Staff members at Jo-Lin Health Care Inc. showed off their tricks Tuesday but it was a real treat for the residents.

Anyone who thinks Halloween is just for children should have visited the Ironton nursing home to see how wrong they were.

With their signature tune playing in the background, the Addams family came strolling through the activity room to the squealing laughter and delight of the gathered residents. Ghosts, pirates, surfers and more strutted their stuff.

Much of the staff donned their best Halloween costumes in the afternoon to entertain the residents and get them excited for their party hosted later Tuesday.

"This is a yearly thing we do for our residents," said activities coordinator Linda Dalton. "It is uplifting for them to know we are people too. We are not just their nurses, not just their aides and not just office workers."

The costumes and music were all about having a good time, she said.

"If you can make one (resident) laugh, then our day is complete," Dalton said.

If that is the case, it is mission accomplished.

"This was real fun. The more you jump into it, the more fun you have," said 87-year-old Pollyanna Varner, with an ear-to-ear smile to go with her blazing red hair. "The other residents don't know what they are missing if they don't get up and act a fool."

For resident Carol Rushin, the costume parade was enjoyable and yet another way the staff at Jo-Lin tries to go above and beyond.

"The activity staff tries to do everything they can to make sure the residents are busy and entertaining," Rushin said. "We owe them a deep 'thank you.'"