By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
Each Thursday since Feb. 29, Prairie Senior Cottages along New Richland’s South Ash Avenue has been offering coffee, rolls and conversation to any community members who care to stop by.
Folks are also heartily invited to the facility’s open house–an outdoor cookout with a free lunch being offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 20.
As many as 20 people have attended the weekly coffee break, although numbers have been decreasing. “We hope people will make a habit of stopping by around 9 a.m. every Thursday,” observes facility manager Missy Czenkus. She points out that the dining area at Prairie Cottages is an inviting, comfortable space. She says she, the facility’s 15 or so staff members, and its 18 or so residents would enjoy the social interaction and conversation.
“We want to engage with the community and give them a better idea of what we’re all about,” she says. “I think everyone would enjoy themselves and make some connections.”
Visitors of all ages–perhaps especially children–are welcome. “Visiting our residents is not much different from visiting your grandma or your grandpa,” said Czenkus. “There’s a particularly strong connection between children and the elderly.”
So much so, she goes on, that Prairie Senior Cottages invites staff to bring their children to work. Czenkus tells of bringing her own 4-year-old, and says the visits are always enjoyable.
Prairie Senior Cottages specialize in memory care–that is, their facilities house individuals who are forgetful or confused because of their age or medical condition.
There is nothing confusing, however, about interacting with children. The facility installed a play area on its grounds during a recent remodeling project to enhance family events held on the grounds. “We have birthday parties and other celebrations here all the time,” said Czenkus. “Whether it’s outdoors during the warm part of the year or indoors in our living room and fireside area, people gather, share their experiences, and keep building relationships.”
Residents staying in the facility, according to Czenkus, come from a variety of backgrounds and from various communities; a number of residents have strong connections to the New Richland area.
The facility is purposely arranged, she explains, to be as “home-like” as possible. Many of the rooms and spaces are very similar to what most people have in their homes, but a little more spacious to accommodate larger numbers.
In addition to the April 20 open house and the weekly coffee hours, Czenkus says Prairie Senior Cottages is making it a priority to interact with the community. “We plan to be in the Farm and City Days parade,” Czenkus mentions. “And we are in the process of making some additional plans as the year moves forward.
She mentions that, prior to 2020, the facility had an arrangement with the school to have students visit and even sometimes sing or play music. “Of course the Covid pandemic brought that to a sudden stop, but we’d like to see it started up again,” she observes.
“It’s all based on times when people really did have ‘cottages,’ and people felt free to stop over, visit, and chat,” she said. “We’d like everyone to feel at home coming by for a visit.”
