EVERYTHING LISTED UNDER: Community Involvement

Becky Panchot has been a mainstay at Farmington Presbyterian Manor ever since her mother-in-law became a resident at the community several years ago. Since that time, Becky has made it her mission to bring a regular dose of joy and happiness to all who call it home.

At age 88, resident Barb Corter continues to volunteer every Wednesday at Parkland Health Center and doesn’t plan to quit. It’s something she’s been doing since she was 41.“I started working at the hospital when it was first built. I took over the gift shop.

When a resident volunteers, everybody wins. For the resident, volunteering provides a great way to build relationships, connect with others and stay active. For the community, it provides the extra hands needed to create the homelike atmosphere that Presbyterian Manors has come to represent.Currently, 60 residents volunteer within the community on a regular basis by delivering mail, working in the gift shop, playing the piano

Whether or not we actually do the right things to improve our health, many of us probably assume we know what they are. Walk more. Quit smoking. Eat healthier.It’s a familiar list, and a good one. As a primary care doctor, I spend plenty of time counseling people to do exactly these things. But here’s another, less familiar thing I think you should consider: get engaged in your community.

Playing a game at an assisted living facility opened up connections [Photo credit: Adobe Stock][/caption]By Reyna Marder Gentin for Next AvenueMy friend runs an assisted living residence not far from where I live. When she called to say she had a mitzvah (a good deed) for me that was “right up my alley,” I was wary, to put it mildly. She explained that she was running an event where the residents would play a game encouraging them to share, open mic style, stories from their lives. My friend knows I write — essays, memoir pieces, a novel. I tell stories.