Adventure program for seniors has them checking off items on their bucket list
Taking a ride in a helicopter.
A long lost reunion with a family member.
Sharing tea and crumpets with friends at the Townsend Hotel.
Spending the day as a florist designing arrangements and tickets to see the Detroit Red Wings at Little Ceasar’s Arena.
Senior residents of Waltonwood are chipping away at their bucket list thanks to a unique, life enrichment program that’s enabling them to reconnect with their passions.
“We are so thankful to have the opportunity to fulfill our residents’ lifelong dreams,” said Lindsay Charlefour, director of life enrichment for Waltonwood Senior Living Lakeside Community in Sterling Heights, where several residents have taken advantage of the program that requires nothing more than a wish and willingness to go.
For Ann and Dennis Cowie it was an amazing trip to the Detroit Zoo.
“Ann’s dream of feeding her favorite animal, a giraffe, came true. She even got to go through the sprinklers with our driver, Oliver,” said Charlefour, adding a special thank you to their hosts at the zoo, La’Rhonda and Rick, who went above and beyond to ensure Ann’s adventure was incredible.
In each case all of the tickets and travel expenses are covered by Waltonwood.
And while some wishes involve a great deal of planning and expenses others are as simple as visiting a local landmark as in the case of Jack Accurso, a graduate of Henry Ford Trade School, which provided young men with an education in industrial arts and trades (between 1916 and 1952), and whose illustrious career with Ford spanned more than 70 years.
“His wish was to go back to his old stomping grounds,” Charlefour said.
So, they arranged for a personal tour of the former school now at Henry Ford Museum, where he marveled at some exhibits while providing his own narrative for others, followed by a fabulous lunch at Ford’s Garage.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Brian Essenmacher of Dearborn, whose father Tom Essenmacher resides at Waltonwood University in Rochester Hills. “It breaks up the year and gives residents something to look forward to.”
Brian said Waltonwood puts on a lot of activities throughout the year but these adventures are really special.
His father concurred. “I can hardly put it into words, I had such a good time,” Tom said, of the adventure that he shared with his son, which included watching a Detroit Red Wings practice and their game against the Vancouver Canucks at Little Caesars Arena, plus all of the snacks he wanted.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the game,” said Tom, who has been a hockey fan since he was 10 years old and remembers catching a bus on Michigan Avenue in order to see the Red Wings play at Olympia Stadium.
Then it was off to Joe Louis Arena. What he remembers about that place were all of the stairs.
Over the years he has seen some of the greatest players in the game: Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Steve Yzerman to name a few, and can now say he’s seen the game played at all three venues.
“Now I want to see the Tigers and the Lions,” Tom mused, having mustered the courage to venture outside of this home, as he did when he was a younger man.
“He wasn’t sure he wanted to do it, at first,” said Donna Donakowski, the life enrichment manager at Waltonwood University, who is hoping Tom’s experience will encourage other residents to make a wish too.
Every year Waltonwood grants the wishes of four residents looking to fulfill their passion for adventure and experiences they might not otherwise have the chance to do. Whatever it might be, from tickets and special arrangements to food and mementos, all expenses are covered by the program, which is likely to catch on with other senior living facilities in the future.
“It’s really an amazing program,” said Donakowski. “One of our residents is a big fan of Neil Diamond. We’re taking her to see the musical in December.”