For those wanting to put the “senior” in “senior prom,” an event at Matt Ross Community Center on June 17 was the perfect opportunity. Attendees were mainly residents and staff of various senior living communities.
The event featured a dance floor with music and disco lighting plus a hot buffet meal.
Attendee Elaine Nelson, a resident of Morningside Place, said she was enjoying some of the Frank Sinatra tunes at the beginning of the event.
“I love the music. I love to be around people. It’s loud and noisy, but it’s fun,” Nelson said.
Overland Park resident Joan Simoneau was there with her husband, Joe, a resident at Morningside Place.
“When you have to make the decision to put someone in a memory care home, you don’t look for the joy in life, but this reminds you that there is joy in any stage of life,” she said.
Senior living facilities from all over the area participated, from Morningside Place, virtually across the street from the community center, to SageGrove at Raymore.
Each facility crowned its own prom royalty at the event, complete with crowns and sashes. Frank Trimboli, executive director of Morningside Place, called the prom one of the top 10 moments of his career.
“This is I why I got into this. The memories triggered here are amazing,” he said.
Chasity Robinson Mwangi, senior community relations director at Morningside Place, led the planning for the event.
“I’ve had residents say they never went to their own senior prom,” she said. “… For them to have memories triggered through music and entertainment and joy, it’s just so heartfelt and beautiful.”
Check out more photos from the special event.
