Hosting an immersive movie night was a community Christmas project at Hearthstone at Wildwood.
From residents creating 500 paper snowflakes to employees and volunteers passing out cups of hot cocoa and eggnog, nearly everyone at the assisted living facility pulled together for the Dec. 9 movie night screening of “The Polar Express.”
The transformation first started with staff combining the theater and activity room.
Sam Grow, activity director at Hearthstone, used baby-blue tulle and flashing mini lights for the base that created a winter wonderland. He hung paper snowflakes made by the residents from the ceiling and created a life-sized paper train to transform the showing room into the setting of the movie.
Grow said it took about a month of advance work, but what made hosting the event worth it was seeing residents enjoy themselves and lean into the holiday spirit.
“We have residents who don’t come to many activities but they always come to this,” he said. “At the end, they all go back and tell their friends how wonderful it was.”
Carrie Stalbaum, director of health and wellness at Hearthstone, greeted guests as the ticket master. Stalbaum said the movie night is an activity everyone gets involved in and is excited for. After hosting a movie night every other month this year, everyone wanted to make this showing was special as the final movie of the year.
“It’s a way for residents to have a night out without going out,” she said. “Family members are able to come and residents get socialization. They always ask what the theme is and get to be involved with planning.”
Resident Carol Nixon was a key player in helping with decorations. She created at least 10 large snowflakes out of plastic hangers.
“It was very exciting to see everything (come together). It looks so beautiful,” she said, dressed in a hot pink robe and adorned with Christmas tree earrings.
For Greg and Karol Sullins, of the Village of Summerhill, the event offered a chance to connect with family for the holidays.
Dressed in Christmas-themed onesies topped with flashing Christmas light necklaces, they were eager to meet up with Greg’s mom, Patricia Hughes, a resident of the facility. Greg’s only goal was to put a smile on his mother’s face.
“That will make this all worth it,” he said.
Karol said they were ready to “hang out with Mom and our friends we’ve made here.”
“She loves it here and loves ‘money bingo,’” Karol said. “We are blessed because we have our three parents nearby, so it’s nice not to have to travel.”
Only three weeks into her role as executive director of Hearthstone, Jennifer Mulligan expects “The Polar Express” movie night to be the first of many events to come.
Mulligan’s biggest goal is to continue making Hearthstone feel like a community.
“One of the biggest things I noticed is how welcoming everyone is,” she said. “For residents, this is their home away from home. We will do everything to make them feel comfortable.”
“Sam has a way of drawing everyone in,” Mulligan said. “It’s clearly not just a job for staff and that becomes infectious. It makes everything more enjoyable.”
From an elevated “hobo dinner” with steak and potatoes, to clam chowder paired with a cucumber Christmas tree, Kayla Knight, kitchen manager, put a lot of thought and creativity into the menu. Mulligan, Grown and Stalbaum all helped serve residents.
Relatively new to Hearthstone herself, Nixon has been a resident for four months and ranked the facility and staff a 10.“Everyone, the whole staff, here is so wonderful and the food is excellent,” she said. Their effort “shows us how much they care and want us to have fun. They go out of their way to please us.”
