By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

Music works like a fountain of youth for the residents at Los Altos Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Center. Going home for Christmas is a cherished tradition for the holiday season, but most of the residents will remain at the center because they are incapacitated.

The holiday season starts early at Sub-Acute when residents gather to decorate the Christmas tree and sing carols.

“This evening means everything to them. Singing Christmas songs and putting ornaments on the tree is good therapy for the residents,” said Aldo B. the drummer of Aldo and Margie. “It reminds them of happy Christmases in the past.”

Veronica Biedniak is a native of Poland. She came to the United States after World War II and has been a resident at Sub-Acute the last six years.

“Christmas meant a lot to us during the war. All we had to eat were potatoes and sauerkraut, but we still sang Christmas songs to each other.”

Linda Rangel, Sub-Acute food director, and Laura Zulveta, activity director, started the evening by singing “Feliz Navidad” to get residents in the holiday mood.

There are two types of residents at Sub-Acute: those with dementia and those with sharp minds but ailing bodies.

When the singing started, resident Jessie Dixon quietly danced around the room by herself.

Other residents sat in wheelchairs with tree ornaments in their laps.

Pushing the wheel chairs were attendants or close relatives visiting.

“It’s tough visiting your 90 year old mother in a home,” said Paul Sennewald. “Her mind’s as sharp as a tack, so I brought four of her grandkids to visit and help her sing.”

Intergenerational gatherings at Sub-Acute are appreciated by the residents. Children pushing a grandmother’s wheelchair is a common sight. Other assisted-living residents look for cuddle-time with young ones.

Aldo and Margie sing “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” and “Jingle Bells,” but not everyone sings.

“They like Christmas songs with a fast beat. They lose interest when we play slow Christmas songs.” Aldo said.

Evelyn Hammer is a Michigan native. She lived with her daughter in Cupertino, but came to Sub-Acute three years ago. Her daughter, Carole Shoquist, visits her mother every other day for an hour or more. “It’s hard on both of us,” she said.

Hammer remembers Michigan winters with 9-foot snow drifts.

“When I drove, I put a red ball on the aerial so cars could see each other at intersections,” Hammer said. “I’ll take Cupertino weather.”

Tracie Murray, executive director of Sub-Acute, allows some residents to go home with relatives a couple of hours at Christmas.

Irene Cullingham, of Mountain View, became a new resident this week. Nadine O’Leary, her daughter, said the place is nice, but she doesn’t know anyone and wants to go home. “At age 81, she will meet new friends and adjust,” her daughter said.

“They all want to go home.”