Friendly Times

December 2017 Newsletter

147 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348 Friends Home 610-444-2577

Admissions Direct 610-444-8785 Linden Hall 610-444-0741

December is…

Bingo Month

Mistletoe and Holly Month

Little Helper’s Month

Candy Cane Month

National Tie Month

Hugs for Healthy Holiday’s Month

Some people you share a Birthday

Month with:

Bette Midler…..……….12/1

Ty Cobb…….…………...12/18

Humphrey Bogart…...12/25

Tiger Woods………….12/30

New Year: Same Traditions

1. Stuffing your mouth with Grapes ____ A. South Africa

2. Taking your empty suitcase for a walk ____ B. Spain

3. Throwing old furniture out your window ____ C. Denmark

4. Smashing a plate on your neighbors door ____ D. Ecuador

Answers on page 2

Linden Hall residents attend Autumn’s dance class.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Sara Woodworth 12/17

Dorothy Seldomridge 12/19

Frances Skoog 12/20

Marion Guest 12/28

Mary Jean Bell (“Tangerine”)

was recently interviewed by

Dara McBride of the Newark

Post about her published book

Tangerine: Poem at 94.

WELCOME NEW FRIENDS

HOME RESIDENT:

Welcome new Friends Home

Resident Ann Messina

Ann Messina (“Betty”) lived

alone before moving to

Friends Home in Kennett.

She’s had a variety of experi-

ences in life, including at-

tending an International Convention in Eng-

land and working as an x-ray technician.

One of the most life-changing events for Betty

was the birth of her son David, who has Down’s

Syndrome. Through her relationship with

David, Betty developed an appreciation for the

disabled and a positive outlook.

We’re glad to have Betty with us here at Friends

Home!

Friends Home residents visited Charming Charlie and ate at Ruby’s Diner

located in the Shoppes at Brinton Lakes, Glen Mills, PA.

Our hearts go out to the residents of

Barclay Friends in West Chester, PA. We

welcome Shirley (Betty) Miller and Judy

Burnett to their new home here at Friends

Ladies baking

Edie Haney’s

biscotti.

Answers to New Year, Same Traditions:

1. B 2. D 3. A 4. C

Highlights for December

Sun, December 3: 1:00pm—Trip to the Uptown Singers in West Chester Monday, December 4: 1:45pm—Funny Money Bingo 3:00pm—Christmas Shopping at Peebles Wed, December 6-: 9:30am—Concert at Kendal followed by Lunch in the Café 2:30pm—Auction Preview 6:30pm—Friends Home Christmas Auction Thursday, December 7: 10:00am—St. Michael’s Tree Trimming in the Parlor 3:00pm—Longwood Garden Holiday Trip Saturday, December 9: 2:00pm—Children’s String Christmas Concert Monday, December 11: 3:00—Trip to Longwood Gardens (Linden Hall) Tuesday, December 12: Hanukkah Begins 6:30pm—Holiday Party at Linden Hall Wed, December 13: 10:30am—Trip to Ollie’s, Dollar General, Habitat for Humanity 2:00pm —Music with Quentin Jones Thursday, December 14: 10:30am—Trip to the Library 6:30 pm—Friends Home Holiday Open House Sat, December 16: 10:00am—Shannon Cooper’s Academy of Dance Mon, December 18: 3:30pm—Trip to Nottingham Creamery & Herr’s Lights 6:30pm —Caroling with Cub Scouts Wed, December 20: 6:00pm—Trip to see Herr’s Christmas Lights Thurs December 21: First Day of Winter Saturday, December 23: 2:00pm— Music with Craig Satchell Sunday, December 24: Christmas Eve Monday, December 25: Merry Christmas Sunday, December 31: New Year’s Eve—Happy Noon Year at Linden Hall

Health Words

Wellness Words by Barbara Bryer, RN, MSN

Here we are again exploring Dr. John Messina’s New York Times Bestseller, Brain Rules. This month we will move on to brain rules #8, #9, and #10.

Brain Rule #8 is “Sensory Integration” which more simply stated means, “stimulate more of the senses at the same time.” To expand more on this idea, Dr. Messina explains that our senses evolved to work together—vision influenc-ing hearing, for example—which means that we learn best if we stimulate several senses at once. Our sense of smell has the unusual power to bring back memories. The neuro-scientist hypothesizes this may be because smell signals by-pass the thalamus and head straight to the area of the brain that supervise our emotions. Scientific experiments have proven that our brains learn best and remember more ef-fectively in a multi-sensory environment.

Brain Rule # 9 states that, “Vision trumps all other senses.” Vision is by far our most dominant sense, taking up half of our brain’s resources. This brain rule tells us that we learn and remember best through pictures and not through written or spoken words. Dr. Messina suggests that we look at ways to communicate with pictures more than words.

Brain Rule # 10 looks at “Music” and states that “studying or listening to music will boost cognition.” Dr. Messina points out that scientists aren’t sure how the brain defines music. What is clear is how positive an effect it has on “mood,” which in turn enhances the environment for learn-ing. Music therapy is well recognized as useful in improving brain functioning. In closing, Dr. Messina calls for further research to better understand all the ways music effects cognition and memory.

Well that’s all for now. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season that allows you to keep your brain healthy by filling your senses and enjoying your favorite holiday songs!

If you would like to receive future newsletters via email or no

longer desire to receive any, please notify the following:

smoskey@fhkennett.org.

Older photos of Friends Home residents are on

display in the main entrance area. Everyone is

having a good time trying to guess who is in each

photo.

A Friends Home tenant, Tom McAvoy,

enjoys working on puzzles.

In Memory of Fran Green

Fran made her home here with us at Friends Home for the past 4 years and was greatly loved for her quick wit, fun loving attitude, and active interest in everyone around her. She will be dearly missed.