Baycrest

THE HEALING PROPERTIES OF ART Art, like music, contributes to the well-being of Baycrest clients, plays an important role in the healing process and fosters a sense of identity and attachment. The new Ronald and Nancy Kalifer Culture Hub was created on the main floor of the Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged to showcase rotating exhibits of Baycrest's extensive collection of donated artworks in a warm and welcoming space that encourages clients, families, staff and visitors to gather, interact and be stimulated and inspired. Studies show that people with dementia can enjoy art despite memory loss because of its multi-sensory nature and the fact they can experience it in the moment without prior knowledge or associations. Caregivers and visitors also get enjoyment both from the art and from seeing their loved ones derive pleasure from it. "The fact that art is an integral part of the healing process at Baycrest is quite unique," says Aviva Altschuler, Manager of Culture and Arts. "We are fortunate to have this dedicated new space that reflects the organization's efforts to use art to appeal to the holistic needs of our clients." Creating an inviting and soothing environment where residents, patients and families could benefit from the healing properties of art was exactly the vision that Ronald and Nancy Kalifer had in mind in the building of the gallery-like space. An avid collector and art lover, Ronald was actively involved in the Culture Hub's development and continues to participate in the planning of exhibits. "Art is my passion," he explains. "I wanted to be involved in a project that brought the health benefits of art to patients and families and created a place where they could spend time and feel good." The new space, which opened in May 2018, is also used for events to build awareness for Baycrest, and cultivate community support for Culture and Arts programming. A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CARE A desire to nourish the human spirit while also caring for people's physical and cognitive needs was also the impetus for a generous gift to Baycrest's Seniors Counselling and Referral Services. The program's social workers help older adults and their families navigate the health, long-term care and social service system; provide counselling and assistance; connect people to the appropriate resources; and, offer family caregiver support and education groups. "I've always been interested in the field of social work and how I could be of assistance to people, to enhance their well-being," explains longtime donor Larry Enkin. In fact, when he retired as a men's clothing manufacturer at age 70, he enrolled in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto and did a student placement at Baycrest in the former Jewish Home for the Aged. Enkin comes by his penchant for community service honestly. His late father, Max, who started the family business, Cambridge Clothes, led a delegation to displaced persons camps in Europe in 1948 and helped 2,000 tailors – half of whom were Jewish Holocaust survivors – start new lives in Canada. Now Enkin is looking for surviving tailors or their children in order to document their lives and the value of immigration to Canada. He has received a number of calls about the Tailor Project and actually found one of the tailors at Baycrest – Apotex resident Mendel Good – who is now sharing his story. To find out how you can make an impact on the lives of older adults, please visit baycrestfoundation.org. BrainMatters SPRING/SUMMER 2019 15 Nancy and Ronald Kalifer Mendel Good (left) with Larry Enkin

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