As a sign of gratitude, they will pay for pedicures for the elephants
This is not the punchline to a pachyderm joke. On Thursday, June 21, at 2 p.m., residents of GreenFields of Geneva retirement community will have front row viewing and real-time interaction with the staff and residents of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
Through an initiative called eWOW (Exploring the World Our Way), the virtual visitors from GreenFields will explore the elephant rescue site from the comfort of their own home.
eWOW was developed by the life enrichment team at GreenFields of Geneva earlier this year.
"A great number of our residents have been lifelong travelers," said Kathryn (Kat) Schumpert, life enrichment manager for the senior living community. "While many still travel, others stay closer to home. This is just one more way for all our residents to continue to see the world. We are committed to providing lifelong learning opportunities to our residents. Our residents are fascinated by technology and so putting travel, history, and technology all together in this package is just a great combination."
eWOW kicked off earlier this year with a step back in time to the Boston Tea Party Museum and Ships. Subsequent adventures have included Wyoming State Museum and Cleveland Museum of Art. Later this summer the residents will 'dive' the Great Barrier Reef.
The residents have been very enthusiastic about eWOW, which is promoted with themed activities and events from other GreenFields departments.
"Since the Elephant Sanctuary is in Tennessee, the dining services department will be featuring some Southern fare," said Emily Abrahamson, lifestyle coordinator at GreenFields. "The different departments really enjoy helping support this initiative."
Friendship Senior Options Foundation is sponsoring the eWOW initiative and will be making a donation on behalf of GreenFields to the Elephant Sanctuary. "At the top of the Sanctuary's wish list are pedicures and foot care as this helps promote the overall health of the elephants, so that's how we're requesting the donation be directed," Abrahamson said.
"When we first contacted the different destinations about eWOW, some of them had similar interactive virtual visits for school-age children, but we're charting new territory with our programs for seniors," Schumpert said. "The organizations are excited to customize the experience for the more mature audience.
GreenFields is an exceptional Life Plan Community offering a wonderful retirement lifestyle in an ideal location. GreenFields offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care with the most comprehensive plan available for long-term care if ever needed. For additional information, visit www.GreenFieldsofGeneva.org.