Memory care at local nursing home brings back memories for resident

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Residents at Chisholm Place do projects to help rediscover who they were and renew their sense of purpose.

“We listen to what they used to enjoy and the hobbies that they used to have and try and pull those in to what we’re doing today,” life engagement director Erin Cernik said. “I think any chance to reconnect with their past is a great opportunity for them.”

Dan Bliss, 70, is a resident. He has worked with his hands for as long as he can remember.

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“I worked for NASA on the space shuttle, the SRB solid rocket booster for the space shuttle, took us to the moon, had a big role in that, and that was fun,” Bliss said.

Then, he moved to aircraft, working at Boeing. Back in high school, he took a wood shop and fell in love with woodworking.

“I’ve done lathe work, I’ve built all kinds of things – bird houses, I make things for my grandchildren, anything I can think of that is kind of fun,” Bliss said. “Got a house, gutted it just for fun because I was bored. Tore everything out, stripped it down to the studs and rebuilt it, put it back together and sold it.”

Dan has always liked to keep busy.

“Anything I can do with little tools and things I have in my room, and they’re really good about letting me bring some tools in I can play with,” Bliss said. “That keeps me happy.”

Bliss says he struggles with memory, but he says working on his small projects jogs his memory.

“Feels good,” Bliss said. “Makes me feel … not broken.”

He says it also keeps his mind sharp.

“I like that it keeps me thinking,” Bliss said. “Cause whenever you do something, you got to figure out. ‘What do I need to buy? This and this. I need some adhesives, clamps,'” Bliss said.

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Bliss says when memories come back, it feels like winning a race.

“I know they’re not gonna stay long; a week later, I’ll be struggling trying to remember,” Bliss said. “But if I see the box that I did, I remember. So, having some of the things I’ve done, I usually give them away, but I’ll usually keep one so I can look back and say, ‘Oh yeah.'”

Each project he does now reminds him of the memories he’s made throughout his life.

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