May 19, 2005

YSHS and McKinney School Principal John Gudgel talking with sophomore Keith Brewton. Gudgel spends much of his time listening to students, which helps him relate well to the kids in his school.

Weeklong road trip at Friends Care

By Diane Chiddister

Many lessons could be learned last week at Friends Care Community: that adventure is a state of mind; that funny hats, good food and music bring happiness; and that a creative and goofy staff with an abundance of love can transform a nursing home into a prized destination.

The event was “A ’50s Road Trip across the U.S.A.,” held at Friends Care from May 9 to May 13, in celebration of National Nursing Home Week.

“Most places have a balloon launch and an ice cream social and call it a week,” said Friends Care Administrator Jeff Singleton. “But that’s not us. We make it a big deal.”

FCC resident Ellie Dale laughing with Rachel McNutt, a Head Start student at Friends Care, during Texas Day, which was part of Friends Care’s ’50s Road Trip last week.

Calling last week’s activities a big deal seemed an understatement. Beginning on Monday and lasting through Friday, the nursing home and Friends Care Assisted Living Center staff transformed ordinary hallways and rooms into Coney Island, New Orleans, Nashville, Las Vegas and Hollywood. The event culminated months of planning and work, and decorations, regional food and music made each destination come alive. But most of all, what made each stop on the road trip special were the people, young and old, who seemed to be having a really good time.

“People who don’t laugh a lot laugh at these events. The value is how they bring joy,” FCC Nursing Director Dee Kennedy said Thursday morning as she sat in the nursing home’s south wing, which had been transformed into a Texan saloon. Wearing a cowgirl outfit, Kennedy visited with Friends Care resident Jim Parker, as a wandering musician played the ukulele.

Down the hall, FCC resident Ed Hamilton was in his room getting ready. His daughter Lisa, who lives in Fairborn, plopped a cowboy hat on his head and tied a bandana around his neck.

Which part did he most enjoy?

“Everything,” Hamilton said with a Texas-size smile. “I feel kind of foolish but — it’s something different.”

This year’s weeklong trip was Hamilton’s first, since he moved into Friends Care last summer. Two years ago, FCC launched its first trip, a cruise, and last year the residents traveled on a virtual Orient Express. Hamilton’s daughter said the road trip week was icing on the cake for her father, who is pleased to be living at FCC.

“I don’t think we could have picked a better place for him,” Lisa Hamilton said. “From Jeff Singleton down to the housekeepers, they really try to make it nice for the residents.”

Ed Hamilton was game for adventure as his daughter wheeled him down to the Texas saloon. In the hallway, in which cardboard cacti bloomed, an aide leaned over a woman in a wheelchair, who also wore a hat and bandana.

“There’s only one word you need to remember,” the aide said. “It’s yee-haw.”

In the saloon, residents in wheelchairs wore their best cowboy attire as they nibbled on nachos, quesadillas and mini-burritos. Country music wafted from speakers as activities staff members served near beer and cactus juice. While the residents were clearly having a good time, nobody seemed to be enjoying things more than the staff members.

“Just seeing the residents’ faces like this makes it worth it,” said Activities Assistant Kathy Murray. “Everyone loves a party.”

Presiding over the festivities was Singleton, who made a grand entrance as he strode through the hall in his sheriff’s outfit. In his 10-gallon hat, he twirled his toy gun as he made mock arrests and kidded with staff and residents.

“He’s our clown,” Murray said of Singleton. “He loves dressing up.”

To Singleton, dressing up and being silly was part of a larger plan.

“Some folks here can’t get out, so we try to re-create other places,” he said. “These folks live here. Anything we can do to bring them pleasure, that’s our goal.”

While Thursday morning’s activities seemed a big hit, they weren’t as grand as Monday’s, according to Kennedy. On the road trip’s first day, beautiful spring weather allowed the festivities to be held outside, where a barbershop quartet sang, a calliope played and staff members plunged into a dunking booth. The residents especially enjoyed taking rides in the horse-drawn carriage, Kennedy said.

“They had a ball, clump clump clumping down the road,” she said.

Later in the week, New Orleans came alive with a jazz band on the center’s patio, with French pastries served as refreshments. And in Nashville, Grand Ole Oprey stars Patsy Cline and Minnie Pearl entertained in the center’s north hall, transformed into a barn where residents ate cornbread, fried chicken and cheese grits.

On Thursday afternoon, the menu featured popcorn and root beer as residents watched old movies and posed with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne and Sandra Dee. The Marx Brothers graced the event with their goofy humor, with Groucho bearing a close resemblance to Singleton.

On Thursday Friends Care resident Ellie Dale acknowledged that she could use a nap, but she couldn’t quite tear herself away from the excitement.

“I’ve been to five places already this week,” she said. “I’ve done it all.”