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behavior. Even if you went into the session in a less than elated mood,

chances are by the end, your laughter will have evolved into something genuine. If you are interested in participating in laughter yoga, you are in luck! Juliet Pellicane, former Lead Programs Assistant at Youville House, is a certified Laughter Yoga Instructor! She will return virtually this month to lead an introductory laughter yoga class via Zoom, on Thursday, April 15 at 3:00 PM. Did you know?

The benefits we derive from laughter are similar to the benefits we get from social interaction. These include:

• The release of feel-good endorphins. Journalist Norman Cousins, after being hospitalized for a spinal condition, incorporated laughter into his personal recovery program. He found that watching the Marx brothers before bed helped him to sleep for at least two hours without feeling any pain! • Inhibition of cortisol, the “stress hormone,”which can have adverse effects on immune functioning. Did you know that laughter may

be a safeguard against heart disease? Cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore surveyed 300 patients to investigate the relationship between humor and heart health. The participants answered questions examining the extent to which humor played a role in their everyday lives. In particular, those who laughed or used humor to cope with stressful situations were less likely to have heart disease.

Dr. Michael Miller, one of the cardiologists involved in the study, believes that incorporating laughter into a daily routine might be as important for heart health as diet and exercise. There are numerous “laughing groups” operating in many U.S. cities with the aim of spreading the benefits of laughter to their practitioners. There is even an entire branch of yoga devoted to communal laughing. Led by a certified instructor, participants of laughter yoga engage in a combination of physical movements and coordinated, voluntary laughter.

The atmosphere builds on the infectiousness of laughter and playful

April 2021

Laughter Yoga Returning to Youville

continued on page 3 Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 4

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Live, Outdoors and In-Person!

Had enough of virtual programs? This month we will resume live, outdoor programs! Attendance will be limited to allow for adequate social distancing, so be sure to RSVP with the programs department if you would like to attend a program.

Steps in Time Michael Winward Tuesday, April 27 at 2:00 PM

Inspired by the idea that people of all ages and abilities should have opportunities to dance, Michael Winward has led social Ballroom and Latin dance workshops throughout Greater Boston, witnessing firsthand the many benefits that dancing provides for the “Over-55” community. Dance encourages good posture, offers low-impact, cardiovascular exercise and connects people through the skills of leading and following.

This month, Michael and his dance partner Sierra will demonstrate eight dance styles: Foxtrot, Ballet, Tango, Jazz, Tap, Swing, Waltz and Hustle, as well as a bonus tutorial on the Cupid Shuffle line dance. In between routines, attendees will learn about the origins of each dance and participate in seated stretches.

An Afternoon of Music with Nancy Day Wednesday, April 28 at 3:00 PM

An accomplished pianist, singer and composer, Nancy Day consistently thrills audiences with her dynamic performances. She draws from a wide-ranging repertoire that includes jazz, country, ragtime, musical theater and enchanting love songs.

Virtual Programs in April

Note: These programs will be live-streamed for a small audience and require advance sign-up with the Programs Department. If attendance is full residents with

computers or tablets may participate remotely from their apartments via Zoom. Simply ask the Programs Department to email you the access information. Art Matters Presents . . .

Mary Cassatt & Edgar Degas Thursday, April 1 at 1:30 PM

Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas influenced the course of art history almost as much as they influenced one another. An American woman and a French

Chauvinist, this unlikely pair spent their careers in constant collaboration during the height of the Impressionist revolution. Learn how their close friendship helped both become 19th century masters. The Great American West

Thursday, April 8 at 1:30 PM

American artists have been like America itself: pioneering, bold, and independent. In the western frontiers, artists confronted a beautiful landscape, an alien culture and a dramatically different lifestyle that was over in just 90 years. Join us for a look at the American West as seen by the artists who sought to capture and preserve it for posterity.

Women Artists, I & II

Thursday, April 15 & 22 at 1:30 PM

Throughout history, women have overcome widespread bias in an art establishment dominated by men. Join us as we discuss influential women artists and look at many of their most famous works. The first

presentation will cover the women who defied

convention to make art from the Renaissance through the 19th century. The second presentation will cover artists from the 20th century to the present day. Portraits in Art

Thursday, April 29 at 1:30 PM

A great portrait can convey a stunning range of emotional and historical information. Portraits can

tell private stories, reveal historical conditions, and even provide subversive social commentary. In this presentation, we will admire and discuss masterpieces of portraiture, from the Renaissance through the Postmodern era.

Travers Music Lecture Series Baseball: Music & History Wednesday, April 7 at 1:30 PM

The history of America’s favorite past-time includes a wealth of beloved tunes. This presentation will present the story of baseball through from a refreshing musical perspective. Prepare to hear, discuss and sing along to all the famous baseball songs, including “Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio,” “Dodger Blue” and “Tea For Two” (“Tea For Two” is a baseball song? It is, sadly, for Red Sox fans).

The Pulitzer Prize Winning Musicals Wednesday, April 14 at 1:30 PM

Can you name the 10 musicals that have won a Pulitzer Prize? This lecture focuses on the distinguished authors, composers and performers who contributed to these celebrated works.

From Russia with Love Wednesday, April 21 at 1:30 PM

The lecture begins with a brief history of how Russian music evolved from the influence of western civilization, as well as the Great Russian Chorus music.

Mr. Travers will discuss Stravinsky, Borodin,

Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and many other influential composers, as well as performers such as Horowitz and Rostropovich. The latter half of this lecture will consider how composers and performers managed to perform music under the oppressive Soviet regime. Attendees will get a taste of Russian ballet, Russian folk songs and more.

Balanchine & Ballet Music Wednesday, April 28 at 1:30 PM

This lecture will “Zoom in” for a close look at the composers, choreographers and performers who shaped ballet. We will watch scenes from important Russian, European and American ballets and learn about the

impact of impresario Sergei Diaghilev. Along the way we will encounter famous composers such as Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky; dancers such as Nijinsky, Nureyev, Fonteyn and Baryshnikov; and of course the great choreographer George Balanchine.

Climate Justice Series with Norah Dooley Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Tuesday, April 6, 13 & 20 at 3:00 PM

The United Nations report said it, the media

acknowledges it more regularly: our world is in a climate crisis. At one extreme, Australia and the Amazon are burning; at the other, polar ice is melting at an alarming rate. As dire as the situation has become, the solutions and innovations needed to remediate climate change exist. In this three-part lecture series, professional storyteller and climate activist Norah Dooley will share engaging video clips, news reports and the latest research in a comprehensive presentation on climate change. Attendees will be encouraged to join the conversation and consider key questions: How did we get here? Where are we now and what can we do going forward? How can seniors in particular contribute to the climate activism movement?

Parkinson’s Classroom with Rick VandenDolder Visual Changes with Parkinson’s Disease

Tuesday, April 6 at 2:00 PM

Many people living with Parkinson’s disease experience changes in vision. These can include dry eyes, difficulty reading, double vision and even hallucinations. Rick VandenDolder serves as Senior Occupational Therapist on the Struthers Parkinson’s Center interdisciplinary team, and will discuss the visual symptoms of Parkinson’s as well how to address them.

Laughter Yoga with Juliet Thursday, April 15 at 3:00 PM

Spontaneous laughter is known to promote

cardiovascular health, social bonding, stress reduction and mental wellness. Laughter Yoga involves a

combination of physical movements and coordinated, voluntary laughter. Studies have shown that Laughter Yoga produces the same positive results that arise during spontaneous laughter.

• Laughter causes the immune system to produce more T cells, immune proteins and antibodies.

• By increasing heart rate, laughter benefits our cardiovascular system in a way similar to exercise. In one study, 300 participants split into two groups that watched two different movies. Half of the group

watched a comedy (There’s Something About Mary) while the other half watched a drama (Saving Private Ryan). The group that watched the comedy had a 30-40% increased dilation in their blood vessels compared with the group who watched the drama.

“Laughter” continued from page 1

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Youville House Management Team

Nicole Breslin CEO/President

Joanne Scianna COO

Lydia Kirunda Director of Wellness Katie Blanchard Director of Programs Yanira Burgos Director of

Community Relations

Bob Salamanca Director of

Environmental Services

Virginia Ellis Director of Community Life Dan MacRae Director of Dining Services Tom Landry Director of Human Resources Paula Desmond-Wallace Regional Controller

Abygail Frankel Director of Marketing Kathleen Kelleher Director of

Mission & Spiritual Care

Car/Van Transportation

Monday through Friday

8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Please submit your requests for transportation to the Reception Desk forty-eight hours before the date of your appointment. Requests with less than forty-eight hours notice will be accommodated whenever possible, but not guaranteed.

The fee for transportation is $10.00 for Cambridge and $20.00 for surrounding communities. As always, we will do our best to meet your needs. If you have any

questions, feel free to stop by or call.

Katie Blanchard, Director of Programs

Shopping Requests

Youville offers concierge service for your shopping needs on Tuesdays. Shopping forms are available at the Reception desk. A surcharge of $5.00 will be charged for requests exceeding five items.

“Like” us on Facebook

This newsletter comes out once a month.

Interested in connecting with us more often? Visit our Facebook page any time for updates, photos, videos and more. When you “like” us on Facebook, we will send you updates and links to our most recent news. Just search for Youville Assisted Living on Facebook and click “like.” See you on the web!

Celebrating Earth Day

Thursday, April 22

In the spring of 1970, a senator from Wisconsin named Gaylord Nelson helped organize a national demonstration in support of the environment. During his seven years on the U.S. Senate, he’d been working tirelessly to bring environmental concerns to the forefront of national politics. At the time, there was no such thing as the Environmental Protection Agency and no government oversight over pollution. A factory could dump its toxic waste into a stream with no consequences or spew a limitless amount of pollution into the air.

What Senator Nelson proposed for April 22nd was a national “teach-in” similar to the teach-ins that were being used to protest the war in Vietnam.

Demonstrators would organize action-oriented events in their communities to educate others about pollution and its toll on the environment.

This first “Earth Day” proved to be an amazing success. Throughout the US, an estimated 20 million gathered to discuss reforms that would reverse environmental damage. The message was well received: just months later, Congress acted to create the Environmental Protection Agency.

April 22nd has become an annual day of action for the environment. More than one billion people now participate in Earth Day activities every year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.

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Spiritual Physical

Cognitive

Nutritional

How much do you know about Parkinson’s disease? You may know that it is a “movement disorder,” but did you know it can also affect sleep, vision, the ability to communicate and the ability to plan daily activities?

Did you know that people living in New England and Midwestern regions of the United States are significantly more likely to have Parkinson’s disease than those living in other regions of the United States?

These and other mysteries are just a small sample of what makes Parkinson’s disease so elusive to those searching for a definite cause and cure. In observation of Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Youville will host a special virtual Parkinson’s Classroom on Tuesday, April 6 at 2:00 PM. This presentation will address a lesser-known Parkinson’s topic – visual changes that commonly occur during the disease – and will be presented by Rick VandenDolder, senior Occupational Therapist with the Struthers Parkinson’s Network. Whether you live with Parkinson’s or just want to expand your own awareness, this will be a great way to start of Parkinson’s Awareness Month.

An Overview of Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disease caused by the loss of nerve cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. This loss of cells results in a decrease in the production of dopamine. Without adequate dopamine, the brain loses its ability to control muscles and regulate movement. Parkinson’s affects one million Americans and around 10 million people worldwide.

Unfortunately there are few known risk factors. Age plays a role, with most people contracting the disease in their 60s or older, although some people contract it at a younger age. Males are slightly more likely to have Parkinson’s than females, and there is some evidence of genetic risk factors. Exposure to a toxic commercial pesticide called paraquat was recently linked to Parkinson’s; the chemical has been banned in many countries as a result (though it is still legal in the United States). Otherwise, little is known about what causes the disease or how we can prevent it.

Symptoms vary and can be difficult to recognize. In the early stages they can be too mild to notice, and even after they progress they can be confused with other conditions. Symptoms can be treated and alleviated through medication, group support, specialized physical therapy and a variety of exercises.

An internet writer named Bev Ribaudo has characterized her own experience with Parkinson’s as a communications problem, in which the brain is saying one thing but the body is doing

April 2021

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month

continued

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Youville Place • 10 Pelham Road • Lexington, MA 02421 • 781.861.3535 • www.youvilleassistedliving.org

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something else. She compares Parkinson’s to the squirrel that sabotaged her friend’s car in high school. “This car seemed to have a mind of its own,” she writes. “One day, you would turn on the radio and the headlights would come on. The next day, you would turn on the wipers and the horn would blow or the turn signals would come on.” Her friend eventually discovered seeds on the floor of the car, leading to the discovery of the squirrel that had been nesting behind the dashboard and wreaking havoc on the wiring. Just like the high school friend whose car kept acting up, people with Parkinson’s are often unsure what to expect on a daily basis: will they be able to make the walk to the convenience store? When they get there, will they be able to articulate what they are looking for?

Common Symptoms Associated with Parkinson’s

• Tremor: Approximately 70 percent of people first experience slight shaking in a hand or finger on one side of the body. The tremor may spread to both sides of the body in later stages of the disease.

• Slowed movement: Movements that were once automatic, such as taking a step forward or getting dressed, become more difficult. Even facial expressions like smiling may require a great deal of effort.

• Festination: This is characterized by quick, short, shuffling steps.

• Rigidity: Muscles can stiffen and become difficult to move. A person may have difficulty taking steps or swinging their arms while they walk. • Postural instability: Loss of control over muscle movement leads to a lack of balance and an increased risk for falls. Physical exercises that strengthen muscles and improve balance are recommended.

• Speech Problems: Neurological changes in the brain make it difficult to speak loudly, to intonate, and to articulate words clearly. Speech therapy can help Parkinson’s patients improve speech.

While there is not yet a cure for Parkinson’s, millions of dollars are invested each year in learning more about effective treatments. Youville is

committed to supporting people in our Parkinson’s community through our monthly virtual support group (this month on Thursday, April 8 at 3:00 PM), as well as our Parkinson’s classrooms, annual Parkinson’s Forum and our close relationship with the Parkinson’s Foundation. If you would like to learn more about Parkinson’s services at Youville, please reach out to Yanira Burgos, Director of Community Outreach.

Dance is one of the few cardiovascular workouts that enables you to connect physically with music in a structured setting. Regular dancing strengthens bones and tones muscles throughout the body.

Dark leafy greens are a rich source of vitamins C, K, E and B, as well as iron, calcium and fiber, which are essential for good health.

Meditation and prayer are arguably the two most common spiritual practices in the world. These practices not only connect us with faith traditions, but engage the spark of life at the center of our being.

Even with a lifetime of facts and impressions crammed into our brains, we always have the ability to learn new things. The brain retains what is called “neuroplasticity” in later life, the ability to make new neural pathways.

Crafts such as knitting, crocheting, painting, cooking, woodworking or

gardening offer a unique mix of experiences that promote mental and emotional wellness, and may even protect against age-related cognitive decline.

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