May 2008 - Promoting purposeful living is the mission of employees at Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing who daily endeavor to accomplish this goal for the residents in their “Connections” day center who suffer from dementia.  Recently, these residents were able to experience purpose by building wooden birdhouses and donating them to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute (RTPI).

“I really enjoyed being at Heritage Park to accept these great birdhouses from the Connections residents,” states Jane Johnson, Marketing and Public Programs Coordinator for RTPI.  “Programs such as these are so essential to our community, and, having a relative with Alzheimer's myself, the positive effects of such a program are evident.  RTPI is honored to be a supporter of Connections."
 
Connections is a multi-faceted, person-centered dementia care program designed to engage skilled nursing residents in purposeful activities.  Connections includes an in-patient day center which focuses on and validates a residents’ remaining cognitive, emotional, physical, and social abilities, rather than their losses.  In addition to being offered at Heritage Park, Connections is now also being offered at Heritage Green Rehab & Skilled Nursing (Greenhurst).

To learn more about Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing and the Connections program, please call (716) 488-1921.