Gardens going big for assisted living week

Published 12:52 pm Monday, September 9, 2019

By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

National Assisted Living Week is Sept. 8-14, and once again the Gardens of Clanton is going all out with a weeklong celebration full of events for residents and their families.

“We are very excited about National Assisted Living Week,” said Administrator Vickie Moseley. “We encourage loved ones and local members of the community to visit the Gardens of Clanton during this week.

“We always blow up the whole week. We celebrate the residents every day of the year, but that week we really try to make them feel special. They really look forward to this event. Every day of that week we do something different so they have something to look forward to.”

Each year this celebratory week has an overarching theme, and this time “A Spark of Creativity” will be the goal behind the celebration.

This theme encourages residents to create works of art and show off their talents as well as having something fun to do that will give them a keepsake when everything is completed.

Sept. 8 got things kicked off with Grandparents Day. Relatives of residents at Gardens were welcomed to the facility for a fun time together. Residents and their families took pictures together at a photo booth and made a tree craft.

Sept. 9 featured a teddy bear craft.

“We are doing that with towels like you do when you’re on a cruise,” Moseley said. “The residents are going to help us, and we are going to put (the bears) in their rooms when we’re done.”

An employee appreciation lunch was also held that night.

“We have gifts and awards for our employees,” Moseley said.

Sen. Cam Ward was also set to stop by and visit with the residents.

Sept. 10 is ’50s Sock Hop Day, complete with decorations reminiscent of an old school diner, vinyl records and period-correct outfits.

Alabama mascot Big Al is also set to once again visit the residents and put on a show that day.

In honor of the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, Wednesday will be Patriotic Day.

“The residents’ doors are decorated by all of the queens in Chilton County,” Moseley said. “They will be judged by Probate Judge Jason Calhoun, Mayor Billy Joe Driver and Sheriff John Shearon. They will pick the best door.”

Hickory Chip will be catering lunch, Dr. Lucy Collins will be doing her belly dancing routine at 2 p.m. that day and her husband Bob Sanders will be performing magic for the residents as well.

Sept. 12 will feature encouragement painting and a luncheon honoring five local policewomen.

“We are so proud they are taking care of us in Chilton County and protecting our loved ones,” Moseley said.

Friday, Sept, 13, will be Spirit Day. The Chilton County High School Band will be performing as part of a pep rally on the lawn of the Gardens.

There will also be a luncheon honoring some local members of the military.

The grand finale Sept. 14 will be a car show and farmers luncheon, complete with locally-grown produce.

The car show will run from 10-11 a.m. and is free to enter.

“We want our residents to have a good time and get their pictures made with the old timey vehicles,” Moseley said.