With Mena being among the Arkansas towns in the path of totality for the solar eclipse on April 8th, our elders and team at Green House® Cottages of Homewood decided to make it a party! We grilled hot dogs outside, enjoyed refreshing beverages, wore our protective eclipse glasses, dropped our heads back at the designated time, and marveled at the rare spectacle.

What a wonderful day we had! With temps in the 70s and no threat of rain, the weather was perfect for outdoor fun. Some of the elders’ family and friends joined our Green House® Cottages watch party, making it a memorable day, indeed!

Total solar eclipses aren’t as rare as you might think. They actually occur pretty regularly, once every 18 months on average. Each total solar eclipse has its own unique path of totality, however, making it rare for a specific geographical location to experience this astral event.

Prior to this year, the last time Arkansas fell in the path where the moon obstructed the sun entirely was 1918. The next opportunity for Arkansans to bask in total eclipse shade will be August 12, 2045. Mark your calendars!

Taking every opportunity to make our little Mena community feel like a true family is a guiding light for us at Green House® Cottages of Homewood. This is our home, after all. Whether it’s a once (or twice) in a lifetime solar eclipse party, an annual birthday or holiday celebration, or Taco Tuesday in our common area, the moments we come together bond us in meaningful ways. And the fruits of our fellowship are plentiful.

Socializing staves off dementia and even improves episodic memory retention. Sharing and laughing with friends lifts spirits and makes us feel like we belong. People who are in community with others report greater happiness, overall. And in a heightened state of well-being, rehabilitation and healing occurs more quickly and completely. As social creatures, humans are hard-wired for connection, and this awareness drives everything we do for and with our family of elders.