Hospice Partners co-hosts a prom for residents at Laverna Village in St. Joseph
Hospice Partners and Laverna Village in St. Joseph, MO hosted a prom for the residents of the nursing home and apartments. The special night kicked off at 6 pm on Wednesday, June 20th. The evening was named “A Night to Remember” and it certainly was! Over 60 residents plus staff, family, and friends came together to enjoy dinner and dancing. Many staff members stayed late or came in on their day off just to be a part of the fun. Staff members weren’t just onlookers either, they all dressed in their own prom dresses and some even took a resident as their date and posed for the classic prom pic.
Laverna Village knew they wanted to host a special event for their residents but they weren’t sure they would be able to pull it off in less than three weeks. One of the Hospice Consultants from Hospice Partners helped the nursing home get volunteers to help with prep and even hooked up with a local charity to get formal dresses. Blessed Dress KC donated over 60 dresses to the residents so they would be swathed in satin and sparkles and ready for a dance partner.
The Hospice Partners team helped with hair and make-up for the residents before they donned their new formal wear. The new chef at the facility crafted a special menu for the night that included fan favorites like egg rolls, corn nuggets and meatballs. To top it off, Laverna Village found a band from Burlington Junction to play at the event.
The chef served egg rolls along with other goodies for prom-goers.
Even the local news station heard about the event and showed up to interview residents for a “Live at 5” piece on the evening news. “There were lots of smiles and all the residents still talk about it every day,” said a member of the Hospice Partners team who visits the facility frequently. Laverna Village was so thrilled with the outcome, that prom will now be an annual event.
Hospice Partners is a sister agency to our hospice offices in four other states – Harrison’s Hope in Idaho, Serenity Hospice in Oregon, Alamo Hospice in Texas and Hospice of Virginia.
When a person is facing a life-limiting illness and nearing the end-of-life, we are here. Our hospices are always committed to improving the quality of life for all patients and their family and friends. Whether it’s planning a prom or just reading a book to a patient to help them relax, our nurses, aides, consultants, social workers, and chaplains will do whatever it takes to provide comfort and companionship. If you or someone you love is wondering about hospice, call us anytime to discuss your options and the resources we may have available.