Thursday, October 1, 2026
For many residents at Five Towns Premier Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, prom night finally arrived.
The facility transformed into a dance hall on June 30 as residents, volunteers, families and staff gathered for the first-ever Grandparent Prom, an afternoon filled with music, dancing, laughter and heartfelt moments organized by Hewlett resident Joseph Petraro, 13, founder of the nonprofit Adopt-A-Grandparent, and Recreation Director Anthony Maltese.
The celebration honored residents who recently completed sign language and coloring classes at the center, but organizers said it quickly became much more than a graduation party.
“It was pretty much just a normal prom,” Joseph said. “There was dancing, music, prom court and a prom king and queen. It was actually so cute because the prom queen started crying when she found out she won.”
According to Joseph’s mother, Annie Petraro, the winning residents shared that they had never attended their own proms decades earlier.
“One of them said, ‘I never won anything in my entire life,’” Annie recalled. “The prom queen is still wearing her crown. She told us she even sleeps with it.”
Joseph launched Adopt-A-Grandparent in 2019 to connect young volunteers with nursing home residents who may not receive regular visitors. Participants are paired with residents, visiting them regularly to play games, celebrate holidays, exchange cards and build lasting friendships.
“It’s kind of the opposite of adults adopting children,” Joseph explained. “Kids adopt a grandparent. They spend time together, play games, give gifts and just make them feel like they’re part of the family.”
Planning for the celebration began nearly three months in advance. Organizers originally intended to hold the event outdoors on the facility’s patio before rainy weather forced everyone inside.
“It took a lot of preparation,” Joseph said. “We had to figure out how everything was going to work.”
A DJ kept residents on the dance floor while Joseph, an accomplished dancer who studies ballet, hip-hop and other styles, encouraged everyone to participate with games and dance contests.
“My favorite part was when we did activities like showing your best jazz move or your best wheelchair dance,” he said.
Children involved in Adopt-A-Grandparent joined residents throughout the afternoon, dancing together and helping even the quietest participants feel included.
“Some of the kids were shy at first,” Petraro said. “But once the music started, everyone was dancing together. Even residents who usually just sit quietly got involved.”
The event reflected the mission behind Joseph’s organization: creating meaningful relationships between generations.
“They’re more alike than different,” she said. “The younger generation learns from the older generation, and the older generation learns from the younger generation. For many residents whose families live far away or have busy schedules, these visits mean everything.”
Five Towns Premier staff said the impact was immediately visible.
“I have never felt more excitement and energy in our facility than with the Adopt-A-Grandparent Prom,” said Cathy Byrne, the center’s gerontologist. “Staff, families, residents and youth shared an afternoon of laughter, love, dancing and unforgettable memories.”
Byrne credited Maltese, the facility’s recreation director, with helping turn Joseph’s vision into reality.
“We are very fortunate to have the most talented recreation director, Anthony Maltese,” she said. “He was directly responsible for the success of this program.”
The Grandparent Prom is only the latest event in a growing partnership between Adopt-A-Grandparent and Five Towns Premier. Organizers are already planning a resident fashion show later this summer.
“They always have fun,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
