Barbara and Bill Richard
Press Release
As Bill Richard browses dozens of colorful works of art on display for sale to raise money for the Alzheimer's Foundation, he selects five that his wife proudly painted.
The fair was held at Shem Creek Health Center, which is on-site at South Bay at Mount Pleasant.
A luxury rental senior living community, South Bay at Mount Pleasant provides a vibrant independent living lifestyle. Shem Creek Health Center at South Bay offers memory care, assisted living, rehabilitation and skilled nursing providing a full continuum of care at one location.
Barbara, who resides in the memory support area at Shem Creek Health Center is a short walk away from her husband Bill, who lives in independent living.
“I'm very fortunate because I can visit Barbara every day,” Bill says.
He's also able to see his wife participate in activities, such as art sessions designed to keep her and others with memory issues engaged and active. “Any activity they do is great, especially while they are using their hands and expressing themselves,” he says.
As Barbara paints or forms a ceramic pot, Bill says, “I can be sitting right there.” He sees that she is engaged with the projects because she is attentive to them. “She's finished every painting she's started,” he says.
Anntwan Green, Life Enrichment Director at Shem Creek Health Center, agrees with Bill that it's important to keep people with memory loss engaged and participating in the world around them. “I think these projects are so important because they are therapeutic,” she says. “With each stroke they take, even if our hands guide them, the residents get a sense of accomplishment.”
The sessions are a creative outlet for the residents and a way to improve various aspects of their physical health through the use of their senses. For instance, Anntwan says, “Sometimes we do finger paints and that helps with their sensory and fine motor skills.”
Bill was happy to have supported the Alzheimer's Foundation by purchasing his wife's paintings at the art fair. He kept one for himself and gave the other four to their two sons and grandchildren.
Another activity sponsored by Shem Creek Health Center involves students from a local Montessori School who visit to participate in activities with residents in memory care, from painting flower planters in the garden to playing games of lawn ball. “The students encourage the residents to participate,” Bill says. “They'll tell them, ‘You can knock down that pin.'”
Barbara tends to be shy and needs lots of encouragement to participate but is happy and fully engaged once she starts.
Bill is delighted with the variety of activities offered daily at Shem Creek Health Center. “No matter the time of year, they will do some type of activity. If it's St. Patrick's Day, Easter, or Cinco de Mayo. They will do something,” he says.
Bill says that living at South Bay at Mount Pleasant gives him peace of mind, knowing that his wife is close by and being cared for—including being encouraged to take part in activities that enrich her life.
South Bay at Mt. Pleasant/Shem Creek
South Bay at Mt. Pleasant is a premier rental senior living community located in the South Carolina low country; one of the most desirable locations in the country. South Bay at Mt. Pleasant's 24-acre campus includes beautiful walking/bike paths. South Bay at Mt. Pleasant offers independent living that supports a vibrant lifestyle for active seniors. Shem Creek Health Center, located on campus, offers assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, respite care, and skilled nursing care for both residents of the community and surrounding area, thus providing a continuum of care for seniors. South Bay at Mt. Pleasant is owned and operated by Liberty Senior Living, LLC, a division of Liberty Healthcare Management that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. To learn more about South Bay at Mt Pleasant, visitwww.
