Senior Living Residents take Trip to Washington D.C.

Residents of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla. packed their bags earlier this month for an extraordinary outing to Washington D.C. The group of eight residents, accompanied by two associates, visited our nation’s capital for the Cherry Blossom Festival and took in the sites around the city during their three-day stay.

While in Washington D.C., residents took a night tour of the monuments on the Washington BigBus, enjoyed the Cherry Blossom Festival Cruise and received a private tour of the The Library of Congress.

They also received a private tour of the U.S. Capitol from Victor Yang, Special Assistant to the Office of Congressman Charlie Crist (FL-13).

During the tour, they ran into representatives that were lobbying for the Alzheimer’s Association from their hometown of St. Petersburg.

“It was quite a coincidence running into lobbyists from St. Pete during our tour,” said Melissa, Krysh, Community Life Director, The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay, who planned and coordinated the trip. “Our residents were able to speak the representatives and hear about the important work they are doing on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association, and also share their thoughts with the lobbyists.”

The idea for the trip originally came from a resident while sharing stories about her daughter who was crowned Miss Florida in the Miss Cherry Blossom Festival Pageant in 1983. Residents expressed their interest in seeing the Cherry Blossoms in bloom, and the wheels were in motion.

The residents’ first day in D.C. was the peak day for the cherry blossoms, which could be seen from across the river at their hotel in The Wharf District.

“It was such an interesting and educational trip,” said Krysh. “When I returned to the community the day after our trip, the whole community was buzzing with excitement and I was bombarded with residents telling me they had heard such good things from those who attended.”

Extraordinary Outings are just one way that The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay, owned and operated by Watermark Retirement Communities, creates a community where residents thrive. The community offers independent living, assisted living and memory care, with short and long-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation at The Springs, an on-site health center operated by Summit Care. For more information, visit bocaciegabay.watermarkcommunities.com.