Lutheran Senior Life News

For the past four years or more, the Caring Clowns of Passavant Retirement Community have given the gift of joy, love and laughter to residents in nursing, and to people at special events at St. John Specialty Care Center and in the community.

Now their mission, and Passavant’s, are known around the world because of an article published in the November, 2011 issue of Clowning Around magazine.

By: Gary Rotenstein

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 28, 2011

When 91-year-old Marie Holtzapfel arrived at RoseCrest Assisted Living Residence in July from another long-term care facility, she could hardly have been aware she was part of some rare vanguard in Pennsylvania.

For one thing, like all 15 initial residents in the homelike setting in Mars, Mrs. Holtzapfel has had dementia for years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia among older adults. It involves the part of the brain that controls thought, memory and language, thus seriously affecting a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living.

To date, there is no cure.

In honor of National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in November, staff, residents and friends of St.

Residents at Passavant Retirement Community have a new place to play.

Thanks to the dedication and fund-raising efforts of the Abundant Life^SMCommittee and the generosity of an anonymous donor, a new playground has been built outside the Olde Main building.

“It’s like we were given a gift from God!” said Laura Roy, executive director of Passavant Retirement Community at the dedication ceremony last month.

Passavant Retirement Community, which has been serving older adults for more than 100 years, has begun a multi-faceted construction project to replace 148,000-square feet of outdated buildings including Olde Main and 38 cottages.

The 2011 Annual Theological Convocation for Rostered Leaders of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was held October 10-12 at the Bishop Connare Center in Greensburg.

As part of this three-day event, Lutheran SeniorLife sponsored some free time for relaxation and fellowship for the pastors, including nine holes of golf at Mt. Odin Golf Course, paraffin hand waxing and a 10-minute massage.

Pr.

Residents at St. John Specialty Care Center were squawking over a recent educational outreach program held in Vesper Hall given by representatives from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.

Gonzo the yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Franklin the spectacled owl and Stanley the African penguin  delighted the crowd of about 40 residents. Educators from the Aviary displayed each of the birds and shared interesting facts about each.

More than 212 participants, ranging in age from toddlers to seniors, took part in the 7^th annual Grandparent’s Race at Passavant Retirement Community in October. This year’s race featured a Triple Trot Challenge, giving  runners and walkers the choice of a 10 mile run, a 5K run or 1 mile walk/run.

Thrivent Allegheny County Chapter, Thrivent Butler County Chapter and NexTier Bank were major sponsors of this year’s event. With the help of these sponsors and participants and employees, more than $13,200 was raised to help support the benevolent care fund at Passavant.

St. John Specialty Care Center will hold the Guys and Dolls Fashion show on Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Treesdale Golf and Country Club. Proceeds from the event will benefit the St. John Secret Santa program and resident activities.

This year’s mistress of ceremonies is KDKA-TV news anchor Jennifer Antkowiak.