For The First Time, This Nursing Home Opens Its Doors For Kids To Trick Or Treat And Gets Over 5,000 Visitors
No matter if you’re young or old, most of us love Halloween. What’s not to love? The streets get filled with joyous trick-or-treaters, adults get a chance to play dress-up, and homes are filled with massive quantities of candy. However, a retirement home is not the first place trick-or-treaters think of when they go on their hunt. But as it turns out, the elderly, who live in nursing homes and already feel lonely as it is, can’t wait for the kids to come up to ask for candy. Just recently, one nursing home in Webster, Texas took it to Facebook to ask people to donate candy which they could give out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Not only did people donate candy, but thousands of them came to celebrate All Hallows Eve together with the elderly, leaving them ecstatic.
More info: Facebook
These retirement home residents were missing the true Halloween spirit so they invited trick-or-treaters to come
Image credits: HeartisCL
“We need trick or treaters! Please bring your children, grandchildren, and their friends to Heartis Clear Lake at 14520 Hwy 3, Webster, TX 77598 on October 31st between 6-8 pm for a night of fun! We will have a moonwalk, hayride, games, food and lots of candy! Come one! Come all!” the Facebook post read.
A few weeks prior, the residents asked for candy donations so they could hand them out to the neighborhood
Image credits: HeartisCL
The staff of the nursing home photographed their residents holding up the signs that said: “We miss giving candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Please help us reach our goal of collecting enough candy to invite the community to our home for a safe and fun place to trick-or-treat. Thank you!”
The elders received tons of it
Image credits: HeartisCL
“Thank you to all of our neighbors for taking a moment to donate candy to our residents! Just look at all of the candy! Our residents are excited and we can’t wait to host a community trick or treat event for our neighborhood kids!” Heartis Senior Living posted on their Facebook page.
And were waiting for Halloween to hand them out
Image credits: HeartisCL
“We are extremely thankful for all the generosity that poured in from around the nation. It was the most unbelievable selfless act of kindness from complete strangers,” a Heartis Senior Living center representative told Bored Panda.
The celebration was a huge success with over 5,000 people visiting the elders
Image credits: HeartisCL
“It was absolutely AMAZING! We had over 5,000 visitors including kids and parents. Our residents were overjoyed!”
Who were overjoyed to spend the holiday together with their community members
Image credits: HeartisCL
“It was the first celebration of its kind in the community,” the staff of the retirement home told Bored Panda. “We are hoping to make this an annual event for our residents and the surrounding community.”
Here’s what people had to say
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this is so much better than rich celebrities showing off extravagant costumes
While out trick-or-treating last night we stopped by a house that was on a street that was not heavily trafficked by trick-or-treaters. The man who answered the door was so happy that we rang his doorbell (I think we were his only trick-or-treaters) and thanked us for coming by so he could hand out candy. Halloween is not just for the kids, it can be just as much fun for the people handing out the candy. I can imagine that is even more true for people who are in rest homes and don't get to get out into the community as much. What a wonderful night for everyone.
Now this right here also would have been a cute story featured!!! This is adorable
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This is really heartwarming and such a wonderful idea. Many elders in nursing homes suffer from loneliness and seeing these children all dressed up and being able to hand out candy and laugh with them must have been wonderful.
I would love to be a part of this community! My grandma was my best friend and she made me realize that kids and the elderly have the most special of relationships. This is beautiful
If you think about it, these older folks went trick or treating when they were kids. Then, when they grew up, they gave out the candy. When they had kids of their own, they took them trick or treating. Why should it have to end for them now that they need care and are no longer able to live in their own homes? Trick or treating at nursing homes should become a new tradition, continuing the cycle by involving every generation from beginning to end.
What a great way to bring joy to multi generations. Old folks and kids belong together more often.
Wonderful enrichment for everyone. The Seniors get the joy of seeing the adorable youngster and giving them candy. And the young Trick or Treaters get to see the Seniors in a fun atmosphere, which makes the seniors a little less scary. I hope that more nursing homes join in the celebration (I would be happy to donate candy to any of my local homes)
This is so precious. The love from the residents, the generosity of the community and the children and parents who went trick or treating there. My grandma had alzheimers and i couldnt care for her alone so i found an amazing nursing home. I visited her often but some people dont get visitors often. This is so beautiful to see
Remember »All in the Family»? Edith Bunker worked in The Sunshine Home as a voluntary worker.This could have been HER idea.
Every nursing home should do this!! (Just make sure the kiddos are healthy.). :-)
My Dad lived for Halloween; he always had a big tray of treats for kids in the neighborhood. He came from a big family and loved kids.
We have a slightly complicated relationship with Halloween because a) my husband is a pastor but b) we don't have any problems with Halloween but c) some of our congregation do and would be shocked/horrified etc to see us going round in costume (note, Halloween in UK is normally much more to do with zombies, witches, vampires, devils than just a general dress up day, it's a bit darker) so d) we stay in and hand out sweets and enjoy everyone else's costumes.
How though. A total of like 20 people came to our house this Halloween... I don't know why, but the number gets lower and lower every year
This started a while ago when parents were concerned about what treats were being handed out. Private Halloween parties have become the norm.
Load More Replies... this is so much better than rich celebrities showing off extravagant costumes
While out trick-or-treating last night we stopped by a house that was on a street that was not heavily trafficked by trick-or-treaters. The man who answered the door was so happy that we rang his doorbell (I think we were his only trick-or-treaters) and thanked us for coming by so he could hand out candy. Halloween is not just for the kids, it can be just as much fun for the people handing out the candy. I can imagine that is even more true for people who are in rest homes and don't get to get out into the community as much. What a wonderful night for everyone.
Now this right here also would have been a cute story featured!!! This is adorable
Load More Replies... This is really heartwarming and such a wonderful idea. Many elders in nursing homes suffer from loneliness and seeing these children all dressed up and being able to hand out candy and laugh with them must have been wonderful.
I would love to be a part of this community! My grandma was my best friend and she made me realize that kids and the elderly have the most special of relationships. This is beautiful
If you think about it, these older folks went trick or treating when they were kids. Then, when they grew up, they gave out the candy. When they had kids of their own, they took them trick or treating. Why should it have to end for them now that they need care and are no longer able to live in their own homes? Trick or treating at nursing homes should become a new tradition, continuing the cycle by involving every generation from beginning to end.
What a great way to bring joy to multi generations. Old folks and kids belong together more often.
Wonderful enrichment for everyone. The Seniors get the joy of seeing the adorable youngster and giving them candy. And the young Trick or Treaters get to see the Seniors in a fun atmosphere, which makes the seniors a little less scary. I hope that more nursing homes join in the celebration (I would be happy to donate candy to any of my local homes)
This is so precious. The love from the residents, the generosity of the community and the children and parents who went trick or treating there. My grandma had alzheimers and i couldnt care for her alone so i found an amazing nursing home. I visited her often but some people dont get visitors often. This is so beautiful to see
Remember »All in the Family»? Edith Bunker worked in The Sunshine Home as a voluntary worker.This could have been HER idea.
Every nursing home should do this!! (Just make sure the kiddos are healthy.). :-)
My Dad lived for Halloween; he always had a big tray of treats for kids in the neighborhood. He came from a big family and loved kids.
We have a slightly complicated relationship with Halloween because a) my husband is a pastor but b) we don't have any problems with Halloween but c) some of our congregation do and would be shocked/horrified etc to see us going round in costume (note, Halloween in UK is normally much more to do with zombies, witches, vampires, devils than just a general dress up day, it's a bit darker) so d) we stay in and hand out sweets and enjoy everyone else's costumes.
How though. A total of like 20 people came to our house this Halloween... I don't know why, but the number gets lower and lower every year
This started a while ago when parents were concerned about what treats were being handed out. Private Halloween parties have become the norm.
Load More Replies... 
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