An unexpectedly warm winter day is a great chance to get a change of scenery.
Invite your care partner on a sensory walk. Feel the sun on your face and breathe in the fresh air. Explore slowly, stopping to savor every texture, color, and shape in the garden or the park. Get close up and touch silky grasses, smell a lemon, or admire a red camellia flower. Bring a colorful pinwheel out with you, and watch it twirl in the breeze.
It can be fun to collect some souvenirs. When you get back inside, share some tea and use your five senses to enjoy these reminders of nature together all over again.
Become a friend to a person with dementia!
/in News /by kariWe think this is an inspiring article about the importance of friendship. In our work at The Hummingbird Project we value the social and emotional connection of friendship with our clients; and the good news is we benefit from it too!
“First and foremost, friendships matter to older adults with dementia for all the same reasons that friendships matter to anyone: They are sources of pleasure, support and social identity.”
Read more at: How being friends with someone who has dementia can be good for you both
Authentic Connections
/in News /by tiffanyIn creating meaningful connections, a Hummingbird activity specialist discovered an interesting program at a church near her client Josephine’s previous home in NYC. The program is a year-long series of events inspired by the work of Dr. MLK Jr. Their activity session focused on listening to a speech by Dr. King and then discussing Josephine’s work with Adam Clayton Powell and how much she missed Dr. King’s presence. She declared that she was emotional listening to the speech and made a note of it so that she could hear it again. Connecting her with this transformative time in her life supported her emotional well-being.
Finding gems of information about our clients opens opportunities to connect them to what matters most, and that nurtures value and meaning and dignity.
103 Year Old Dancer: Beautiful!
/in News /by kariWe think this is incredible!
Pretty Bird!
/in News /by tiffanyOffering photo-imagery based on a topic our client Beth enjoys supported life-long learning and intellectual engagement. It also stimulated her cognition and inspired her creativity.
She explored each page of the magazine “Birds and Blooms”. The cardinals and the blue jays caught her attention the most. “Pretty bird!” she exclaimed. Our activity specialist read the captions about what each bird liked to eat and the trivial stories that accompanied the photos Beth was most drawn to. “I like the pretty ones” she said proudly. We then went on to find an image of her choice to use as inspiration for her next painting.
Horse Help couples to Connect: The Connected Horse
/in News /by kariThe power of animals to connect with the human spirit is a profound emotional and spiritual experience. We believe strongly that animal connections can be therapeutic and nurturing for both care partner and your loved one living with memory loss. See links below to learn more about the amazing work of The Connected Horse.
“During walks, the horses and couples would often start on different paces and gradually begin walking at the same pace, an example, according to Hertel of the symmetry and cooperation couples master through nonverbal communication with the horses.”
Read the article and watch the video at Fox 40 Here:
How Horses Can Help Couples Battling Dementia and Alzheimer’s
Learn more about The Connected Horse on their website http://www.connectedhorse.com/
Fun in the Sun!
/in News /by tiffanyAn unexpectedly warm winter day is a great chance to get a change of scenery.
Invite your care partner on a sensory walk. Feel the sun on your face and breathe in the fresh air. Explore slowly, stopping to savor every texture, color, and shape in the garden or the park. Get close up and touch silky grasses, smell a lemon, or admire a red camellia flower. Bring a colorful pinwheel out with you, and watch it twirl in the breeze.
It can be fun to collect some souvenirs. When you get back inside, share some tea and use your five senses to enjoy these reminders of nature together all over again.
What is the secret to living longer?
/in News /by kariCurious what the secret to living longer is? This incredible TedTalk reminds us all of the importance of reducing isolation and increasing social integration. These are two of the core goals of The Hummingbird Project!
Making Beautiful Hearts That Shine.
/in News /by tiffanyFor Valentine’s Day, be inspired by coming together, combining colors and working as a team to create these wonderful Stained Glass Hearts.
Walk together around your home and place the hearts in the windows. Talk about the lovely things in each room. Talk about who you love and why. Listen to each other’s stories.
This project will not only inspire creativity, but it can also serve as a gateway to emotional quality of life and a beautiful opportunity for relationship building and memory making.
Happy Valentine’s Day from The Hummingbird Project!
Creative Aging SF: Power to Change
/in News /by tiffanyThe Hummingbird Project was thrilled to support and participate in this incredible symposium on Friday 2/9!
It included inspiring stories and creative tools to ignite changes from the very personal level of communicating one’s story all the way to addressing policy-makers. Thank you to all who attended and shared your experience and wisdom. We are grateful for you!
The Power of Dance
/in News /by kariIf you aren’t familiar with the the incredible work of Anna Halprin, then this video will have you dancing in your chair. We are so inspired by this amazing 97 year old woman!