People Caring About People This Holiday Season

By Misty Cryer

One thing evident about Carlsbad is that there are many kindhearted people who strive to make the world a better place. Aro

und this time of year, food drives, angel trees, and toy drives organized by non-profit organizations and manned with volunteers are often seen gathering contributions from individuals and companies who truly give from the heart. The compassionate, quality care at Lakeview Christian Home and the joy the dedicated staff bring to residents have not gone unnoticed.

Staff and residents of the long-term care facility were featured in an episode of People Worth Caring About earlier this year, and the organization also received a 2025 Silver Achievement in Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).

Activities like the Third Annual Piano Recital and Christmas Sing-Along held recently add a touch of holiday cheer for the residents and staff to delight in, while giving children learning to play the piano the benefit of playing for an audience.

Mary Matthews teaches piano lessons for students of all ages. “I’ve had students as old as 90,” she said.

Lakeview has three pianos, with one in the dining area, said Matthews. “I go play a lot at dinner or at lunch, so they get a little ambiance in the background.” She said she plays music from the 50s and takes special requests in an effort to play songs from the residents’ preferred genres.

“I especially like to go there on the holidays to play,” said Matthews, adding that it gives the residents a little cheer. She said that for kids, playing at the nursing home helps them avoid performance anxiety when they play in front of people, adding, “It’s the best place to play.”

Speaking before the piano concert and sing-along, Matthews said she and a couple of her students would perform, hoping that her four-year-old student would play, too, but she wouldn’t push it. “It’s just an exercise that she would play because she just started. She plays Mississippi Hotdog with each finger on each hand,” she said.

The song list included “Blue Christmas.”

“We’ve got to do some Elvis,” said Matthews.

“We’re doing ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,’ of course, and then the kids voted for ‘Frosty the Snowman,’” she said, adding that a simple version of “Fure Leise” by Beethoven would be played by a student who would also play “Happy Birthday, Jesus,” because she recently learned to play “Happy Birthday.”

“I make a flyer with the words to sing along. I dress up like an elf when I go there, too, to add to the festivities,” said Matthews.

After the students play, they win a composer for a keepsake, said Matthews. She explained that she has busts of composers for the kids to choose from, with selections like Bach, Chopin, Beethoven, and Mozart.

“I’m semi-retired,” said Matthews. “I just am trying to do something to give back to the community. Also, I want to help make smarter kids for the next generation, because they have a lot to deal with. Anything that I can do to make the world better for the future, that’s what I’m trying to do,” she said.

When teaching piano, Matthews said she adapts her teaching style to each student’s needs. For students who have had lessons before, she said, she likes to start with what they have learned before and bring it back.

For younger students, she said she uses the Suzuki method. “We play by ear first, and we don’t read music till later, because that’s the best way to teach,” she said.

“I also teach something called ‘FOPP,’ which is the fundamentals of piano practice, and that would be geared more toward a little bit of the older student,” she said.

If interested in piano lessons, Matthews can be reached at 575-416-2527.

In the AHCA/NCAL press release dated June 26, 2025, the recipients of the 2025 Silver National Quality Award were announced. Lakeview Christian Home was one of 209 recipients from 40 states.

Clif Porter, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL, said, “Achieving this award level reflects the pursuit of a better way to quality improvement—turning process into purpose. The strong dedication of these providers sets a powerful example for others in our profession to follow.”

In the People Worth Caring About series, created by Peter Murphy Lewis and presented by the New Mexico Health Care Association, Lakeview Christian Home appears in Season three, Episode two, which is named “What Genuine Elder Care Looks Like.” It can be viewed at the following link: https://www.nmhca.org/people-worth-caring-about-new-mexico/.

The episode features Jody Knox, the CEO of Lakeview Christian Home; Roxy Knealing, the Activity Director; Lisa Aguilar, the Social Service Director; and residents Carole Weber and Gerald Kelleher.