Many of our residents missed their proms back in high school—some were busy working on the family farm or helping to support their families during the Great Depression—so we thought they’d enjoy an afternoon of elegant dining and dancing, complete with dressy gowns and suits, fine food, and an orchestra. Residents from all MediLodge facilities, their families and staff join together for this gala event. And to make things a even more lively, we invited some local high school seniors to ensure that everyone had a good time—and a dance partner!

Here’s what one of our residents had to say about the evening:

“I had planned to leave the MediLodge of Yale facility but had been invited to attend the Senior Prom. I told my family that I wanted to stay until the prom was over. Today is the day after the prom and I’m packing up to leave. I’m sure glad I stayed and went to the prom. I had a great time and even ended up on the dance floor. One of my nurse aides was my date. She had on a beautiful dress and we rode in the limo together. It was a great afternoon I’ll never forget.”

–Charles Eager, former MediLodge of Yale resident

And, here’s what one of the boys thought:

“It was really fun to go to the Senior Prom. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but everyone had a great time, laughing and dancing. I’m glad I went.”

–Luke Stuever, Capac High School Student

Read about the May, 2006 Senior Prom.

Seniors? Olympics? You don’t often hear those words together in the same sentence!

We held our first annual Senior Olympic games in 2001 and had so much fun that we’ve done it every year since. Residents from all MediLodge facilities spend much of their summer competing for spots on their building’s Olympic team. They compete in events such as shot put, discus, basketball, kickball, bean bag toss, and horseshoes. After training and competitive trials, each facility selects its “traveling” team that will participate in the inter-facility Senior Olympics.

The Olympics are held each year at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights, Michigan. As each team arrives at the Olympics, they show their team colors with banners, t-shirts, and even cheerleaders with pom-poms. Families and staff are also invited to cheer for their teams! After each resident competes in the events, scores are tallied and the big prize, the Loving Cup Trophy, is awarded to the overall facility winner. In addition, all residents who compete get a trophy of their own, and you can believe they show these off when they return home!

We end the celebration with a barbecue, making sure that everyone has lots of good food to eat. Then, we listen to music from a live band and even have a sing-along! By the time everyone leaves, it’s been a full day of friendly competition, good-natured rivalry, and stories that will last long after the day is over.

Read about our next Senior Olympics event.