Jon Batiste Appears at Crown Heights

Renowned pianist Jon Batiste, leader of Stay Human, the house band for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” left Crown Heights residents in high spirits with his performance in mid-July, part of the Sing for Hope initiative.

Batiste, a Louisiana native and Juilliard graduate, serves on the board of Sing for Hope, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the arts to uplift and unite communities. Known for his R&B and jazz stylings, Batiste was named Music Director of The Atlantic in 2017, and also serves as co-artistic director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

July Blue Carpet Farewells

Hamilton Park bade a fond Blue Carpet farewell in July to two patients, Ms. Tatyana and Ms. Linda, who showed the utmost courage and determination in the face of COVID-19.

“I want to say from the bottom of my heart, everybody was so great,” Ms. Linda told the staffers who gathered in the lobby to see her off. Then she went outside and was greeted by her family, who turned out in full force for her happy, healthy discharge.

Came to us on a ventilator and was successfully weaned off of the ventilator and is now able to breathe again on her own. As she made her way toward the door in her wheelchair, a guitarist serenaded her and the well-wishers who had gathered.

Burgers at Bedford Center

The Bedford Center received a lovely Shake Shack donation one day in mid-July. All our hard-working employees were grateful for the delicious hamburgers!

Protecting Dementia Patients During a Pandemic

Joel Landau, The Allure Group’s founder and chairman, wrote for McKnight’s Long-Term Care News of the particular challenges the coronavirus pandemic has presented to residents afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The key, Joel wrote, is employing person-centered care — i.e., care that takes into account the values, preferences and needs of each individual.

Discussing Assisted Living with Loved Ones

Joel Landau also wrote for Senior Lifestyle Magazine about the challenges of discussing assisted living with loved ones, and concluded that it is essential to lay the groundwork for talking about such a difficult topic before ever actually doing so. It also helps to identify the available options and review them with your loved one to gauge their preferences and talk through any concerns.

All these steps will make the conversation easier once that time arises — and will make the transition much easier too!