Providers went all out to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year, throwing everything from proms to beauty pageants to celebrate the occasion.
McKnight’s received a handful of accounts, relating how nursing homes across the nation commemorated Feb. 14. Here’s a quick rundown:
White table cloth comes to NH
St. Teresa Rehab and Nursing Center hosted a couples Valentine’s Day dinner to celebrate the holiday. The Manchester, NH, nursing home is blessed to have 10 couples at its residence, and wanted to do something special for them, says Administrator Luanne Rogers.
Recently, the facility served residents with a choice of salmon with rice and vegetables, or a heart-shaped pasta dish with chicken alfredo, and finished things off with a red velvet cupcake. Staffers also adorned the dining room with decorations and white tablecloth to make the gathering more festive.
A visit from Cupid’s Crew
Holden Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in Massachusetts, was visited on Valentine’s Day by students from two local schools.
Students from both Anna Maria and Becker colleges, who are part of nationwide initiative called “Cupid’s Crew” showed up to pass out donated roses and handmade valentine’s cards, made by kids at the nearby Dawson Elementary School.
The center also hosted a Valentine’s Day social with residents, according to its Facebook page.
Pulling the community together
Hamilton Memorial Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in McLeansboro, IL, hosted its fifth annual resident beauty pageant last week.
All told, 11 “lovely ladies” competed in the competition, with staff helping them to find the right formal gowns, jewelry and shoes. Community residents also pitched in, helping ladies with their makeup and hair, said Myra Darnell, social service director.
This year, Mildred Webb was picked as the queen. Darnell says the event always seems to pull the community together.
“It’s a lot of work making sure that this even goes off seamlessly but it’s all worth it and has quickly become one of our favorite days here,” she told McKnight’s. “Seeing the smiles on our resident and family faces makes it all worthwhile and is a perfect reminder as to why we have chosen to be a part of their lives.”
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In other Valentine’s Day related news, the Life Care Center at Wells Crossing in Orange Park, FL, hosted its annual prom for residents, Clay Today reported. Enterprise Health and Rehabilitation this month hosted local kindergarteners, who sang songs and handed out Valentine’s cards as part of an annual community service project, according to the Southeast Sun.
