Winter can bring on the blues, but a burst of sunshine and summer can make it all go away
She sits by the open window, a breeze blows her sheer, white curtains away from the window screen and then draws them back to it as the flow of air moves back and forth.
A bird sings in the distance and the sweet smell of jasmine dances under her nose. She thinks she has gone to Heaven. A sound awakens her, and she realizes there is no bird, it’s the sound of her own snoring and she realizes it was all just a dream and the white curtain she thinks she sees is actually snow falling against the window, accumulating into a pile just outside of that same window.
It’s no secret winter 2014 has been an epic display of snow, sleet, ice and frigid temperatures across the country. Krista Harding, activities director at The Summit at Park Hills Senior Living Community in Fairborn, Ohio recently brought a little sunshine and hope for the return of summer to the residents at the senior living community. Her goal? Beat the winter blues.
Assisted living residents at The Summit at Park Hills were greeted in the lobby with a bright, yellow, paper fan, as if the temperatures were sweltering. They lobby was decorated in yellow. According to online color charts, the color yellow evokes thoughts of cheer, freshness, warmth, energy and optimism. The color yellow signifies both negative and positive thoughts and feelings. Here are a few positive ones: joy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer and friendship.
“We passed out yellow paper fans, like it was hot outside. We passed them out in the lobby, while they waited for their lemonade,” said Harding.
A cool glass of fresh lemonade was waiting for them at the lemonade stand that doubled as a photo booth. Residents could don one of the straw hats Harding provided as a prop for a cool photo on a hot summer day at the lemonade stand. Those who were camera shy had a good laugh and a good time, even though they chose not to have their picture made.
Residents and a few family members in attendance were served barbecued hamburgers and hotdogs in the dining room. Yellow paper balls, streamers and triangular pennants hung from the ceiling and yellow gingham checked tablecloths covered the tables.
A barbershop quartet entertained attendees during their summer-themed meal.
“The residents thought it was fun and creative. They loved the barbershop quartet. A lot of them didn’t want their picture taken, but laughed and had a good time. We had a few straw hats to put on behind the lemonade stand for the pictures,” said Krista Harding.
Memory care residents also enjoyed the lemonade stand on a smaller scale. They had their picture taken and Harding served popcorn, cookies and lemonade.
“It was more relaxed and laid back,” said Harding. “We didn’t have the special meal or entertainment, but we did it as an activity in the afternoon.”
Harding talked about the “beat the winter blues” activity and her service to The Summit at Park Hills Senior Community.
“It does take a lot of time, but I love it. I love it! It’s the best job I’ve ever had, besides raising my kids. I love, love, love the residents. I get way more out of them than they get out of me,” said Harding. I wake up on the weekends and I go, ‘Oh it’s the weekend off and it’s fun.’ I wake up on the weekdays and think, ‘Oh, I have to go to work. Yay! this is fun.’ So that’s good. I love the residents and the co-workers and my boss, so it’s all very good,” said Harding. “I’m very fortunate.”