So, for St. Patrick's Day, the locally renowned Highland Hills choir performed a selection of traditional Irish songs for retirees from Watkinsville and Bogart. It was an absolute pleasure to behold, and I learned that, like other independent living centers, Highland Hills employs an activities coordinator who is especially attuned to the art and science of getting people to be social. Her name is Edmonda Snow, a vivacious and outgoing lady who has been working for St. Mary's for twenty-five years.
Snow explains that social activities like choir concerts not only keep the residents active, but also provide a way to keep people from pondering anyone's failing health or upcoming death. Aside from concerts, shopping trips, and dinners, one of the most frequent events that Edmonda has to plan for is someone's memorial service. "That's kind of the worst part of this job" she says. "Each of these people is a bit like a grandparent to me, and it gets harder and harder each time one of them goes. Still, we like to remind ourselves that death is not the reason why we are here."
While maintaining close relationships to the residents, Snow also notes the importance of keeping the brain active later in life. She coordinates music lessons, golf lessons, sewing lessons and art lessons for the residents, citing medical findings that learning new skills late r in life helps stave off the onset of senility. Many of the Highland Hills singers are first-timers, pushed into singing by Snow and the sense of community that singing brings. Attached are several pictures from the performance.
The concert was well-received and well attended and included a collection of traditional, popular and less well known Irish tunes. Choir member and Highland Hills resident "Tweet" Moore said this was her first performance with the group, and that was thrilled to be involved. "Moore sang in her church choir as a little girl, but had only recently started singing again. It was an activity she took up to meet people shortly after her husband passed away. Moore is considering lessons, and a few of her friends have take up the piano.
Music lessons open up neural pathways and release certain hormones in the brain that counteract anxiety, depression, stress and promote well-being according to the American Music therapy Association. The association also points out that adults who engage in any form of music-making also display fewer adverse health affects. But for the members of the Highland Hills choir, singing together forms a common bound between strangers and old friends, and gives everyone in the choir a reason to perform.
This is awesome. You should put up more pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I particularly like the hats.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I love your pictures! Until her level of dementia required a move to a more supervised facility, my grandmother used to live in a retirement home in Athens similar to Highland Hills. She used to live for these kind of activities and I really do think her brain functioning benefited from this kind of participation. And although now she has pretty significant memory loss, I think getting her to engage in activities or conversations still helps her with lucid thoughts. Another thing that I am amazed to see is how much animals transfix her now. When I was growing up, she never much cared for our family dog but now, when she's visiting my parents' house, she focuses almost entirely on the dogs. She lets them lick her face, sit in her lap - all things she would never have allowed when I was a kid. I find it quite remarkable.
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