If you’re passionate about something, why should you ever stop doing it, as long as you’re able… At our center, we always try to offer programs that involve hobbies or daily activities that our participants have enjoyed throughout their lives. Just because someone is over a certain age, why should they stop doing what they love?  Our answer is, they should never stop – keep doing what you love as long as they can!

Our participants suffer many losses including losing loved ones, losing their memory or seeing a decrease in their physical functioning. We always try to focus on what is NOT lost, and continuing to do activities that bring joy, satisfaction and a feeling of being productive. One example of this is our cooking groups. Many of our participants are excellent cooks and spent much of their lives cooking for their families. Many of them don’t get the opportunity to cook anymore, and that’s where we come in…

Ms. C., a participant in our dementia program, was agitated and depressed when she started coming to our center. She began attending once a week and after two months, she increased it to 5 days a week. Her depression and agitation lifted, she has made many friends, and she actively engages in all activities. She also loves to suggest activities and share stories about her life, and we discovered that she loves to cook Italian food and bake. She is now taking the lead in cooking groups here at the center. In the above picture, you can see her rolling out dough to make pizza for the group. She gets such a sense of satisfaction and pride when everyone is enjoying her food! Everyone should have the opportunity to experience those feelings, no matter what your age, so keep doing what you love!