Mid Coast Senior Health staff pose in 1950s attire at Thornton Hall’s third annual Car Hop September 11.

Mid Coast Senior Health Assisted Living at Thornton Hall joined tens of thousands of assisted living communities nationwide in hosting National Assisted Living Week festivities from September 8–14.

This year’s national theme, chosen annually by The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), was "A Spark of Creativity.”

In honor of the theme, Mid Coast Senior Health assigned each day of the week a corresponding topic, including "Spark a Renewal,” "Spark Your Spirit,” and "Creating Community.” Each day, residents had the option of participating in a variety of special activities. One of the week’s highlights was the Car Hop, an annual event that engages both the local community and Senior Health residents, held on Wednesday, September 11.

The third annual classic car show was open to the public and invited local owners of vintage vehicles to display them in the Thornton Hall parking lot. To coincide with the 1950s theme, staff dressed in the styles of the era, and music, raffles, and prizes coincided as well.

"National Assisted Living Week, and especially Car Hop Day, present a fabulous opportunity to engage residents that might not usually participate in activities. There are more diverse options than usual, which appeal to different interests,” said Maureen Cooper, CTRS, manager of social events and volunteers for Mid Coast Senior Health. "Our facility prides itself on providing residents with a full schedule of activity options daily, but this week allows us to get even more creative with our offerings.”

Fully integrated with Mid Coast–Parkview Health, Mid Coast Senior Health is a dynamic healthcare system comprising Assisted Living at Thornton Hall, Memory Care at The Garden, Nursing and Rehabilitation at Bodwell, and Long-Term Care at Mere Point.

Thornton Hall residents and residents of The Garden regularly enjoy daily activities, such as exercise classes, cooking, trivia, coffee socials, spiritual study and services, music, arts, and crafts. During National Assisted Living Week, those offerings expanded to include treats such as milkshakes, manicures, and a football pool.

"Providing our residents with varied, stimulating things to do throughout their day is about much more than just offering them entertainment,” said Cooper. "These opportunities also encourage residents to be social, form new interests, and stay physically and mentally healthy as they age, which is essential to our mission and their happiness.”