For Father’s Day, create joyful moments with photos, films and laughter!

Laughter is one of the best emotional gifts we can give. Laughter boosts the immune system, decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving resistance to disease. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.

Enjoy a few funny quotes and jokes to get warmed up, then share some of your favorite “Dad Stories” as a way to connect and celebrate!

• The worst thing that can happen to a man is his wife comes home and he has lost the child. “How did everything go?” “Great, we’re playing hide and seek and he’s winning.” ~ Sinbad          

• You can tell what was the best year of your father’s life, because he seems to freeze that clothing style and ride it out. ~ Jerry Seinfeld                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
• Dad taught me everything I know. Unfortunately, he didn’t teach me everything he knows.~ Al Unser

• “Dad, are bugs good to eat?” asked the boy. “Let’s not talk about such things at the dinner table, son,” his father replied. After dinner the father inquired, “Now, son, what did you want to ask me?” “Oh, nothing,” the boy said. “There was a bug in your soup, but now it’s gone.” Mark Y.

• While having their evening dinner together, a little girl looked up at her father and asked, “Daddy, you’re the boss in our family, right?” The father was very pleased to hear it and confidently replied, “Yes, my little princess.” The girl then continued, “That’s because mommy put you in charge, right?” ~ Author Unknown

A great movie and popcorn is a great way to celebrate with the whole family. These films have strong father/child themes:

Father of the Bride (1950 or 1991)

Field of Dreams (1989)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

And lastly, sharing old favorite photos of your dad is always a priceless way to create emotional connections.

Enjoy and Happy Father’s Day!

While the residents of a memory care community were discussing “Four Ballerinas on Stage”, by Edgar Degas, one resident named Bea began to hum a tune. Dee caught onto it and joined in. They felt the image reminded them of a song titled “Dance, Ballerina, Dance”. Our activity specialist, Alicia, was able to carry around her phone for all of the residents to see Nat King Cole perform the song. When Alicia came to Gwendolyn, she was thrilled and reached out to hold the phone, noting “He was so handsome.” Steve asked Alicia to linger awhile in front of him so he could hear the music longer. When music is combined with art, it touches people spiritually and emotionally. Sallie swayed as Alicia walked past her. Rosie shared about her experience as a ballet dancer and wished she had songs as nice as “Dance, Ballerina, Dance” when she was actually dancing.

Art and music offer unending ways to connect to meaningful memories and inspiration.

Studies show that creative and cultural participation is the top-most contributor to wellbeing in older age. How can that be defined?

According to AgeUK, in 2017, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing published the report of its two-year Inquiry into practice and research in the arts in health and social care. This found that participating in the arts is essential to healthy ageing, mentally, emotionally, and even physically.

Also, an analysis of USoc data by other researchers found a positive relationship between engagement in cultural activities, the arts, and subjective wellbeing, not just in older people but all adults.

For more information on the subject, please visit

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/our-impact/policy-research/wellbeing-research/creative-wellbeing/

At The Hummingbird Project, we would like to celebrate what Memorial Day is truly about.

So often, it is thought of as the kick-off of summer, a season of barbecue, parks and vacations. But the actual intention of this day, which was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868, was to set aside time to pause and honor the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation.

Please join us as we share deep gratitude and praise their legacy, with four quotes that capture the ideals of patriotism.

“You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor.” – Aristotle

“Memorial Day this year is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that the men and women of the armed services make to defend our way of life.”  – Robin Hayes

“A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and woods, it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.   – George William Curtis

“If we love our country, we should also love our countrymen.”   – Ronald Reagan

To continue the conversation with your care partner, share things you love about our country, things that require courage, and reminisce about those who you may be honoring on this day. Connecting emotionally and sharing gratitude are ways to enhance quality of life and bring great meaning to Memorial Day.

To those who have served, we thank you.