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The 'King of Rock 'n' Roll' makes Afton Park resident's dream come true
A performance from an Elvis impersonator received 'the biggest turnout that Afton has ever seen'
9/27/2023
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Deron Hamel
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An Afton Park Place resident's lifelong dream was to meet Elvis Presley and tour Graceland. But since the resident couldn't make it to Memphis, team members at the Sarnia long-term care community brought Elvis and Graceland to the resident.
Nicole Roegiest, Afton Park Place's life enrichment manager, says the resident, Arlene, was excited to learn that an Elvis impersonator would be visiting the home and she even played a part in planning the June 30 event.
Each day during the week leading up to Elvis's visit was peppered with activities and events that had an Elvis theme, Nicole says.
Residents enjoyed a wide range of Elvis-themed programs, including an Elvis trivia, an Elvis fun-fact day and a virtual tour of Graceland, the King of Rock 'n' Roll's famous estate in Memphis, that was made possible with iPads.
Residents and team members worked together to create a decorative Elvis sign as well as a balloon arch that was part of the stage the Elvis impersonator performed on.
“There was a little dabble of Elvis each day to get the residents excited,” Nicole tells S&R Today.
And Arlene couldn't have been happier when the big day arrived.
“Elvis wowed us with his talents and made a resident's dream come true,” Nicole says.
All 126 residents came down to watch the performer – who did a “phenomenal” job – sing some of Elvis's famous songs, Nicole adds.
“It was the biggest turnout that Afton has seen.”
The day's event finished with an Elvis-themed dinner which saw residents dining on some of Elvis's favourite foods, including roast turkey with all the trimmings, as well as peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which Elvis made famous.
Nicole says the event will be remembered for a long time at Afton Park Place.
“We couldn't have asked for a better turnout of families and residents,” she says.
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