Submitted
Some of you may remember “Golden Girls,” the hit TV comedy featuring four women as they navigated through the sometimes-choppy waters of their “golden” years. In the process, they often educated viewers about many of the needs and challenges faced by older adults.
Those needs and challenges have not gone away, nor have older adults. In fact, the number of older adults in Hamilton County and the issues facing them are increasing dramatically.
PrimeLife Enrichment (PLE) understands those issues and is taking new steps to address this growing health crisis in the community. In early September, PLE began hosting a weekly mood and memory program entitled “Arts & Depression/Dementia.” According to Linda Handy, PLE’s Executive Director, the program evolved from PLE’s commitment to Dementia Friends Indiana’s mission to “make a positive difference in the lives of people living with dementia” and to help them “remain included, accepted and connected with their community.”
“The core purpose of our free Friday programs is to provide a unique, interactive experience grounded in the arts for seniors living with dementia and their caregivers, with the goal of helping them avoid or overcome feelings of depression and social isolation,” said Handy. “We are partnering with experts in various disciplines to provide activities each Friday that have been developed with the participants in mind.” She added that these free Friday programs are the first components of a comprehensive Depression and Dementia initiative that will evolve as additional needs of memory-challenged individuals and their caregivers are identified and addressed.
According to Handy, the first Friday of every month features a music-related activity designed for those living with dementia and depression, led by Dr. Tim Brimmer of Sound Minds and Butler University demonstrating the importance of music to mood and memory.
The program for the second Friday of the month utilizes memory/brain games, like bingo, brainteasers, trivia and others to help participants retain and recall knowledge and use of numbers and letters.
Art classes take center stage on the third Friday of each month, while educational speakers on various mood and memory topics are featured every fourth Friday. Rick Cobb leads a bonus activity called “Song Shape Chorus” every Friday immediately after the regular program.
Song Shape is a special chorus consisting of dementia patients and their caregivers with a performance expected in December. The Friday activities begin at 11:30 a.m. with a free lunch followed by the program starting at noon, and Song Shape at 1 p.m. or shortly thereafter.
PLE, located at 1078 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel, is the hub of services, programs and activities that enable Hamilton County adult residents to lead healthy, active and productive lives, and stay in their homes. For many of them, PrimeLife Enrichment is the first line of defense against ageism and the physical and emotional health challenges seniors face.