SHREVEPORT, La. – Senior living residents treated to eclipse party

‘My idea was to bring the eclipse to them’: Senior living residents treated to eclipse party

The residents at a senior living facility in Shreveport enjoyed April 8’s eclipse with a cookout. This is the last total solar eclipse that the United States will see for another 20 years. Brookdale Waterview Court seniors threw a solarbration cookout to watch the celestial event. For some of them, it was the first time ever seeing an eclipse.

Excitement and Preparation

“Well, it was very exciting. We’ve been building up to it all week,” one senior resident said. “I love it. I love it. We’ve had a really good time getting ready for it and experiencing it,” another resident said. The elderly residents got a view of the partial solar eclipse in the sky from Shreveport’s Broadmoor neighborhood. The group of seniors were excited for the big celestial moment.

Celestial Treats

During the celebration, they got to enjoy treats that were fit for the occasion. “We kind of made it into like a little party. We served them Moon Pies, and Milky Ways, Starburst and we made some blue Kool-Aid for them,” event organizer Donna Hill said. Many of the seniors are disabled. Hill tells KSLA she wanted the group to be able to experience the eclipse, which won’t be seen again in the United States for another 20 years.

Bringing the Eclipse to Them

“So, [for] many of them, it’d probably be too difficult for them to go see the eclipse with family or friends because so many of them are in wheelchairs or walkers, so my idea was to bring the eclipse to them,” she explained. Although Shreveport wasn’t directly in the eclipse’s path of totality, ninety-eight percent of the sun was covered, leaving an everlasting memory in these seniors’ minds.

Lasting Memories

“The one we had today is, of course, the last one I’ll see…and not too many in between.”