Middlewoods Staff Present at 19th Annual CALA Assisted Living Conference

Middlewoods Staff Present at 19th Annual CALA Assisted Living Conference!

Staff members from Middlewoods Assisted Living Communities in Farmington and Newington were featured as presenters for the 19th Annual CALA (Connecticut Assisted Living Association) Assisted Living Conference and Trade Show held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell on Thursday, March 6th. Middlewoods of Farmington employee and Certified Recreation Therapist, Joan Jakiela, is also Professor Emeritus of Therapeutic Recreation & Gerontology at Manchester Community College. Jakiela facilitated a panel discussion among past CALA Best Practices award recipients and nominees, entitled, “Inspiring Passion: Best of the Best Practices”. The discussion also included CALA Best Practices award winner, Lynn Tracey, Activities Director at Middlewoods of Newington. Tracey shared her innovative ideas for creating meaningful activities in assisted living communities and presented a slideshow of her award-winning program, The “Little E,” a mini-version of The “Big-E” festival.

Also a featured presenter for the conference was geriatric psychiatrist, Dr. Kristina Zdanys, who provides weekly on-site psychiatry services to both Middlewoods communities. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry for the UCONN Health Center, Zdanys presented “Culture Change in Dementia Care: The Multidisciplinary Clinical Approach,” with an emphasis on involving families and other caregivers through the progressive stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Middlewoods Assisted Living Communities are located in Farmington (509 Middle Road) and Newington (2125 Main Street) and are owned and operated by United Methodist Homes, a local, faith-based, not-for-profit organization based in Shelton, CT. For more information, visit www.middlewoods.org.