Santa and Mrs. Claus bring holiday spirit to Long Beach Memoria

Santa and Mrs. Claus stopped by Long Beach Memorial to pass out wrapped crossword puzzles, socks and decks of playing cards to adult patients. They were accompanied by hospital employees who sang Christmas carols to patients and visitors throughout the halls of the hospital.
Family, friends and special visits lift patients’ spirits, and according to some research, improves recovery time. Hospitalization can be an overwhelming experience, even for adults, and especially during the holidays. The Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) coordinated Santa’s visit. The PFAC is the voice and community advocate for hospitalized patients and their family members, with many former patients now serving as members.
“We are so happy that Santa was able to stop by and visit our patients at Long Beach Memorial,” said Long Beach Memorial family advocate Stephanie Stembridge. “It makes our patients and their families so happy during a stressful time. We are thankful that PFAC was able to set this up for our patients.”