Tag Archives: life enrichment

Learning to Use Your ipad at The Cedars Retirement Community

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Katharine

    

      The ipad group at the Osher Inn Assisted Living at The Cedars recently started teaching our residents to use their ipads and learn the basics of this robot-like tablet.  They’re learning to explore dimensions such as the “app store”, e-mail, the calendar, Skype, and iphoto. Having this thin hand held rectangle allows our residents to be connected with the world, but more importantly friends and family. However, there is a learning curve to using the touchscreen and navigating through the complex levels and screens.  Lifestyles Assistant, Rebecca Roy, is enthused about helping our residents become more at ease with their new device.

    “Listening to Pandora while … Read more here.

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Garden Committee at The Cedars Retirement Community

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Katharine

The Cedars Retirement Community is pleased to announce that volunteer Barbara Lawrence will be facilitating the Resident Garden Club at our Skilled Care Center.  For several years, Barbara has been leading the floral design classes at The Cedars in addition to volunteering twice a month on the neighborhoods.  With a degree in Horticulture, she has been working with flowers and plants for 40 years.  At The Cedars, she plans to work with residents on the patio outside of the Leibowitz neighborhood, and the patio extending from the Therapeutic Recreation area.  With her assistance, the residents will choose the flowers, colors, and where they’d like to plan them.  Then Barbara will work with all interested residents to … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: Music That Heals

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Katharine

Several recent studies have highlighted the benefits of music for older adults.  In particular, the healing and connective power of familiar music for people with Alzheimer’s disease.  At The Cedars, our Recreational Therapists have been incorporating music into the lives of our residents for years. 

Kim Doyon, Manager of Life Enrichment Services at The Cedars for over 10 years, brings music to our community not only through professionals from the Portland area, but also from several volunteers as well. “The experience of music can truly transform them (our residents).  Some residents with more advanced dementia are able to … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: Six Ways to Make the Most of Your Visits

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Katharine

Melanie Desjardins, Manager of Care Coordination at the Skilled Care Center at The Cedars

Personal visits can make a big difference for loved ones who live at The Cedars. Although our Life Enrichment Department offers several activities, arriving with a planned activity can make your visit more pleasant and meaningful for both you and your loved one. Here are some creative things to do while visiting:

Bring photos of family and friends from days gone by and/or recent photos of their house or hometown.
Help your loved one write letters or send cards to people.
Together, start to create a photo album, framed photograph collection or a poster to … Read more here.

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A Concert with Tom Snow

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Katharine

Come join us for an afternoon of jazz with

Maine pianist, performer and arranger, Tom Snow

Monday February 25th, 2013

For more information or to reserve your seat, call 207-221-7100

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Best Retirement Community: Taking Care of Our Hearts

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Katharine

Health and Wellness: Taking Care of Our Hearts 

February is Health Healthy Month and a great opportunity to take inventory of our heart wellness.  As we age our hearts become less efficient and have to work harder to pump the blood.  Here are several ways we can promote heart health taken from livestrong.com. If you have any questions about healthy living, stop in and see Sharon Leddy-Smart Lifestyle Coordinator at The Atrium at The Cedars. 

Exercise: Exercise is related to your cardiovascular health, and as an older person it’s important for you to be active. Exercise 30 minutes daily, even breaking it into three 10-minute sessions. Even moderate … Read more here.

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Retirement Living at The Cedars: Happy 100th Pearl!

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Katharine

 

Pearl Levine, resident at The Cedars since 2004, is joining the very exclusive Centenarian Club this February 11th.  One of the youngest 100 years olds we know, Pearl has always kept busy – raising her family in Portland, volunteering as a lifetime member with The Cedars Auxiliary, reveling in her many grandchildren, and enjoying water aerobics for over 40 years.

With a perenially positive viewpoint on life, Pearl has been an exemplar of aging well for many.  Just a few years ago, Kathy Callnan, President and CEO at The Cedars, remembers commenting to Pearl at a Donor’s Dinner, “Pearl, you could easily live to be 100!”  To which she responded, “Oh I would never want … Read more here.

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Snowflakes to Sandy Hook from The Cedars

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Katharine

Intergenerational programming at The Cedars is a valuable opportunity for our residents to enjoy children of all ages while providing younger people the chance to interact with elders.  When Janine Fifield, Director of Volunteer Services at The Cedars, heard about Operation Snowflake through the PTA in Newtown, CT, she thought of The Cedars.

Every month the first and second grade students from the Friends School of Portland, visit with the residents at The Cedars to engage in a special project.  In early December, Janine had arranged for the group to make snowflakes, not knowing the eventual fate of these paper creations.  “The room was filled with snowflakes, … Read more here.

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Best Retirement Community: Living Well with Diabetes

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Katharine

Health and Wellness: November is Diabetes Awareness Month

by Dianne Vigue, Resident Wellness Manager at The Osher Inn, assisted living at The Cedars

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.  This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of frequent urination, frequent thirst and increased hunger.

                There are two main types of diabetes that affect seniors.  Type I results from the body’s failure to produce insulin and requires the individual to inject … Read more here.

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Best Retirement: Honoring Togetherness

Posted on November 19, 2012 by Katharine

Today’s Portland Press Herald’s featured article, Togetherness Can Elude Seniors, describes a troubling scenario where a couple married for over 50 years is separated in the midst of a program change at an assisted living facility.  Sadly, this kind of situation takes place more often than we know, largely due to the fragmented and stressed care system that is in place for elders in Maine and across America. 

At The Cedars, we are very familiar with couples who have different medical and care needs from each other.  We encourage our residents to age in place, and fortunately are able to offer a full continuum of services, so they can do just that.  These levels represent a … Read more here.

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