OHCA Spring/Summer 2019

Photo Credit Bob Finch—Ethel Henry and the Touchmark Tappers rehearse for their next tap show. www.ohca.com SPRING/SUMMER 2019 The Oregon Caregiver 9 FEATURE she’s gotten a few of her neighbors involved in the process and they have a knitting group that meets once a week to knit baby blankets,” Donovan said. “We learn the stories that the residents bring to the table, and we are lucky enough to be a conduit to collaborate more with them and make more of those opportunities available and getting their neighbors involved as well.” “The program is very much dictated by the stories, the needs and the interests of the residents who are in the community. When I present the activities program calendar to a new resident, I make sure to say, ‘This is your calendar and if there’s something you’d like to do we’re going to do our best to get it on here and get more residents involved.’” – Keri Donovan, Touchmark West Hills CONTINUES » Donovan said that one of the keys to their wellness program’s success is the ability for it to adapt to the needs of the different Touchmark communities across the country. She said that in Wisconsin communities, outings might be to the Friday night football games whereas the Portland art scene is more important to the residents here. “The program is very much dictated by the stories, the needs and the interests of the residents who are in the community,” she said. “When I present the activities program calendar to a new resident, I make sure to say, ‘This is your calendar and if there’s something you’d like to do we’re going to do our best to get it on here and get more residents involved.’” Another piece to their life enrichment program is a transportation program. “We have a fantastic lead driver who