The holiday season AT CONCORDIA

‘ Twas the night before Christmas and all through Concordia, not a resident was sleeping, not even a spouse. Why you ask? Concordia residents are so busy with the many clubs and programs, they overshadow thoughts of rest!

The holiday season can be joy filled or sad for our residents, but everyone lifts up and encourages those around them. It is a true community that supports each other through many seasons of life. The minute you walk into Concordia you are greeted by the lively administrative assistant who coordinates everything and with a cheerful countenance! Her beautiful red hair fits right in with the holidays! Decorations for the season light up every nook and cranny. Five trees grace different areas of the building with various themes and colors! Everyone participates in the decorating. There is a door decorating contest and Ugly Sweater competitions to make you laugh and smile. Jeannie Alter, one of the residents, makes beautiful handmade beaded trees that she displays in the lobby, so everyone has an opportunity to purchase and decorate their personal space as beautifully as Concordia.

December is a merry month. The staff makes sure that everyone can find something special to make the season bright. The Hand Chimes club has been working for several months to put on a special holiday concert that was held on December 20th. They practice weekly and are comprised of residents who desire to share their talents with others. One of our residents, Debbie Tasnadi, shares her talents by teaching a painting class which focused on a beach scene this month. For those of us who cannot travel during the holidays, we can “dream” of beach scenes!

Making December merry at Concordia goes beyond music and painting. What holiday does not include sweet treats? Our talented chefs have been whipping up special cookies, cakes, and treats for every program we have hosted. Residents have joined in social hours on Fridays, exchanged ornaments, listened to piano recitals, and had photos taken with their favorite furry friends.

With all these treats, we need to find a balance in our diets and exercise. We have regularly scheduled exercise classes for all levels and supplement these classes with lively programs such as line dancing, bocci ball, and corn hole competitions. Lots of greens and healthy options have been gracing our buffet to offset all the extra treats. The chefs know that residents and employees need balance, as does our occupational therapist who leads a flexibility and balance class for our residents twice weekly. There are tremendous benefits in having Legacy Therapy on site to ensure that our residents have the opportunity for optimal health. Our fitness room is open for therapy clients as well as residents who just desire to work out on our many machines.

Legacy is concerned with our minds as well as our bodies as they lead a talk on “Coping with Holiday Stress.” Holidays can be difficult as we deal with deadlines and loss. Not everyone enjoys the holidays, so we support each other at Concordia by being mindful of individual needs and meeting everyone in various life stages. All of the Concordia staff hope you have a rich, joy filled holiday season. If you are interested in being a part of our community, please reach out to us at 479-855-3714.