When working with people with dementia, you quickly realize that each person’s symptoms are quite unique. To reach each person in our program, we’re constantly trying new activities geared toward different cultures, levels of functioning and ways of understanding information. We strive to provide cognitive stimulation in a variety of ways in order to connect with our seniors and help them function to the best of their abilities.

This time of year lends itself to celebrating holidays in many creative ways. We often use things like  art, music and reminiscence therapy. In our dementia program,…

We love to celebrate the holidays at our center and this time of year, it’s especially important to make the holidays festive for our seniors. This season can be difficult for them because they may be thinking about family living far away or loved ones they’ve lost. Our staff go all out decorating the center and spreading good cheer, as you can see on the attached photos…

Besides having parties for Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanzaa, trimming trees and baking delicious holiday goodies, we get the seniors involved in making cards and…

Adult Day Centers are a treasure for students that want to learn about working with the elderly. Students are exposed to working directly with seniors, recreation therapy, nutrition and transportation services. At our adult day center, they can also see first hand as VNS CHOICE (http://www.vnschoice.org/) Nurse Consultants and Social Workers evaluate their members.   It is a unique opportunity to watch care coordination in action.

We are lucky to have nursing interns from St. Josephs College and Queensborough Community College, art therapy interns from NYU and Pratt, and Gerontology interns from LaGuardia…

One of our participants has had a very ill daughter for many years. Over the years, her daughter has visited us at the center, enjoyed our entertainment, and always admired the jewelry that her mother made here. Our participant loves jewelry making and has made many necklaces for her daughter. It’s been so therapeutic for her to get involved in these art projects during these difficult years, and it was especially important to her to be able to give her daughter these gifts.

Sadly last week, her daughter passed away. She…

Seniors are busy all day at our center. From the time they come in the morning to the time they go home, they’re engaged in activities and laughing their way through the day. Not only do we strive to keep seniors active here at the center, but we also want the positive, productive feelings and brain stimulation to continue at home.

To ensure that the good times continue to roll when people leave here, the Recreation Coordinator for our dementia program contacts caregivers to suggest and help plan activities for seniors at home.  Her…