Assisted living residents see the latest craze

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

Hoopers, drum circle entertain seniors.

Wayne Grant

News Editor

It was a meeting of the generations June 12 when “hoopers” and a drum circle entertained residents of Seaside Manor, 1050 Ocean Shore Blvd.

The last time many of the residents of the assisted living facility had seen hula hoops was decades ago when the goal was just to keep the rings going around the hips. Today, legs, arms and neck are all used in an artistic dance.

Kalan Lis, life enrichment leader at the facility is a “hooper” herself, and invited friend Ichi Vazquez to help entertain the residents. They hooped to the beat of a drum circle called The Flagler Beats.

Lis, who has been at the facility for a month and a half, said she wanted to do something special for the residents. She said they don’t know how hula hooping has evolved, and she wanted to share it with them.

“It’s my passion,” she said.

Hooping is currently popular among the millennial generation. But after the Lis and Vazquez got started at the facility, they had an appreciative audience among the seniors.

“Fabulous. It’s just beautiful,” said Deloris Defode. “We’re so lucky to have an animated activity director like her.”

Defode said she remembered hula hoops as a child, but “sure couldn’t do that.”

Kay Bailey, a retired teacher and also a resident of the facility, said she saw a lot of feeling, spirit and happiness in the movement and the music.

Providing a steady and irresistible beat for the hoopers was a drum circle, made up of Flagler County residents, who get together and drum for fun and also play at places such as art shows and yoga studios. They call themselves the Flagler Beats.

Lately, they have been getting together every Monday at 7 p.m. at the Granada Beach approach with a group from New Smyrna Beach. Each Thursday, they drum at the Wickline Senior Center in Flagler Beach.

Anne Kissel said they welcome new members and those interested can email [email protected].