Miranda Pederson/Daily News

Local retirement and nursing homes are a little brighter this holiday season, thanks to visits and donations from schools, churches and other organizations. Theyve been coming in, doing Christmas caroling and bringing the residents gifts, said Loretha Withrow, social services activities coordinator for Village Manor retirement home. I think its very important for our residents to interact with the community, especially during this time of year. Its important that local people bring holiday cheer to elderly residents who cant get out during Christmas and New Years, said Hal Stopfel, communications director for the AARP. The group, which will be lobbying for more protection for frail seniors during the 2004 legislative session, sends chapter members and volunteers to nursing homes and retirement villages all year, but tries to make sure the holidays are special for residents. If they are cognizant of what time of year it is, they could be missing family and need some extra attention, he said. I think Kentuckians are a loving group of people. They just love to spread that love around to the elderly. At Fern Terrace Lodge of Bowling Green, residents have gotten lots of visits, according to Deborah Barraza, assistant administrator of the nursing home. A school group came and sang and a group from 4-H dropped by. Some residents were also taken to a dance at the local Knights of Columbus hall. It makes a big difference, Barraza said. If nobody came to see you and it was Christmas time, youd probably feel kind of down. But these people have a lot to look forward to. We make sure of that. Wednesday, the residents at Fern Terrace opened gifts after lunch. Some of them had saved money and sent workers from the nursing home to the store for them. Others had gifts donated. They were all peeking at the tree, Barraza said. One guy even got his camera out and took a picture of the tree with all the presents around it so he could show his family and everybody. On New Years Eve, the residents will gather around a big screen TV with trays of food to celebrate. We try to make it really enjoyable, Barraza said. But after the year comes to an end, administrators at the nursing homes say fewer people come to visit. They wish the attention given to their residents would continue throughout next year. More people think about the residents during December, Withrow said. But all during the year, our doors are open.