“The residents who attended the film festival were just absolutely thrilled and loved every single minute of being treated like movie stars, and they really were our movie stars,” Cummings said. The project was covered by local media in five of the nine nominated communities’ markets as well as in Nashville. That coverage, along with the Facebook livestream of the awards ceremony, helped to show a more positive side of aging to the
public. More than 12,000 votes were cast online for the People’s Choice Award. “The project really exceeded the expectations that any of us had,”
said Cummings. “We really feel like we’ve made a dent in our goal, our never-ending pursuit, of changing the perception of aging.” Plans are already underway to make the Celebrate Aging Film Festival an annual event.
BENCHMARK “These Hands...”
One of Benchmark’s primary goals is to consistently find new ways to create engagement among and between residents, associates, and families in its communities. The company recently developed an initiative called “These hands…” to share the story of each resident through a captioned photograph of his or her hands. The project involved photographing the hands of residents, adding a line about what those hands have accomplished, and then framing the photos and displaying them in a public space in the community. “These hands…” successfully increased engagement in the com-
munities that implemented it. Residents were able to learn more about each other and used that information to start conversations and build relationships. Associates referred to the photos to find new and meaningful things to talk about with residents, who were grateful to be recognized for their life accomplishments. “The whole project brought the community together,” said
Jill Flores-Cordon, programming director at Benchmark at Waltham Crossings. “The photos themselves strike an emotional chord with so many. Associates, residents, families, guests—they can all relate to something they see on the wall, and it creates conversation and common threads that strengthen our sense of community.” By displaying the photographs in common areas, each participating community reminded its members that the residents have had varied life experiences that they continue to carry in their hearts and minds. “What moved me was learning so much about the lives our residents have led,” Flores-Cordon said. “We sometimes forget that they have dreams, aspirations, experiences, and accomplishments that they are very proud of. It was so gratifying to see their smiles and the pride in their eyes when they finished the sentence, ‘These hands ....’” Captions under the photographs included
“These hands taught hundreds of disabled children over 35 years,” and “These hands ushered for the NYC Ballet.” Besides showing others what they have achieved, the photos help to remind residents of their own accomplishments. The display is
especially valuable in memory care areas, where residents may recognize their own hands or those of another resident and recall a memory from the past. By sharing those memories with others, resi- dents strengthen the social bonds that are vital to their well-being. The photos continue to have an impact on their communities
even after the participating residents have passed. Families often ask to keep the photos as a special memento of their loved one. Others prefer to leave the photo on the wall at the community and stop in once in a while to revisit the display. “This project has been and continues to be a heartwarming way to help our residents stay connected with their past, their families, their fellow residents, and with the associates who are called to care for them,” said Joyce Elven, Benchmark’s corporate director of communication.
Benchmark has chosen twelve of the participating residents to feature in its 2018 calendar. An upcoming Mind & Memory campaign will also incorporate the photos, stories, and video in social media, on the company website, and in publicity materials.
Jill Flores-Cordon, programming director at Benchmark at Waltham Crossings. MARCH/APRIL 2018
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