Celebrating St. Patty’s Day at the Shoreham Intermediate Care Facility
For Patty McCarthy, a Shoreham Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) resident, St. Patrick’s Day was more than just a holiday celebrating Irish pride.
“It’s St. Patty’s Day!” cheered Manager Maura Boden, as Patty giggled with a broad smile.
Since February, Patty has been counting the days following Valentine’s Day to St. Patrick’s Day. She even wanted to skip her calendar forward to March before February was over.
Leading up to the day, Patty hung a St. Patrick’s Day flag on her wall and painted her nails green. When asked to be this year’s Grand Marshal of the Shoreham ICF St. Patrick’s Day Parade around the campus, Patty indeed obliged.
Finally, March 17 arrived! But the weather was not cooperating with everyone’s plans.
As always, Shoreham staff acted quickly to adjust.
With the hallways of the Magnolia residence decorated with green tinsel and a table in the lobby offering St. Patrick’s Day goodies like corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and party accessories like fun hats, necklaces, and bubbles, everyone was ready to make it a day to remember with an indoor parade.
As Irish folk music played on the speaker, Patty handed out green leis to all who wanted to participate. Staff worked together to ensure everyone was ready to spread Irish cheer by offering fun hats and necklaces to everyone who wanted to wear them. Once everyone was ready, Patty, the Grand Marshal, and Maura led the parade through the hallway as staff members cheered from the sidelines.
All the fun culminated in the lobby with a St. Patrick’s Day pep rally! People supported and staff blew bubbles, and Maura led everyone in, cheering, “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!”
At the end of the festivities, Patty declared that St. Patrick’s Day is her favorite holiday.