On August 21, C.J Elizabeth brought her music and games to a group of nonagenarians at La Posada. Nine women in their nineties, and one in her hundreds, met in the Recreation Room to be entertained and share memories.
The name of her program is “Table Talk” and its purpose is to stimulate conversation and celebrate memories as well as to inspire the participants to keep engaged in life and remain joyful. C.J. Elizabeth has been involved in providing this free service for seniors for three years
She expresses her concept of the “Table Talk” program as an opportunity to end isolation and come together with others to exchange ideas and talk over memories, to affirm the pleasure of living and identify the things we can do now at any age. She performs these gatherings as a representative of ComForcare Home Care and just because she enjoys it. C.J. states that the essence of ageing has surrounded her since her childhood in Rhode Island.
She had an exceptional grandmother who watched over the needs of older people in her community by sending food and special treats, and checking up on any one who might need help or cheering up. Starting at age five, dressed in her Sunday best with a little hat on her head, C.J. would make these calls on a special bicycle with a large basket. C.J. was her grandmother’s messenger girl until she married and had a family of her own.
Through those years C.J. enjoyed the personal contacts and learned that really listening to people is the common denominator, and magnifying the joy to be found in life is very important. “Life is meant to be fun.”
That spirit certainly came through on this day. At one time there were ten women seated at the tables with the combined age total of 958 years of memories, experiences and general knowledge gained by living through The Great Depression, World War II and the prosperous years following the war. That was before many of you were born. Since then, we have shared the following years with the rest of you. C.J. brought out a feeling of shared joyful experiences as we laughed over old favorites in the movies and early days of television.
One of the most important results of these gatherings are the friendships that are formed among those attending when they discover that they have common interests and memories to share.
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If you know of a group that would enjoy this type of gathering or want information on ComForcare, contact C.J. Elizabeth at 359-5814.