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GOOD NEWS
Basketball player takes
timeout for Hillview patients
 Whether
playing against the Chicago Bulls, the L.A. Lakers, the Memphis
Grizzlies or any other professional basketball team, California’s
Golden State Warriors will always be favored at Hillview Community
Living Center in Dresden. During basketball season, all eyes are
glued to hometown favorite Ronald “Popeye” Jones.
A 10-year veteran of the NBA, Jones, a Dresden native, shows
integrity not only on the court, but in the community as well. Just
ask anyone who was at Hillview recently, when the basketball star
made a surprise visit to the facility, fulfilling the “Second Wind
Dreams” of two patients and spreading excitement throughout the
entire nursing home.
“Second Wind Dreams” is a program designed to meet patients’
emotional needs. With help from the community, friends and families,
the facility offers patients opportunities to live out specific
dreams or wishes, explains Kathy Watson, the facility’s activity
director.
 Lynette
Wilson and Ruth Cooper shared the same wish – to meet Jones, their
favorite basketball player. Enlisting the help of his family and
friends, Hillview Community Living Center’s employees were able to
reach Jones, who did not hesitate to make the two ladies’ dreams
come true. When the 6-foot-8-inch athlete walked in the room, the
two ladies could only cry tears of joy, Watson says.
For an hour, Jones visited Wilson and Cooper and a number of other
patients, stopping to give autographs and pause for pictures. “We
were delighted to have Popeye visit us,” says Janet Pulley, the
facility’s administrator. “His visit to Hillview not only fulfilled
the dreams of our two patients, but it also showed just how caring
and thoughtful he really is.”
“Popeye is someone we are really proud of in our community,” Watson
adds.
“Good News”
is a feature designed to spotlight some of the many
positive aspects of long-term care in Tennessee. Know of a “good
news”
item?
Contact THCA’s Communications Department at info@thca.org.
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