Karen Werlau, director of the Elant Adult Day program
Goshen – It was another exciting day of competition during the 2010 Winter Olympics. There was curling, bobsledding, potato relays, ice skating, beanbag toss, the luge….
Wait a minute! Potato relays? A beanbag toss?
That’s right; in Elant at Goshen’s Adult Day program, attendees ranging in age from 26 to 100 celebrated the Olympics games their own way with toned-down, indoor versions of the competition.
“The games made us feel young again,” said participant Florence Henderson of Middletown. “We all enjoyed the effort we put into it.”
Participants, including attendees of Goshen’s Adult Daybreak program and its Adult Day Health program, prepared for the games by making various flags from different countries to wear on their chests.
Festivities began with an opening ceremony, complete with an Olympic torch made from aluminum foil and construction paper. Attendees, who included the elderly, dementia care and Alzheimer patients, those suffering from brain injuries, the blind, and those with physical disabilities, walked in the ceremonial parade before taking their seats to wait their turn for the kick-off event.
First up were the potato relays, where teams each raced from one end of the room to the other (some in wheelchairs or using walkers) balancing a potato on a spoon. Spectators watched from the sidelines and cheered on each effort.
“I thought they were great, just like the real Olympics,” said participant Jim Ruggerio of New Windsor.
Events spanned two days and ended with a celebrated award ceremony. Each participant received a certificate of participation, and medals were given to those who came in first, second, or third in each of the four events.
“We read about the games everyday so the goal was to bring the outside reality to our attendees,” said Karen Werlau, director of the Adult Day program. “This was our first year and we were just shocked by the level of participation. Everyone was so enthusiastic.”
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
