Read To Me Volunteers met with Friends Home Bound Task Members for their first interactive
reading orientation.
reading orientation.
Friends Read to Me program recently expanded to include memory care residents at The Gardens of Sun City.
Pictured on opening day, from left to right are:
- Memory Care Resident
- Cheryl C., Read to Me Reader
- Irene Nathanson, Board Member
- Memory Care Resident
-Sabina Mujanovic, Activity Director at The
Gardens
- Memory Care Resident
Cheryl read the Big Book of Questions and Answers.
Pictured on opening day, from left to right are:
- Memory Care Resident
- Cheryl C., Read to Me Reader
- Irene Nathanson, Board Member
- Memory Care Resident
-Sabina Mujanovic, Activity Director at The
Gardens
- Memory Care Resident
Cheryl read the Big Book of Questions and Answers.
OPENING DAY OF THE READ TO ME PROGRAM AT WOODMARK LEGACIES MEMORY CARE FACILITY
From Left to Right...
Friends President Sue Blechl, Board members Ruth Polansky and Irene Nathanson, with Michelle DeFord, Activities Director, Woodmark at Sun City ... Pictured in back is Cheryl Cassady, Friends Read to Me reader
Friends President Sue Blechl, Board members Ruth Polansky and Irene Nathanson, with Michelle DeFord, Activities Director, Woodmark at Sun City ... Pictured in back is Cheryl Cassady, Friends Read to Me reader
Cheryl Cassady gives the first presentation at Woodmark Legacies Memory Care Facility
The Presenters get joy and gratification from the Program as well...
IN THEIR OWN WORDS...
Some of the Presenters share why they love participating in this Program:
Bob Howicz:
"By interacting with the memory care patients, I try to bring joy, comfort and stimulation, not only to the great people I interact with, but I also receive the same."
Darlene Markle:
"It makes my heart happy to bring joy to those in memory care. It's a win-win gathering. They bless me with their joy and responses."
Ray Schiel:
"Presenting gives me an opportunity to not only express myself, but, moreover to allow others to express themselves. When residents begin to express themselves, and to share memories of their past, that gives
me the great joy doing this work."
Jim Reay:
"Sharing with seniors stimulates joyful reminiscing about happy memories of the past, and appreciation
for positive things enjoyed every day." Their joy is my joy."
Cheryl Cassady:
"I love holding up colorful photos in the articles I read, which creates a sense of emotional connections
through social interactions with each resident. It's heartwarming for me, that the residents enjoy
engaging together as much as I do."
Bob Howicz:
"By interacting with the memory care patients, I try to bring joy, comfort and stimulation, not only to the great people I interact with, but I also receive the same."
Darlene Markle:
"It makes my heart happy to bring joy to those in memory care. It's a win-win gathering. They bless me with their joy and responses."
Ray Schiel:
"Presenting gives me an opportunity to not only express myself, but, moreover to allow others to express themselves. When residents begin to express themselves, and to share memories of their past, that gives
me the great joy doing this work."
Jim Reay:
"Sharing with seniors stimulates joyful reminiscing about happy memories of the past, and appreciation
for positive things enjoyed every day." Their joy is my joy."
Cheryl Cassady:
"I love holding up colorful photos in the articles I read, which creates a sense of emotional connections
through social interactions with each resident. It's heartwarming for me, that the residents enjoy
engaging together as much as I do."
Darlene loves to laugh, and to make others laugh along with her.
One of our Presenters, Darlene Markle, describes her presentation, and how the responses warmed her heart.
"My game show presentation at Woodmark was such a fun experience! Having personally been on a game show years ago, I had the idea to play a word game with the residents. We had played something similar before; guessing antonyms, homonyms, and synonyms. The residents were joyfully amazed when they guessed and were correct in their answers!
Here's how it went... I prepared a dozen words on different colored paper... common nouns that they would then describe. I walked around the room with the box of word-cards and stopped at a resident's chair, saying, "pick a card, any card". Once they did, I waited to see if they handed it to me, which meant I would read the word. However, some looked at their card and read it themselves! That was such a special joy to see and hear them read the word.
I would then show the group the card and say, "now let's describe this word". For CAMEL, residents shouted out... desert! humps! animal! Arabia! and then we all agreed they gave the best descriptions for the word camel. I'd then repeat the pattern, enjoying them shouting out descriptions.
When a lady who had never spoken in my presence chose a word-card and then shouted, "BUTTONS!", I was thrilled! And even more when she showed all of us the buttons on her sweater. Her smile was all I needed to understand why we, as Presenters, do what we do!"
"My game show presentation at Woodmark was such a fun experience! Having personally been on a game show years ago, I had the idea to play a word game with the residents. We had played something similar before; guessing antonyms, homonyms, and synonyms. The residents were joyfully amazed when they guessed and were correct in their answers!
Here's how it went... I prepared a dozen words on different colored paper... common nouns that they would then describe. I walked around the room with the box of word-cards and stopped at a resident's chair, saying, "pick a card, any card". Once they did, I waited to see if they handed it to me, which meant I would read the word. However, some looked at their card and read it themselves! That was such a special joy to see and hear them read the word.
I would then show the group the card and say, "now let's describe this word". For CAMEL, residents shouted out... desert! humps! animal! Arabia! and then we all agreed they gave the best descriptions for the word camel. I'd then repeat the pattern, enjoying them shouting out descriptions.
When a lady who had never spoken in my presence chose a word-card and then shouted, "BUTTONS!", I was thrilled! And even more when she showed all of us the buttons on her sweater. Her smile was all I needed to understand why we, as Presenters, do what we do!"