An Elm Creek teenager helps increase the quality of life in Alzheimer's patients, if only for a moment.
Elm Creek sophomore Justine Bauer has been busy, handing out "fidget quilts" to 24 residents in the Alzheimer's Care wing at Prairie View Gardens in Kearney.
The handmade quilts are part of an FCCLA project, but she's reaching beyond that; wanting to be someone who brings joy to the ward and help those who can't do much for themselves.
"They're people too, they're still in there, they're still wanting to be heard, wanting to communicate, and it's just an amazing thing to see just a smile on their face," said Prairie View Garden's Jessica Dierfeldt. "If she can make a difference in just one person's -- just one person's life with that quilt -- then that's amazing."
"I know that they might not remember them, who made them by tomorrow, but to know that today they were so excited and they'll be so excited forever," said quilt maker Justine Bauer. "To have something that they can use and will help them just to keep their minds active, so it's just not sitting around."
Justine plans to keep this project going, working on eight more quilts for Alzheimer's patients at Holdrege Christian Homes.
REPORTER'S NOTES: If you would like to help in Justine's efforts, call Elm Creek High School at 308-856-4300.
