Residents at the Summit Square retirement community in Waynesboro had a fun afternoon involving makeup, hairstyling and feather boas earlier in the week.

The staff organized a photo shoot for the residents in the assisted living, healthcare and skilled nursing units aimed at getting smiles on seniors’ faces.

The residents were given the opportunity to select from an array of colorful props and accessories, enjoyed professional hair and makeup services, and posed for individual portraits while friends and team members cheered them on.

Hors d’oeuvres and sparkling faux rosé added to the light-hearted atmosphere.

While the event produced dozens of memorable photographs, organizers say the experience was about much more than pictures.

“The best senior living communities care for the whole person, not just their healthcare needs,” said Erica Turman, director of communications at Sunnyside Communities, a nonprofit organization serving older adults through three Life Plan Communities across Virginia: Sunnyside in Harrisonburg, Summit Square in Waynesboro, and King’s Grant in Martinsville.

“Sometimes that means providing clinical support. Sometimes it means handing someone a feather boa and letting them shine. Both are equally important to living a full life,” Turman said.

Friends helped friends select accessories, team members offered encouragement, and participants stepped in front of the camera with enthusiasm.

For at least a few of the residents, the event offered a chance to express their personalities, reconnect with cherished memories, and create new moments of joy.