The summary of the document is:
The Touchmark Choir completed its fourth year by performing on Broadway Avenue in Fargo. The choir includes 30 residents ranging from 22 to 101 years old, as well as volunteers. They have performed for schools, other retirement communities, and a local club. Their recent performance was described as a "greatest hits show" featuring love songs and upbeat tunes. The choir directors have volunteered since the group started in 2010, though they intended it to be a one-time commitment. They find joy in working with the choir members and bringing music to people.
Touchmark at Harwood Groves - June 2014 Newsletter
1. The choir finished its fourth year
by taking its talent to Broadway
(Fargo’s Broadway Avenue, that
is).
The choir is a lively group of 30
residents as well as a volunteer,
intern, and a team member,
ranging in ages 22 to 101. They
began singing together in fall
2010 and since then have
performed in area schools, other
retirement communities, and for
a local Kiwanis Club.
Volunteer Choir Co-Directors
Dawn Papenfuss and Suzanne
Schultz, who have volunteered
as directors since the group
formed, described the recent
performance as the choir’s
“greatest hits show.”
“This performance featured
songs about love and thinking
positively. Some moments in the
performance just touched the
heart, and others cracked people
up,” says Dawn.
“One-time thing” turns into
long-term dedication
Dawn, the music director at St.
John’s Lutheran Church, started
the choir in 2010. Her mom
was a resident at Touchmark,
and Dawn had brought her
children’s and adult’s church
choirs to Touchmark to perform.
A team member asked Dawn if
she would coordinate a choir for
Touchmark’s fine arts night.
Dawn recruited her good friend
Suzanne to co-direct with her.
“It was going to be a one-time
thing,” Suzanne says of the duo’s
initial commitment. But their
love of music and for the people
keeps them committed.
“They have brought such joy
into my life by their desire to be
there, their positive response to
my crazy personality, and their
sheer willingness to have fun,”
says Dawn. “It’s as much about
being together and having a
good time as it is singing. ”
For Suzanne, it’s one of the
most rewarding things she does.
“I strongly feel that everyone
should volunteer in some way in
the community, and this is my
favorite way to do that.”
For nine months out of the
year, their focus is preparation,
practices, props, performances—
and ultimately—people.
TOUCHMARK AT HARWOOD GROVES
THE{FULL}LIFE
June 2014
Touchmark Choir wows on stage
2. Research on cognition and memory is finding that
people who participate in more mentally stimulating
activities have a slower rate of decline in memory
(Wilson, et al, 2013, Journal of Neurology). Apps and
websites like Fit Brains, Lumosity, Tetris, Sudoku2
all work on your computer, tablet device, or smart
phone. Touchmark recently conducted a webinar with
team members that covered cutting-edge ideas for activities and cognitive stimulation. We now are working
to develop programming throughout Touchmark communities that takes advantage of this technology for
enhancing memory.
If you own or intend to purchase a computer, tablet, or smart phone and would like to participate in learning
how to use it, please let us know. Also, if you have a favorite website or app that helps build the brain, please
send an email to FullLife@Touchmark.com. Let’s learn together what can benefit all of us as we exercise our
brains and boost memory.
CLUB NEWSFITNESS
PERSONAL TRAINER
AWARD
LIFE STORY
PERSONAL CARE
PERSON-CENTERED CARE
AQUATIC
June is Men’s Health Month!
The goal of this month’s focus
is to increase the awareness of
preventable diseases and serve
as a reminder for all men to get
the appropriate annual health
screenings.
Early detection of chronic
disease and corrective action
can increase all men’s quality of
life. Throughout June, the club
will provide health information
and tips on men’s health topics.
Check the front desk each
Friday. Men—and women!—
here are some tips for better
health:
Exercise five days a week.
Try to get at least 40 minutes of
a moderate-intensity workout.
Tip: Workouts can be broken
down into 10-minute sessions
for similar results as a full
40-minute session.
Get a massage. Stress
management is important for
overall health and wellness.Tip:
Schedule a massage every other
week in June and feel firsthand
the health benefits of massage
therapy.
Be in tune with your body.
If something doesn’t feel right
or you are experiencing body
pain/discomfort anywhere,
don’t write it off as “age” related.
Tip: Keep a journal of how you
are feeling: physically, mentally,
emotionally, socially, etc. This
information can be useful
for your physician (Last tip:
schedule a regular physical!)
Move as a group. Benefit as
an individual.
Do you need motivation to
continue working out during
summer? Try a group exercise
class. (Check out the new
interactive class schedules at
TouchmarkFargo.com.) Some
benefits of group exercise
include:
• provides variety and health
benefits that you might miss
in your own personal exercise
program.
• adds motiviation to your
workout.
• helps you maintain your
workout since it’s scheduled.
• adds fun and variety!
Personal training: infuse your
workouts with efficiency,
energy, and fun!
Whether you’ve exercised for
years or need to learn the basics,
a Touchmark personal trainer
can create an effective and
enjoyable fitness program to
meet your needs.
In designing your personalized
fitness program, your personal
trainer will evaluate your
current level of fitness, seek
input from your health care
team (if necessary), assess
your physical capabilities, and
together determine your short-
and long-term goals.
Choose one session or 100 … the
choice is yours! Make a choice
for greater vitality, health,
independence, and quality of
life. Stop by the club today or
call 701-526-1055 to schedule
your first session with a trainer.
Brian Pryor
Executive Vice President
Do you have a computer, iPad, or smart phone?
3. CAPTURING DELIGHT{FULL} MOMENTS
Every other month, local artist and instructor
Kaylyn Gerenz teaches an art class for residents
and guests. Recently, she used MIND{FULL} as
inspiration for a class on abstract painting and
painting to music. Next up: printmaking with food
June 23 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. (Please sign up.)
The Lunch ’n Learn also followed the MIND{FULL}
theme. Staging and Prepping Your Home
with Vicki Frederickson (pictured) of Park Co.
Realtors,®
and I have too much stuff. I don’t know
where to start! with Laurie Corliss of Lifesort.
Resident and Entrepreneur Jim Bastian, 87,
presented on his current invention—a magnetized
holder for smart phones.
Residents and staff took part in a fundraiser
for the Alzheimer’s Association: selling and
noshing pizza by the slice! Throughout the
year, Touchmark raises funds to support this
organization with the final event being the Walk to
End Alzheimer’s. As of now, Touchmark has raised
more than $700.
The children
from Head
Start returned
for their
monthly visit.
Ray Green led
the group in
singing before
everyone
jumped into
coloring and
games.