Faithful Friends KY

08/27/2026

This is a great reminder for those of us who serve in nursing homes (with one caveat about smiling). Sometimes when I'm leading our little church group, I feel myself getting discouraged because it looks like some of the residents are not enjoying it. And I have to remind myself that often they are very much engaged even if their face doesn't show it. It's called having a "flat affect," and it's common in people with dementia, depression, neurological disorders, and people taking certain kinds of medications. Their faces do not display what's really going on inside their minds and hearts.

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🧠 ENGAGEMENT DOESN’T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE “JOINING IN.”

Sometimes we can be so focused on whether someone is actively taking part that we miss the quieter signs of engagement.

A resident may still be involved if they’re:

👀 watching
👂 listening
🙂 smiling
🎵 tapping or moving along
🪑 choosing to stay nearby
🤲 touching or exploring an object
💬 making the occasional comment

Not every resident will want to sing loudly, answer every question or complete the activity from start to finish.

And that’s okay.

Sometimes quiet participation is still meaningful participation ❤️

It can be worth noticing the little signs before assuming somebody isn’t interested.

What subtle signs of engagement do you notice most often?

08/24/2026

This week's Do ONE Thing: purchase a mum and support nursing home residents. Our fall fundraiser is here! Pre-order a mum for $10. Local pickup in the parking lot of Pleasant Valley Community Church on Saturday, Sept. 19th, 9am-12pm. https://ffky.org/mums-with-a-mission-fundraiser/

08/12/2026

Several nursing home residents could use a simple wall clock. It doesn't need to be new—just working.

08/11/2026

08/10/2026

Last week, at the end our church time together, one of our nursing home resident friends said, "So should we be reading the Bible every day?" I was careful with my answer. Normally, I'd say, with enthusiasm, "Yes!" But I know that's nearly impossible for residents in nursing homes. Most of them no longer own a Bible, and if they do, they cannot see well enough to read it. (Even "large print" Bibles are not very large print.) I suggested they keep the scripture handouts I give them on Sundays and read those throughout the week. And then I mentioned audio Bibles. Several of them perked up. "I'd like one of those!" I've tried various options for this in the past, none of which have been super successful. I did find Talking Bibles International. These are definitely not something we budgeted for, so if you'd like to help, please visit our website and donate so we can buy them for residents. If you have questions or suggestions, drop them in the comments section.

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08/07/2026

Check out this recap of VBS 2026! Thank you to everyone who helped!

08/05/2026

Hey, friends! I'm looking for a church group to serve a nursing home in Henderson, Kentucky whose residents want to have church services. It wouldn't have to be every week. And it doesn't have to be Sunday, either. Please message me if your church would be interested. I've got tons of ideas and resources to help you get started.

08/05/2026

No, it's not Monday, but I've missed a couple of weeks so I decided to post today! After all, kindness can start right where you are no matter what day it is.

So for this week's Do ONE Thing: If you’re buying popsicles for your family, pick up an extra box or two. Drop them off at the nearest nursing home on your drive home. Popsicles in the summer—always a good idea!

08/03/2026

The latest from our FFKY blog.

Sometimes looking through old photo albums makes people cry. Today, looking through old files on my computer made me cry.  In 2020, when the entire world closed and everyone was shut away inside their homes, I was desperate to find a way to connect with the nursing home residents in my mother-in-la...

07/23/2026

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