By: McKenna Selissen, MT-BC Life Engagement Coordinator & Music Therapist at Gianna Homes, Minnesota “When words fail, music speaks.” These powerful words reflect the impact music has on many of us throughout the course of our lives, especially as we [...]
Gianna Homes staff had the awesome opportunity to engage in a day full of learning, laughing, team building and dementia communication development. We were privileged to have Erin Bonito, MS ADC as our “Lead Coach” for the day. Erin is [...]
We find that how a person interacts and understands someone who has Dementia is so important. Recognizing different ways you can connect and communicate may help the relationship. Learn more from these suggestions on different ways and opportunities to interact. [...]
Gianna Homes Resident: Darlene's Story of Faith This is Darlene's Story: Darlene Joan Fretter was born in 1932 in Minneapolis, MN. Although her parents were very poor they shared their wealthy hearts with their two daughters, and much of their extended [...]
Art and Aging: COMPAS at Gianna Homes COMPAS, a community arts organization, helps Gianna Homes host artists as part of their Artful Aging program. This program provides talented artists of different mediums to guide older adults in exploring creative expression in meaningful ways. Their [...]
Tackling the Risks of the Game: What Football, Concussions, and Memory Care have in Common Fall weekends bring the ritual of watching your favorite football teams crashing into their opponents. While tuning in this year, you may have noticed more [...]
Earlier this fall, COMPAS artist and poet Rachel Moritz worked with the residents of Gianna Homes - Sursum Corda to create their own poem. Here is the holiday blessing they came up with! Merry Christmas! From All of us at [...]
Caregiver Corner: Surviving the Holidays Tips from Brighton Hospice Chaplain, Carolyn O’Bryan Cochran Holidays are among the hardest times for those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Thanksgiving and holiday decorations are out. Christmas music is playing everywhere [...]
This fall, Rachel Mortiz, a poet who works with COMPAS creative community arts program, helped our residents at Gianna Homes - Gladys' Place write their own poem. She was able to elicit responses from even our more non-verbal residents! Here [...]
When a loved one begins to show signs of Alzhiemer’s disease and other types dementia, families can find it difficult to know where to turn. Amid doctor appointments and exams, living with the daily truth of this disease, and the heartache [...]