The Heyman Interages®Center is a program
of JCA® - Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington.
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THE INTERAGES CONNECTOR
STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING HOME
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Staying in Touch
Hello JCA Interages Volunteers,
We hope this newsletter finds you having a pleasant August.
As school district plans solidify, we stand ready, via zoom, to tutor students who need extra help. We are even offering Zoom classes to volunteers since those who work with students may need to know extra Zoom features, like sharing the screen or breaking off into one of multiple rooms. [Stay tuned to these newsletters for Zoom class registration.] Teachers will need to get to know their students' progress, so, we will hopefully begin supporting classes later in October. In the meantime, Interages has long - standing and new partnerships with area organizations as ways to reach youth, including Book Clubs, and other classes where volunteers are needed. In addition, our SHARE From A Distance program connects youth volunteers, adult volunteers, and those in senior living communities, through pen pal programming, cards and art. Fall will bring even more connections.
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Coffee Clubs [held twice a month]
Meet with Interages staff members via Zoom. We would love to talk with you and learn about your volunteer experience, your ideas for programming and partnering with other organizations.
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Bridging the Ages with Art and Music
In a wonderful pilot summer program, the JCA Heyman Interages® Center partnered with Kensington Club, an adult day-care program that engages elderly adults with early signs of dementia. Both are a part of the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). This Art and Music Appreciation program brought high school student volunteers together with older adults living with dementia, as well as with adult Interages volunteers.
Before each appreciation class, through Zoom, the students and adult volunteers met with Interages and Kensington Club staff. It was an opportunity to learn about art and music therapy and dementia. Art and music therapy provide older adults enjoyment, use of their cognitive skills and a distraction from pain.
In the last music Zoom class, there were 27 participants singing, clapping and swaying to the music. The music therapist played the guitar and led the singing. The theme was the 1930s and many of the KC members were familiar with the tunes. There were lots of smiles and all participants seemed to really enjoy the session.
In the after-class debriefing session, students said how happy it made them to see the older adults singing and smiling and having a good time. Many were surprised how engaged the older adults were; they expected less participation. One student felt it was a blessing for him since it was a pleasant break from summer school.
The students earned service-learning hours for producing posters, poetry and other promotional material raising awareness to support the dignity of those with dementia. In end- of- program evaluations, the young people shared their thoughts.
Denny wrote in his program evaluation;
"...If I had the chance, I would join again, because I love being able to help others and to be helped to learn as well. No one deserves to feel alone, and I want to make people happy."
Ziya wrote;
"I just wanted to thank you and the rest of the members of the Kensington Club for inviting me to participate and connect with these amazing seniors I have heard about. I was so inspired to see them interact with the paintings and also them being able to listen to music back in their time. I am so glad I got the chance to see something so amazing that has impacted my life tremendously."
Krystal would do it again.
"I enjoyed listening to the jazzy tunes and watching everyone sway and play to the music. It was so heartwarming to see so many people connect through both the online and the memory-loss barriers!"
The art shown was produced by one of the participating youth.
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My Daily Brain [poem by Denny, one of the participating youth]
There goes those that have the notion
That my heart is old, my brain, in slow motion
But my brain doesn’t just cover a portion
It expands into the pacific ocean.
Sure, I am not who I once was
Sure, I have taken a huge pause
But my mind is full of imagination
My heart is full of endless creation.
My life is full of histories, racked with mysteries
Her-stories. Their- stories. Whatever- stories.
I’m as bright as the lit sun
I feel like the earth, full of tradition.
My face tells the past, the actions bring the future
My life doesn’t show 50%, more like 100%; it’s pure.
Observing underestimation is my daily hobby.
Everyday, when I go to my apartment. Every night when I leave the lobby So, I can’t remember, that won’t stop me.
After all, my mind is an enormous library.
Stories are locked. Safe and Secure
With that fact, I am sure.
So, to virtually reiterate. On a full second take,
My brain is full of opportunities. Adventures to make.
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Our own Rachel Lanman, an Interages Program Coordinator, was quoted in Girls Life as the article went on to describe the JCA Heyman Interages SHARE From A Distance program. Through our SHARE From a Distance program, we make intergenerational connections from a distance by matching up pen pals, as well as bringing art, letters, and cards to senior living communities.
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Here is a heartwarming first sentence from the pen pal letter of an 89- year-old Kensington Club member to his 11 - year -old pen pal.
"You are giving me a new lease on life. Now I have a friend to talk to about old times."
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Thank you Mike Rinis for this wonderful video about bridges.
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Governor Hogan has decided that the 2020 November General Election will be held as a "normal" in-person election. Vote By Mail ballots WILL NOT automatically be mailed
to all active registered voters, as was done for the June 2 Primary Election.
You must apply for an absentee/mail-in ballot, online here (you will need a Maryland driver's license or MVA-issued ID card); or by printing, completing and mailing the application here. Your application must be received (not just postmarked) by October 20, 2020. The ballot itself will need to be postmarked on or before General Election day, November 3, 2020. For more information, visit the Maryland Board of Elections webpage.
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This month marks the 100th year of Women's Suffrage. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified into the U.S. Constitution, forever protecting American women's right to vote.
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Let's Laugh
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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Let's Share A View
"Window-Swap" offers the unique opportunity to see the view from someone else's window. Views are offered from all over the world. Your window can be one of the views. Participate or just take a look out a window on this website.
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For your convenience, past issues of the JCA Interages Connector are available on the JCA Interages website.
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Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington
"Jewish Council for the Aging", "JCA", "Helping All Seniors Thrive" and "Interages" are registered trademarks of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington, Inc. Visit us at AccessJCA.org.© 2020 Jewish Council for the Aging® All rights reserved.
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