ALLISON RUPP Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Monday, June 22, 2009 12:00 am
Memories ran through Eva Palmer's head as she scuffled her feet in the hay and waited for the country Western band to play its next set.
In her younger years, she and friends used to have dances in the old barn on her family's ranch north of Hanna. The piano came into the barn on a hay sling, she said, and she always spent the following day cleaning up a mess from all the fun.
"Oh man, we rocked the barn," she said.
"From the music?" asked Jennifer Kelley.
"From the dancing," Palmer exclaimed.
Residents at Primrose Retirement Communities and seniors from all over Casper didn't have to worry too much about the "barn" rocking Saturday, no matter how loud the music played or how fast their feet moved. The barn for this barn dance was actually a parking structure.
It took about 90 bales of hay, two country bands and saddles, bridles and cowboy boots to turn the parking garage at Primrose into the perfect place to host a proper barn-yard dance.
And of course, staff moved about 26 residents' cars to alternative parking spots.
Primrose hosted the first Annual Senior Day by inviting other assisted living facilities, nursing homes and all seniors in the community, along with their families, to join them in a day of dancing, eating and socializing.
"Even though some of them have moved away from home, we want them to know that this is their home," said Kelley, life enrichment coordinator at Primrose. "We are like one big family."
The barn and country theme fit perfect with the College National Finals Rodeo in town this week, Kelley said.
Palmer thought people should dance more while fellow Primrose resident Susan Olsen wanted to bring her parrot to the barn to dance with her.
Olsen said she cried when she saw how the staff had decorated the "barn" and all the hard work it must have required.
"It was good to see people excited about it," Olsen said. "I am so excited I can't sit still."
Olsen didn't have time to sit still if she wanted to complete all the activities the staff planned for the residents. She had her picture taken with ponies.
Children tried to lasso a plastic steer in front of the barn while grandfathers looked on reminiscing about "the old ropin' days."
About 15 residents from Life Care Center of Casper came to the event.
"They were arguing about who was going to get on the bus first," said Suzi McKay, associate coordinator at the nursing home.
Events like these "keep seniors alive," McKay said.
"I think it's totally awesome to get together all these seniors," McKay said. "It's nice to see them socialize with different levels of care."
Life Care is a skilled nursing facility while Primrose offers independent and assisted living for seniors.
Primrose plans to hold an annual senior day in June every year, Kelley said. Next year, she plans to host a luau.
Though, Palmer's speciality might be the country Western dances, she just might learn how to hula.
Contact health reporter Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.