By Mekdes Zewdie, JCCC Student and Honors & Community-Based Learning Work-Study Assistant
Pinnacle Ridge is a nursing and rehabilitation center that provides care for the elderly, people with injuries that seek daily medical attention, and those who might have difficulty with daily routines like getting up, getting dressed, or walking.
Volunteers are an integral part of bringing the feeling of home to the facility. As a volunteer at Pinnacle Ridge, I helped provide company for residents and assisted in card games, bingo nights, painting and drawing. I volunteered every Saturday in the mornings from the time the residents got up to lunch time, which are the times when most of the activities happen. Some of the residents couldn’t see or hear clearly, so I helped them with bingo and card games while another volunteer called off the numbers. After bingo and the card games, I painted their nails.
The residents were very sweet and appreciated my assistance. I enjoyed volunteering there. Once they got to know me they had so many interesting stories to tell and advice to share with me. The smiles I saw when they won a card game or bingo and how passionately they told their stories made my volunteer hours much more enjoyable.
If you’re interested and would like to volunteer at Pinnacle Ridge you can stop in at 400 S. Rogers Road | Olathe, KS 66062 and ask for the life enrichment director or call 913-782-3350.