On the beautiful afternoon of June 11, Life Care Center of Valparaiso hosted its sixth annual car show. Members of the Winamac Old Auto Club brought over 15 antique and classic cars to be displayed in the Life Care Center of Valparaiso parking lot. The facility’s residents came out to enjoy the weather, see the cars, eat, and chat. Life Care Center of Valparaiso staff prepared a delicious spread for the event, including hot dogs, soda, and chips. Classic tunes like “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals were played on a speaker to help set the mood. Maintenance Director at Life Care Center of Valparaiso Jamie Janeczko, a classic car owner himself, manned the grill, supplying the attendees with some tasty barbecue. He feels that the car show is a very beneficial event for residents.
“The residents love the car show because they get to see cars from the eras they grew up in,” Janeczko said. “It gives them a chance to reminisce and relive some of their fond memories. They also get to interact with the great people at the Winamac Car Club. I’m glad that I get to give back to the club members by providing them with a free lunch. The residents enjoy music and social interaction. The car show always puts a smile on their faces and that’s what it’s all about.”
Life Care Center of Valparaiso is a long- and short-term care facility that offers senior citizens a variety of services including a rehab-to-home program, skilled nursing care, social services, and case management. The staff seeks to help their residents thrive by providing them with a daily schedule of fun and stimulating activities. Angela Monahan, director of business development at Life Care Center of Valparaiso, views the car show as a reflection of her organization’s values.
“Fun events like the car show demonstrate that the staff members at Life Care Center of Valparaiso are all here to make life a little bit easier for our residents,” Monahan said. “We want to be a part of their lives however much they will allow us to be. I enjoy attending this event because there’s nothing like sitting with them as they reminisce and tell their stories. The car show is also a great opportunity for us to connect with the assisted living and independent living centers that we partner with. It’s all about maintaining those community connections and supporting each other. The car show is truly my favorite event.”
A variety of vehicles were on display, including a 1923 Ford Model T, a 1964 Ford F-100 truck, and a 1961 Ford Galaxie. A Corvette along with several models of Mustangs were featured in the lineup as well. Residents and their family members made their way around the parking lot and looked at the cars. Owners stood at the ready, enthusiastically sharing interesting facts about their vehicles with passersby. Glen Ewen, president of the Winamac Old Auto Club, enjoys coming out every year to help Life Care Center of Valparaiso put on the auto show.
“This event gives us a reason to drive our cars and have a party,” Ewen said. "There are 150 of us in the club and we’re all friends with each other. The club members and I are happy to help Life Care Center of Valparaiso put on this car show and in turn, they’re kind enough to give us a nice lunch. They’re all very nice people and they’ve been really good to us over the years.”
Georgianna Balas, director of marketing and sales at Green Oaks of Valparaiso, was also in attendance. She considers the car show to be an excellent opportunity to recognize the important role that the Life Care Center of Valparaiso plays in the community.
“This is an important event because it draws attention to Life Care Center of Valparaiso and shows community members what they do here and what they stand for,” Balas said. “I wanted to come out here and show my support because our organizations work hand-in-hand. Residents may end up leaving here and come live with us and our residents could possibly come and live here, so we have to support each other as much as possible. I hope that community members will come out and see this beautiful building and the quality of this facility’s staff.”
Please visit lcca.com/locations/in/valparaiso to learn more about the nursing and rehabilitation services that Life Care Center of Valparaiso offers its patients.
