Residents of Adventist Nursing Home in Italy Enjoy Week at the Seashore

Guests and staff of the Casa Mia 2 Nursing Home in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, will fondly remember the summer of 2025 for an initiative described as “adventurous” by its organizers and promoters. From August 25 to 31 the nursing home organized a weeklong seaside getaway that included moments of relaxation, games, and walks on a beach.

“We closed the facility and transferred the 16 residents to a hotel in Cervia for a full week on the Adriatic coast, complete with a reserved beach and opportunities to walk in the pine forest,” explained Giovanni Benini, director of the Casa Mia senior residence.

The Casa Mia 2 Nursing Home, which serves as the second operational site of Casa Mia, was inaugurated in 2023 near the historic center of the city of Forlì. It can accommodate up to 16 senior residents, whether fully independent or partially so. The “mother” facility on Via Curiel, however, has been serving the community since 1983, institution leaders explained.

Leaders also emphasized that promoting principles of well-being and health, providing high-quality services, and respecting the dignity of people are the core values guiding the Forlì nursing home, which is managed by the regional Seventh-day Adventist church. This seaside vacation encapsulated all these values, they explained.

“I loved the adventure we had. I longed for the sea because it had been a while since I last went,” says Guli, one of the residents, as she reflected on her summer experience. Ada added, “I made it here, and I’m happy.” Despite the challenges of using a walker to move around, Paola, another resident, said that she was very happy to reach the seashore.

The benefits of this vacation extended beyond the physical, one of the participants named Fiorella shared. “It feels like the wind is taking away all my bad thoughts and leaving me with the good ones,” she explained to justify her change of mood.

During their stay, residents basked in the sun, played bocce (a game similar to lawn bowling) on the beach, collected seashells, waded into the water, and engaged in other recreational activities. They received continuous assistance in a serene environment, thanks to the dedicated staff, organizers shared.

“The management of Casa Mia wants to thank the various operators who took on the complex logistical task of organizing this activity,” Benini said. “They alternated moments of care with the ongoing assistance of our elderly guests.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic Casa Mia made the news when not one resident died during the worst waves of contagion in the area. The retirement home has worked to systematically increase contact of the residents with green spaces. It has also added services to care for those who suffer Alzheimer’s and other neurogenerative disorders.

The original version of this story was posted on HopeMedia Italia.