Red hats get statewide notice

Immanuel Lutheran Home won a statewide award recently for a red-hot idea that caught fire with female residents.

Immanuel Lutheran Home won a statewide award recently for a red-hot idea that caught fire with female residents.

The Montana Health Care Association chose "Grandma's Red Hat Club" as one of two winners of its 12th annual Innovative Care Awards. The honor recognizes unique programs that enhance the overall nursing home environment.

Recreation therapist Devra Trunkle said she nominated Gloria Puckett, Immanuel Lutheran's recreation leader, to receive the award.

"She is so awesome," Trunkle said. "She definitely gives 100 percent."

At the organizational meeting of the club in May, Puckett said she was surprised by the drawing power of the Red Hat Society, a national group which celebrates womanhood at 50 and after.

From the craft sessions for decorating hats to the Monday afternoon tea, Puckett had no problem filling seats.

"I never asked anyone to come," she said. "They just came rolling in."

Adding to the fun and saving the budget, Puckett created a basic hat out of a brown paper bag.

In art class, the women chose from a variety of items to ornament each hat. Puckett brought junk jewelry, feathers, flowers, ribbons and other craft items to stimulate their creativity.

"It was just a wild mess in there," she said with a laugh.

One resident selected ivy and ladybugs for her hat while another affixed red peppers as her personal style statement. One hat trumpeted patriotism with a small flag while another, with a single, large white flow, whispered understated elegance.

Next, Puckett invited some "fun-spirited" women from the Flathead Fillies Red Hat Society chapter to get the Immanuel Lutheran group launched.

Maridna Norick, Jo Mahony and Doris Keil explained the idea got started in 1997 when Sue Ellen Cooper presented a copy of Jenny Joseph's poem "Warning" and a red hat to her best friend.

Since then, red hat chapters have sprouted like fields of poppies from coast to coast.

Norick said red hatters don't have meetings. There are no high-minded goals or charitable projects.

"It's just a bunch of women having fun," she said. "This is called a disorganization."

Norick elicited many smiles as she read the poem. detailing the rebellious plans of a woman held too-long captive by the conventions of society.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves,

And satin sandals and say we've no money for butter."

I shall sit on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

Since that first organizational meeting, Trunkle said about 70 women have joined in on the second Tuesday of each month.

"They always have some sort of program or read a poem about life after 50," she said.

The award noted that Grandma's Red Hat Club created a social network among residents that did not exist before. Residents who usually isolated themselves have chosen to join in and participate at these monthly meetings.

Ann Miller, a popular resident at the home, provided her own take on mature women succumbing to the magic of red hats in a poem she wrote and read at a meeting.

"We're playing dress up once again as we strip away the years."

Since the first meeting, Dale Blumenthal wrote music and the poem has become Grandma's Red Hat Club's theme song. Subsequent meetings included entertainment such as a singing group from Whitefish and piano players.

Puckett credits volunteers like Evelyn Pacheco, Amy Peterson and Marlene McClesky with helping make the program a success. They do the basics like helping serve tea and treats and cleaning up afterward.

Puckett said the residents buzz about the club meetings for days afterward.

"They just have so much fun," she said.

Trunkle said the staff knows they do a good job of creating fun for residents. But she said the award from their colleagues gave them a extra boost..

She gives Puckett a lot of credit for the red hat triumph as well as many other programs .

"She's the reason residents keep showing up for programs," Trunkle said.

Northern Montana Care Center of Havre received the other Innovative Care Award for its "No Resident Left Behind" program. The program encourages residents to give of themselves to help others.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.