VA Maryland Health Care System

The Senior Prom at Perry Point

Photo Caption: Dancing the Two-Step is resident George McAleer from the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center, accompanied by Sondra Otukoya, a VAMHCS recreation therapist.

Pictured taking a whirl around the dance floor are Helen McLaughlin, a resident of the Community Living Center at the Perry Point VA Medical Center, accompanied by her dance partner, Dr. Mark Heuser, director, Geriatrics & Long Term Care Clinical Center.

June 16, 2009

Who says that a prom is just for high school students? Residents of the Community Living Centers at the Perry Point VA Medical Center and the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation & Extended Care Center, divisions of the VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS), reminisced and relived some of those special moments at their very own Senior Prom recently.

After months of planning and preparation, the gymnasium at the Perry Point VA Medical Center was transformed into a beautiful garden befitting the theme, “Spring Fling,” which was chosen by the Veteran residents for their 1st Annual Senior Prom. With the support of VA staff and volunteers, more than 135 Veterans and their family members were treated to food, entertainment and dancing.

“Many Veterans in our community living centers never had the opportunity to attend their high school proms, so we were happy to be able to offer them this opportunity,” said Betsy Bradford, business manager, Geriatrics & Long Term Care Clinical Center. “Planning the event was a labor of love and seeing the reactions of the Veterans’ who participated in the Senior Prom was an incredible experience that I’ll never forget.”

During the event, each Veteran had the opportunity to have a traditional prom photo taken under a beautifully decorated arbor. Additionally, all female Veterans received corsages and male Veterans received boutonnieres as a part of the event thanks to the efforts of Veterans in Perry Point’s Horticulture Therapy Program.
“Our first annual senior prom was a huge success thanks to the efforts of VAMHCS staff and volunteers,” said Dr. Mark Heuser, director, Geriatrics & Long Term Care Clinical Center. “This is just one of the many events that we have planned to enhance the quality of life for the residents of our community living center.”