Area nursing homes hold festivities for National Nursing Home Week

Nursing homes are sometimes seen as a depressing place, where senior citizens unable to take care of themselves live out the remaining years of their life in an almost hospital-like setting. However, there are times when nursing home facilities do their best to find exciting ways to brighten up the lives of the residents.

Begun in 1967, National Nursing Home Week was established by the American Health Care Association to recognize the important role these facilities play in the lives of America's elderly. Nursing homes throughout Alexander City are not only celebrating their residents and staff during this week, but are doing so with plenty of fun activities for the seniors to take part in.

"Our big things this week are having Aubie come out and spend time with the residents tomorrow [Thursday] and the barbecue cookout on Friday," said Adams Nursing Home Activity Director Linda Young. "Today [Wednesday] was a great time, as some of our residents dressed up like singers. We had The Temptations, Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and others."

"We started the week with USA Day and a military meet and greet," said Cecily Lee, the administrator of Brown Nursing Home. "Tuesday was Luau Day, and Elvis came and performed for the residents. We'll have a nursing home pageant on Thursday, and for Team Day on Friday, all our residents will get to wear their favorite team gear and eat hot dogs and nachos while watching the staff have a wiffle ball game in the yard."

"Our big event for this week will be having Kona Ice here this afternoon," Chapman Admissions Coordinator April Turner said on Wednesday morning.

Young, Lee and Turner all agreed that this week was a special time for the residents and staff at their respective facilities, a chance to break from the norm and partake in exciting events to celebrate themselves and those around them.

"It means a lot to them and makes them feel appreciated," Turner said. "It means a lot to us too, giving us the chance to spend quality time with the residents."

"The staff feels it's a great time to show the residents they care. They are working, but get to have a little fun doing so," Young said.

"We look forward to this week every year and getting to be creative with it," Lee said. "We work hard to create a pleasant and fun environment. Our residents get very excited and we get a lot of positive feedback."

Whether it's a visit from Elvis, a pageant for the residents or a free snow cone, the various events at these facilities to celebrate National Nursing Home Week all have the same goal in mind: giving the residents and staff a chance to change up their routine just a bit and enjoy activities meant not only to entertain them, but also show them how appreciated and valued they are.