sunshine bag that was yellow and packed with special items. This past Christmas, they partnered with Home Instead, which gave Faithful Friends a larger reach.
“Christmas is a good time, but the rest of the year is important, too,” she said. “Just to remind them they aren’t forgotten, we try to do things year around.”
Adding that it doesn’t take much to engage with the residents, she told how taking packs of peanut butter and crackers or fresh cut flowers in plastic cups has brightened seniors’ days.
“Just that someone thought of them is all it takes,” she said.
Carter’s church group has made sure all of the residents receive birthday cards, and she said that birthdays are the perfect time to begin visiting because there is a focus for the conversation.
At their Christmas Sunday school service, her group brought egg nog and she said it was a special time for all.
“You don’t have to give a lot or give a lot of money,” she said. “Time is what they want.”
Carter said they also bless the staff with treats, cards and catered meals because the employess could work in other healthcare areas for more money.
“The work they do is unseen,” she said.
Local nursing homes are receptive to individuals coming and there are some conditions, so Carter suggests contacting the activities director at each home to ask what is needed and how to help.
Faithful Friends Kentucky has a website page and Facebook page where more information about the organization can be found, along with conversation starters, resources and activities.
“We really want to make it easy for people,” she said. “People are willing to step up when they know.”