GROVE CITY — Tom Candioto's school days are decades behind him, but he still remembers his last prom.

That's because it was just a week ago.

Trinity Living Center, the skilled and intermediate nursing home where Candioto lives, held a prom for its residents May 16, complete with gowns, flowers, decorations and a disc jockey.

"This brings back old times,"Candioto said with a smile as he sat back with a guest, listening to the oldies music and watching the action on the dance floor.

He was one of many residents who attended the event, held in one of the facility's lobbies. The scene was complete with twinkling lights, champagne glasses and swing dancing.

Most of the residents, wearing elegant dresses or their best suits, mingled at the edge of the dance floor like shy high school students nervous about showing their moves.

"I think it's wonderful,"said Bonnie Specht, a seven-month resident who didn't hesitate to cut loose dancing. "All the ladies look so beautiful. They look so different, and they smile."

Many of the female residents had undergone makeovers for the event. They wore gowns furnished by local second-hand stores and dry cleaners, while hair and makeup services were provided by volunteer students from Grove City High School. Students also took turns dancing with residents.

Student Justin Sansotta said he enjoyed dancing with the residents because it was something different. He also liked being able to visit with some of the people who get few other visitors.

"I think it's great that they get to experience their prom,"Sansotta said. He also said he was pleased with the turnout. He had feared that only a few residents would show, but at least 20 ventured out to have a good time.

In addition to the students, the high school sent decorations left over from its own prom on May 5. The decorations, including streamers, sparkling background props and a lit cityscape backdrop, offered an air of glitz to the scene.

Some of the residents got into the event more than others. Unlike her fellow residents, Specht actually went looking for a date. She found one in the man who lives down the hall, who bought her a corsage to celebrate the occasion.

"I didn't tell him it was a prom. I told him it was a dance,"Specht said of how she convinced him to go.

The activity gave her the opportunity to do the prom her way. When she was in high school, she said, she was assigned a date. This time she found her own.

Other residents, such as Mary Bryan, 90, were experiencing a prom for the first time. In her early years, Bryan had to walk seven miles to get to school. For that reason, she didn't attend high school, and so never had a prom.

But that didn't stop her from sharing a dance with one of the student volunteers.

"It's been years,"she said of the last time she danced.

More recently, Bryan has spent three months in the hospital, so she was glad for the chance to do something different.

"I'm pretty shaky on my feet yet,"she said. "It's a wonderful way to get out."

Though the event was for residents, the staff didn't hesitate to get involved. Jean Dobay, the facility's administrator, wore an evening gown, and other workers busied themselves by serving ginger ale and other drinks in mock wine glasses.

At one point, two staff members took to the dance floor with the jitterbug, which got residents laughing and clapping.

According to Dobay, the prom is held every year during National Nursing Home Week, which follows Mother's Day.