Rose Saunders Research has shown that music can enhance the quality of life for older adults. Listening to or singing songs may provide emotional or behavioral benefits to those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged in dementia. Music can be a way to communicate with those who…
Rose Saunders The Perfect Place is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides social and recreational activities for adults with cognitive challenges in a structured, safe environment while offering support and respite for the family caregiver. We also offer education about cognitive changes and the aging process. Although we have been serving Sun Lakes since 2004,…
It was party time at The Perfect Place on Friday afternoon, May 11, as we held our annual Centennial Birthday Bash. This year’s guests of honor were Sarah Getty, celebrating her 100th birthday, and Jean Arthur, celebrating her 101st birthday. The Perfect Place, an adult daycare facility, knows how to throw a party! The party began…
Alice Baldwin Our September focus group hosted five students from Forte College in the Phoenix area who demonstrated the health benefits provided by updated dental products and modern dental hygiene. Working with an older population presents specific challenges when addressing brushing teeth with and without adaptive equipment, dry mouth syndrome and denture care. This presentation…
What is Dementia? This was the topic of discussion at the Perfect Place Saturday morning, May 29. Debra Dyjak, representing the Arizona Center on Aging, engaged our group with research, anecdotes and group participation. We left with a greater knowledge of the many types of dementia, strategies useful for volunteers and support techniques to help…
Jennifer Jenkins loves the Perfect Place. She loves the games, especially Yahtzee, and she thinks the staff is wonderful. She has a great laugh, and we all laugh with her. Jennifer is a very special girl; blind since birth, she leads the daily devotional reading from a Braille Bible. Educated in a preschool program at…
The incredible volunteers at Perfect Place were honored this week with an English/Irish tea at the beautiful home of Carol Pogatchnik. Carol and staff members created an aura of a high tea for all of us volunteers. We were treated to scones with clotted cream, tea sandwiches, fruit kabobs and then presented with a dessert…
Merry Christmas to us! To our surprise and delight it was discovered in early December that we have a skilled pianist among us. Sara Getty revealed her hidden talent just in time for Christmas carols. Now you may not be impressed but Sara is 91 years young and appears enchanted when her fingers touch the…
Hospice of the Valley recently held a seminar concerning dementia at the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church. Volunteers from Perfect Place were there as were members of the congregation and other residents of Sun Lakes. The participants came away enlightened, enthusiastic and appreciative of the information they were given. Perfect Place volunteers receive training periodically…
Neighbors Who Care, The Perfect Place, Alzheimer’s Association, Palo Verde Management, a teaching artist and a caregiver make up this new coalition. The coalition was initiated by Wayne Mangold, a Sun Lakes resident. Wayne’s wife, Hanne, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011. For several years, the Mangolds have been driving to Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa…