Why Somerset Healthcare and Rehabilitation's residents, staff celebrated 'Paradise at Prom'

SOMERSET ― Residents at Somerset Healthcare and Rehabilitation wore sparkly dresses and button-down shirts with wrist corsages and boutonnieres, had their pictures taken against a floral background and danced around palm trees, balloons and tropical flowers at their recent prom.

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For many of the residents, it was their first experience attending a prom in their lifetime. For Kerri Hahn, registered nurse assessment coordinator, it was the opportunity to fulfill a promise and make her last workday at the long-term care facility a happy one.

Going to the prom

Hahn and her prom date, resident Bob Friedline, were named king and queen at “Paradise at Prom,” held on June 28 at the facility, 228 Siemon Drive in Somerset.

“(Going to the prom) has been our joke between each other since I got here,” Hahn said. “So after five years, I finally got him to the prom.”

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Hahn said her decision to leave Somerset Healthcare and Rehabilitation for a remote position was hard, but she wanted her last day with the residents and staff, whom she calls family, to be happy rather than sad.

“Diane and April, who put this together, asked me what did I want for my last day, and I said I wanted the prom so I could take Bob. So they put it all together,” she said.

“It’s very hard to leave here, because this is one of the best places that I’ve worked. The staff here is amazing, as well as all the residents. I’m going to miss them so much, hopefully I’ll be able to come back and visit.”

'Very good energy and a lot of love'

Administrator Amy Handwerk said the staff got right to work planning the event, choosing a tropical theme and looking for formal and party dresses at yard sales and thrift shops. Men brought in dress shirts and ties, and the activities room became a formal wear shop where the residents could come and choose the dress or shirt they wanted to wear at the prom.

Each of the participating staff members asked a resident to be their prom date, and many of the couples then selected outfits in matching colors for the event. People from the community donated dresses and made the corsages and boutonnieres, and other healthcare agencies lent their support as well by donating refreshments and bringing in volunteers to do the residents’ hair and makeup for the prom, Handwerk said.

“This was such a good experience for the people here,” she said. “So many people jumped in on this with very good energy and a lot of love.”

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Hahn said that the residents love to dance, so having a prom was a happy way to spend her last day with everyone at Somerset Healthcare and Rehabilitation.

“This was so sweet, so nice, and I think the residents are loving it,” she said. “They haven’t had a prom here that I know of. They’ve had different types of events, but this is the first prom since I’ve been here. It means a lot, and I’m going to miss them so much. We’re their family, and they’re so much fun.

"This is like a family thing. When you come here, it’s family, so this is so nice celebrating everybody, not just me leaving or anything. I think they had a great time.”