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Date: 3/2/2022
HUNTINGTON – Council on Aging Director Kathleen Peterson and outreach coordinator Crystal Wright-Partyka were encouraged as more than a dozen people came to the Memory Cafe at Stanton Hall on the afternoon of Feb. 23 to listen to drummer David Bond Engelhard perform and entertain them.
Engelhard, who is from East Otis, told the group that he cared for his mom when she started to have memory issues, and he found that he could put on every kind of music and she was “right on it.” He had the seniors and family members at Stanton Hall tapping their feet, shaking tambourines and other percussion instruments along with his rhythms
Engelhard also played a few songs on tape that he thought they would enjoy. One of the musicians he played was Tony Bennett, who recently announced to the world that he has memory issues, in a farewell concert with Lady Gaga.
Peterson said the Memory Cafe, which began in December, is just starting to get regular attendance. The cafe is for people from nearby Hilltowns with or without memory issues, and their families. The weekly meetings offer live music, an art class, nutritional and educational activities for those with memory issues, as well as support, information and resources for caregivers.
Wright-Partyka said she belonged to a similar support group in the Berkshires during the 10 years she cared for her own mother, which she found enjoyable for both of them, and extremely helpful.
Performing at the Memory Cafe on March 16 at 2 p.m. will be Sarah the Fiddler. Promoting movement and memories through music is a passion of Sarah’s, and the program will include sing-along favorites, music trivia and the opportunity to play various hand-held instruments. Hilltown residents planning to attend are encouraged to email Wright-Partyka so that the Council on Aging can prepare enough seating. She may be reached at 685-5283 or caregiveroutreach@huntingtonma.us.
Also starting in March, the Council on Aging will host an 11-session “Aging Mastery” program at Stanton Hall. Estate planning attorney Mary O’Connell will present the first session on March 18 from 6 to 7 p.m. Bridget Johnson from Highland Valley Elder Services will offer a talk on “Options Counseling” on March 23 from 1 to 2 p.m., the hour before the Memory Cafe. People are welcome to come to one or both. Kelly McCarthy from Highland Valley Elder Services will present “Navigating Longer Lives” 1-2 p.m. on April 13.
Specific dates will be announced for the following Aging Mastery topics: “Exercise and You” in April, “Sleep and Healthy Eating” in May, “Medication Management” and “Falls Prevention” in June, “Healthy Relationships” in July, “Financial Planning” presented by Tim Flynn from Edward Jones Financial in September, and “Community Engagement” in October. For more information or to sign up, contact Jennifer Peloquin at jpeloquin@huntingtonma.us or 512-5205.
All of these programs are free and made possible in part by a grant from Highland Valley Elder Services through funding under the federal Older Americans Act and by a grant from the Huntington Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The Aging Mastery classes are a program of the National Council on Aging.
Transportation to programs at Stanton Hall is also available by calling FRTA van driver Richard Homan at 860-836-1844 to schedule an appointment by 6 p.m. the previous day. An application needs to be filled out prior to riding the van, and can be requested to be mailed or emailed at 512-5205. The fare for the van ride to the Memory Café or COA office is $1.50 round trip.
The Council on Aging is also offering a free Dementia Friends information session led by volunteer Dementia Friends Champions Kathleen Peterson and Crystal Wright-Partyka. The same session will be take place 10-11 a.m. on March 5, and 2-3 p.m. on March 10, at Stanton Hall. Participants will learn five key messages about living with dementia and ways the community can make a difference.
Dementia Friends is a global movement developed by the Alzheimer’s Association in the United Kingdom and now underway in Massachusetts and across the United States. This program is sponsored by Jewish Family & Children’s Service. To learn more, visit www.dementiafriendsma.org or contact Wright-Partyka at 685-5283 or caregiveroutreach@huntingtonma.us