What would volunteering at a nursing home give to a person?

Perspective.

BTW, there are people of all ages at nursing homes.

The last time we had to have a relative stay in a facility prior to her passing, I made certain to say Hi to as many of the patients as I could. I also wheeled a young fellow down to the soda machine & out for a cig break a few times.

There were many people starved for real attention. Validation is important. Dignity is desired. Socializing is a vital component of good mental health. Unfortunately, there is very little of these inside of most nursing facilities.

A staph infection?

sorry. Used to work at a nursing home, as a housekeeper. The place felt like a prison, and at least half the time there was some reason or another that I wasn’t allowed to clean a room for days at a time. Disgusting.

I did this back in my teens & it gives you a sense of humility.
It served as good experience as a few years later I worked with Alzheimers sufferers, tiring but rerwarding.

I think it’s more about what you can give to the residents.
Yes @SpatzieLover , attention, conversation, a little kindness and help and something to look forward to in such a controlled and confining environment. I used to take my dog with me when I visited my grandmother years ago and all the residents just loved having a pet around.
My new cat “Myles” would be a purr-fect service cat, he is mellow, gentle and a monster lap warmer.

I may look into doing some volunteering with him at some point.
I know for me in my advanced age someday I would be thrilled to have someone bring in their pet for a little visit, I can;t imagine not being able to have a pet anymore and that would make my day! :-)

It can give you an array of wonderful stories from the residents. It can also open the door for some new friendships. Wonderful life lessons live inside those doors, @Mandeblind. Do you volunteer at a nursing home?

A bad smell.

I woiuld hope it would give the volunteer a sense of gratitude for the lives people have lived, and for what these people still have to teach and be. But it could also easily give a young person a sense of disgust at what happens to people when they age. I think it would depend on the volunteer more than it depended on the residents of the home.

I volunteered in a nursing home for 3 years when I was 18 and I still remember the people I met and got to know there. Some of them became friends and gave me all the joys that good friendships give. I’ll remember them for the rest of my life.