Bringing Holi home: Program brings a taste of India to nursing home residents

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:07:48 GMT

Holi , a Hindu festival celebrated in the beginning of March, is renowned for its vibrant displays of color.

A recent event brought a musical group, the Care Chords, to AristaCare at Cedar Oaks for a celebration of Holi. (Photo credit: AristaCare)

While working at AristaCare at Cedar Oaks in South Plainfield, NJ, CNA Mukund Thakar helped bring a little bit of that color to his workplace. Once a doctor in his home country of India, he witnessed the benefits of customized cultural programming firsthand in his own facility.

Now, Thakar has created a program for the multitude of Indian patients across the AristaCare system.

“[Thakar] approached the owner and said he really would like to start an Indian program,” Joselyn Cascino, director of business development at AristaCare Health Services, told McKnight’s Long-Term Care. “There are so many cultural needs with prayer, food and customs; it would really be super beneficial to create a program for this population. Our current owner, Sidney, was all for it. He loved the idea of serving a specific population and being able to give back in that way, and they started the program.”

Thakar created the Indian Nursing Home program in 2005, which he currently operates in eight nursing homes across New Jersey including at Cedar Oaks. The program connects Indian nursing home residents with cultural resources like food, movies and television, care from Indian clinicians and, of course, festival celebrations. There are also similar programs for other cultural identities offered across the AristaCare system, according to Cascino.

“[Residents] have a past, they have a culture, they have a family and we want to honor that in every way that we possibly can,” said Cascino. “We don’t only have Indian cultural programs. We have a Chinese cultural program in one of our centers. We have Latino programs in some of our centers. We also have a Polish program. “

A recent event brought a musical group, the Care Chords, to Cedar Oaks for a celebration of Holi. It was a packed house with nearly 100 residents and their families in attendance, perfect for singing along to live Bollywood music. Cascino notes that the program team always goes the extra mile to put on a great show.

“The entire Indian program team, recreation staff, CNAs, the whole gamut, stay after hours to create decorations,” said Cascino. “Much of what you see is homemade, and it’s all beautifully detailed decor. They really do an incredible job, and they do it all for their residents.”

In addition to all the joy it evokes, Cascino says that the culturally tailored programming also serves a valuable therapeutic purpose. When residents can see themselves represented in their programming, positive care outcomes will follow.

“If people are happy and they feel comfortable and safe, you’re just naturally going to get better results,” said Cascino. “People can’t heal in a rehab setting if they’re not comfortable and they don’t feel safe and they’re not getting their basic needs met. In terms of long-term care, we’ve seen people come out of their shells with some of our programming.”

AristaCare Indian Nursing Home Program celebrates 20th anniversary, and Diwali

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 23:06:14 GMT

From DESITALK

AristaCare Health Service, celebrated the 20th anniversary of its visionary Indian Nursing Home Program October 19, 2025. The event also celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a memorable time for residents of the Cedar Oaks venue in South Plainfield, NJ. More than 100 guests as well as parents housed in the senior care facility, gathered to celebrate the anniversary as well as Diwali. Sweets and delicacies decorated the tables, as did religious images.

Founder and President of the Indian Nursing Home Program Mukund Thakar with his wife Rama, and daughter Ankita Patel, as well as staff and guests pose for a picture at the october 19, 2025, celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Program, and Diwali, at the Cedar Oaks facility in South Plainfield, NJ. ALL PHOTOS: Raja Bhatty

Some of the residents of the Indian Nursing Home Program of AristaCare, at the 20th anniversary celebration and Diwali festival, October 19, 2025, at the Cedar Oaks facility in South Plainfield, NJ.

The event began with Ganesh Vandana led by founder and president of the Indian Nursing Home Program, Mukund Thakar, who also spoke about his experience over the two decades. More than 20,000 Indian parents have been served by the facility, he said, calling it “my parents’ temple,” adding that currently he has “800 parents.”

Young children performed a dance number, and women did the garba dance in a circle, all dressed in traditional finery.

Thakar, who saw the need for culturally appropriate care needs for Indian seniors, worked with his wife Rama, and daughter Ankita Patel, to make it a reality. Ankita Patel is the director of the Indian Nursing Home Program. Among other services, Patel, noted, since the elders cannot visit temples easily, “We brought the temple here,” and programs such as Annakut etc. are held at the nursing home.

Thakar received support in his initiative from co-founder Sydney Greenberger, president of AristaCare Health Services, who was also present at the event.

President of AristaCare Health Service Sydney Greenberger, and Edison, NJ Mayor Sam Joshi, chat at the 20th anniversary and Diwali celebrations held for the Indian Nursing Home Program, in the Cedar Oaks facility in South Plainfield, NJ, October 19, 2025.

Greenberger, in his speech, wished everyone a Happy Diwali. He praised Thakar calling him a “really special human being, saying what he does, “It is always been from his heart…. This was never a job. It was a calling. And you (Mukund Thakar) succeeded beyond anybody’s wildest imagination.”

At least a hundred guests attended the 20th anniversary and Diwali celebrations October 19, 2025, at the Indian Nursing Home Program, Cedar Oaks, South Plainfield, NJ.

For two decades the Program has been dedicated to providing senior care services specializing in post-acute rehabilitation, memory care, and long-term care given to Indian senior citizens, Aristacare notes. Thousands have been served over the years with what families see as a nurturing community built on compassion, culture and care.

Edison, NJ Mayor Sam Joshi arrived and mingled with the guests, chatting with community leaders and family members of the residents. He spoke in mixed Gujarati and English, saying he was “humbled and honored” to be present. Joshi spoke of some of his city’s programs since he became Mayor 4 years ago, that have been inclusive and reached out to Indian seniors with services. The Mr. Fixit program he said had helped seniors with simple daily chores like buy and installing light bulbs in their homes, or programs to pick up and drop people for their doctor’s appointment. The Mayor was honored with a shawl, as were several other supporters who were key to the success of the AristaCare facility for Indian seniors.

Edison Councilman Biral Patel, Sunil Nayak of the organization AIANA (Association of Indian Americans in North America), and community leader Pradip Peter Kothari also spoke, as did several others.

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Bringing Holi home: Program brings a taste of India to nursing home residents

AristaCare Indian Nursing Home Program celebrates 20th anniversary, and Diwali