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ORANGE PARK – Millions of people spend Valentine’s Day alone each year but at least one Orange Park area health care facility set out to ensure their patients had company on this special day.
Life Care Center at Wells Crossing hosted its annual Valentine’s Day prom-like celebration that sees a lot of the patients in the center come together for food, live music and the coronation of the prince, princess, king and of course, queen. The celebration brings together people who might otherwise be spending the day alone.
“This is so important because they’re in a nursing home,” said Supora Fairbanks, Life Care Center activity director. “They might not have anything else. Some of them don’t even have family to visit them so they look forward to events like this where they can be with others.”
One patient, 57-year-old Richard Haertel, can’t say much because of a disability that hampers his speech, but he doesn’t need to – his face says it all. While singing along to songs from his era, Haertel never missed the flash of the camera, and made sure to strike a pose at every opportunity. Haertel became a resident of Life Care Center after a few months of short-term rehabilitation. He ended up liking life at the center so much during his short-term stay that he transitioned into a full-time resident.
“Life here is good,” Haertel said with the help of a speech therapist.
Haertel not only owned the photography spotlight, but the celebration as well because he was crowned king. According to his speech therapist, this was a moment he had been waiting weeks for. Haertel was just as charming to his queen, 64-year-old Karen Booker, as he was charismatic to the cameras. Booker also transitioned from a short-term resident to a long-term resident after enjoying life at the facility so much.
After their coronation and crowning, Haertel placed a friendly kiss on Booker’s cheek before the two took to the dance floor.
According to Booker, Haertel’s charm wasn’t just an act for the celebration – he’s always that charming.
“He’s one of the sweetest guys here,” Booker said. “He’s the perfect king.”
Alongside the king and queen of this Valentine’s Day event, a prince and princess were crowned as well. While the king and queen were chosen by their nursing home peers, the prince and princess were two Life Care Center staff members nominated by their co-workers.
“It’s such an honor to be chosen by our family here,” prince Dane Sturgeon, who is the director of rehabilitation, said. “And to be up here alongside them [Haertel and Booker] makes this all the better. They’re some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
Sturgeon’s “work wife” Joyce Ball, who has been a nurse with Life Care Center for a little over a year, said she’s happy to work at a nursing home that offers such a great quality of life that people like Haertel and Booker decide to remain residents at the facility.
“It tells me we’re doing our jobs right,” Ball said.