Love is in the air at Redstone Villa Nursing Home

Residents renew marriage vows as center shows love to hospital volunteers.
St. Albans, Vt.

February is such a cold month, that it's a perfect time for warm feelings. That's certainly the case at Redstone Villa Nursing Home, the 30-bed skilled rehabilitation and health care center in St. Albans. On Friday, February 11, the center celebrated Valentine's Day a bit early by hosting a very special Renewal of Vows for rehabilitation patients, long-term care residents and their spouses. Staff member Jason Williams led the ceremony, attended by resident Marcel LaMarche, who came to Redstone Villa in 2004, and his wife Aurora. The couple, celebrating nearly 70 years of marriage, met in grade school in Canada, married in 1942 and bought a farm in Alburgh, Vermont. There wasn't a dry eye in the room as the LaMarches commemorated a relationship that began in the Big Band era, and is still going strong more than a decade into the new century. Also renewing their vows were resident Dalton Machia and his wife Grace, from Fairfax, Vermont, who met in high school and have been married since 1947. Dalton has been a resident at Redstone since 2007.

"Spending time in a rehabilitation and health care center is a significant life change," says Vicki Bohannon, Redstone Villa's Admissions Coordinator, "so it's vitally important to maintain residents' connections with the people they love. Knowing that you are loved has a significant impact on your health and wellbeing. We see it in our residents, and it's just as important for their loved ones."

That's not the only source of affection at Redstone Villa this month. On February 22, the center is hosting a Gratitude Brunch for more than a dozen local volunteers who work at hospital reception stations. According to center administrator Charlene Bedor, volunteers are an important link between hospitals and health care centers like Redstone Villa, and they are an essential part of compassionate health care. "We are so grateful to the volunteers who donate their time to staff the reception desks at our local hospitals," says Bedor, "and who are always eager to help us, patients and families get needed information, and make patients' transitions as smooth as possible."

Redstone Villa Nursing Home, a member of Revera Health Systems, offers post-acute rehabilitation care and therapy after surgery or illness for adults of all ages, as well as long-term, respite and hospice care.