Seniors Find New Vitality & Talents Through Learning Programs at Kisco's BridgetPoint at Los Altos

News from Kisco’s BridgePoint at Los Altos:

Residents at Kisco’s BridgePoint at Los Altos never have to worry about keeping busy – the wealth of activities offered through their Continual Learning Program range from health seminars to music therapy to poetry classes. And a few residents have uncovered talents they didn’t know they had at all!

Wellness director Alex Gerasimov is inspired every day he comes to work and sees firsthand how these activities enhance the lives of the residents. “It encourages them to step out of their box and bring excitement and fun into their lives,” says Gerasimov, who has been BridgePoint’s wellness director for seven years.

The Continual Learning program is a chance for older adults to flex their brain muscles and keep sharp. Classes include music therapy, art appreciation, discussions on current events, computer skills, health seminars through Stanford Medical and creative writing classes through Foothill College. All activities are free of charge for residents.

Gerasimov recounts several proud stories of the impact these fun and intellectually challenging programs have made on their resident’s lives.

There’s Mary Nell Venable, 87, who started attending the creative writing classes and became so inspired, she started writing her own poetry and has written more than 100 poems. Her poetry fills the community’s newsletters, Facebook Page and she has been published by the International Council on Active Aging.

And there is Darinka Lenarcic, 86. Always interested in the ‘tech world’, she started taking computer classes so she could stay up to date about news from her native country of Slovenia and now surfs the web with ease.

Patrick Jordan, 80, used the skills he learned from the computer classes and created his own website to keep up with family and friends and post his own writing and videos. He is also the ‘volunteer salesman’ of BridgePoint and eagerly serves as the tour guide for prospective residents.

Loretta Hodson, 95, actually moved into BridgePoint five years ago, ended up in a wheelchair, but now walks on her own. She credits this to the many health seminars on healthy aging and to the fitness activities at the community.

Growing up in Russia, Gerasimov said there weren’t retirement communities like we have here in the U.S. Most aging adults simply stay with family. He remembers both his aging grandfathers being well cared for at home, but left with nothing to do all day, which seemed to bring down their vitality and enthusiasm for life.

The Continuing Learning activities are some of the highest attended events at the community. BridgePoint has plans to expand the computer lab and increase the bandwidth for Wi-Fi and streaming services such as Skype videos, which some residents use to keep in touch with friends and family.

One of the most popular creative projects is the annual Project Runway Fashion Show every fall. Residents pick a theme, the community supplies the fabric and unleashes the creativity – participants create hats, purses, and even ugly sweater contests and showcase them on the runway.

The creativity and feeling of family is what inspires the staff to come to work every day. Gerasimov sums it up: “It is inspiring to watch as older adults discover skills and talents they never knew they had.”

For more information on the Continual Learning Program at BridgePoint at Los Altos, please contact the community at (650) 948-7337, 1174 Los Altos Ave, Los Altos, California 94022,www.lifeatbridgepoint.com