Still 'in the mood'

Nursing Homes, June, 2005 by Sandra Hoban

It probably has been more than 60 years since the residents at Judson Park's Bruening Health Center in Cleveland, Ohio, danced the night away to that Glenn Miller classic. Imagine their shock and surprise when the Cleveland Professional Twenty-Thirty Club invited them to another "Senior Prom." A young professionals' organization, the 20/30 Club focuses on networking, educational, philanthropic, social, and service opportunities. Jessica Kulczycki, Judson's director of recreational therapy, was pleasantly surprised and excited when the group contacted her with the prom concept in the fall of 2004.

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"Rachel Demko, a 20/30 Club member, was involved in our Eden Alternative[TM] initiative, working with Ivy, a cocker spaniel," recalls Kulczycki. "So when the club was looking for a facility to partner with, she recommended Judson." Laurel Wirtanen, the 20/30 Club chairperson for the event, met with Kulczycki to work out the details.

Themed "Swing back to the 1930s," the prom was held in the dining area on the sixth floor of Bruening on March 5, 2005. "For many of the residents, the 1930s era represents their youthful heyday and because of our organization's name, the connection was a natural," explains Wirtanen.

Two hours before the event, club members began re-creating vintage Hollywood glamour with selected colors that reflected the period--black, gold, and silver accented with shots of red. The walls were adorned with posters of classic movies, such as Gone With the Wind and The Maltese Falcon, and the stars that brought the stories to life--Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Mary Astor, Humphrey Bogart, and so on.

Table settings also reflected the glamour theme. The centerpiece for each table was a flower floating in a fishbowl on top of a mirror. To add sparkle, the mirrors were sprinkled with black, white, and gold confetti stars. "It achieved the elegance we were striving for," says Wirtanen. In the sunroom, residents could have a photo taken to capture the memory of their "senior prom" against a silvery, star-studded backdrop.

"The residents' first reaction to the invitation was shock," says Kulczycki. Then the shock turned into anticipation as the residents started planning what to wear. There was a good turnout from the men--they took great care with their appearance. And the women? "You know the ladies," laughs Kulczycki, "they started looking for their fanciest blouses and scarves to wear." Some residents had family members bring them something special to complete their outfits, such as a glittery pin or a sweater.

Residents were greeted at the door by the 20/30 Club volunteers dressed in costumes from the era, such as the latter-day flappers and early-day Dick Tracy. They presented each gentleman with a red or white hankie, and the ladies each received a bouquet of tiny roses wrapped in organza and tied with a satin bow.

From 3:30 to 5 p.m., residents basked in the glow of youthful memories while comparing and sharing their life experiences with the volunteer hosts and hostesses. "What did you do for a living? What hospital were you born in? What's your favorite flower, animal, or food?" Used as conversation starters, these icebreaker questions helped residents and volunteers to really connect. Although all the activities were fun and plentiful, Kulczycki says that residents overwhelmingly liked the conversational aspect of Prom Day the best.

A section of the L-shaped dining room (the largest common area at Bruening) was arranged to accommodate the variety of activities. After the residents and club members got acquainted, staff members helped to transport residents around the activity stations. From bouncing a beach ball around a circle to bowling to playing board games with their new friends, residents were engaged and entertained.

Of course, no prom is complete without the music of the era. "The club arranged for an instructor to demonstrate swing dance steps and show residents how to do them in their chairs. The staff also got to join in, along with the volunteers," says Kulczycki. "Two gentlemen really got involved. Practicing in their chairs, they got the dance steps down. I'd take their hands and we'd try to coordinate our movements. We laughed so hard because it was just plain fun to see," she recalls.

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The residents didn't have a clue that from the time they arrived, 20/30 Club members were searching for a prom king and queen. Following the conversation, games, and photos, and right before dinner, the votes were tallied and Demko and Wirtanen crowned King Earl Kirk and Queen Della Ector. Kirk was very surprised: "Where I grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, we never even had a prom--just dances--and they weren't even held at school." When Kulczycki asked Queen Della for her reaction, she just giggled with surprise and delight. To top off Prom Day, Judson served a delightful dinner to the sixth floor residents of Bruening Health Center.

According to Wirtanen, it should not be difficult to find a community partner to help stage this type of event. She suggests that one of the best resources to locate professional groups or service organizations is on a city's Web site. "Or," she adds, "contact the local volunteer council and tell them about the idea. High schools, universities, church and civic groups are other great resources to enlist because many students have community service requirements to fulfill."