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 at Carleton University brought a musical...
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 there is copious laughing 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 cultivate empathy. Register here. We will...
“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. I love that song. But...
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 no clear boundaries set by...
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 “How’s life?” It is an...