Prom!

It’s prom season! For some, it includes the pressure to spend far too much money on prom dresses, tuxedos, and more. Fortunately for me and my girls, we discovered some gorgeous gowns at Name Brand Clothing for a fraction of the cost of some of the gowns tried on at some specialty shops. We’ve also discovered that some communities host prom dress giveaways in which girls can try on gently used prom dresses donated by others and take them home for free.

This year, two of my daughters enjoyed the full prom experience including an “After Prom” party which included an auction with almost 200 donated items. I woke up the next morning to a kitchen counter heaped with golden treasures. Gone are the days when prom, short for the French word promenade, was an event in which kids wore just their church clothes. If our elders had a glimpse of what kids enjoy today versus what occurred during the Depression years, they would probably faint. And the picture I’ve posted certainly reveals that there is still plenty of abundance in the midst of our struggling economy.

Note for Activity Professionals:
Prom season is a great opportunity for you to check in with your local high school to see if they would be willing to donate their prom decorations to your long-term care community for National Nursing Home week and/or other holiday or party festivities.

Other ideas:
1. Consider inviting some of your local teenagers to do a promenade or fashion show for your residents!
2. Have a discussion about various opinions about dancing back when your elders were teenagers.
3. Talk about favorite dancers, dance styles, dance tunes, memories about romantic dates, etc.
4. Play or sing “Last Night on the Back Porch” and see what reaction you get!