Creativity With Seniors, Part 1 with Kelley Smith

*The following is the output of transcribing from an audio recording. Although the transcription is largely accurate, in some cases it is incomplete or inaccurate due to inaudible passages or transcription errors.

The following podcast is provided by care partners, living and answers for elders radio and welcome everyone, and happy New Year again, as we always say that in the month of January, as we are here with a brand new year and a brand new two thousand and twenty two and lots of New Year’s resolutions and a lot of things happening. And you know, I am touched by we’re we are getting a lot of phone calls of people that have been together with their loved ones over the holiday season. They are thinking about, you know, how can I do better or be better for my loved one? And as a result, you know, we had and answers for elders a very, very impactful December because, as our listeners know, we do a program called twelve days of goodness where we do basically one thing over twelve days in the month of December, and that is to touch the hearts of seniors and we went to twelve locations. We did all kinds of things with seahawks. Legends blitz was there, which was really fun. We had a great time and we also brought our therapy dogs to different communities throughout greater puget sound. So there was all kinds of opportunities to get creative with seniors and the finale of our event was an amazing thing that we started, and that is the nest be Glasgow Essence Award, and that is award. Is the very first annual award that honors our Great Seahawk Legend Nesby Glasgow, for outstanding service to a senior loved one and through a nomination process and through an amazing committee that committed themselves to supporting this effort. Would you believe to our listeners you all know our winner and that is i Wonderful Kelley Smith, who is also host today. And Kelly, congratulations. I’m so excited that you won the award because it’s been, you know, it’s very, very well served and I’m just so thrilled that you won. Thank you. Thank you so much. I think the Scottish term is gobsmacked. Absolutely. I absolutely was. There are so many amazing people in our industry and even the unsung heroes that are home every day taking care of her loved ones. Exactly. It was one of those things that you hear it, you hear it happening and you’re standing there thinking that can’t be right. That can be la. There’s too many people out there that are so selfless. Yeah, I’m so kind and and do so many amazing things every day that nobody knows about. And it was a huge honor. And just seeing his kids there and knowing what lost they’ve had. Yeah, and they took care of nest be and end of his life. So yeah, and what exceptional adults. They all amazing, amazing children. I have been so incredibly proud of those kids. They are outstanding human beings, but and beautiful, beautiful people. But just just the kindness that they showed even when they were going through loss, just just the whole experience, I I don’t even have words. It was beyond amazing. Well, Kelly and I also what’s really interesting is the fact that, you know, when the committee was coming together, the Nice thing about it was was that the kids, they adult children, really got to share their memories of their death and I think that was really a pivotal thing that a lot of us missed because we didn’t get an opportunity to have a memorial service for nest because of Covid and we didn’t get an opportunity for all of us to come together and as you know, our listeners know, nest be was a dear friend of mine and I would hear from Nes b everyone awhile and he would call me with you know, I know a family that needs help. Can you help me help them? And you know, he was always looking for that way to make a difference and it was just part of who he was and so obviously he passed it on to his kids and they told story after story after story about, you know, when we had these zoom calls with the committee, it was pretty amazing, you know, their journey and how they were raised. So I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to have, you know, the individuals. You know that we had to share in those memories and I think that was really a big part that you didn’t get it an opportunity to see, but you obviously will now be because, Kelly, you’ll be on the committee for next year and hopefully moving forward as the you know, anaugurial a naugural dinner. That’s a what’s a word? So I think you know, it’s going to be an amazing thing that we do every year and we look forward to seeing who wins. For Two thousand and twenty two. So amazing, absolutely amazing. Yeah, so Kelly is here, obviously from care partners, and you guys have been an amazing partner with us and I you know one of the things that was said about you that I think was really amazing, and that was talking about created, how creative you’ve been in your career and in this community with seniors. And for those of you that have that want to see the video and the award ceremony, all you have to do is go to norb Cam and o our BCAM and look up the nezb Glasgow Essence Award and there it was live streams and you can watch it again on Youtube. So if you want to see it, it’s pretty amazing story and of course everybody will see how shocked Kelly was, because totally, just totally shocked. And then her dear friend Sean demilio showed up, which I asked her to do, the keynote, basically the award, and she just rocked it out of the park and she shared stories and she had everybody laughing and just loving it at Ballard and with Steve Rabel and the gang together. So, Kelly, you know, I bet you know, many ways you were kind of like, oh my gosh, what a Shawn going to say next? Right, right, right, because she not only has good stories, but she’s got some dirt on me too. So you’re well. Well, she was wonderful and certainly held our absolute, you know, attention, and it was so important that we did that. So, Kelly, it got me an idea and I would really like to talk today about creativity, and I think one of the things that really rang true with what made you stand out the most, was how creative you are when it comes to interacting with your your residence and with your seniors. And one of the things that stuck with me was the fact that, you know, going into, you know, being creative, a lot of us are so busy, we’re so overwhelmed, we’re trying to just hold things together that that’s probably one of the last things that we as families who take care of loved ones and that care about, you know, senior loved ones or anyone that we’re caring for, is how to step into that right brained creative moment of how do we look at ways in which we can entertain, ways in which we can be fluid, and especially those that have, you know, may have memory issues or different types of scenarios. And yet you and sean consistently did so many things together. And one of the things that Sean mentioned, which was really important, was the fact that whenever you walk into a care partners community your residence, all want to get see you, they all want their pictures taken with you. They love when Kelly’s in the house. Yeah, and I think that really it’s due in part to who you are. So, before we go into all the different things, I would love to kind of talk about the mindset of being creative. How do you do that in your mind? Whatever I think of. Well, for one thing, I was blessed because I was raised with my great grandparents and grandparents growing up. So older people don’t intimidate me. In fact, I’m drawn to them. I would much rather be in the presence of an eighty year old and somebody my own age. I value our seniors, I really do. These folks are such a wealth of wisdom and and just just getting to know them is amazing. You hear their stories and where they came from and and who they are, and if you’re really paying attention, you’re going to glean a lot of wonderful information about these people and I’m the kind of person that just kind of text that information in their pocket. I don’t just it doesn’t go in one ear and out the other. It’s like I got you, I heard you. And I think the fact that I’m also a really, really big five year old, that’s always been a joke, is, you know, kind of big Ford Fifty. Well, I was big for five to so here we go. But it’s also, you know, being able to let people see who you really are. I think sometimes when people go to work they think that they have to put their professional hat on and you can’t be silly and you can’t have fun and because we’re professionals. Well, you know what, they’re still human beings. Yeah, so why can’t you let your guard down just a little bit and till a joke and and have a laugh and put your arm around somebody? Why is that so bad? Well, and I am what you’re saying is so true because I think when I took care of my mom, I can go back to the memories that I don’t care how much to mention my mother had or she was having a bad day, she still knew how to push my buttons. Of course I felt myself sometimes on guard with her and I learned over time, number one, to build a sense of humor, because some of the things that she would say, you know, would I it would trigger me, and I learned to condition myself to lighten up over that. Number two, I learned to repeat back mom, I just heard you say X, Y Z, and is that what you meant? And sometimes mom would say, Oh, no, I didn’t mean it that way, and I’ll like, oh, just another words. I learned not not to question her intention and I think that, you know, if you’re dealing with a parent that’s difficult, sometimes those little things can mean a lot in the fact that, you know, don’t question somebody’s intention, don’t try to, you know, put them in a bad situation, you know, and it is the fact that all of a sudden they go on the defensive. So, you know, that’s one of the things. I think that that’s where we start it and it helps you lighten up your soul. I mean it really does. Two, because you have to remember everything that you’re dealing with right always have to keep in mind they have pain they may not be telling you about, they have concerns they’re not sharing. They may be worried about finances that they don’t want to burden their children with. Sure they may have early signs of dementia that they’re not telling anybody about. HMM, lots and lots of concerns in the aging process itself is not for sissies, I think. Now. Is that so? In our next segment let’s talk about different ways we can be creative. And so, in the meantime, Kelly, how do we reach you? The best thing to do is to hop on our website for two are pump giving you my phone number. I don’t think you want that. The best website is care partner senior livingcom. Care Partners Living. Yeah, I’m sorry, boy, it’s been a morning already. CARE partners livingcom. You can check out all fourteen of our communities. There’s testimonials and pictures and it’s a great way to get acquainted with our company and we love you so, Kelly. Everyone will be right back right after this. The preceding podcast was provided by care partners living and answers for elders radio. To contact care partners living, go to care partners livingcom.