Traditions are an important part of making holidays special for residents at assisted living communities
We asked several of our family of Provision Living Senior Communities to share special memories of Christmas, past and present. These are their stories of giving, sharing, loving and making their homes at Provision Living merry and bright. We hope you enjoy reading them. May your hearts be Merry and your New Year, 2014 be bright!
Provision Living at Godfrey
Residents at Provision Living at Godfrey look forward to the annual visits from Santa each year. Santa comes to town and visits with the residents and their families. The residents get to tell him their Christmas wishes and have a photo made with him.
“It is a cherished moment when you see the residents get so excited to sit on Santa’s lap or next to him for a picture. It is the little memories that make us smile,” said Amanda Webb, activity director at Provision Living at Godfrey.
In addition, the staff enjoy donning Christmas hats as they stroll through the building singing Christmas carols. Their goal? To see how many smiles they can encourage on the faces of the residents.
GreenTree at Mount Vernon
Frances Stevens has lived at GreenTree in Mount Vernon Assisted Living Community for nearly ten years. She will turn 102 on her next birthday, February 12th. Because of her age, Frances doesn’t join in much at the community any more. Recently, a residential assistant at GreenTree was singing Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, and without prompting, Frances joined in. She began to sing and hum which warmed the hearts of those nearby.
“It was the sweetest thing ever. We can’t really get her to join in with anything anymore, especially because of her age. So, this was a real nice surprise to everyone,” said Kim Farris, activity director at GreenTree at Mount Vernon.
GreenTree at West Lafayette
All three floors of Green Tree and all of the fireplace mantels at West Lafayette were decked with Christmas decorations for the holiday season, reminiscent of the residents own homes before coming to Green Tree. One of the most special decorations they enjoyed were the ones they helped to make. Kane made popcorn and provided cranberries. The residents strung them together and made old fashioned garland for the main tree in the community living room for all to enjoy. The tree looked so nice that one resident’s wish was to leave the tree up year round.
“I love to decorate GreenTree for the Holidays for the residents. I try to do the decorating that they would do in their homes before they came to live at GreenTree.,” said Donna Kane, activity director for Green Tree at West Lafayette Assisted Living Community.
Windsor Manor in Vinton
Windsor Manor in Vinton was lively, as they celebrated Christmas with over 50 guests at two separate mealtimes. The residents chose the menu, making it more like their own holiday meal they planned before coming to Windsor Manor. Spirits were high as friends and families gathered throughout the community to celebrate.
Christmas morning, residents awoke to a special surprise.
“Every resident was given a gift from a secret Santa on Christmas morning,” said Bethany Clemenson, executive director at Windsor Manor in Vinton.
Provision Living in St. Louis Hills
Every year, residents at Provision Living in St. Louis Hills look forward to the volunteer efforts and Christmas carols from area children from several local schools and scout troops.
“It’s so fun to watch the excitement of our residents faces as the children line up and sing. It’s even more fun to watch the children’s faces when our residents start to sing along with them,” said Ann James, activity director at Provision Living at St. Louis Hills.
Amber Ridge Assisted Living in Moline
Volunteers are always appreciated no matter what time of year. One special volunteer makes the residents at Amber Ridge Assisted Living in Moline feel very special.
Allen Foslien, grandson of former resident Bonnie Kruse, is dedicated to his job as Santa Claus. Kruse moved in at the opening of Amber Ridge five years ago and was a resident until she passed. Foslien’s dedication to his role as Santa for the community has become more evident since the passing of his grandmother in the spring of 2012.
“He continues to be our Santa Claus even though his grandmother is gone now. He gets pretty hot under his beautiful suit, but he is so patient with our residents taking time to talk to each one of them as he passes out the gifts,” said Jane Massey, LPN, executive director at Amber Ridge Assisted Living in Moline. “He is a special young man and he makes a great Santa,” she added.
Allen, in his late 20’s, is a paramedic by trade. He is recovering from an injury he sustained on the job, but he still managed to find the fortitude to volunteer as Santa Claus.
GreenTree at Post Road
When Kathy Hoppes, dining director at GreenTree at Post Road, discovered that holiday decorations from last year at a local JC Penny’s store were slated for the garbage, she reached out to see if they would donate the discarded decor to the assisted living community. The community’s holiday decor was in need of an update.
Hoppes worked closely with the daughter of resident, Alene Booth, who is an employee at JC Penny’s. Because of the generosity of one local JC Penny’s Department Store and the hard work of the two women, GreenTree at Post Road was decorated beautifully for the holidays.
“We took our bus and she loaded it down for us with beautiful wreaths and decor from a year ago,” said Judy Gove, executive director at GreenTree at Post Road.
The residents have enjoyed the “new” Christmas decorations and how beautiful the community looked decked in holiday cheer.