Witherell Celebrates National Nursing Home Week with Psychedelic 60s Theme
Peace, love, and flower power were in the air as The Nathaniel Witherell kicked off National Nursing Home Week (May 10-16) with a fabulous “Spring into Summer” party, attended by more than 300 residents, families, and friends. The party was followed by a weeklong series of performances and activities that featured a “Psychedelic 60s” theme. Throughout the week, members of the Witherell recreation staff wore tie-dye t-shirts, bell bottoms, headbands, and fringed vests, and the walls of the auditorium and adjacent solarium were covered with bright swirls of color and peace signs.
“National Nursing Home Week is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the wonderful care provided at nursing homes and to thank all of our staff members who make caring for our residents their life’s work all year long,” says Mary Bruce, Witherell’s Therapeutic Recreation Director. “It’s also a great time for families and close friends to reach out to and visit their loved ones in a skilled nursing facility.”
Bruce organized a full week of exciting events, which began this past Monday with the Sedgewick Singers belting out tunes by such 60s musical icons as Otis Redding, Diana Ross, and the Monkeys. Tuesday, residents and staff got their groove on with Irwin Finger on the electric guitar, followed by a lecture on 60s pop art by Darby Cartun of WGCH radio in Greenwich. On Wednesday, 60s bingo featured such retro treats as Hostess HoHos and Twinkies, and the “flower power” prizes were long stem chocolate roses from Witherell’s gift shop. Thursday’s performance featured Larry Ayce, who performed some favorite old-time country western songs by the likes of Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, and Conway Twitty. And on Friday, the week of performances concluded with Milo Fuscaldo’s Mighty Joe rock band, who got everyone dancing to their rock ‘n’ roll favorites from the 60s, from the Rolling Stones to Joe Cocker.
Below are some wonderful photos depicting highlights from the Mighty Joe rock band performance:
Resident Mary Wlass dances with Gail Carone, a Witherell recreation therapist.
Resident Joseph Freda dances with Tina Rae Dean from Nursing Administration.
Resident Eleanor Stoich enjoys her ice cream bar.
Lynn Mason, a Witherell music therapist, dances with resident “Cookie” Mariel.
Gail Carone, a Witherell recreation therapist, dances with resident Violet Mould.
Resident “Skip” Chard dances with Sandy Heath, a recreation aide at Witherell.
The four talented members of the Mighty Joe rock band.
