We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Senior citizens in any community are treasures with a wealth of knowledge, and experience gained from their journey through life. Seniors have had to overcome obstacles recently that are unique and isolated to them. Their life lessons learned have provided them with the intuitiveness and strength to get through each day as successful as possible. For many, their life journeys will result in residency at a Nursing Home.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of us in our own individual ways, but those living in our nursing homes have faced greater obstacles than any of us.
Quarantine and self-isolating procedures have left residents at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook and the Little Rockies Senior Center in Harlem isolated from family and friends and the public since early March with few exceptions being made.
On Friday, July 3, a very unique opportunity that turned into an extremely special occasion for the residents at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home took place.
People from all over descended upon the road coming from the Blaine County Fairgrounds to form a parade that passed through the nursing home parking lot for residents to witness and at the same time be seen by the general public.
Nearly 50 vehicles, floats and carriages of various types decked out in red white and blue and playing music were accompanied by nearly 200 people walking or riding in a spectacular show of support for the residents. This page includes an account of these events.
Sweet Home Administrator Rebecca Shackelford helped organize the event and began putting it together the middle of June. "The idea came about after hearing of similar activities at other nursing homes and with the Fourth of July Holiday we thought that this was an opportunity for the residents, their families and the communities to come together."
Shackelford added, "All of the staff was immediately on board with the idea and were very helpful in getting the word out to the community of what we intended to do,"
Everyone at the Sweet Home, including staff not scheduled to work came in Friday afternoon to ensure the parades success. "The residents loved it! Everyone was quite tickled to get outside, get some fresh air and see such a great parade. Many commented at how impressed they were with the size of it and the number of people who showed up," added Shackelford.
After seeing of the success, the parade this year this is something that residents can expect again in the future, "It was amazing and definitely something we will look to do again next year. With everything going on right now and the positive effect it had on the residents, we may also do another parade later in the summer this year as well,"
