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Staff at Jamestown nursing homes spread Christmas cheer to residents

The Jamestown Sun - 12/26/2021

Dec. 25—The staff of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in Jamestown help spread Christmas cheer to their residents by planning activities around the holiday to make them feel like they are at home.

"We try to make this like home all the time as much as we can," said Greg Stomp, interim executive director at Eventide Jamestown. "That's what they would be doing at home."

Jordan Shipley, owner and administrator of Rock of Ages and Roseadele, said everyone has fond memories of Christmas, so his employees want to present the holiday season to residents as warm memories of their past when they spent the holiday with family and friends. He said his staff also wants the residents to know that people are still looking out and caring for them even if they cannot be with family.

The Christmas season is a festive, joyful time of the year at SMP HealthAve Maria and the Heritage Centre Assisted Living, said Tonie Stoen, CEO of SMP HealthAve Maria, in an email. She said staff realize that the Christmas season can also bring mixed emotions for individuals.

"Therefore, we do our best to plan holiday activities and to offer church services because it is important for these individuals to feel special and supported throughout the holidays and to remember the reason for the season," she said.

Activity staff at SMP HealthAve Maria and the Heritage Centre planned many different events for tenants and residents throughout December to help make the Christmas season more special, Stoen said. SMP HealthAve Maria residents recently had their annual Christmas party that included a gift for each resident, a Christmas sing-along and a visit from Santa Claus and one of his elves.

She said tenants at the Heritage Centre enjoyed an annual holiday banquet supper that included piano music, a vocalist singing Christmas songs and door prizes.

" The tenants loved it," she said. "This annual event is a highlight at the Heritage Centre."

She also said tenants at the Heritage Centre painted snowmen during an art class.

Shipley said Roseadele and Rock of Ages staff put on a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for their residents. He said prior to the COVID pandemic, a dozen different families attended the dinner at each facility.

"It's for the residents and families in normal years are invited," he said. "During COVID it's a little different. ... Normally we have caroling. This year it's been a little different."

Shipley said church services are provided at Roseadele and Rock of Ages facilities. On Christmas Eve, staff purchase gifts for all residents who are then brought to the activity room to open their gifts.

"Nobody goes without a gift," he said. " ... The staff actually really enjoy buying gifts for the residents. It is something they came up with on their own as far as making sure that every resident has a gift for Christmas."

Shipley added that the staff members know what the residents like and need because they spend the majority of their time with the residents.

"It's nice to get them something personal for that resident that they know they enjoy and like instead of just a card ... ," he said. "They put a lot of thought into making sure the present is for that resident."

Stomp said Eventide staff plan a couple of weekends full of activities for them. He said residents help put up decorations and bake cookies and gingerbread houses.

"They would be doing this with their own kids," he said.

He said staff makes sure that every resident gets Christmas gifts.

"They all get to open something at the same time," he said. "Just to kind of give them that sense and taste of home."

Stomp said events were planned for the Christmas and New Year's weekends at Eventide Jamestown to try to keep residents engaged in different activities especially if their families are unable to visit and spend time with them. He said families are always welcome to visit with their loved one.

Eventide staff have fun with the residents by making sure they get to participate with them on the planned activities.

"It's not just Christmas," he said. "We try to do that all the time."

Stoen said staff at SMP Health and the Heritage Centre care about the residents and tenants.

"When it comes to the experience of helping them celebrate holidays, we too feel a sense of joy and fulfillment to be able to provide this kind of service," she said.

Throughout December, SMP Health activity staff and its human resources committee planned different events each day for its staff called "The 25 days of Christmas," Stoen said.

"We have had Christmas sweater day, red and green day, candy cane treats, soup and chocolate covered pretzels," she said. "The idea is simply to bring a little more joy to everyone this time of year."

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