Seniors living at The Terraces of Boise were eager to infuse some culture into their holiday events and traditions this year. Wanting to spice up more than mulled wine, Debbi Evans, lifestyle director at The Terraces of Boise, incorporated Hanukkah traditions and music by the Moody Jews, winter-themed Theragami classes, Pinterest tutorials, visits from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, holiday-light tours, dinner dances and more. This is one of the most active months of the year, and it concludef with a New Year’s Eve dinner and a New Year’s Eve Winter Wonderland Ball. The art classes are certainly a highlight, as they provide residents with a glimpse into leading technological tools as well as a more traditional form of creation. During this month’s Theragami (origami) class on December 13 at 4:00 p.m., residents made modular stars and snowflakes. Residents just completed their second “Now That’s Pinteresting” course as well.
“I think it’s fun to have a balance of classes that teach residents how to make old art – such as the origami – and ones that use technology and apps such as Pinterest to save a collection of decorative ideas, recipes and other notable items,” said Evans. “The origami class is called ‘Theragami’ because it’s therapeutic for residents to work with their hands to create art or work on crafts. The residents really enjoy learning about Pinterest! They are creating boards, pinning items, following other boards and engaging with fellow Pinteresters.”
Evans is dedicated to acquainting residents with popular apps to help them engage with people who have shared interests, as well as their family and friends. She also encourages residents to explore old or unique art techniques. She will be leading a gel-medium image transfer technique art class for the first time this month as well. The residents living at the Terraces of Boise are festive and enjoy the variety of events and activities made available to them. While many have their own special traditions with their families, they look forward to making new memories with their neighbors in the community.
“We believe it is important to recognize all faiths, so we planned some Hanukkah activities for residents who are Jewish to enjoy with residents who were interested in learning more about Hanukkah traditions,” said Evans. “To kick start Hanukkah, we served latkes for breakfast and welcomed the Moody Jews for a performance. One day, we served mimosas during breakfast and welcomed a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus as part of the Christmas celebration. It is fun to see how people celebrate differently based on their faiths and to share our customs with each other. Having this cultural understanding expands our knowledge and helps us look at and respect the different, multifaceted and evolving relationships between people, communities and culture. As the world becomes even more interconnected, having a cultural understanding of each other’s religion, heritage and politics becomes even more important.”
To conclude, residents of all faiths came together to welcome the New Year. The Winter Wonderland Ball is the biggest event of the year, and the New Year presents a time to commemorate positive change and optimism for a bright future in the year ahead.
“Each year, we have our own special holiday traditions at The Terraces of Boise, similar to ones that many families partake in each holiday season,” said Jud Severns, executive director of The Terraces of Boise. “We want to create opportunities for residents and their families to come together in our community with neighbors and team members alike, so every year we host an extravagant decorating party in which we add holiday cheer and warmth throughout the community. Residents and their families are also invited to an elegant and festive dinner to honor them and show them that they’re a part of our family at The Terraces of Boise. This year, we surprised residents with a new tradition, Secret Santa gifts from our staff, and we believe it made them feel touched by the thoughtfulness of our team.”