By Kathy Chaffin
kchaffin@salisburypost.com
It was a perfect day for a celebration.
About 200 people ó 130 of them residents of 20 area nursing, assisted living and family care facilities ó gathered at the Salisbury Civic Center Thursday to celebrate Older Americans Month with an old-time country fair.
Some clients from Abundant Living Adult Day Care and Home Instead Senior Care also attended.
The fair featured lots of good food ó including cotton candy and popcorn ó entertainment, special awards, door prizes, games and hat decorating and baking contests between the participating residential facilities.
Entertainment was provided by the Y Wonders singers led by Kathy Norris; Lorna Brown, the 1957 Miss California and third runner-up in the Miss USA pageant, on the accordion; and singers Jeff Myers and Yumisha Maddox, staff members at Britthaven of Kannapolis.
Linda Swink and John Seeley of Salisbury Gardens were among the residents enjoying the celebration. Swink said she was having a great time. “I like just about everything they did,” she said.
Seeley said he enjoyed the entertainment. “And the popcorn,” he added, taking another handful from his bag.
Tommy Hedrick and Karina Moss of Bethamy Retirement Center danced to the songs of Myers and Maddox.
Donnie Haywood and Doris Allen of Britthaven of Kannapolis wore hats they decorated to go with the country fair theme.
Clara White, 97, of Carillon Assisted Living of Salisbury won a trophy for being the oldest resident at the celebration. White’s daughter, Dianne Kidd of Kannapolis, joined her for the event.
Steven Jordan, 28, of Brightmoor Nursing Center won the trophy for being the youngest resident. He said his favorite part of the country fair was “seeing people win the awards.”
Mary Hartley of the Rowan County Community Advisory Committee, comprised of members appointed by Rowan commissioners, received an award for her volunteer work.
John Whitfield, one of the sponsors of the fair, presented awards for the baking contest. The first-place plaque went to Brian Center Nursing of Salisbury, the second to Liberty Commons Nursing Center and the third to Big Elm Retirement and Nursing.
“Let me say it was very difficult,” he said. “The judges had a hard time. We would have liked to give first place to everybody.”
Patricia Cowan, Centralina Area Agency on Aging ombudsman assigned to Rowan and Stanly counties, presented the plaques for the hat decorating contest. First went to Salisbury Gardens, second to Big Elm and third to Brian Center Nursing of Salisbury.
Lynn Carlyle of the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks was recognized for being the activities director with the longest service. Carlyle has worked at the nursing home for 23 years and said she still enjoys what she does.
“We make a difference in their lives,” she said. Though activity directors aren’t the ones that provide hands-on or medical care to residents, Carlyle said they help meet their social and spiritual needs.
Cowan said the fair was a group effort of area agencies and health-care programs for seniors.
“It took all of us to pull it off,” she said. “Everybody seemed to be real excited, and they want to know if we’re going to do it again. I think we will.”
The theme for this year’s Older Americans Month is “Living Together for a Better Tomorrow.”
The older American population continues to grow. By 2030, one in every five Americans is projected to be age 65 or older.
Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-47683.