Wahoo, NE: South Haven Living Center – National Nursing Home Week with a Tour Around the World in 7 Days!

The South Haven Living Center in Wahoo, NE took a creative approach to National Nursing Home Week. The theme of the week was “Aloha,” so the team in Wahoo put a unique spin on the theme. “We expanded upon the classic Hawaiian theme, interpreting aloha to mean hello and goodbye, so we said “aloha to five different countries—one for each day of the week. We then planned events each day that revolved around the culture of that country, and we decorated each of our neighborhoods to represent one of the countries,” says administrator Jalene Carpenter. The tour was called “NNHW 2014: Around the World in 7 Days.”

There was a large hot air balloon greeting guests as they entered, and next to that was a board with a large map of the world, and each resident and team member could pin their name to each place on the map where they had been. This was a great way to learn a little more about the community members and find out all of the interesting travel experiences they have had.

The Kenya neighborhood featured a large elephant, painted by one of the teammates who is also a very talented artist. The residents of this neighborhood colored printouts of tribal figures with traditional tribal prints, which were a fun way to add a pop of color to their décor.

On Thursday, May 15, the community took a glimpse at Greece. The team members and residents celebrated Greek culture in style by having a Toga Party while enjoying live entertainment from Charlie Glasgow of the Merrymakers and some refreshments. Each of the residents was given a white sheet that they made into a toga, and some really embraced the Grecian theme by donning leaf crowns. It was a wonderful time of fun, fellowship, and even a little dancing! Events like this really showcase the vision of VHS to have Excellent Teams who strive to provide a Quality Life for all of our residents.

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Story Submitted by: Brittany Johnson, Vetter Health Services PR Intern