|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charming the Young, the Old, and In Between: Beth Whitbeck at Her Best
By Chip Rosenthal
Ms. Beth Whitbeck is the Activities Director at the Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic. One might ask, just how much 'activity' could one be directing in a hospital? But you have to look much further than that to realize that CSHC really is a lot more. In addition to being a hospital, it is also a home for a large number of senior citizens who have very active lives there. And Beth is right in the middle of much of that activity.
Beth's education is in theraputic recreation. She worked at CSHC from 1980-'84, then left and took a job with the state. She returned to the hospital in 1989 as Activities Director, and has been there ever since.
I went early to my interview with Beth to observe a special, ongoing program with the residents in the 3rd floor activities room. There were over 30 residents there, along with 6 young children and their teachers. The kids were laughing, running, jumping, and, well, just being young kids…noisy. But when Beth entered the room, the children quickly gathered and quieted, and the ladies and gentlemen of the extended care facilities and residents' home brightened. She knew each of the toddlers by name, and knew all of the rest, as well. Beth and her guitar swept everyone present into singing, laughing, and even some dancing. Songs like Bingo (Was His Name-O), the Eentsie, Weentsie Spider, and I've Been Workin' On the Railroad, as well as some old Rock-N-Roll songs like Johnny Be Good, Twist and Shout, Barbara Ann, and more had the kids singing along The residents were clapping, and nurses and aides bopping around the room with the residents. Even John Gilloti popped in to watch for a couple of minutes. When the time was over, it seemed that no-one really wanted to stop the fun. Obviously, this is a cherished activity for the seniors and the kids alike. And Miss Beth has as much fun as the rest!
Beth loves people, she loves playing her guitar, and in this position gets to do both all the time. She says that here at CSHC, she has the daily challenge of dealing with people who have suffered losses of many kinds, whether it's the loss of a loved one, loss of mobility, or the loss of being completely independent. By working and sharing with these folks, she helps them to find ways to stay active mentally and emotionally. She also participates in their spiritual awareness through programs that the spiritual care department has, as well as Sunday services that Rev. Kamm has for them. There are Gospel Sings, bible studies, and more. Her job, and her joy, is engaging the residents in life again, making them aware that this is not their "final place", but their present home. She, along with a wonderful supportive hospital staff, seeks out the activities that these people have enjoyed, and looks to adapt those activities to their current life-style. She seeks to help find ways to fulfill the individual's need to be needed, whether it's through works they can enjoy, or interaction with others, or any of the various outings and activities offered. The importance, she says, is finding out who each of these individuals is, and helping them to be able to continue being that person.
A variety of programs are offered to the folks who live here, because there are a wide variety of interests. Programs where young children learn to interact with the seniors are some of the favorites. There are also youth programs where teens spend time with some of the residents and establish relationships with them. It's a sharing that benefits both…the youth learn much about the way that people have lived in the last few generations, and the seniors get to find out what young people are doing and enjoying now. Examples of community outings include trips to the zoo, shopping malls, the planetarium, and even an excursion on the Canandaigua Lady on Canandaigua Lake.
Many of the residents enjoy baking and cooking seasonal foods. Even the men get involved. It makes it possible to have not just home-made things like cookies and pies, but cookies and pies that they have baked themselves. They can be shared and enjoyed with friends the way you would do in any other home.
A special challenge can be mens' programming, but Beth and the staff don't let that stop them! They have had a men's outing to Hooters, brought in specialists with programs on subjects like airplanes, and even had antique car shows come to the grounds.
No matter how many programs, outings, and activities there are, and no matter how big the plans become, there are three basic things that seem to work magic for just about anyone, according to Beth: children, music, and pets. And all of these are part of the lives of the residents at CSHC.
Another important thing that becomes a part of these programs is learning all of the wonderful things the seniors have to offer. It's not just the way they have lived that they can share. The things that an individual has learned, and seen, dreamed and done can be shared in a way that no book-learning will ever compare to. And in learning to share these kinds of things, children and youth can take away a sense of what these very real and very vital people are. It becomes an exchange that isn't easily forgotten. The music program alone starts children as young as two years old learning to enjoy being around the "grandmas" and "grandpas" in residence, so that they grow up having an appreciation for the folks and the normalcy of their physical challenges. Later on, school programs offer the opportunity for kids to spend time with the residents, and many who have been a part of the children's program come back to enjoy the residents again. With all of the time that the seniors have, it's a very welcome thing!
Beth says that this isn't a job, because it's too rewarding to be one. She feels she often gets more out of the contact with these folks than they do. One resident told her that just being able to get out in the community, to go special places, to be able to shop, made this setting much more of a home than a "place to live". If the residents can feel that way about their life, then Beth has done much more than a "good job"; she has charmed them all!
|
|
Click On Banner For More Information
|
