SEE HOW WE’RE PUTTING YOUR GIFTS INTO ACTION AT CHRISTWOOD

Anyone who has an idea about how to make Christwood a better place to live and work is invited to apply for our annual Inspire Grants. Ideas can come from residents, staff, or even family members. And you’ll see the results all across our campus. Here are just some of the many ways Inspire Grants have been used:

• Purchased a bladder scanner for the Health Center
• Purchased six LifeVac choking rescue devices
• Placed benches around the Christwood Mile
• Purchased AEDs (automated external defibrillators)
• Added lights in the resident dog park
• Purchased an EKG machine for Skilled Nursing
• Added hydroponic gardens for Longleaf and Assisted Living
• Purchased a grill for resident use
• Upgraded audio equipment for on campus shows
• Updated the accessibility ramp in our gazebo

Healing Notes is a one-of-a-kind, music therapy-informed program we offer to residents in Longleaf Cognitive Care in partnership with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). Music therapy has proved beneficial for people living with dementia. Approximately twice a month, a string quartet from the LPO and a specialized music therapist visit Longleaf to engage residents with music. The goals of the program include improving communication, memory and attention skills, and most of all, sparking joy. As an added bonus, the quartet plays two additional concerts for Christwood independent living residents each year.

In partnership with our on-site Lotus Spa, the Christwood Foundation sponsors hand massages for residents in Assisted Living, Longleaf, and Skilled Nursing. Hand massage provides significant therapeutic benefits including increased joint mobility, reduced arthritis pain, reduced swelling and tension, and improved blood circulation in stiff hands. It can also help lower anxiety, boost mood and reduce agitation, and promote better sleep.

The Healing Hands program at Christwood began in 2021, and receives rave reviews from residents, staff, and family members. According to the Longleaf activities director, “One day a resident was distressed and lethargic. After the hand massage, she was completely renewed in her attitude and emotions. It was amazing to witness!”

Training in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) equips individuals with the skills to provide life-saving care during a cardiac arrest or breathing emergency until professional help arrives. CPR training courses cover topics like recognizing emergencies, recognizing cardiac arrest, performing high-quality CPR, and using AEDs (automated external defibrillators). The Foundation makes this training available to all Christwood employees. In addition, the Foundation’s Inspire Grants funded the purchase of AEDs and LifeVac anti-choking devices to be used when assisting in an emergency.

Scholarships are provided to our hardworking staff members to help them make their dreams come true through higher education or vocational training. Christwood employees are eligible to apply for this benefit after one year of service. Scholarship recipients select an educational program that will be of use to them in a current or future role at Christwood, and continue their work in our community while in school.

Some of the degrees obtained by Christwood scholarship recipients have included Master of Gerontology, Bachelor of Healthcare Education, Registered Nurse (RN), HVAC certificate, Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), bachelor’s degree in communication sciences, and continuing education in social work.

The Virtual Dementia Tour gives participants the opportunity to experience a simulated version of some of the challenges faced by people living with a dementia diagnosis. The Christwood Foundation partnered with Second Wind Dreams to offer the VDT to Christwood employees, families and friends as well as community partners such as the local fire department, and managers from COAST (St. Tammany Council on Aging). Many who participated requested that the VDT training be made available to new staff as a best-practice learning opportunity for those caring for people with cognitive challenges.

The Lohman Fund honors Christwood’s first executive director. Established in 2015, the purpose of the fund is to benefit residents who, through no fault of their own, might experience financial difficulty and need assistance to continue living at Christwood. Applications for assistance from the Lohman Fund are confidential and approved by committee.

The Christwood Foundation’s Staff Emergency Assistance program helps dedicated employees experiencing a time of crisis. Staff with at least six months of service may apply to receive a grant from the Foundation when facing a financial hardship for which other financial aid is unavailable. Historically, this program has helped employees in times of uncertainty such as during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as after hurricanes. All applications are confidential and approved by committee.

The Christwood Foundation, along with the Christwood Human Resources staff, held our first annual School Supply Drive to collect school supplies in 2024. The price of supplies increases every year and can be a financial burden for many families. Thanks to this effort, employees can sign up their children to receive many of the supplies needed for the upcoming school year. In its first year, we were thrilled to give 94 fully stocked backpacks to children in 46 Christwood families.

Buddies for Life aims to foster a sense of community and togetherness. The program connects generations by bringing together Christwood residents with people from other local nonprofit organizations to engage in projects that benefit the greater community. Christwood residents join volunteers from St. Tammany Hospital Foundation and LOPA as well as residents of STARC for days filled with fun. Examples include planting a butterfly garden at LOPA, gardening community areas at STPH, painting classes, and a holiday party. Christwood residents have wonderful histories and skills to share with the larger community and Buddies for Life is an uplifting experience for all.