Announcing Seabury's Speakers’ Bureau

One of Seabury's Board of Directors' strategic initiatives is to serve as a Resource Center on Aging to the larger community. Therefore, we are pleased to announce Seabury's Speakers' Bureau and Community Resource Program.

Seabury's Leadership Team is available to speak on a number of topics in Senior Health & Wellness, Family Care Giving & Support. Topics can be presented in a variety of formats to meet the needs of your group. To schedule a speaker, please call Seabury's Communication Department at (860) 243-6023, or complete the on-line request form found at http://www.seaburyretirement.com/speakers/index.cfm.

Senior Networking in the 21st Century

“I have a ticket to the Symphony for tomorrow night.  Would anyone like it?”

“I am looking for a copy of Moby Dick for my book club report.  Does anyone have one I could borrow?”

Messages like these fly over a resident run list-serve called Seaburynet.  Discussions about the e-mail service started last spring when resident Kiki Eglington approached the Communications Committee of the Seabury Residents Association to suggest that a dedicated internet system be set up for internal use by Seabury residents.

Seaburynet, as Kiki Eglington explained, would function to enhance communication among residents. Available on a voluntary basis, the e-mail messaging system would complement, not replace, Seabury’s resident operated TV channel and bulletin boards used by residents for intra-community communications.

Under the direction of Ralph Sundquist, the Communications Committee debated the merits of Kiki’s proposal and voted to proceed with Seaburynet on a trial basis.  Joe Walton, resident and member of the Seabury Board of Directors, volunteered to oversee the set-up.  Residents opting to join Seaburynet received assistance to get on-line and instructions on appropriate use of e-mail.

It didn’t take long to demonstrate that Seaburynet is a winner,” said Joe.  Residents participating in the work quickly realized the benefits of an immediate link to message everyone in the group on topics of shared interest.  Operational since April 2007, boosted by flyers promoting its benefits, Seaburynet is today a flourishing network growing larger.  More than 80 residents subscribe to this beneficial and innovative service.  Independent and assisted living residents participate.

According to Ralph Sundquist, "the Communications Committee is responsible for maintaining and enhancing means of communication among Seabury residents – everything from encouraging better use of old stand-bys, like the bulletin boards to introducing new methods like Seaburynet.”  Based on committee policy, Seaburynet is for use by Seabury residents only, solely for the purpose of communicating on subjects of common interest and benefit to network members.  Subject matter offensive to others and commercial use of Seaburynet are strictly prohibited.

It has been said that the present is great with the future.  That is how Seabury residents think about their communications system. For more information, please email ReneeBernasconi@seaburyretirement.com.

UCONN Adult Learning Program (ALP)

Seabury is the host site for ALP- an affiliate of Elderhostel and a network of more than 200 similar Lifelong Learning Institutes. ALP is sponsored by the University of Connecticut and is open to older adults interested in academic learning. Click on www.uconnalp.org for more information.

Technology Initiative for Seabury Meadows

At Seabury Meadows Memory Support Center, the activity program is based on Seabury’s “Circle of Wellness” philosophy, encompassing activities from all aspects of wellness such as physical, intellectual, social, emotional and vocational. Recently the program was further enhanced by a technology initiative. Over the course of a year, a committee developed the technology initiative program (TIP) in an effort to create innovative programming for our dementia residents at Seabury Meadows.

The main objectives of this program are to improve the residents’ memory, socialization and enhance their quality of life, as well as reinforcing staff participation and interaction with residents. In addition to the many activities that are the mainstay of this community, the use of Nintendo Wii has opened up a whole new world of communication. The residents’ verbal and non-verbal communication, that is expressed in smiles, laughter and cheers, indicates that their quality of life is indeed enhanced.

The Seabury Charitable Foundation raised the funds to purchase a large flat screen television, a desktop computer system, computer software, Nintendo Wii Gaming system, Leadsinger Karaoke system and a variety of National Geographic/Discovery educational videos to facilitate these programs.

This cutting edge technology program has already been implemented at Seabury Meadows. Residents are enjoying the computer games and interactive travelogues with fascinating facts, and virtual tours from the internet. Janelle Pinunsky, Activities Director at the Meadows, says, “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it,” and she proves it by the constant reinforcement, enthusiasm and the encouragement that she gives the residents. She also trains the Certified Nurses’ Assistants (CNA’S) who, working as a team, enter into the games with the residents. The Wheel of Fortune, a very popular technology game, and the sports games are enthusiastically played as an interactive activity. The actual thought that technology has come this far, and that the residents are playing interactive golf, tennis and baseball with virtual opponents by using Wii, is a source of amazement and joy for the Seabury Meadows staff, residents and family.

The next phase of this innovative programming through present technology is to set up an e-mail service that can also be taught to residents with adaptive equipment so that family interaction can be constant. Questionnaires have been sent to Meadows families requesting their e-mail address so that each resident would be offered an individual e-mail account at Seabury Meadows. The responsible party will give permission for the resident to have e-mail.

”We are so excited about this new technology and how it will further enhance our residents’ lives through memory enhancement, education and social interaction with other residents and with family,” says Janelle. Updated and improved technology will expand the horizons for a variety of additional programs that already take place weekly, such as karaoke, video sing-a-longs, comedy hours, movies and old time television classics. Janelle says, “we also want to reach out to the greater community, Seabury, senior centers, libraries, schools, and churches to encourage volunteers to join our innovative program.” To learn more, please email Janelle Pinunsky at janellepinunsky@seaburyretirement.com.

Circle of Wellness: Healthy Skin

Your skin is your best protector. It is the largest organ of the human body and protects you in remarkable ways. To keep your skin looking and feeling as healthy as possible, avoid the following:

Cigarette smoke: Whether you smoke, or you spend time with a smoker, cigarette smoke is damaging to your skin. Research has shown that exposure to cigarette smoke significantly increases skin wrinkles and dryness.

Sun exposure: When you are exposed to the sun, make sure you use sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Choose sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, and use it all year-round, even on cloudy days.

Lack of exercise: Living a sedentary life contributes to aging skin. Exercise helps tone muscles and gets blood flowing. Exercise should be an important part of every anti-aging skin care program. In addition to the physical benefits of exercise, the benefits of a regular exercise program will show on your face--having a bright smile and lots of energy looks good at any age!

Exposure to cold weather: Cold winds and low temperatures contribute to aging skin by making skin dry. If you venture out in the cold make sure to use a good moisturizer. It is important to use moisturizer indoors too as heated rooms can be very drying to skin.

Stress: Maybe you have heard the saying: “Don’t frown; your face could stay that way.” Stress and worry cause frowning, and over time the muscles in the face actually, conform to that expression.

Lack of sleep: Too little sleep makes you look and feel tired. One of the first places lack of sleep shows up is on the face, with dark circles and bags under the eyes.

For more information about Seabury’s Circle of Wellness, go to http://www.seaburyretirement.com/wellness/.

Did you know that Seabury is an affordable way to protect your future?

Preservation of studio, one-bedroom apartments/cottages on Seabury’s campus is directly related to Seabury’s mission to maintain affordability.

Regardless of the residence style, Seabury Life Care residents have the same assurances of future health care at essentially no additional cost.

In addition, residents enjoy:

• Freedom from home maintenance
• Comprehensive Fitness & Wellness Programs
• Social/ Intellectual Opportunities
• Variety of dining venues
• Flexible Meal Program
• Housekeeping services
• Scheduled transportation
• 24 hour on-site security staff

For more information, please email info@seaburyretirement.com.

Did you know that The Views at Seabury offers rental Assisted Living? For more information, please contact Beth Lomasky at bethlomasky@Seaburyretirement.com.

Powerful Aging At Seabury: An exercise program for adults age 50 and older developed at the UCONN Center on Aging. It is especially beneficial for those who have controlled artery disease and other monitored medical conditions. For more information, please contact Brandy Page at brandypage@seaburyretirement.com.

Employment Opportunities at http://www.seaburyretirement.com/employment/index.cfm.

Seabury’s Web Site at http://www.seaburyretirement.com/index.cfm.