September 21, 2017  (North Chili, NY) ─ Westwood Commons, a DePaul Senior Living Community in North Chili, recently celebrated National Assisted Living Week (NALW) from September 10 to 16. Inspired this year’s theme, “Family is Forever,” residents, their families and staff took the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the strong bonds and lasting imprints they share with each other.

Westwood Commons’ NALW celebration began on Sunday the 10^th with Grandparents Day and continued Monday with the creation of the Westwood Family Tree. Residents came together to trace their handprint and add leaves to the tree which is hung on a wall for all to see. Pictured on the left are Eleanor Rose and her daughter. Pictured on the right are Elaine Koch, Mary Light, Florence Vancott, Mary Volonino, Helen Kohler.

On Tuesday, residents and staff came together for a game of “taste, touch, smell” during which staff were blindfolded and challenged by residents to guess what item they were feeling. The following evening, friends and family of residents gathered for an open house celebration with live music, refreshments and gift basket raffles.

“The activities room was packed with residents, their families and staff singing and dancing along to songs provided by live entertainment,” said Administrator Stacie Major. “Families and staff were still talking about it the next day.”

Pictured clockwise above are Eleanor Burlinggame and her sister pictured with a basket they won, Irene Ventzos and Supervisor Megan McDaniels and Ruby Brown and daughter and son-in-law at the NALW Open House celebration, and Patricia Carberry enjoying pet therapy.

Residents were joined on Thursday by some furry friends, and the celebration wrapped up Friday with a staff appreciation cookout and ice cream social in the courtyard.

As Mayou Angelou said, “family isn’t always blood, it’s the people in your life who want you in theirs: the ones who accept you for who you are, the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.”

For more information about Westwood Commons, please contact Administrator Stacie Major at (585) 293-2060, at smajor@depaul.org or visit us on Facebook.