Bringing together our memory care residents with young people creates a wonderful experience for all who participate. Each person has something to share and something to learn from one another.

To celebrate the festivities of Mardi Gras, Grace Point Place Memory Care in Oak Lawn, Illinois invited teens from the A.E.R.O Special Education Cooperative to join residents in making king cakes. So, you may be wondering, what is a king cake? A king cake is a special New Orleans Mardi Gras cake, baked with a tiny plastic baby doll hidden inside the pastry. The person who is served the slice with the baby doll is chosen to host the next party. It’s a fun tradition and, at Grace Point Place, everyone had the fun of discovering a tiny baby doll in their slice of king cake. The festivities were covered by local ABC Eye Witness News station, WLS-TV. 

Meredith Morris, Community Relations Director told the ABC news reporter how important these events are in their community. It is a great way for their residents to remain engaged in an activity instead of just sitting and watching. And bringing in the youthful energy is nice too!

Paige Cihocki, a teen from A.E.R.O agreed, mentioning to the ABC reporter that she liked the fact that she “got to talk with someone who I can relate to a little bit.”

Inter-generational activities, such as these, are important in that they provide a sense of purpose and higher quality of life for Anthem Memory Care residents. That is why we encourage those who are caring for loved ones with dementia to find opportunities for young family members and friends to visit their loved one often. There is so much joy to be found for all involved!

(Image taken from ABC Eyewitness News video)