Submitted by Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care
STATE COLLEGE — Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care announced the commencement of a groundbreaking art partnership program with Hummingbird ABA Therapy, a local school catering to autistic children.
This initiative, aligned with Juniper Communities’ “Alive in All Seasons” programming, brings a unique twist to traditional pen pal programs, fostering creativity and connection between older adult residents and the students of Hummingbird.
In an effort to engage the residents and create meaningful interactions, Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring has introduced a program where older adults craft and gift pieces of art or handmade accessories to the students at Hummingbird. The students, ranging in age from four to 21, benefit from a diverse array of art forms, including knitting, painting and collage creation.
To facilitate this artistic endeavor, knitting machines were procured for older residents, enabling them to create hats, scarves and even snowmen crafted from pillowcases. The collaborative effort has not only sparked creativity but also strengthened community ties between the two groups.
Samantha Lose, connections director at Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring, expressed her enthusiasm for the project, “The residents like the idea of giving back to the community. It’s productive work for them, and they’re positively impacting the children. The idea of them being able to gift their artwork is very exciting.”
The heartwarming connection between Hummingbird ABA Therapy and Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring has a personal touch. Samantha Lose’s mother, Teri Statham, a behavioral health technician at Hummingbird, played a pivotal role in initiating this meaningful collaboration.
This unique program not only promotes artistic expression but also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and inter-generational connections. Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring looks forward to the continued success of this partnership and the positive impact it brings to both the residents and students involved.
Juniper Village at Brookline Wellspring Memory Care is located at 610 W. Whitehall Road, State College.
Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation in long-term care, operates senior living communities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Colorado that emphasize residents’ well-being, interaction and security. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of residents, visit junipercommunities.com.
Within the neurodiverse community (autistic, ADHD, mental health disorders, behavioral disorders, etc.), there are many times that people are told they cannot do something. A parent of a newly diagnosed child may be told by numerous professionals that the child will be limited in their speech, independent living skills, ability to work, get married or go to college, just to name a few. Hummingbird ABA Therapy strives to assist families as caregivers in finding ways to give their child the tools they need to build upon their existing strengths. While they may fly a bit differently, they are very capable of flying in their own way.
