MOSES LAKE - Residents at Columbia Crest Care & Rehabilitation Center in Moses Lake paraded in their wheelchairs Monday to celebrate National Nursing Home Week. 

The week ends Saturday and is held May 8-14.

The American Health Care Association, based in Washington, D.C., sponsors the annual observance with the Washington Health Care Association. According to the association, Nursing Home Week is held to "encourage all to think of generations of parents and grandparents nurturing future generations to carry on life and family traditions."  

The residents started at Columbia Crest and made their way to Dairy Queen on south Pioneer Way, assisted by a variety of people helping push the wheelchairs - from nursing school students to church volunteers to neighborhood youths, said Columbia Crest Activity Director Midge Sauceda.

"This is one of the biggest events we do," she said.

At Dairy Queen, ice cream cones were passed out to residents. Every year, Dairy Queen donates ice cream for the residents and volunteers, said Sauceda.

"I thought it was pretty neat. I liked the ice cream at the end of the trail," Columbia Crest resident David Helsley said with a laugh.

"They just asked us to help," said Jordan Anderson, who is in Moses Lake from New Mexico for his mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "We serve every single chance we get, so when they asked us to serve, we said, 'Absolutely.'"

"I'd like to thank Dairy Queen, our families as well as our volunteers and the Columbia Crest team for making this week extra special for our residents," said Columbia Crest Administrator Travis Scothern. "This activity is an example of how we honor our mission every day, 'Caring is the Key in Life,' and in keeping with this year's National Nursing Home Week theme, we are 'Fulfilling the Promise.'"

Columbia Crest has events planned for every day of Nursing Home Week, Scothern said. A classic car show takes place Tuesday, line dancing Wednesday, Voices of a New Day Choir Thursday and the Sentimental Journey Band Friday. The public is also invited to attend a community barbecue at noon on Friday.