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February 2015 Volume 14/Issue 2
The Greens at Greenwich
News and Views
Volume 14/Issue 2
In this Issue!
Sweet Readers
February 2015
Sweet Readers Comes to The Greens...
Calendar of Events
Sweet Readers has expanded to include 12
communities in six cities with nearly 800
Sweet Readers engaging with over 350
persons with dementia. The Greens at
Greenwich is the only residence in Greenwich
to have the Sweet Readers Program.
Activities at The Greens
February
Activity
Highlights
2/3—Judaic Presentation
2/4—Out Trip! Bruce Museum
2/5—Pet Therapy
2/5—Music Therapy
2/6—Sweet Readers
2/6—February Birthday
Celebration with Georganne!
2/7—Art Therapy
2/9—Dance Therapy
The students at Brunswick School in
Greenwich and the residents who live at The
Greens, have become good friends after just
a few visits. Seeing them together, engrossed
in looking at family photograph albums or
working together making a diorama, is a
heartwarming sight, but it’s actually much
more than that. The Greens is dedicated to
improving the lives of people with
Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
2/11—Valentine’s Craft Project
2/12—Go 2 Garden
2/12—Music Therapy
2/13—Touch Therapy
2/14—Valentine’s Day!
2/14—Treats for Soldiers
2/16—President’s Day!
2/18—Out Trip! Loews Movie
Theater
2/20—Sweet Readers
2/20—Shabbat
2/21—Music with Bonnie Leidner
2/25— Out Trip! Dessert at the
Hyatt
The idea for the program was initiated by
Sophie Young in 2010, shortly after her
grandmother, who had been diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s, moved a few blocks away from
her in Manhattan. Sophie started reading
books and poetry to her grandmother in a
new, interactive way and when Sophie’s
mother Karen Young saw how her daughter
and mother responded, Karen realized this
could be helpful to others who felt isolated by
the disease. Together Karen and Sophie, with
help from geriatricians, artists, art educators
and poets, and eight founding Sweet Readers
from Sophie’s school, developed a training
program and 6-session core curriculum and
launched Sweet Readers in 2011.
“The wonderful thing about this particular
intergenerational activity is that it utilizes the
creative arts, and that in itself is a very
effective way to stimulate memory,
encourage participation and give residents a
true feeling of achievement. When creativity
is shared with an attentive, affectionate
youngster, it’s better than any conventional
approach to dementia,” says Ms. ScarosMercado.
Students from Eagle Hill and Brunswick
Schools in Greenwich get a great deal out of
this program, their teachers say. “They
definitely have a more compassionate,
accepting and admiring response to aging and
those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
With Sweet Readers they acquire empathy
and personal people skills that will reinforce
their lives and their future relationships.”
To find out more about the Sweet Readers
program and other unique Creative Arts
Therapy programs at The Greens at
Greenwich, designed to help older adults live
productively with Alzheimer’s and other
related dementias, contact Maria ScarosMercado at 203-531-5500 or [email protected] or
Karen Young at [email protected]. or
visit www.sweetreaders.org.
February 2015/Volume 14/Issue 2
An Assisted Living Residence
1155 King Street
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
(203) 531-5500
(203) 531-1224 (Fax)
Maria Scaros-Mercado, Executive Director
Suzanne Reuter, SALSA RN
Patricia Cantrell, Program Director
Diane Sjoblom, Program Coordinator
Bob Hattar, Executive Chef
Debbie Merigliano, Administrative Assistant
Activities at The Greens
On December 18th, Jewish Family Services of Greenwich
brought to us two 18 year old Israelis to talk about their
homeland, Israel. What is it like to grow up there? What is
the climate like? The size? The Language? All these questions
and more were answered by Itamar Shoham and Matan Bouter
who chose to do a year of “community service” as ambassadors
for their country here in Greenwich before serving their
mandatory time in the Israeli Army. Matan will be in the army
for two years after she completes her year in the US and
Itamar will be in it for three. There were lots of questions,
lots of pictures, and mostly, lots of interest and we thank the
young, extremely engaging and informative emissaries for
joining us!