While the COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, one of the hardest-hit groups has to be the elderly living in care homes. Being isolated from their loved ones for so long may have been necessary to protect residents’ safety, but it’s also incredibly lonely and even depressing. That’s why Rose Haven Nursing Home’s activity director Kensey Gehring decided she had to get creative. She recently hosted a Booze ‘N’ Tattoos night for the residents at the Iowa home and they had an absolute blast!
- The residents have been busy over the past few months. The Booze ‘N’ Tattoos night may have been the most exciting of the events Gehring planned for them, but it wasn’t the first. They’ve had plenty of socially distanced activities to do over the past few months, from pumpkin carving and a Homecoming dance as well as other themed days.
- Booze ‘N’ Tattoos night was an absolute success. Gehring worked with the home’s director, Jalissa Winn, to plan the night, which included giving residents temporary tattoos if they wanted them as well as providing them with some of their favorite alcoholic beverages. There were plenty of different designs to choose from for the tattoos, from butterflies to flowers and everything in between.
- Needless to say, the residents loved it! So many of them were up for it, enjoying a cold can of their favorite beer while getting tatted up. As resident Karen Von Linien told local news affiliate KCRG, “I made up my mind: I’m gonna have fun for whatever time I have left.” She got two amazing rose tattoos, one on her wrist and another on her chest. Get it, Karen!
- Suffice it to say, people on social media loved it too. Since Rose Haven shared photos of the event on their Facebook page late last month, the post received more than 31,000 likes, 20,000 comments, and 116,000 shares. Looks like everyone loves seeing these amazing residents so happy!
