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Earlier this year Spring Arbor of Albemarle launched a “Monotony Breaker” series of special events planned quarterly throughout the year to bring residents an over-the-top memorable experience.

Each event includes food prepared by the in-house food service team, theme-related activities and time shared with families.
During August, the Spring Arbor community was transformed to provide a true luau experience.

Teammates and residents hand-crafted decorations for weeks to prepare for the event. Residents’ excitement grew with each passing day as new decorations were placed throughout the house, from tiki bars and totem poles to handmade paper flowers surrounding fully functioning indoor waterfalls.

The week-long celebration came to a fun-filled end with more than 120 guests joining residents to celebrate. After enjoying a meal together with family, guests at the luau had tikki toddy cocktails in hand listening to the rhythmic tunes of steel drums played by Nate Brown.

Others could be found dancing the night away as the foyer became the dance floor and guests and residents alike were showing off their best moves.

“Y’all made everything look so pretty and our kitchen team did all this,” said resident Vonda Thomas as she took in the appetizer display.

Mary “Mickey” Kiser danced until the drums were silent then said, “This has been such a fun night!” as she came off the dance floor.

The Spring Arbor team spent countless hours hand-crafting decorations, carving fruit displays and cooking an authentic Hawaiian meal to prepare for the night.

“We (the team) are privileged to work in our residents’ home. They become a part of our extended families and it brings us so much joy to transform the community and bring moments of joy like this,” said Audrey Durgin, executive director of Spring Arbor. “This is what makes working at Spring Arbor so special. It truly was a night to remember.”