Christmas music filled the dining room and hallways at Cortland Acres as the seasonal tradition Cortland’s Christmas Carols & Cookies made a return to the skilled long-term care facility.
Sponsored by The Cortland Foundation, the holiday celebration featured residents singing and tapping their toes while Patricia Allison, music therapist and owner of Milestones & Music, and intern Elizabeth Mesogianes sang and played the piano and viola.
“It was a thrill to be able to put together this Christmas program for the residents this year,” said Allison, who leads the music therapy program at Cortland Acres. “It’s been nearly two years since we have played and sang together at an in-person event. Music is better when we can make it together.”
Cortland Administrator Beth Clevenger said that the Cortland Acres staff and residents have experienced very challenging times since Covid-19 emerged.
“We wanted to make this Christmas extra special for everyone,” Clevenger said. “What better way to do that than by welcoming back our music therapy program into the facility. Residents always enjoy the warmth of an old-fashioned Christmas carol sing-along and listening to the musicians playing.”
Allison worked with Crystal Boone, member of the Cortland Foundation Board, who organized this year’s holiday event. Boone, aka “Ms. Claus, ” emceed the event and entertained the residents during each of the three 45-minute shows.
“Doesn’t it just make you want to dance and sing,” Boone said smiling and moving around the room to make sure the residents were having a good time. “Santa has been telling me who’s been naughty or nice.”
Each Carols & Cookie show opened with a special handbell performance by Pastor Ruth Bullwinkle of St. John’s Lutheran Church with volunteer and Pines resident Beverly Ellison accompanying on the piano.
“It’s so special to be back at Cortland Acres playing the handbells for the residents again,” Bullwinkle said. “I’ve missed all these smiling faces. The residents always love it when I play the handbells for them. They get a big smile on their face.”
Residents were treated to songs such as Deck the Halls, Away in the Manger, Joy to the World, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, O Holy Night, and Jingle Bell Rock. During the sing-a-long portion of the program, residents shouted out their favorite Christmas carols.
At the end of the performance, each resident was handed a bag of holiday cookies to take back to their room.
Cortland Acres leads the way with unique and innovative programs like music therapy which offers a compassionate and holistic approach to senior living. Prior to the pandemic, Milestones & Music was visiting the facility four times a month to play and sing with the residents.
“The weekly sessions give residents something to look forward to,” Clevenger said. “Singing is incredibly beneficial, especially for older people, as music and sound are closely linked to memory recall.”
The Cortland Acres campus includes a 94-bed long-term care facility, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and programs, rental apartments in Pineview, and garden and patio homes in The Pines. For information on the programs and services offered at Cortland Acres, call 304-463-4181 or visit www.cortlandacres.org.