OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A University of Nebraska Omaha student is giving wedding flowers a second life by repurposing them to brighten the rooms of senior citizens across the metro area.
Brightening memory care rooms
Tala Serhan, a UNO neuroscience major, has worked in health care as a certified nursing assistant since she was 16. While working inside memory care centers, she noticed that residents’ rooms often lacked brightness.
“They don’t have many possessions and I saw that it really impacts the mental health of the patient,” Serhan said. “A simple thing like a bouquet and some flowers on the table really impacts their surroundings.”
Creating Bloom Beyond
That observation inspired Serhan to start Bloom Beyond. She collects leftover floral arrangements from weddings in the Omaha metro area. By the following morning, she rearranges them into smaller bouquets and hand-delivers them to local residents, including those at the New Cassel retirement community.
“They’re always so happy,” Serhan said. “I can instantly see their smile on their faces. I had one time a resident who said that it reminded her of her wedding bouquet which made my day.”
Flowers as medicine
For Serhan, the initiative is about making seniors feel valued…