Brighter Days Adult Day Program APRIL 2019

Newsletter

Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center 6757 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503 360.407.3967 Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Faith Lutheran Church 1212 Connection St, Shelton, WA 98584 360.407.3967 Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Music Mends Minds

Neurologist Oliver Sacks once said, “Music can

lift us out of depression or move us to tears…but

for many of my neurological patients, music is

even more - it can provide access, even when no

medication can, to movement, to speech, to life.

For them, music is not a luxury, but a

necessity.” Music is stored in multiple parts of the

brain and this is evident when we hear a song that

takes us back to a memory filled with emotions,

sights and even smells. Music is mathematical,

rhythmic and found in every culture in the world.

It is part of being human.

Carol and Irwin Rosenstein founded this Music

Mends Minds, Inc., after Irwin was diagnosed

with Parkinson’s disease and early dementia in

2006. Hope and life came back into Irwin’s life

through his passion for music. His memory,

energy, and outlook on life improved

dramatically, not only from playing the piano, but

from mentoring students in the UCLA TimeOut ,

an intergenerational respite care program. Carol

and Irwin combined the power of social support

and music therapy to create Music Mends Minds.

Folks enjoy making music together in the hope

that the progression of diseases like Parkinson’s,

Alzheimer’s, and related dementias will be

slowed. Currently, in cooperation with Rotary

International, Music Mends Minds programs

are popping up in communities around the

world!

Locally, Warren and Pat Carlson of the Olympia Rotary Club along with Eileen McKenzie-

Sullivan of Senior Services for South Sound, started Music Mends Minds nearly a year ago. Richard from Panorama likes learning to work together with other musicians. Diane Hutchins was told by her physician that singing will help

keep her throat muscles in shape and stave off swallowing issues that often accompany Parkinson’s disease. Long time mandolin player, Dick Olsen, dealing with memory loss says, “It has become the best day of the week”.

Join Music Mends Minds every Tuesday, 12:30-2:00 pm at the Olympia Senior Center. It’s free and open to the public!

Support Groups Caregivers face emotional, physical and economic challenges when caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s. You are not alone! There is help and hope!

Family Caregivers St. Mark Lutheran Church 2109 College Street, Lacey 4th Friday, April 26, 1:00 - 3:00 pm Alpine Way 900 West Alpine Way, Shelton 2nd Thursday, April 11, 10:30 - 11:30 am Lacey Senior Center 6757 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey 2nd Thursday, April 11, 2:30 - 4:30 pm

A complete list of support groups

offered by Senior Services for South Sound is

available in our Life Long Learning catalog.

Meet Kathy!

KATHY PECK is the new Site Manager for the Shelton

Brighter Days Adult Day Program. In addition to caring for a

family member with Alzheimer’s Disease, Kathy has worked in

memory care for a decade. Eight years ago, she worked as the

STARS Program Coordinator in Olympia and also worked in

residential memory care facilities.

Kathy is fun and engaging with the participants. Her expressions

and contagious laugh can encourage participation as well as

redirect someone who is anxious. One aspect of her job is to

network and market to the greater Mason County community.

Kathy is looking forward to getting to know other professionals

in the community and meeting families that may need the services that our Brighter Days Adult Day

Program can provide. Welcome aboard Kathy—we are grateful to welcome you back!

Yes, Brighter Days are ahead! To better reflect the changing

times and diversity of our adult day program and participants, it

was time to change our name too. Brighter Days is designed to

help prepare our society for the increased need of serving people

with Alzheimer’s, other dementias and cognitive disabilities. As

the name suggests, our personalized support and hands-on,

compassionate adult day team, provide a bright day of engaging

activities while offering respite to caregivers.

Calling all Artists, Crafters and Direct Sales Vendors!

Back by popular demand! Last year, dozens

of crafty people participated in this special

Spring Bazaar held at the Lacey Senior Center.

Only a few tables available! You can still

reserve your table today! For more information

about cost of vendor participation and to register, please contact Melanie at 360.349.5402 or

mbolser@southsoundseniors.org. Deadline is April 16th.

Proceeds benefit Momentia! Revenue collected to reserve tables will be donated to Momentia -

a local movement empowering persons with memory loss and their loved ones to remain connected

and active in a dementia-friendly community. Senior Services for South Sound and Brighter Days

Adult Day Program are committed to working with a variety of local organizations in Thurston and

Mason counties to create accessible, fun and enriching experiences.

Arts Walk

Swallows are migrating to Capistrano right now, but you can

see them in Olympia at Arts Walk on April 27! Stop by the

Brighter Days Adult Day Program tent on Saturday, 12:00-

2:00 pm on 5th Avenue (between Capital and Franklin) to

get a selfie with our beautiful mural made by the Brighter

Days participants. Just look for all the artists and tents!

Come meet Jennifer Allen, Lacey Site Manager, and learn more about all

the engaging and fun activities provided by Brighter Days staff and volunteers.

Saturday, April 27, 2019 @ 1pm and 7pm

Westminster Presbyterian Church (1925 Boulevard Rd)

$15 public/$10 Children (14 and under)

Howdy partners! Get ready for a fun event watching the

talented dancers and singers of Melodies in Motion perform

at the Cupcake Corral. Every ticket comes with a cupcake to

be enjoyed during the performance. All proceeds go to

benefit the Senior Nutrition Program at Senior Services for

South Sound. For tickets, visit www.southsoundseniors.org,

Olympia or Lacey Senior Center or call 360.586.6181.

Your Brighter Days Staff

Information & Admin: Paul Taylor, Director, 360.407.3967, ext. 107

Lacey Attendance & Daily Operations: Jen Allen, Lacey Site Manager, 360.407.3967, ext. 109

Shelton Attendance & Daily Operations: Kathy Peck, Shelton Site Manager, 360.878.1189

Enrollment, Support & Momentia: Cheri Knighton, Family Support Coordinator, 360.586.6181, ext. 111

Illness Policy

In case of illness, please help your participant remember to cough and sneeze into their shoulder or elbow.

If your participant is not feeling well (temperature of 110 or higher, runny eyes/nose, vomiting and/or diarrhea), home is the best place for them to be.

Transportation

Lacey: Please call Dial-a-Lift at 360.705.5827 if you need to cancel their ride for the day. Shelton: Call Dial-a-Ride at 360.427.5033.

Absence—Let Us Know

Lacey: 360.407.3967, ext. 109 Shelton: 360.878.1189

For complete details all our these Momentia activities, pick up a

Momentia flyer at Brighter Days or online at

www.southsoundseniors.org. Or, contact Cheri Knighton at

360.586.6181, ext. 111 or cknighton@southsoundseniors.org.

Memory Café at River’s Edge Thur, 4/4 @ 2:30 – 4:30 pm

River’s Edge (4611 Tumwater Valley Dr SE, Olympia)

Sing-a-Long

Fri, 4/5, 4/12, 4/19, 4/26 @ 12:45 – 1:45 pm

Lacey Senior Center (6757 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey)

Music Mends Minds

Tue, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30 @ 12:30 – 2:00 pm

Olympia Senior Center (222 Columbia St NW, Olympia)

Memory Café at Sister’s Restaurant Thur, 4/25 @ 2:30 – 4:30 pm

Sister’s Restaurant (116 W Railroad Ave, Shelton)

Momentia April

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

1

April Fool’s Day!

Music w/ Joe

2

Lawn Dart Toss

Gardening

3

Morning Music Tilly & Nancy

Cars Parts & Tools

4

Bingo

Baseball

5

Painting

Sing Along

8

Molkky

Table games

9

Jen’s Activity

Frisbee Toss

10

Closed for staff meetings

11

Gardening

Balloon Volleyball

12

Horseshoes

Sing Along

15

Nick’s Activity

Music with Joe

16

Bingo

Photography

17

Tilly & Nancy Visit

Bocce Ball

18

Connie’s Activity

Basketball

19

Easter Mini Golf

Sing Along

22

Bowling

Music with Joe

23

Baking for MOW

Targetball

24

Tilly & Nancy

Visit

Music

25

Art

Shuffleboard

26

Bingo

Sing Along

29 Bingo

Music with Joe

30

Baseball

Patio time

Lacey April 2019