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GOOD NEWS
Christmas brings elders and toddlers together in Knoxville
 Shannondale
nursing home decked its halls with toddlers this Christmas, as the
Hug-A-Tot program in Knoxville held its annual Christmas bash Dec. 5
at the long-term care facility.
Hug-A-Tot was established 16 years ago by Mari Brooks of Knoxville.
Since then, mothers have brought their pre-school age children to the
nursing home twice a month to sing songs, make crafts and eat snacks
with the patients. And the holiday season rates a very special visit.
This year, the children made decorative door hangers for the patients
at Shannondale, visited with Mrs. Claus and cooked up some reindeer
food to take home and leave for Rudolph on the 24th. Christmas carols
as well as red and green balloons filled the air on the day of the
visit, according to the facility's activities director.
At least 10 children visit the nursing home and Shannondale's assisted
living facility each month, and at Christmas they often bring gifts
for residents who may not have any.
 "They make
the patients feel good about themselves. And the residents love the
interaction with the children," says Mark Stoudenmire, administrator
at Shannondale. The visits also help the patients maintain their
memories of family, past and present, he says.
Visits from the children lighten up the patients' whole life, says the
activity director. Patients love to watch the children climb and run
and laugh. And the children learn that there are people in the world
who very much need friendship and fellowship.
“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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