Inspiration Food for the mind & spirit…and a little for the funny bone

Deidre Scherer

http://dscherer.com/
Many people who visit our offices comment on the lovely artwork we have in the foyer. These are prints of portraits by the Vermont artist Deidre Scherer. The original works were actually done in fabric and stitching. Each portrays a vibrant, engaged elderly person. I love the humanity of these works. They are reminders that the richness of life is available to us at every age.

Advanced Style

http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/
This is just fun. Photographer Ari Seth Cohen has a book, a movie, and a blog – all devoted to older women with a wonderful sense of style. In his words: “Respect your elders and let these ladies and gents teach you a thing or two about living life to the fullest. Advanced Style offers proof from the wise and silver-haired set that personal style advances with age.”

Age of Love: a documentary on the dating lives of seniors —

http://theageoflovemovie.com/
Speed dating for the geriatric set? Yes! And what’s so funny about that? Take a look at the trailer on the movie’s website. It’s bound to make you smile.

The Power of Music

These videos show the ability of music to reach people at every stage of dementia. We use these clips as part of the in-depth dementia training (DementiaWise TM) we give home health aides. Music memories are stored in a different part of the brain than other work-a-day memories. Even people deep into the isolation of advanced dementia can often be reached through music. It’s one of the “meaningful activities” that we introduce into the daily routines of caregiver and client.

Naomi Feil & Gladys Wilson—Take the time to watch this entire video—it’s a revelation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM
Henry in the nursing home—another great clip showing how music delights. This gentleman was featured in a documentary on music and dementia called “Alive Inside.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZXz10FcVM

So funny! Youtube video of dad using the ipad his daughter gave him – in a manner she certainly didn’t predict

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwLuLjv6V0g

The Gift of Age: Growing Old Gracefully,  by Joan Chittester

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2935683-the-gift-of-years
“The truth of the matter is that all of life, at any age, is about ripening. Life is about doing every age well, learning what we are meant to learn from it and giving to it what we are meant to give back to it.”

Benedictine nun Sister Joan Chittester refutes the notion, too prevalent in our culture, that there is nothing left to learn or contribute past a certain age. Here’s an excerpt from an article by her on The Huffington Post website that will give you a sense of her perspective:

“Given the luxury of years, the elders in a society bring a perspective on life that is not possible to the young and of even less interest to the middle aged whose life is consumed with concern for security and achievement. Instead the elders look back on the twists and turns of life with a more measured gaze. Some things, they know now, which they thought had great value at one age, they see little value in later. The elders know that what lasts in life, what counts in life, what remains in life after all the work has been completed are the relationships that sustained us, not the trophies we collected on the way. The Elders are blessed with insight.”

You can hear Joan Chittester’s TED talk through this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjICmNfjPUg