Provision's GreenTree-Westwood Finds Simple Way To Connect Families
Posted by Radiance PVL on Mon, Aug 15, 2011 @ 08:08 PM
The simple Sunday meal is a cornerstone of family tradition in America, and around the world, as relatives gather to share a meal and enjoy time together to visit and catch up. In this blog post allow us to highlight a development we learned of recently at our GreenTree-Westwood community. 
A new monthly Sunday Supper buffet activity is reconnecting families with members in Assisted Living via a regular weekly meal. The practice promotes healthy familes and relationships but it takes a routine to facilitate the connection.
GreenTree at Westwood, which is situated just outside Indianapolis, IN, began in June of this year offering a large brunch selection, including breakfast items such as omelettes, bacon and waffles, and lunch items like fried chicken, green beans and fresh rolls, on the second Sunday of each month. The effort extends the community by linking groups of families and friends who can't really interact any other day of the week except Sunday.
Residents struggling with mobiity issues can easily get down to dining room and thus skip the logisitics of transportation while relaxing in the entertainment and coversation areas around the facility. On the second floor there are pool tables and a bird cage housing the resident Finches who keep folks at the community company.
"Family members with parents struggling with memory problems, or mobility issues can eliminate the challenges of getting out to a restaurant or somewhere for a meal, and focus on a comfortable and relaxing gathering, similar to those typically experienced by residents who raised large families," said Vicky Koenig, Executive Director at GreenTree at Westwood.
Koenig's staff opens the door to the general public and encourages community members to get involved, mingle and reconnect with residents and their families. The results are impressive as the buffet, which started feeding a couple dozen individuals in June is already seeing 40 or more people arriving for the noon meal.
The openness of the community leads to casual conversation on Sunday and pleasant exchanges between close and extended family as well as friends. Koenig likes to think the event extends the sense of home she and her team strive to build every day. While many communities have a gathering for everyone living at the residence come the traditional Holidays, the spirit of that season is particularly alive and well at Westwood, especially this summer.
(Image Courtesy of robertpaulyoung on Flickr)
