A colorful sign at the entrance directed guests to the dining room, which was decorated to look like the colorful inside of a carnival tent. With colored tent panels and hanging banners, the friendly carnival staff engaged visitors in their daily booths. Among the games were darts, spin-the-wheel, a photo booth, pick-up ducks, milk can toss, and disk drop.

Monday featured a magic show – a local artist made coins disappear and moved a playing card from the deck into a wooden box.

But the fun didn’t stop there. Miranda Hajny, director of recreation, and her associates (Kim Dixon, Angela Bunch and Vivian Walker) worked tirelessly throughout the week to ensure patients, their family members and associates had a great time.

Daily sweet treats included cotton candy, root beer floats, homemade funnel cakes, watermelon and ice cream.

The maintenance team prepared a facility-wide cookout on Thursday, including hamburgers, hot dogs and banana pudding.

The grand finale on Friday included a family fun day for patients, associates and family members of each, as well as about 100 first graders from Martin Elementary School. The fun included an inflatable obstacle course and a petting zoo complete with miniature pigs, a ball python, a porcupine, a camel, llamas, a McCaw parrot, a tortoise, ducks, a ferret, a rabbit, a donkey and a miniature cow. Carnival games appealed to all ages as they enjoyed fresh popcorn and snow cones.

Family member Connie Turner shared, “The petting zoo was awesome, and the patients really enjoyed it.”

“I had a great day,” said resident Sherry Vincil, “and I was able to hold a rabbit.”

A boy from the elementary school made Vincil smile when he gave her his balloon. She still had a balloon in her room on Monday.

The National Nursing Home Week theme for 2013 was Team Care: Everyone Pitches In.

“Last week was a perfect example of how much this team cares about its patients, families, associates and community as a whole,” said Ellen Metcalf, executive director. “Every department pitches in every day to make this a fun place to work, visit, live and heal.”

The organization presented the award during its national conference, held in Las Vegas, on April 26, 2013.

Facility associates brought Carter to the event while keeping the real reason under wraps.

“I felt proud and happy,” said Carter. “It’s like a friendly pat on the back.”

Carter has been volunteering at the facility since 2010. Her husband is a resident, and in her visits to see him, she discovered a way she could make a difference for other residents and their families. She began volunteering two days a week, which has now extended to four days a week, three hours each time.

Residents rely on her management of the facility’s gift shop, whether she is working the cash register, stocking the shelves or making popcorn and cookies. But most of all they look forward to her companionship.

“All of us residents practically break down the door to get some popcorn and delicious cookies,” said resident Debbie Haney. “She has an affable manner that instantly puts the residents at ease, like talking to an old friend.”

Carter’s volunteerism goes way beyond the gift shop, however. She visits one-on-one with residents of all functional abilities, from the mostly independent to the ones who cannot speak back to her. She decorates for holidays with a personal touch, assists the activity department with tasks from taking staples out of pictures to leading trivia sessions.

“She gets to know our residents as individuals, asking questions appropriately so she can better assist where she is able,” said Jan Swallow, activity director and volunteer coordinator. “She will laugh, smile and hold hands in her efforts of motivating and encouraging all. She takes on a role of volunteer leadership without even realizing she is doing so.”

Carter’s enthusiasm for helping at Life Care Center of Las Vegas has caught on with her family members. Her son, granddaughter, sister and brother-in-law all volunteer as well. The four of them contribute an additional 24 hours of volunteer work at the facility each week, and they cover for each other when someone cannot make it in as planned.

The holiday season might just bring out the best, though. Carter’s family has “adopted” a resident at the facility. For the past two years, Carter has opened her home to the resident for Christmas. And all residents benefit from her generosity in taking more than 150 holiday packages home to gift wrap before delivering the Christmas presents to each resident’s room.

“Knowing that today I made someone’s life a little easier or a little nicer, putting a smile on a resident’s face, makes me smile too,” said Carter.

“The room was silent as we sat and watched the lives of many changed forever,” said Jami Cobley, receptionist.

True to the American spirit, associates got together to show solidarity for those who were injured and to the family and friends who lost their loved ones. They made race numbers for staff members and residents. On April 16, they wore the tags.

“Letting the residents show their support was a nice way to help them feel involved,” said Cobley.

Hodgkins was participating in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Lock-Up event, which raises money for research and treatment for this family of neuromuscular diseases that affect motion. A police officer arrived at the facility to pick her up and take her to the designated “jail” – Outback Steakhouse.

“At first it was a little intimidating getting picked up in a police car,” said Hodgkins, “but once I got there with all of the other volunteers, everyone was extremely encouraging.”

Associates, friends and members of local businesses that work with the facility called to donate money to the charity, “bailing” Hodgkins out. By the end of the event, she had raised $531 and was free to go.

“We chose this cause because the proceeds benefit those within our own community,” said Hodgkins. “It felt great to be able to make a difference for those affected by this condition.”

This same excitement filled Life Care Center of Banner Elk, N.C., as residents participated in the facility’s own Kentucky Derby themed activities.

On May 4, 2013, just in time for the 139th Annual Kentucky Derby, residents colored their own horses and advanced them along a track by rolling dice. Resident spectators, wearing their finest hats, watched the race and cheered on their favorites while enjoying cupcakes and punch.

Executive Director Sally Skaggs awarded cash prizes to winners. In first place was Ardric Gaddy, with her horse Black Onyx. In second place was Wilfred Bridges, with his horse Will Take Charge. The final cash prize went to Jane Isenhour, in third place with her horse Orb.

“I enjoyed racing those little horses, and I came out number one,” said Gaddy.

By Karin Kyte, Admissions and Marketing Director

Early morning hours led me to the dining hall at University Park Care Center in Pueblo, Colo., where I served the residents breakfast and visited with them.

The care and compassion given to them by our associates was inspirational to see. One of our residents, Mary, wore a soft crocheted hat that resembled a bear. I commented to a certified nursing assistant that I had frequently seen hats adorning this woman, and she always looked adorable.

The CNA replied, “Oh, Crystal makes all those hats for her.”

Then I discovered that Crystal Davie, one of our registered nurses, had made all sorts of hats for many of the residents and associates at University Park.

I knew Crystal as the young nurse who walks up and down the halls with her braid bouncing back and forth, always wearing a big smile in her eyes. I have observed her on more than one occasion leaning her tall frame over a wheelchair to administer a big hug.

Crystal can also be seen squatting down to make eye contact with the residents, holding their hands and talking to them. She takes time to listen and to respond to each resident, no matter how busy she might be. She is much more than a registered nurse devoting the usual arduous hours of patient care and compassion at University Park, but I had no idea she was the talent behind all those fun hats and hairpieces found throughout the building.

Caring for our residents is her primary task, but Crystal finds time at home to design and crochet, and her hobby has become a small business for her.

It may have first been inspired by a set of crocheted cowboy boots her grandmother made for her as a baby. Crystal grew up on a farm in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. She remembers watching her Grandmother Bizelli crochet at home. Twenty-five years later, fixed on YouTube, she discovered the how-to of crocheting.

She does not know how to read a pattern (or “understand the recipe,” as she refers to it), but her designs include all sorts of animals, robots, cartoon characters and hat patterns. She loves it when someone brings her a picture of something new to try.

Crystal’s big brown eyes light up when she talks about all the residents, nurses, associates and their families for whom she has created designer hats in the past.

One of her favorite recipients is 92-year-old Mary.

“I have adopted her,” Crystal said as she tossed an entire drawer of hats out onto the bed to show to me. “Mary is always cold, and it is the least I can do for her.”

Other residents adorn themselves with flowered barrettes, brightly colored hats and oxygen ear pieces, which Crystal invented to keep the oxygen cannula from rubbing the skin on the back of their ears.

Crystal’s mother is also a nurse at a Life Care facility, and Crystal said she is her inspiration.

“If I can be half the nurse she is, I know I am doing OK,” she said.

Crystal sells her hats to associates for $25, and they put in their orders for birthdays and holidays. She admits that it takes from 4-6 hours to create one, sometimes all in one day. But she has given away a lot more than she has sold.

I think Crystal has given a whole lot more away than hats, though. She gives, each day, to the residents she cares for at University Park Care Center.

“Working here is like having hundreds of grandmas and grandpas – they are like family to me,” she said, with her big eyes smiling.

Associates chose the cherry tree because it offers the look of a weeping willow on a smaller scale, without invasive roots. The tree’s beautiful flowering properties are sure to brighten the gardens, and the spirits of all those who visit, every spring.

“Whenever there is a national holiday, we offer patients and residents an opportunity to participate and make their mark on the world in a beautiful way,” said Tami Adams, executive director. “We couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy the sunshine and help Mother Earth in return.”

The dietary department prepared ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, cream-style corn, green beans, gravy and dressing and a variety of desserts. Local entertainer Tammy Marshall serenaded the group during the meal.

The highlight of the event, however, was the awards ceremony.

Jodi McCormick won one of the Volunteer of the Year awards for dressing up as a cowgirl from time to time and singing for the residents. For residents who cannot come to the dining room for her program, she visits them in their rooms.

“It is a great honor to be able to do this for the residents,” said McCormick.

The other Volunteers of the Year were Wayne and James Gibson, brothers who are both preachers and who officiate Sunday morning and evening services at the facility, and Louis Riley, who helps in the beauty shop two days a week.

The Youth Volunteer of the Year went to Gina Duignan, a student from Jefferson County High School.

At the end of the event, Marshall sang while volunteers and associates sang along with her and danced to the music.

The Valley West “Big Wheels” team of residents competed against residents from four local assisted living facilities.

“The event and the camaraderie involved has both an emotional and physical therapeutic value to those who participate,” said Star Brittenham, activity director. “Tom Blazer, one of our activity assistants, serves as team coach, encouraging the team with his enthusiasm, and this creates a special kind of team spirit.”

Other residents, as well as associates, helped serve as cheerleaders for the “Big Wheels.”

Trophies were handed out to the first, second, and third place teams, and although Valley West residents did not win a trophy, everyone who participated had a great time.

The local newspaper was there to take in all the action, which resulted in a two-page article in the weekend edition. Residents were thrilled with the article and now consider themselves celebrities.

“We think of them as celebrities, too,” said Michael Jacobs, executive director.

The facility invites these graduates twice a year to return for a meal and to share how they’re doing now. It gives them a chance to reconnect with each other, their therapists and the other associates and residents they met while undergoing therapy.

These are just some of those who came to our February reunion. We wish them all the best!