At Kensington Park Senior Living, we understand that caregiving goes beyond meeting the basic needs of our seniors.
It’s about enriching their lives and creating meaningful experiences that bring joy and purpose.
This summer, we’re thrilled to invite you to join our free online event series titled “Ready. Set. Summer! Kensington Caregiver Support Services,” designed to provide caregivers with tools to enhance their loved ones’ lives through art and music therapy.
Exploring the therapeutic power of art and music
Our five-part series offers a diverse range of topics, including the transformative power of art and music.
These forms of therapy have been shown to stimulate cognitive abilities, foster emotional expression, and create opportunities for quality bonding time between caregivers and their loved ones.
Reflecting on our first session
Our series kicked off with Part I: “Creative Communication Strategies to Navigate Summer” in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association.
This session was a great source of inspiration and information, providing caregivers with effective strategies to communicate with their loved ones with dementia.
If you missed it, don’t worry. You can catch up by watching the event recording.
Join us for Parts II and III
With Parts II and III just around the corner, we encourage you to RSVP and join these illuminating sessions.
As caregivers, learning new ways to connect with and enrich the lives of our loved ones is an ongoing journey. By embracing creative strategies like art and music therapy for seniors, we can create more vibrant, joyful, and fulfilling experiences for them.
What to expect for Part II
Part II of our series, “Together in Harmony: How to Meaningfully Use Music with a Loved One with Dementia,” is led by Tara Jenkins, a Board Certified Music Therapist and Founder of Harmony in Dementia.
This session aims to show how music therapy for seniors can be a powerful tool, especially for those living with dementia. From improving memory recall to reducing stress, music has the power to resonate deeply within us and create beautiful moments of connection.
We believe strongly in the power of music at our community. We have two Licensed, Board-Certified Music Therapists on-site.
What to expect from Part III
In Part III, “Art for the Aging Brain,” we partner with Opening Minds through Art at Scripps Gerontology Center to explore the benefits of art therapy for seniors.
Art creates an avenue for self-expression and communication, particularly for seniors dealing with cognitive decline. It allows them to express thoughts and emotions that words may not capture, thus boosting their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
Our dedicated life enrichment team
At the heart of these innovative therapies are two dedicated life enrichment team members, Julia McCarren and David Landes, both Board-Certified and Licensed Music Therapists. As our Music Therapist and Activities Assistant, David brings his passion for music and its therapeutic benefits to our community.
Julia, our Director of Creative Arts Therapies, uses her expertise to incorporate various forms of art into our residents’ lives, enriching their experiences daily.
Upcoming sessions: enhancing caregiver wellness and life balance
As we continue our journey through the Creative Caregiving series, we’re excited to introduce Parts IV and V, focusing on caregiver wellness and life balance.
- Part IV: “Caregiver Mental Fitness,” features Braden Bishop, a Caregiver Advocate and Former Major League Baseball Player. This session will provide strategies to maintain mental fitness and resilience as a caregiver.
- Part V: “Weekly Wellness Plan to Find Balance & Joy for a Busy Life,” Gerontologist Sherri Snelling will guide you in creating a balanced lifestyle that brings joy amidst the demands of caregiving.
These sessions underscore our commitment to not only improve the lives of our seniors but also support the well-being of caregivers.
We invite you to RSVP and join us in these enlightening sessions. Embrace this opportunity to enhance your caregiving journey with Kensington Park Senior Living.
New studies on the benefits of music and brain health
A recent study showed how participating in a musical activity—for example, the UK project Singing for the Brain (SftB)—offers numerous health and well-being benefits for individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
The study showed how a group setting fosters a sense of belonging and essential social support for seniors. Not only does the activity of singing uplift mood beyond the sessions and strengthen relationships, but it also aids in accepting the diagnosis of dementia.
This acceptance positively impacts the long-term well-being of individuals with dementia and their caregivers, promoting earlier access to appropriate support.
Singing’s unique ability to stimulate memory, along with its mutually advantageous effects on individuals with dementia and caregivers, sets this activity apart.
Connecting to the benefits of art therapy
These encouraging findings also align with studies employing other creative modalities such as visual art (Camic, Tischler, & Pearman, 2014; MacPherson, Bird, Anderson, Davis, & Blair, 2009).
Based on these positive results, researchers continue to delve further into this type of therapy with more research into the potential benefits of such activities in order to enrich the lives of individuals living with dementia.
Music therapy for seniors—seeking to enrich lives
At Kensington Park Senior Living, we believe in the power of creativity to transform lives.
That’s why we have a dedicated team of therapists who employ—not only the latest physiotherapy and physical rehabilitation techniques—but also therapeutic techniques for the mind and spirit as well.
Our Promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own. We extend this to caregivers and family members too.
Beyond the three neighborhoods of memory care that we offer to our residents who are dealing with dementia challenges, our community offers a wide range of engaging activities, personalized care, and a warm, welcoming environment.
For memory care, our Kensington Club specializes in early onset of memory loss, while Connections and Haven cater to those with mid to late stage.
With an emphasis on therapies and activities of all kinds, we seek to ensure that each day is filled with joy, creativity, and meaningful connections.
We look forward to sharing this journey with you and helping you shine brightly as a caregiver.
Reach out to us to learn more about what our communities can do for you and your loved ones.