Growing old along with me, part II. Last month we talked about a special wedding at a nursing home in our state. Here is the happy couple and the happy family. The staff enjoyed the “life moment.” Doesn’t everyone!
Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Gloria Latta were married Nov. 17, 2011, at St. Andrews Place.
Pictured are: (front row seated) Gloria and Gerald Latta; (back row) Kristen Hawes, social director/maid of honor; bridesmaids Shameka Griffin, CNA, Laquisa Anderson, CNA, and Shantel Hendrix, CNA: and Jay Green, administrator/best man/wedding planner.
We don’t lose the ability to form new bonds just because we are entering a new stage in life. A social event may seem odd to some, but it is an important aspect of the promotion of healthy aging. As many people get older, they like to think back to happier times, but why not also experience them again? Not just weddings, but senior (citizen) proms are becoming increasingly common in the community. One of our homes in Arkansas, as part of a bucket list request, rented a limousine, dress and tuxedo for a resident who had missed her high school prom due to a misfortune in her life. She attended a local prom with a date, and support from the local high school helped to create this life moment for the resident. Making new memories should be the goal of residents, staff and the families of the residents. With mindset changes and culture change in place, “something else happens” much more easily and often.
