Barnes

 

News from Barnes

Goodbye Philip!

Recently, participants and staff of the Elder Service Plan PACE Centers said a sad farewell to discipline leader of social work, Philip Fleisher. Philip is moving on, but a celebration to honor him and his contributions was enjoyed by many participants and colleagues. Poems, gifts, and cake were shared and savored. Best wishes to Philip, with his band and in all of his future endeavors.

 

Intergenerational Connections—One Smile at a Time

When elders and young people make connections, everyone benefits—the elders, the kids, and the community. Michelle Bettano of Volunteer Services at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC) saw a need in the community for more intergenerational activities and got busy making it happen.

Bettano contacted Principal O'Mard of East Boston’s O'Donnell Elementary School, and Brian Johnston, a third-grade teacher at the school. She also contacted Lindsay Sulprizio, Activities Coordinator at the Elder Service Plan’s Barnes PACE Center, which is just a two-minute walk from the school. Together with Johnston's kids and Sulprizio's adults, this group formed an intergenerational program that had everyone smiling.

The children and adults first met at the Barnes PACE Center in February to create "Masterpizzas," working in pairs to decorate "pizza" slices out of cardboard. After the success of that first meeting, Bettano, Sulprizio, and Johnston planned more activities. Bettano explains, "The projects were a means to an end—to have the kids get comfortable and forget the stigma of what an elderly person is supposed to be, discovering that elderly people have lots of experience and good stories to share."

In March, it was time to share stories with the "Stir a Memory" activity. This engaging event fostered great conversations between the students and adults as they recalled favorite food memories. Drawings of everyone’s favorite foods were displayed for all to see.

In the spring, the children and adults got together again to plant seeds, which they took home to grow. At the June meeting—the final one before summer vacation—the kids and adults requested a party with time to visit and play games.

Bettano will restart the program this fall, and Johnston and Sulprizio are enthusiastic about jumping on board again. Bettano also hopes to coordinate programs between neighboring schools and the other Elder Service Plan PACE Centers at Lewis Mall and Winthrop.

Happy Birthday, ESP!

In early June, participants at the Barnes School PACE Center celebrated the Elder Service Plan’s 21st birthday. While cake and ice cream were distributed and enjoyed, participants were asked what they did on their own 21st birthdays. Many participants reminisced fondly about happy times with young friends. One participant shared that she did not celebrate her milestone 21st birthday because she was serving in World War II.

Sharing information about diabetes

Recently, the Elder Service Plan marketing team, along with members of the EBNHC Chronic Disease Education and Management (CDEM) program, helped spread awareness about diabetes. Many people stopped by the display area to complete a short quiz to assess diabetes risk—and to help themselves to a free apple! We were pleased to distribute so many of our diabetes education handouts, available in both English and Spanish.

Pizza love

The Barnes School PACE Center recently initiated an intergenerational program with third graders from Mr. Johnston’s class at the O’Donnell School. Students came to the Barnes Center on Valentine’s Day and worked on art projects with center participants. Each senior/student pair made a cardboard “pizza slice” and decorated it to reflect what love meant to them. The pizza slices were all different, but when combined into whole pizza pies, they blended together perfectly!

Staff members from the Barnes Center have been brainstorming new ideas for projects the third graders and participants can work on together, since the same group of students will return to the Barnes Center each month. The collaboration has been a huge success and has produced many great intergenerational relationships.

Boo!

Participants and staff at the Elder Service Plan Barnes School PACE Center celebrated the recent Halloween holiday with fun, food, and costumes. Click here to view photos from the day.

 

YMCA singers visit Barnes

On October 20, 2010, participants and staff at the Elder Service Plan Barnes School PACE Center welcomed ladies from the East Boston YMCA chorus. Thanks for the musical visit, ladies!