OHCA Spring/Summer 2019

The Oregon Caregiver SPRING/SUMMER 2019 www.ohca.com 8 Maintaining the spirit of mental wellness, Winter- bourne is an active poet who is currently writing a book for her alma-mat- ter, Cal-Poly University. She’s been published by the National Poetry Society and regularly writes poems for Jen- nings McCall. Winterbourne loves to share her poems with the residents’ book club, which she says is very well attended. One of her poems, an appreciation poem titled “Again a New Home” is featured on the Jennings McCall website: Here I am all comfy cozy, in my new home with plants, music & plenty of dozy. With help here and there and no dinner plans, they are prepared and served with loving hands. An entertainment to attend or a bus ride to the store, make living rather easy who would ask for anything more. In addition to her poetry work, Winter- bourne is active in the community’s sewing and quilting classes. Touchmark Retirement Communities centers their wellness philosophy around the “Seven Dimensions of Wellness.” The seven elements are: emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual. These elements are consid- ered essential to their award-winning “Full Life Wellness & Life Enrichment Program.” With the help of her team, Keri Donovan, the life enrichment and wellness director at Touchmark West Hills, makes sure to keep each of these dimensions of wellness at the forefront in Touchmark’s independent living, assisted living, and memory care neighborhoods. “Our goal is to have something every month that touches on all seven dimensions,” she said. That could mean a watercolor class that touches the social dimension or FEATURE » QUALITY WELLNESS AND ACTIVITY PROGRAMMING, CONT. volunteer opportunities that touch the occupational dimension. One of the volunteer activities for residents is a partnership with Project Lemonade, a Portland based non-profit group that inspires self-esteem in foster youth. Donovan said that Project Lemonade has a store front in northeast Portland where foster kids can shop for free. “Our residents go there to help organize donations and help the kids pick out clothes for school,” she said. “A lot of our independent residents specifically are very volunteer driven.” She added that one of the residents chose Touchmark because of the proximity to the hospital the resident already volunteered at. “She just walks down the hill and volunteers as an ambassador. She greets people and helps them get to their destinations, whether that’s via wheelchair or lending a hand so she can escort them to where they need to go,” she said. Another resident has been volunteering by quilting baby blankets for the neonatal intensive care unit of another hospital. “Since coming to Touchmark, A group of residents participate in a line dancing activity at Touchmark in the West Hills. One of the many resident activities at Jennings McCall is a dog show where residents and their pets both participate. Marilyn Winterbourne writes a poem at her desk. Marilyn is actively involved in her community’s book club.