“Talent” is a word that artist and teacher, Jean Downs, doesn’t like to use. “I tell my students to leave ‘the big T word’ at home,” says Jean. “Anybody can draw if they’re given the tools. If you have a desire, you can do it.” Jean and her husband, Ray, have recently moved to The […]
Focus on Faith – Rev. Lois McCullen Parr, member of UMRC’s Spiritual Life team, and Rev. Jackie Holdsworth, a retired United Methodist pastor and resident of CRC’s Prairie Cottages, teamed up to facilitate “Making the Invisible Visible” – a class on the reality of racism, offered for residents at CRC. “It’s not a comfortable class,” […]
On Memorial Day, 2014, Michael Carr suffered a debilitating stroke. However, his story did not end there. Rather than allowing himself to become bitter and isolated, Michael is using his experience to bring hope and faith to others. With the help of his wife, Debbie, Michael began writing, “The Lion in the Wheelchair” four years […]
Dorothy Greer, a resident of Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC), recently reached a milestone, with over 30 consecutive years of giving to the UMRC Foundation! “Dorothy’s many gifts have honored and remembered loved ones, helped make capital improvements on our campus, and ensured that those who have outlived their savings have always had a home here […]
“She looks great for her age!” “He still drives?” “Wow, you’re sharp as a tack!” Sound familiar? All of us are aging, but sometimes the words we use to describe older adults create a dynamic of “us vs. them.” Or maybe you have heard the growing population of older adults described as “an epidemic” or […]
This semester a class of seniors from the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing had the opportunity to engage with a different kind of senior – the older adults living at United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC)’s Glazier Commons Assisted Living Center. Class instructor, Catie Doman, RN, BSN explains, “This hands-on course is part of a […]
Today, November 27 is #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. It’s celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday kicks off the charitable season, and this year the UMRC Foundation is focusing on Thome Rivertown […]
Serving others is a way of life for Julian Giardello, Independent Living Dining Room Supervisor at UMRC’s Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC). From 1991 to 1995, Julian served our country in the Marine Corps as an aircraft recovery specialist. This native of Martin’s Ferry, Ohio was stationed in Japan and Thailand, as well as in Hawaii […]
“I’m a country boy,” says Dale Burgess, 96, who resides at Glazier Commons, located at United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC)’s Chelsea campus. Dale grew up in The Great Depression near Shepherd, Michigan in Isabella County. His world view changed, though, with the onset of World War II. In 1942, at age 20, Dale joined the […]
Dick and Norma Sarns are a team in every aspect of their lives. Dick, a WWII Navy veteran and engineer, and Norma, a teacher, established not one but two health-related businesses, developing life-saving surgical instruments and the world-renowned Sarns heart-lung machine. Later, their attention turned to rehabilitation for patients following heart surgery. In 1993, the […]
