What is it like to go on the Internet for the very first time – at age 91?
Mr. Weaver made it through over 90 years on this earth without ever once checking an e-mail, watching a YouTube® clip, or signing on to Facebook®. But recently, as part of a program that introduced him to the internet for the first time, the former farmer did all three— plus, he saw his childhood home on Google Earth®, Skyped® with his grandchildren, and checked out Wikipedia®. “The world is at my fingertips,” he said. “It’s really exciting if you ask me.”
Our teen volunteer program closes the age gap between Gen Alpha, Gen Z, and their elders, as they come together to learn about how to stay connected to the world and to their family through our ‘#Gen2000 Project’. The Alpha, Gen Z, and the Silent and Baby Boomer Generations all come together to bridge the largest generation gap ever – learning from one another and forging relationships and making connections unlike any other time in history. #Gen2000 is changing lives and connecting generations!
We have a unique opportunity to harvest the wisdom, the humor and the tiny stories and memories we hear every day as we live and work beside elders who have lived almost a full century on this planet.
Circle of Friends™ is based on the basic human needs of all humans for inclusion, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Elders and care team members gather for a specific purpose–facilitated by a team leader. The circle may include discussion, activity, cognition exercises, aromatherapy, singing, sharing of food, goal setting, community outreach, and more. It is at our core as human beings to connect with other people, and we do this through conversation. We yearn to have deep meaningful conversations with others. In this circle of friends, we remember how to connect and listen. These are ancient skills, ancient pathways to learning, embedded in our memes, and maybe in our genes. This speaks directly to the well-being need for connectedness, which can be lost as we age when spouses and friends are gone.
Brain Boost Nutrition™ is one of our most popular offerings. Recent studies show that older people who drink fruit or vegetable juice three times per week reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s compared to people who drink juice less than once per week. Although the nutrition boost certainly can’t cure Alzheimer’s, recent studies show that consuming a diet high in fruits and vegetables, both of which are high in antioxidants, may help prevent cell damage by fighting free radicals in the brain. We believe that the Brain Boost Nutrition™ program is beneficial to all of us. You can get all the preventive nutrients you need to ward off Alzheimer’s by consuming a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.
We are thrilled with the positive results of our Music Makes Memories™ project. Our brains are hard-wired to connect music with long-term memory. Beloved music often calms chaotic brain activity and enables the listener to focus on the present moment and regain a connection to others. In our Music Makes Memory™ programming, we provide headphones and an MP3 player–downloading playlists individualized for each person. Residents with anxiety and depression are less agitated and appear calmer, as the music transports them to a happier place in their minds.
