Kim Dooley, an assistant manager in Memory Care at the Mansion, has agreed to send me photos every once in a while on the days when I’m not there myself.
(Photos by Kim Dooley)
Depending on my connection to Memory Care, I am called to spend more time there and get to know the residents.
The picture was taken this morning when the much-needed women’s gloves (from the Army Of Good) arrived at Memory Care.
The residents and aides were overjoyed to get them, and thanks.
Working with the memory-impaired has attracted me for some time, from reading programs to dog therapy, and Zinnia and I are now stopping there regularly.
Jane is continuing her wonderful artwork; we are planning a pop-up art show for her at the Mansion. She is very gifted.
(Jane’s interpretation of the Gingerbread Man.)
Bonnie English, another activity director at the Mansion, is running daily art programs that have enthralled the residents and are gobbling up our canvases.
Creativity has taken hold at the Mansion and is being given a new life. Maria is conducting another one of her very popular art classes next week.
She has been out in the wood collecting twigs; she plans to teach the residents how to make their own Christmas Wreaths.
Sue Silverstein has touched off a creative revolution with her outstanding art projects at Bishop Gibbons High School. Creativity is in. Paryese Bates Becker has done the same thing in the Mansion.
It is always striking to me how much the residents in the Mansion main facility or Memory Care next door love to do puzzles and paint. It lifts them up, keeps their minds active, and fosters community.
There are plenty of things to do at the Mansion.
I’ll be conducting a Mansion Meditation Class on Tuesday and visiting Memory Care on Wednesday.
We plan to get to Bishop Gibbons High School if the weather cooperates on Thursday.
The new activities team is nothing if not active. Bonnie says painting is the hot ticket these days for Memory Care and the Mansion residents.
They can always use painting canvases (11/14 or close), acrylic paints, and paintbrushes. If you have any of these or wish to purchase and send some, the address is Kim Dooley, The Mansion, 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816.