West Columbia Agape Senior Assisted Living Melody Makers...RISING STARS

I am sure many of you know of our West Columbia Agape Senior Melody Makers choir; the famous songbirds, who have toured the Midlands' Agape Senior campuses for many years, sing Christmas carols at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport annually, have dazzled the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce and even performed in Orangeburg at the Methodist Oakes Retirement Community! Just when we thought our star had risen as far as it could go, we pushed it EVEN FURTHER! Today, May 19, The Agape Senior Melody Makers completed the recording of their very first album!

The Agape Senior Melody Makers group began its journey to fame in 2004 at the West Columbia Assisted Living facility. Comprised of a handful of women at the time (and only one man), it was just a small group of residents with a common interest--music. Nancy Vosburgh, whose mother was a resident in our Villas, leads the group. Nancy has a background in community theatre and sings in her church choir. Her mother also had a special love for music. With the assistance of the Life Enrichment Coordinator on piano, the little group began.

Three concerts a year at the West Columbia location over time blossomed into 12, including performances all over campus; then, in addition, three concerts per year in our other Midlands' facilities eventually grew to outreach into the community . Not only have our performances grown and our talent expanded, but so has the group. Now consisting of 20 women and six men, the group has quadrupled in size and is growing consistently as new residents move in! The group has two members who have been with us since the very beginning. Today, for those of us who have been involved with the Melody Makers since the day the group began, a vision and a dream has become a reality.

With a program of our Greatest Songs Ever (or at least the group thinks they were), which we have been rehearsing for months, the Melody Makers got in our Agape Senior bus and rode up to Mt. Hebron United Methodist Church to record our first ever CD! The members of the group were in great spirits as we arrived and walked into the sanctuary. Nancy Vosburgh (Director and Volunteer), Yu Chong (Facility Chaplain), Amy McCormack( Life Enrichment), Patsy Pennington (Piano and Volunteer), and Cynthia Scherbaty (Life Enrichment) were all there to ensure things went smoothly. Donald Maher of our I.T. department recorded the songs for the group. It was such a great adventure!

In three hours the group completed its 40 minute compilation of songs for the album. Exhausted by all the excitement of the afternoon, the group boarded the Agape bus and left for home, proud of what its members had accomplished. Donald is currently working on arranging the songs and plans to have production completed in the next few weeks, so don't fret, the CD will be out soon enough! The plan is for all proceeds from the CD sales to benefit the Agape Foundation. A CD release party is already in the works, so keep your calendars open. Agape Senior West Columbia is so proud of our Melody Makers and anticipates many great things to come for the future.

by Amy McCormack

West Columbia South Carolina Assisted Living

Agape Senior of West Columbia provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. West Columbia, Cayce, South Congaree, Pine Ridge, Springdale SC. – Call Agape Senior Assisted Living West Columbia at (803)939-3000 or (800) 411-2427

Columbia SCARCH Convention to Include Two Presentations by Agapé Senior

Two AgapéSenior employees will be presenters at this year’s Spring Conference being held at the Columbia Convention Center for the South Carolina Association of Residential Care Homes(SCARCH). Joe Nester, Director of Internet Marketing for Agapé Senior, will be presenting strategic ways to build census on-line. Pamela Duncan, Director of Compliance for Skilled Nursing, will be presenting information on disaster planning and emergency evacuation reviews.

WestColumbia South Carolina – Agape Senior

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Agapé Senior’s mission is to provideintegrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-basedatmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to providethe best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. Weare committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve.Call us at 800-411- 2427. Columbia, Forest Acres, Lexington, Irmo, Rock Hill,Laurens, Conway, Garden City, West Columbia

Rock Hill Assisted Living Resident "Papa" Carroll Wilkie Loves to Garden

Agapé Assisted Living resident “Papa” Carroll Wilkie enjoys spending his free time tending to a garden he started in the back of his community. The garden provides a great physical activity as well as a social opportunity for everyone involved. Many other residents within the community enjoy a view of the garden from the windows of their apartments. There is buzz and excitement about the growth of the garden throughout the community and all are anxiously awaiting the first batch of fresh vegetables.

There have been numerous studies that have shown the health benefits of gardening. Working in the fresh air and sunshine, completing tasks with a purpose, and having a sense of accomplishment are all benefits derived from gardening. Agapé Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill is seeking ways constantly to improve the lives of senior adults.

Cameron Cunningham

Rock Hill SouthCarolina Assisted Living – Agape Senior Rock Hill

Agape Senior Assisted Living of Rock Hill provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Rock Hill, Fort Mill,York, Tega Cay, Lake Wyle – Call us 803-207-8000

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South Carolina Dementia Care

By, Adelle Stanley

Agape Senior Director of Dementia programs

As we learned last week dementia is not a specific disease. It is a general term used to describe many symptoms that cause different brain disorders. Just as Pudding is the heading for many different types of pudding. Dementia is just a heading that makes you think of many different types of diseases that cause problems preforming activities of daily living (things that someone does to go through the day).

Normal Aging

We all know that as we age we sometimes become less able to recall names, places and faces. Normal Aging does not affect you activities of daily living. (ADL)

When someone thinks they have a memory problem they should go to a knowledgeable physician who is keeping pace with the fast changing information about dementia. The physician will have to do many tests to find out what type of dementia the person has. One of the first diagnoses may be:

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

With MCI a person has problems with their memory. These problems are bad enough that other people notice. They would also show upon an evaluation the physician may do. The physician will do testing to find out what the problem is. MCI may be what the physician tells the person they have until the physician does testing and is able to determine what disease is causing the diagnoses of dementia.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the number one cause of a dementia diagnoses.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive disease, where symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer's, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer's is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer's live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions.

Next week we will learn about other dementia diseases…It is so important to get a correct diagnosis

West Columbia South Carolina – Agape Senior

Agapé Senior’s mission is to provide integrated health services to meet the needs of senior adults in a faith-based atmosphere. The company’s philosophy is based upon its commitment to provide the best quality care possible for members of our senior adult community. We are committed to participating actively in and around the communities we serve.West Columbia, Lexington, Springdale, Cayce, Oak Grove, St Andrews, Columbia,South Congaree, Pine ridge, Red Bank. Call us at 800-411- 2427

Agapé Senior Assisted Living Garden City Rolls out Red Carpet for Residents

Imagine bringing your Grandmother into an assisted living community on her very first day. Now imagine the moment she enters the front door being immediately greeted by several staff members who welcome her to her new home with a red carpet rolled out for her entrance. You can see the love,kindness and joy in the eyes of the staff as they welcome her home.

Now picture the administrator giving your Grandmother a personal tour of the community and pointing out key places where she will most likely want to frequent. Then imagine her going to her room and finding her door covered with balloons and her new family, the neighboring residents, there to welcome her to her new home in Agape Senior’s Assisted Living in Garden City.

There is only one person that makes this kind of magic happen daily in Garden City. Meet JoAnn. JoAnn is the Life Enrichment Coordinator for the Garden City, community. This is what she expects from herself on a daily basis…and achieves. From the moment every new resident enters the door at Agapé Senior Assisted Living in Garden City, JoAnn coordinates a “red carpet experience.”

Now take a peek at the rest of your Grandmother’s first day. What a surprise she has when she realizes that she does not even have time to sit in her room because the first activity is starting; it is her first game of Bunco. Soon after, she finds one of the many newspapers available throughout the community and a new friend to talk with about current events. Suddenly the smell of beef tips over rice catch Grandma’s attention. Her new friend and she head to the dining room with JoAnn leading them along with a smile. Grandma is pleased when she samples the culinary delights that the Agapé chef has prepared!

Right after lunch, members of a local church come by and Grandma joins in a sing-a-long. She sings her heart out to her favorite hymns along with 40 of her new neighbors. Before dinner, Grandma enjoys one of Garden City’s famous “happy hours” where she sips a cool beverage while listening to live music. Then a delicious dinner is served, and Grandma ends her first day with a smile.

JoAnn makes every day for every resident in the community as festive and happy as Grandma’s first day. You might say she has a magic touch. She certainly has an overflowing heart and a passion for bringing joy to the elderly. Bringing a loved one to assisted living can be an ordeal or a celebration. People like JoAnn make it a celebration. Want to find out more? Come to Agape Senior Assisted Living in Garden City and ask for JoAnn!

Chris Little



Garden City /Murrells Inlet South Carolina Assisted Living

Assisted Living of GardenCity provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and theirfamilies, the dedicated staff strives to optimize quality of life by embracingindividuality and preserving dignity. Surfside Beach, Murrells Inlet, MyrtleBeach, Pawley’s Island, Socastee, Bucksport, Burgess SC. – Call Agape SeniorGarden City at 843-357-0200 or 800-411-2427

Columbia SC Agapé Senior Kathwood Provides Royal Coverage for Residents

The life enrichment coordinator for Kathwood Assisted Living, Michelle Oden, is not going to pass up the opportunity for her residents to enjoy the Royal Wedding. Michelle is creating a wedding like atmosphere by decorating the community room where the residents will be able to enjoy the rebroadcast of the wedding on a large flat screen TV.

See Article in State Newspaper

Columbia / Forest Acres South Carolina – Agape Senior Kathwood



Agape Senior Assisted Living of Kathwood provides senior-focused solutions. In working with seniors and their families, the dedicated staff works diligently to optimize quality of life by embracing individuality and preserving dignity. Columbia, Forest Acres, Blythewood, Elgin, lugoff, Camden – Call us 803-787-1234

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