“Music of the Decades” Event Raises Alzheimer’s Awareness on the Summer Solstice for The Longest Day®
Seniors top off month-long observance of the power of music and memory
(Featured Photo: Cynthia Seskes, Melissa Taylor)*
Vintage music, fashions, and cocktails made a comeback at The Preston of the Park Cities on June 20 as the senior living community joined thousands world-wide to support the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual observance of The Longest Day® on the day of the summer solstice.
“It was a real ‘Throwback Sunday’ at The Preston as we celebrated the impact of music in senior living and Alzheimer’s care,” said Ke’o Velasquez, Executive Director, The Preston of the Park Cities. “Associates, who were dressed in apparel from the Fifties and Sixties, served favorite cocktails from years past as residents and families listened to live music spanning the decades.”
Throughout the month of June (Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month), The Preston of the Park Cities presented “Thriving Through Music” – a slate of musical performances, screenings of classic movie musicals, music therapy, and other opportunities for residents to enjoy the sounds and beneficial effects of music. The Sunday event coincided with the longest day of the year, known as the summer solstice, when the Alzheimer’s Association annually highlights “the day with the most light” to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s.
“Music plays such a key role in the lives of the residents of The Preston,” Velasquez continued. “Popular musical performers entertain our residents at weekly Mix & Mingle events, and regular music therapy uplifts the spirits of our Memory Care residents and really gets them moving. We see how music helps them connect with others, engage in our vibrant community life, and find joy throughout the day. So, music was a perfect theme for our participation with the Alzheimer’s Association and The Longest Day.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Musical memories are often preserved in Alzheimer’s disease because key brain areas linked to musical memory are relatively undamaged by the disease.”
The effect of music on people with Alzheimer’s disease has been poignantly captured in two documentary films: GLEN CAMPBELL: I’LL BE ME (2014), which follows the music legend and his family as they navigate his progressive Alzheimer’s disease during his farewell tour, and ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC AND MEMORY (2014), an exploration of music’s capacity to revitalize individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The Preston of the Park Cities, parkcities.watermarkcommunities.com, offers Assisted Living, The Bridge and Memory Care. The community, located at 5917 Sherry Lane, Dallas 75225, is owned by Dallas-based Silverstone Senior Living and managed by Watermark Retirement Communities®.
ABOUT THE PRESTON OF THE PARK CITIES
The Preston of the Park Cities is a full-service luxury rental retirement community with 134 residences offering Assisted Living, The Bridge and Memory Care. Located at 5917 Sherry Lane, Dallas, in the prestigious Park Cities / Preston Hollow area, the community features an amenity-rich lifestyle with dynamic programs, fine dining, and concierge services. The Preston of the Park Cities is owned by Dallas-based Silverstone Senior Living and operated by Watermark Retirement Communities®. Visit parkcities.watermarkcommunities.com for more information.
ABOUT SILVERSTONE SENIOR LIVING
Silverstone Senior Living develops high-quality senior housing communities which provide independent living, assisted living and memory care services in Texas, Florida and the Mid-Atlantic states. The principals of Dallas-based Silverstone have extensive experience and an excellent track record in the real estate industry. This experience includes designing, developing, managing, operating and owning premierproperties throughout the nation and across all the major asset platformsfor both public and private companies. Silverstone is committed to developing and operating “best in class” communities that are as comfortable as home, luxurious as a country club, and provide the highest level of care. Visit silverstoneseniorliving.com for more information.
ABOUT WATERMARK RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES®
Watermark creates extraordinary communities where people thrive. We believe aging is about renewal rather than retirement. Watermark communities are known for highly trained and caring associates, a lifestyle built on choice, fine amenities, integrative wellness and innovative programs including the award-winning Watermark University featuring a wide variety of engaging classes for residents and area seniors. Watermark has been named in the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services in a national program conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute and published on Fortune.com. A privately held company with a reputation for over 30 years for service, innovation, integrity and financial stability, Watermark manages more than 65 retirement communities coast to coast. Based in Tucson, AZ, Watermark is ranked as the nation’s 11th-leading senior housing operator by the American Seniors Housing Association. Visit watermarkcommunities.com for more information.
*Photos by James Edward
