‘Adopt a Resident’ program makes the season brighter at Royal Suites

Nov, 18-2009 2:13 pm

By STEVE PRISAMENT
Staff Writer

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – Royal Suites Health Care and Rehabilitation on Jimmie Leeds Road has a bigger need for donors than ever before as it kicks off its third annual Adopt a Resident program.

“In order to ensure that all of our residents have a special holiday, we’re asking for help from community members and staff,” said Alicia Scaglione, director of therapeutic recreation. “We need people to adopt residents and provide gifts for Christmas. Last year we had 90 residents. This year we have 118.”

A year ago the staff and community came through with stuffed animals, electronics, sweat suits, slippers, jackets and purses, Scaglione said, adding that gifts must be new, and no food or pets can be accepted.

“We do have a pet therapy program,” Scaglione said Nov. 9. “Residents can connect with them. The people’s pets can also visit with family. We’ve had petting zoos visit. We understand that some of our residents love animals. It’s hard for them to leave them.”

Participating donors are very giving, she said. The donations are kept confidential.

“Families have gotten their children together,” Scaglione said. “Giving is a good thing to learn. They learn that not everybody has family to look out for them and how nice it is to help out just one person through the holiday season.”

She said it’s sometimes easy to forget that there are people who find the holidays depressing, such as residents in nursing homes who don’t see their friends and family members often.

“We take it upon ourselves to try to make their holiday season as special as we can,” she said.

“It’s important that people contact me as soon as possible for our planning,” Scaglione said. “Gifts are due here the Monday before Christmas. They can be wrapped or I can wrap them. People often bring gifts unwrapped for me to wrap and distribute.”

James Guercioni, 92, is a lucky one. His family lives in Galloway Township and Egg Harbor City.

“I won’t miss anything during the holidays,” Guercioni said. “My children live nearby.”

Helen May, 75, has a son in Ocean City and many other relatives.

“I have a niece who has only two children, but for Christmas she buys for 42 family members. It’s a tradition,” she said.

May praised Scaglione.

“Alicia is our leader – she is wonderful,” May said. “She does more than she has to. Everyone loves her.”

May lived in Marmora for many years, moving to Egg Harbor Township briefly before settling at Royal Suites.

“My son checked a lot of nursing homes,” she said. “He went into the kitchens – everywhere. He said, ‘I don’t want you anywhere else’.”

May said she misses seeing her large family regularly.

“I have quite a lot of friends, though,” she said. “About 10 or 12 visit me regularly. I miss my grandparents more than anybody. They raised me.”

Ruth Marini, 85, is from Philadelphia and her family is spread out, so she stays at Royal Suites over Christmas.

“I miss the baking,” Marini said. “I miss decorating the tree and the smell of turkey – all the smells of the holidays.”

Marini moved to Egg Harbor Township in 1990, but said she still follows Philadelphia sports.

“The Eagles have a chance yet,” she said after they were beaten by the Dallas Cowboys in a battle for first place in their division.

Scaglione said Royal Suites tries to make the holidays as much like home as possible.

“We do tree decorating,” she said. “We make ornaments. We do Christmas baking; we do the baking, the residents prepare it.

“Nothing can compare to what they had at home, but we try to match it as well as we can. If you have things to do and keep your mind busy, that’s the most important thing.”

May agreed that staying active is important.

“I do all the activities we have here,” she said. “That’s very important.”

Marini said getting out is a key thing for her, and there are regular trips.

“I have to do a lot of shopping,” she said. “And it’s good to taste different food. I miss being able to get up and go out whenever I please.”

Guercioni said his family takes him.

“I go shopping every time I need something,” he said. “I like to get out.”

Scaglione said the Adopt a Resident program isn’t a one-way street with the community.

“The residents help the community, too,” she said. “We donate a decorated tree to the Trees of Hope program of the Atlantic County Women’s Center. We’ve also worked with the homeless youth center.”

The residents sent off plain masks for the youths to decorate, she said. Then the youths visited the center, where residents did the judging in a contest with prizes for the winners.

“Through the holidays we ask for help,” Scaglione said. “And we encourage residents to reach out and help.”

To adopt a patient or donate gifts call Scaglione at (609) 748-9900, ext. 1727.

To comment on this story email steve.prisament@catamaranmedia.com.