Sharing a Passion for Movies

After moving into Ecumen Pathstone in Mankato, Mick realized he had a problem. He had a collection of movies that he brought with him, but he didn’t have a DVD player that worked. That sparked an idea that the Ecumen team was happy to help him pursue. He decided to start hosting movie nights for all of his fellow residents so they could enjoy the movies together.

“I love watching movies,” said Mick. “It keeps your mind occupied, and it can let you enter a dream world. Your mind wanders and you can put yourself there.”

Two nights a week, Mick invites residents to a common room where they sit and enjoy a movie together. He posts the schedule in advance so people can know what to expect. Some movies attract bigger crowds than others but Mick says every time they get together you can feel the energy and enjoyment in the room.

“Watching TV or a movie by yourself can be fine,” he said, “but it’s different when you watch something together. It can be really nice.”

Ecumen Pathstone team members say Mick’s movie nights are a perfect example of what can happen when residents are encouraged to pursue and share things they are passionate about. It gave residents some additional evening activities, which they were asking for. It also allowed Mick to take on a leadership role doing something that he loves.

“Being allowed to choose things for myself and show these movies makes me feel like I’m more a part of the group,” he said. “I like that I’m able to offer something that people like.”

Mick has enjoyed sharing some of his all-time favorite movies, like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Other residents and team members have also started suggesting movies for him to show, contributing their own DVDs to the library. Mick says they are even considering taking a trip to the library to check out some additional titles.

No matter what the movie is, Mick says the experience of watching things as a group is special. He recalls one movie night when they played The Sound of Music.

“There wasn’t a huge turnout, but they loved it,” he said. “We were watching the movie and when it got to a touching part one of the ladies beside me just took my hand and gave it a nice little squeeze. It was really nice.”

It can be a lot of work to plan and host events a couple of times a week, but Mick says it’s all worth it. He says he is proud to be able to give residents moments to look forward to, and simply knowing that someone sat and enjoyed a movie with him is what matters most of all.

Ecumen is helping older adults pursue their passions and use their skills. As part of a new initiative, Ecumen North Branch, Ecumen Pathstone, and Ecumen Detroit Lakes are implementing an innovative program based on the “Montessori method,” emphasizing residents’ interests and abilities rather than their limitations. This new initiative builds on Ecumen’s award-winning Awakenings care-giving model, which focuses on individual needs to support the highest quality of life. Adding a Montessori framework to this model is giving Ecumen team members new tools and resources to help residents find meaning and purpose in their everyday lives.