Party time!

Community Memorial Health Center is ready to cut loose.

The Hartley nursing home will celebrate National Nursing Home Week in grand fashion May 9-15. Each day has a special theme, with several activities planned to keep residents busy.

The party is extra special this year, as residents and staff have had to follow strict COVID-19 guidelines for the past 14 months. With vaccinations numbers increasing and coronavirus positivity rates plummeting, the CMHC has been allowed to loosen restrictions recently.

"Last year we weren't able to do much because residents were mostly restricted to their rooms, so this year we're making it a big bash," said CMHC Administrator Dr. Janette Simon. "It's going to be so much fun."

The theme to the five-day celebration is "Through the Seasons." Monday is "Spring Fling," Tuesday is "Summer Hawaiian Luau," Wednesday is "Summer County Fair," Thursday is "Fall Oktoberfest" and Friday is "Winter Carnival."

Residents and staff will partake in a variety of activities and chow down on delicious food to coincide with each theme. Students from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn are also planning to partake in the fun, as third graders will do sidewalk chalk art and bubbles on Tuesday. FFA members will host a petting zoo the following day as well.

COVID-19 precautions will still be observed, according to Simon.

"We wanted to involve as much of the community as we can, from afar or outside," she said. "We're able to do that kind of stuff with the elementary kids and FFA petting zoo."

Simon was particularly eager for "Fall Oktoberfest" on Thursday, which features a variety of German food and a wiener dog parade. CMHC encourages anyone with a dachshund to contact the facility and participate in the spectacle.

"We have a variety of things for people to be excited about," said Simon. "It will be so fun."

Staff and residents planned the weeklong celebration. Simon noted CMHC's board of directors agreed to dole out $11,000 in Hartley Bucks to staff members in honor of National Nursing Home Week. It's the third time in a year board members have given employees the local spending "cash."

"$33,000 is a real shot in the arm," Simon said.

Simon said residents have been pouring over next week's schedule and picking out their most anticipated events.

"I think that it just adds to the optimism that we're feeling as more people get vaccinated and protocols get loosened," she said. "We will have lots of fun and we're excited."