Centre County senior living facility, families get creative on Mother’s Day amid pandemic

After weeks of virtual and window visits, residents at Elmcroft of State College were able to see their family members in a new way on Sunday, along with cars decorated to the hilts for the senior living community’s first Mother’s Day parade.

The Farmstead Lane community has been on lockdown since mid-March as part of recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Amanda Brehman, Elmcroft’s sales director, said the idea for a Mother’s Day parade came from an out-of-state facility that did something similar.

“We wanted to give back to our residents and families because we know it sometimes is a struggle at times due to the restrictions,” Brehman said.

Julie and Tony Degliomini, of Pennsylvania Furnace, were immediately on board with the plan, after weeks of video chats and window visits with Julie’s 87-year-old mother. First, they raided their garage for supplies to create a “flowers and butterflies” theme for their SUV, with streamers, balloons and homemade signs. Theirs was one of dozens of vehicles creatively decorated, all with the goal of putting behind-the-mask smiles on the faces of the residents, who were spaced six feet apart around the facility’s circular driveway.

“This must be a hard Mother’s Day for so many of (the residents),” Julie Degliomini said.

Centre LifeLink EMS led the parade, with other vehicles decorated with bouquets of flowers, stuffed animals, photographs and more, while grandchildren and dogs stuck their heads out of windows.

Residents had signs of their own — male residents wishing wives and daughters a happy Mother’s Day, others sharing messages of love. Pompoms were also in hand, and Brehman said residents spent the week getting ready and excited for the day.

“Although the title is ‘Mother’s Day parade,’ it’s really for all of our residents,” she said. “I know they’re excited to see their loved ones and also their canine companions.”

Sisters Kathe Craig and Eileen Melia, of State College, last saw their 96-year-old mother face-to-face and without barriers on March 16, but they make frequent window visits, dressed in a different costume each time. Craig said she’s grateful to Elmcroft staff for doing what they can to keep her mother’s spirits up during a difficult time, while the family is looking forward to a future where restrictions are eased.

“I just want to get in there and give her a big hug and kiss,” Melia said.

This story was originally published May 10, 2020 at 4:51 PM.