Neighbor News
Wartburg CEO Traveled East Again
People working in senior care and service environments know, intuitively and anecdotally, the power of music.
David J. Gentner, Ed.D, President and CEO of Wartburg and Wartburg Foundation, one of Westchester's largest senior care and service providers, again traveled east, this time to Fukuoka, Japan to present his dissertation research at the 5th Annual World Congress of Geriatrics and Gerontology which took place on December 6-8, 2017.
Dr. Gentner's presentation "Music and Dementia: A Caregiver's Perspective of the Effects of Individualized Music Therapy on Health-Related Quality of Life for Seniors Living in Assisted Living Environments" was conducted during day two of the conference.
"People working in senior care and service environments know, intuitively and anecdotally, the power of music. I recognized this even when I worked as a part-time janitor in a nursing home so it is a thrill to play a small part in moving the research forward with a unique experimental condition," said Gentner.
The session focused on Wartburg's highly acclaimed Creative Aging & Lifelong Learning program, an arts-based therapy curriculum for Wartburg's 500 residents and the surrounding community. This program allows seniors to use the arts as a means to learn new skills and build self-esteem.
"While the aging of our society presents financial and other social challenges, it also creates opportunities for providers," said Gentner.
Participants from around the globe learned about how Wartburg's programs help seniors express themselves and achieve their highest quality of life through art, music, theater, written word and oral histories. One of the latest initiatives in this area include SeniorU, in partnership with Concordia College in Bronxville, offering a 2- or 4-year college degree to retirees and an affiliation with the world renowned Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, with their new home on Wartburg's campus.
Wartburg, located in Westchester County, NY, offers integrated, comprehensive senior residential and healthcare services. Unlike conventional retirement communities, Wartburg provides a wide range of services to both residents living on its beautiful 34-acre campus and people in their own homes. From independent, assisted living and award-winning nursing home care to inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, home care and adult day care services, its continuing care approach has earned Wartburg a trusted reputation in Westchester. Wartburg also provides caregiver support at every stage with an array of options to find the level of care that considers the whole family. Most recently, Wartburg received the 2016 Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award from the American College of Health Care Administrators and the 2015 Legacy Award from the Westchester County Chapter of the Links. In addition, Wartburg was named one of the "Best Nursing Homes in New York State" by U.S. News & World Report for the seventh consecutive year in 2017.
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