Oktoberfest at Silver Wood Village
Silver Wood Village Administrator Ken Mitchell, CNA Carla Wickam and Recreational Director David Zumstein celebrate Oktoberfest with accordion player Anton Lazorovl and residents.
Photo by MOLLY ROBERTS
SILVERTON — Silver Wood Village, the Good Samaritan Society, returned to a sense of normalcy after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions with a delectable Oktoberfest feast and the folksy sounds of the accordion.
“We want people to know we are open again. Our residents are ready to socialize,” said CNA Carla Wickam. “We still had activities for residents during COVID restrictions, but they had to be spaced out and couldn’t invite many outside people in. It’s great to see everyone in a good mood, with smiles filling the room.”
The Bavarian feast was complete with cheese-filled pretzels, german sausages and sauerkraut, potato salad, dessert danishes, topping it all off with an ice-cold foamy root beer. Employees like Wickam dressed in traditional Oktoberfest garbs like lederhosen or dirndl, serving food and dancing with the residents. Smiles, laughter and clapping could be viewed throughout the room as residents enjoyed the musical accordion stylings of Anton Lazorovl, with some getting up to boogie, with others dancing in their chairs.
Silver Wood Village Recreational Director David Zumstein spoke with the News-Press about the flexibility that staff and residents had over the past couple of years.
“Trying to keep people six feet apart, some whose cognition is intact and some who is not. That was very challenging. We did a lot of one-on-ones, and independent activities,” Zumstein said. “At some point in time as things let up, then we could do bingo. But again, you had to keep six feet apart.”
Silver Wood Village and its employees are slowly building back to some of the fun events they were able to do two years ago.
“The big difference was when we were able to let people in. Like the recent Oktoberfest, and bringing in outside entertainment,” Zumstein said. “The Mennonites use to come once every month on Sunday, and it’s been two and a half years since we were able to let them back in.”
The village is excited to announce that they will be open for Trick or Treating on Halloween from 6-7 p.m. in the day room for children to come through and receive treats (and hopefully not tricks!) from the residents.
For more information on the Good Samaritan Society-Silver Wood Village, visit good-sam.com or call 208-254-6381.