National Receptionist Day-National Receptionist Day is observed every year on the second Wednesday in May to recognize the dedication, patience, and positive first impressions that front-line staff provide to organizations. I believe we can all agree that we have the best receptionists around. Mary Goins and Lisa Enlow consistently go above and beyond to assist everyone. Their warm smiles create a friendly atmosphere for anyone who walks through our doors.

Flag Raising Ceremony- We are very grateful for the generosity that made this possible. We would like to thank the Ephraim McDowell Auxiliary and other private donors whose contributions helped bring this vision to reality.  We are also thankful for the assistance from VFW Post 3634 and Donnie Conaster and Jack Hendrick for their time and assistance during this entire process.  This moment is espically meaningful because this flag was very important to our residents. It has been on their wish list for quite some time, and we are proud to see that wish come true.

Derby Week Fun-Residents and staff had a delightful time celebrating the Kentucky Derby week. Our aspiring milliners reveled in designing and crafting their own derby hats for the occasion. Additionally, we hosted a McDowell Place derby, where residents embraced the spirit of friendly competition along with the joy of earning bragging rights.

Now That’s Entertainment!-We had several musical groups this month and all were fantastic! The lineup included: Violinist, Regan Walkerhouse, Danville Dulcimers, John Crance and Pete Wdowriarz, and Young at Heart Big Band. Residents, staff, and families enjoyed the opportunity to sample different genres of music.

Texture Collages-Our memory care residents engage their creativity by crafting individual texture collages with an array of materials, such as papers, objects, pressed flowers, and fabric. Each collage is a unique masterpiece. Additionally, they take pleasure in arranging flower bouquets to beautify the unit and creating their own derby hats.

“Golden Years Gala”-McDowell Place proudly hosted our annual “senior” prom, where attendees enjoyed the lively tunes of the Young at Heart Big Band. The evening’s highlight was the coronation of the 2026 Prom King and Queen. We are thrilled to announce that Bill Grimes has been crowned as our king, while Bettye Long takes the title of queen.

“I’ll Paca My Bags”- Residents thoroughly enjoyed taking part in our latest Senior University session, where they stepped into the gentle world of alpacas through a fascinating presentation by Allyson Navarro. They discovered the rich history and unique behaviors of these docile animals, and absolutely loved passing around tactile samples of “the fiber of the gods” to feel its famous weightless softness for themselves. From learning about the meticulous spring harvesting process to discovering how the fleece is used in many different ways, the lecture sparked a wonderful afternoon of curiosity, smiles, and lively group discussion about alpacas. We can’t wait to go visit SugarShack Alpaca Farm this fall!