By Barbara Sutherland

Residents and employee care partners at Sagebrush shared one great big Christmas Party this year. There was music, dancing, amazing party food, party favours, and some ridiculously hilarious competitive games.

Music and Dance, and Then...

It started out with some beautiful piano music as residents and employee care partners gathered around tables in the main dining room. Then two Filipina care partners performed a traditional dance. And then, the silliness began.

“I started calling two care partners at a time up onto the stage to do ‘Minute to Win It’ games,” says Recreation Therapist Haley Wilde, “and that’s when the laughs began!" ‘Minute to Win It’ was a fun competition among care partners who at one point were joined by residents.

One Minute Contests

Haley’s one-minute contests included blowing up a balloon and releasing the air to blow 40 Styrofoam cups off a table; transferring cotton balls from one bowl to another using only petroleum jelly on your nose; shaking ping pong balls out of a Kleenex box strapped to one’s backside; using a straw to move goldfish crackers; moving ping pong balls from one bowl to another using only a spoon, and more.

The Filipina dancers then did their second (this time non-traditional) performance, where they invited a surprised Haley, two members of the kitchen team and three hospitality aides up on stage to dance with them.

So Many Smiles and Laughs

“So many smiles and laughs were had,” says Haley. “It was such great energy in the room. Everyone was having so much fun.”

Everyone also enjoyed fine snacks prepared by the kitchen team. The tasty edibles included chicken lollipops, mac & cheese bites, eggnog ice cream and Nanaimo bars.

Photo: Residents and care partners gather together for their shared Sagebrush Christmas Party.