Christmas spirit: Area nursing homes celebrate the holidays
The spirit of Christmas is everywhere, including at area nursing homes. Community members are sharing the joy of the season in some very special ways.
Elizabeth — Adopt a Resident
The adopt-a-resident program was new for the Elizabeth Nursing Home. Administrator Karen Heidenreich said she was approached by Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce members. They were looking for a way to involve the nursing home in the chamber’s annual Christmas Walk.
“That same day, the Galena Banking Center said, ‘we are having a gift-wrapping contest (during the Christmas walk) and how about having your residents come down and you can judge the gift wrapping,’” Heidenreich said.
She said chamber members came up with the idea of an angel tree and having individuals adopt a resident for the holidays. A special tree was set up in the nursing home lobby. Stockings were hung on the tree. The name of the resident was not on the stocking, but there was a list of things that they might like or need.