Elant At Fishkill Residents Host Their Own Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies

Feb. 17, 2010 - PRLog -- Beacon, N.Y. – This party had it all: a flaming torch, a cheering crowd, and an international selection of musical hits.

Welcome to Elant at Fishkill’s very own opening ceremonies to ring in this year’s Winter Olympic Games!

Roughly 3,000 miles from Vancouver’s televised celebration, these residents brought their own twist to the historic moment by beginning with a traditional torch pass. As cheering and clapping spectators lined the halls, a handful of residents and staff from every unit passed the torch (complete with simulated flames) from one to another throughout the entire building. Starting off the trek in the lobby was Chuck Martinez in honor of his wife, a long-time resident of Elant at Fishkill resident who recently passed away.

Once the torch was passed to the final resident, a “Parade of Nations” traveled to the campus’s main hall, where the real entertainment began. Residents and staff members took turns performing different international selections, including the national anthems of Russia, Greece, Germany, France, and Sri Lanka. Then the crowd as a whole sang “America the Beautiful,” and “God Bless America,” in honor of our own nation’s participation in the Games.

But it wasn’t just Vancouver’s games that were kicking off; it was Elant at Fishkill’s own games that were getting underway.

That’s right! Residents will spend the coming days participating in events like indoor hockey, slalom (cones and some simulated snow), a cross-country relay, and even curling (a Frisbee and a broom).

“We do everything we can to bring the outside in to our residents, many of whom aren’t as mobile as they ‘d like to be,” said Elant at Fishkill Activities Leader Rosemarie Perillo. “But isn’t just them who get involved; the entire staff participates somehow, and family members join in as well.”

Fishkill’s Olympic games will continue until Closing Cermonies on Monday, Feb. 22. That’s when those residents who took first, second, and third for each event will receive their medals.

Once the ceremonies are concluded, the flags will come down and the torch extinguished until the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

# # #

Elant, Inc., a community-based, not-for-profit organization, is a leading provider of services for older adults and chronically ill people of all ages. Elant is a comprehensive network of organizations that provides a full range of health and housing services to the Hudson Valley and beyond. On any given day, Elant serves more than 3,500 people through its network of communities, home care agencies, and services. Elant’s mission is to provide personalized, high-quality care and lifestyle options to persons of diverse generations, cultures, means, and needs.