Whether you’re planning a short-term rehabilitation stay or need long-term care for your loved one, we work with you to choose activities that fit your interests and abilities.Sometimes people fear that their life stops being fulfilling and meaningful when they need to enter a nursing home. It might be comforting to know that our activities are geared toward the things our residents like to do…and things that keep them connected to the community. We work hard to make this a special place for all of our residents and families, whether you’re here temporarily during your rehabilitation or planning to stay for a while.

When you visit, you will see that our residents are busy doing things they have enjoying for years…gardening, working on a project, eating their favorite foods, or playing a game of pinochle or euchre. Many times, simply doing these favorite things can be therapeutic – mentally and physically.

Here are some of our residents’ favorite things to do:

A new addition to our activities department is the Wii video game system. We have organized games like bowling and baseball, and even exercise classes. Wii is fun for everyone – and is therapeutic at the same time!

If you’ve never heard of the Yale Bologna Festival (www.yalechamber.com/bologna/), you don’t know what you’ve been missing. The festival is complete with outhouse races, street dances, and of course, a Bologna King and Queen. It’s a party that only a small town could dream up.

Each year our staff creates a float to represent our facility and residents. Staff members hand out candy, pens, and other items to the thousands of people who attend, helping to spread the word about MediLodge of Yale.

Each year, we host a fundraising event in support of our local library. Residents help create baked goods, crafts, and sell “white elephant” gifts to community members who visit throughout the day. It’s an opportunity for our residents to “give back” to the library and a chance for local people to visit with our residents, who are always glad to see their friends and neighbors. All proceeds are donated to the Yale Library Fund and enable the library to continue offering community events and purchase needed books and equipment.

John Murray is one of our residents’ favorite volunteers. Everyone (staff, families, and visitors included) looks forward to our monthly birthday bashes. John plays guitar and sings old-time favorites—as well as some new country/western songs.

Don’t be surprised if you see our residents out on the dance floor—even those in wheelchairs! Nothing stops us from making sure everyone has a great time!

Each month the Dollar Tree from Fort Gratiot Township (near Port Huron) sets up their store in our “Glass Inn.” They have such a great assortment of items that it never ceases to amaze us! This is another thing that we do for our residents to help them maintain their independence and interests. Residents can buy items for themselves, their grandchildren, and/or other family members and the best thing is that everything is only $1.00!  As our residents say, one of the best things about it is you don’t even have to leave home to go shopping!

Shopping is always a fun outing—at least for our ladies—and everyone enjoys a change of scenery once in a while. We make regular visits to Birchwood Mall in Port Huron to shop, have lunch, watch children play, and visit while shopping at stores like Younkers and Macy’s.

Sometimes life's simple activities like folding towels, baking muffins, getting the mail, or growing a garden can make a person feel like themselves again. Here, we encourage residents to participate in the routines of daily life that help make our facility feel more like home.