Many of you know me as the Activity Director from Sugar Land Oaks Assisted Living Facility. During my experience there I learned that working with seniors was for me. I was blessed, finally realizing, what I wanted to do with my life. I loved interacting with the residents and was good at it, even great at it! I learned about the physical and mental abilities of the residents when it comes to recreation. These were things that my degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences from Texas A&M University couldn't teach me. I also received "Join the Journey" training which taught me how to redirect Alzheimer's and Dementia seniors. I drove the residents of every ability level all over Houston both for transportation and recreation. Most importantly, as the Activity Director of Sugar Land Oaks, I learned that recreation is about building relationships - the activities are about socializing and being a "member" of a group. In his book, Inclusive Leisure Services - Responding to the Rights of People with Disabilities, Dr. John Dattilo reinforces the exact idea Sunny Day Tours is founded on... recreation breeds new understanding for others, encourages friendships through shared experiences, and allows people to find their place while mastering their own environment.
When activity planning I strived to make the residents happy. After about three months I realized many residents loved just getting out. At first, I would ask the residents if they would like to ride while I drove another resident to a doctor's appointment, and they returned refreshed. They loved to ride - it broke up the monotony of the day, and gave them something to look forward to. They loved the sights, the music, the talking, the jokes, the trees, the children leaving school, and the adventure of it all. This is where the idea of Mystery Trips and The Joy Ride started.
Mystery Trips soon became the most popular of all my events. We had more residents taking Joy Rides than playing Bingo! It truly became theraputic for many residents who hadn't left the building in months. Upon our return, passengers would get off the bus delighted and thankful, some saying that truly was a "Joy Ride".
From my experience, the trips work because nobody knows where they are going which reduces mental stress on the passengers. They are not worried and worked-up because they can't remember where they are headed or what they will need to bring. Secondly, the trip is stress free because the trip itself is the destination, and unlike most tours/trips offered to seniors, we just load and unload once. Finally, they love being treated like royalty, the stories, the scenery, the adventures, and building personal relationships with me.
I am a strong believer in the miracles of recreation and have witnessed first hand the benefits, and that is why my wife and I decided to start Sunny Day Tours. We know our company is like no other, and we are proud to present these specialized services to the mothers, fathers, grandparents, and founders of our community.
Sincerely,
John S. Bickham
Owner/Activity Director
Sunny Day Tours
