With the letting go of balloons, the residents, staff and many well-wishers at The Springs of Hillcrest in Prescott, a full-service care facility in Prescott, ushered in National Nursing Home Week.
Starting at 11:00 a.m., at the front of a large gathering under and around the awning of the facility’s entrance, Facility Director Misty Applegate welcomed everyone who arrived. Then she introduced Prescott Mayor Terry Oliver, who came to the podium and read from a proclamation but first he acknowledged the contributions of some of the Springs’ staff members.
“It's also skilled nurses week,” Oliver said. “These nurses, they have to be really dedicated to their job and committed to it to take care of you all, don't they? You’ve got some good nurses.”
Then he read from the proclamation making May 10th through May 16th National Nursing Home Week in the city of Prescott, adding “I urge all citizens to come visit their friends and loved ones who reside at these facilities and to help honor and serve the individuals who lay the foundations of Prescott by participating in this year's observance of the week at one of our town's facilities.”
Medical Director Michael Young, who Applegate noted had won 2026 Nevada County Citizen of the Year last month, also came to the front to commend the staff of The Springs. “I'd like to thank all of you individually and collectively for the time that I have spent in Prescott. It has been extremely rewarding.”
After that, about 35 helium balloons of every color were placed in everyone’s hands and then released, immediately going aloft toward the northeast.
As donuts, muffins, fruit, orange juice, coffee and fruit-filled breakfast pastries were served, Applegate explained, “We're a skilled nursing facility. We hold 90 residents. We're currently at 67. We have a pretty heavy, skilled mix. I've been here for over 20 years, and it’s been so many blessings.” The staff, she said, of the 50-year-old establishment numbers a little under 100.
