Shirkey Hospice Volunteer Inspires Memory Care Activity Bags for Seniors

Sometimes, a meaningful idea starts with simply noticing a need.

For Shirkey Hospice volunteer Diana Smith, that moment came during a visit with patients in a memory care unit. Smith regularly volunteers her time visiting with hospice patients, offering companionship, conversation, and a friendly presence. One Saturday, while visiting two patients in a memory care setting, she noticed several residents sitting together with very little to do.

The moment stayed with her.

Many long-term care centers offer activities for residents, but memory care patients are not always able to take part in activities outside of their unit. For safety reasons, many must remain in a secure area, which can limit their access to group programs, outdoor time, or other forms of engagement.

Smith began thinking about simple, safe activities that could be brought directly to them.

“I was just thinking about fidget things,” Smith said. “A lot of those patients just sit in their chair, and I thought maybe they would enjoy having something to do.”

When she got home, Smith started looking online for activity items that could be appropriate for seniors living with memory loss. She found things like fidget items, reusable water-painting activities, and large puzzles. Her original plan was simple. She wanted to purchase a few items and take them back for the patients she visited.

But as she began pricing items, she realized the cost could add up quickly. That led her to reach out to Shirkey Hospice to see if there might be support available to help provide activity items.

That small question quickly turned into something much bigger.

Shirkey Hospice embraced the idea and helped turn it into a larger project, creating memory care activity bags filled with simple, safe items that can be used by seniors in memory care settings. The bags are designed to give residents something hands-on to enjoy, helping provide comfort, stimulation, and moments of connection.

Smith recently helped deliver the first bags to one of the centers where she volunteers. While the bags can be enjoyed by many residents, she said the idea was especially focused on those in memory care units who may not always be able to participate in regular activities.

For Smith, the project is about more than keeping someone busy. It is about dignity, joy, and making sure people feel seen.

Smith said many of the items need to be similar to what someone might choose for a young child, not because the residents are childlike, but because safety matters. Items should be easy to hold, simple to use, and free of small pieces that could pose a risk.

The project also shows the difference volunteers can make, not only through their time, but through the ideas they bring with them.

Smith said she was drawn to hospice volunteering after personal experiences with loss and after seeing Shirkey Hospice’s call for volunteers on Facebook. With some of her children grown and a little more time available, she decided to look into it.

What she found was more meaningful than she expected.

“If you are ever in a bad mood, go to the nursing home,” Smith said. “I always leave there feeling so much better. You are just the brightest thing in their day.”

She said the residents light up when someone comes to visit. They share compliments, stories, laughter, and simple moments that can make a lasting impact.

Smith said one of the patients she visited passed away after she had spent several months getting to know him. She stayed with him near the end because he did not have much family nearby. While the experience was difficult, she said she felt grateful to have been there.

“We had so many laughs and jokes over the last six months,” Smith said. “I felt so blessed.”

That is the heart of hospice volunteering. It is not always easy, but it can be deeply meaningful. Volunteers provide companionship, comfort, and presence during a time when those simple gifts matter most.

For Shirkey Hospice, Smith’s idea is a reminder that compassionate care can come in many forms. Sometimes it is a visit. Sometimes it is a conversation. Sometimes it is a bag filled with simple activities that help someone feel engaged, comforted, and remembered.

Smith said she hopes others will consider volunteering, even if they are unsure at first.

“Just go out and try it,” she said. “Walk through the hall. People just light up when they see you.”

What began as one volunteer’s thoughtful observation has now become a new way to support seniors in memory care. And for Smith, the experience has given back just as much as she has given.

“I’ve got more out of it than I even expected,” she said.