Last spring, DayBreak Adult Day Program participated in a 10-week Master Class series at one of our local schools, Columbine Elementary. Master Classes were taught by volunteers from the community. Some volunteers brought their passion, coordination, and dance shoes...
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Life is built around our emotions – join us as we explore strategies to deal with emotions that come up during social programs in your long-term care home. Why increase emotional engagement with our residents? We will learn about...
Seniors sing beloved songs, develop meaningful connections in the Java Music Club. Some say music brings people together. A few retirement communities in Ottawa are counting on it, and hope it will help fight isolation and loneliness, too. Researchers...
Enjoy an inspiring Canadian CBC radio interview about Java. Join Ottawa Morning with Robyn Bresnahan. Find out about a study underway with Carleton University who is investigating the Java Music Club peer support program. Residents are interviewed, – and...
Join us for the second of the Java Webinar Series called “Cultivating Empathy”. How can we cultivate empathy in our practice and within the context of therapeutic group programs that we offer? Join us as we explore strategies to...
“Happy”, the uber cheerful song recorded by Pharrell Williams, was the best-selling song of 2014 in the United States. “Clap along if you know what happiness is to you…” I sang along every time I heard it—I still do....
There are many distractions and challenges that can come up when facilitating a group. Sometimes these distractions are created – intentionally or unintentionally – by group members who may not feel emotionally safe. Sometimes it is because there are...
There are many ways to engage those living with cognitive impairment. Here are a few tried and true approaches to consider: Say hello and use the person’s name. When visiting those living with dementia, avoid “How are you?”. Try...
Rebecca Field Jager is a fantastic writer of all things interesting who lives in Toronto, Ontario. She recently wrote an article in the Canadian Zoomer magazine called “When Bingo is not enough” about the new peer support group phenomenon...
He who has a ‘why’ for which to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’. (Friedrich Nietzsche) We are all searching for meaning. Promoting purpose in life and meaningful relationships is key to well-being (1). A new study reveals...