Alzheimer's
care facility Briarcliffe Gardens makes memories, and brings
them back, with music
By BETH HURD
Insider Reporter
On Friday, July 2, the staff of Briarcliffe
Gardens, an Alzheimer’s assisted living residence located on
the same property as Briarcliffe Manor, brought back some great
memories for many of the residents who suffer from varying
degrees of dementia, by holding a “50’s Dress-Up Day.”
The event, a kick-off for the Fourth of July weekend, featured
music from the 1950s, prizes for the best 50s outfits, 50s
trivia and a special “drive-in style” dinner. Residents sipped
on root beer floats in the facility’s retro diner and later
danced to music of the decade provided by entertainer Kim Oakes.
Oakes, a resident of Warwick, works full-time for the Rhode
Island Blood Center. She also enjoys singing karaoke and recently
started her own business, Non-Stop Entertainment, performing
locally at assisted living centers and nursing homes.
Dressed as her "alter-ego,”
in a poodle skirt, bobby socks and saddle shoes, her hair pulled
back in a pony-tail, she sang songs by Connie Francis, Patsy
Cline and the Shirelles. She had many of the residents singing
along and also dancing to the music.
Oakes brought some friends along – friends who also enjoy karaoke.
Liz Daniels of North Providence is employed by the North Providence
School Department and works part-time for the RIBC; both her
parents suffered from Alzheimer’s. Cris Medina, a retired teacher,
used to sing professionally with a band. Medina sang songs
made famous by Elvis.
In preparing for the event, Stefany Reed, an employee of Briarcliffe,
interviewed the residents, asking each what kind of car they
had in the 1950s, their occupation at the time and what kind
of music each liked.
“We learned a lot about them,” she said, noting that many of
the women had been “war brides.”
For residents Gail Alix, formerly of North Attleboro, Mass.,
and Jenny Levesque, formerly of Woonsocket, remembering doesn’t
come easily. Seeing photos of famous movie stars and the best-selling
car of the 1950s – the Chevy Impala – (and the worst, the Ford
Edsel) or hearing the music of Elvis helps the memories come
back.
Alix and Levesque sat together, eating dinner and answering
questions about what they remember from the 1950s. Alix recalled
her father drove a big black Buick.
“My dad drove us everywhere in that car – it was brand new.
I was very young when he got it,” she said. "It
was a 1952 Buick four-door sedan, his very first brand-new
car." Her father was a stone-setter and a salesman for a jewelry company and spent
a lot of time on the road. He worked in Rhode Island, but went
as far as Connecticut, making religious items."
Alix also remembered the Buick replaced his “Kaiser-Frazer,”
a lesser-known vehicle.
“It was an experimental vehicle – he drove it until it wouldn’t
run anymore,” she said.
Her father worked at Stanley Metals, and Alix later worked
there as a bookkeeper.
Both women were up and dancing once the music started, with
Levesque singing along – Alix had no idea her friend could
sing so well.
“I haven’t danced in a long time,” Levesque admitted.
Reed marveled that some of the residents could name all seven
of Elizabeth Taylor’s one-time husbands and the titles of many
of Marilyn Monroe’s movies.
Following dinner and entertainment, the residents were invited
to watch one of Monroe’s movies, “Niagara,” in the facility’s
home theatre.
Even those who didn’t get up and dance had smiles on their
faces, and were tapping their toes.
The residents enjoyed the entertainment so much, that Oakes
has been asked to return and perform on the first Friday of
each month, singing in different music styles and dressing
in different costumes.
“Most of our residents spend their days outside their rooms,”
said Akshay Talwar, president and CEO of both Briarcliffe Manor
and Briarcliffe Gardens.
The facility, he said, emphasizes communal interaction and
socialization that can help improve brain function.
“It’s a mental journey,” he said.
For more information on Briarcliffe Gardens, which opened Oct.
1 of last year, visit www.briarcliffegardens.com
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