On April 20th, Marquis Skilled Nursing resident, Helene Gallimore, 84, will travel to Santa Cruz to relive her fondest childhood memories.  The event facilitated through administrators at Marquis, a skilled nursing, assisted living and home health care company, and its New Chapters Program, will take Helene on a tour of her past, from dining on the Boardwalk to playing golf with friends. Marquis created the New Chapters Program to help senior citizens realize their lifelong dreams.
 
Memories of the Ocean
Helene Gallimore lived most of her life growing up in San Jose with her family. Her fondest memories from these times include taking trips to Santa Cruz to spend the day on the beach, sunning and people watching. She loved golfing at the local DeLavegga Golf Course with friends and eating at local diners.  After moving to Boise, Idaho for a job to support her family, Helene has always wanted to go return to the ocean and hit a few balls just one more time on the course.

During her residency at Marquis Care at Shaw Mountain, the facility’s maintenance supervisor, Danny Frazee, found that both he and Helene grew up and shared a love for the Santa Cruz area. During his visit with Helene, Danny discovered that Helene had always wanted to return back home to visit.

Remembering the smells, sounds and vivid colors of the area, Helene explains, “A trip to Santa Cruz would give me another reason to live.”

Returning to Her Past
On April 20, Helene will board an airplane to San Jose with Danny and her nurse, Jennifer Prescott, where her sister, nieces and nephews residing in the area will greet her. Afterwards, they will travel to Santa Cruz for a two-night stay at the Dream Inn Suites, located on the beach and close to the boardwalk, offering Helene the chance to take in those familiar sites and sounds. During her second day in Santa Cruz, Helene will hit the green at the DeLavegga Golf Course, where she will be able to take a few swings on the driving range, practice her putting skills, and even play a couple holes. For lunch, Helene, Danny and Jennifer will dine at Kianti’s Pizza and Pasta, something Helene always spoke of eating with her friends on the beach. Afterwards, the group will head to the beach to take some photos of Helene with the ocean. Lastly, the evening will end with dinner at Miramar Fish Grotto on the pier. Helene is looking forward to eating “fresh and delicious fish again.” To end her trip, Helene will enjoy a day at the Well Within Spa before heading back to Boise on April 22nd.

About Marquis Companies
Marquis Companies provide skilled nursing, long-term care, assisted living and memory care throughout its 26 facilities in Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho and Nevada.  Marquis’ sister company, Consonus, provides pharmacy, rehabilitation, staffing and consulting to the long term care community. Both family-owned companies share the mission to promote the vitality within everyone each company serves and its employees – and created its Vital Life Foundation to fulfill that mission.