December 2015 - Pillsbury Senior Communities

December 2015
Welcome New
Residents!
Gazebo
Evelyn Hill
December 2015
ADDRESS, VOLUME #, ISSUE # or phone #, e-mail
Allenwood
Peggy Pratt
Sara Sussman
Sahra’s Story
Celebrating
December
South
Marion Larrow
Lis Atems
Rose Willett
Elaine Greenfield
Hanukkah
December 6–14
In January 2015, a resident group was formed at Pillsbury Manor South and they call
themselves “The Round Table Discussion Group”. The group consists of approximately 10
residents and is facilitated by the building’s Activity Director, Anika Crosby. Each week the
group meets and explores topics such as ethics, poetry, government, personal growth and
spirituality.
Throughout this past year the group has developed an intimacy and rapport that nurtures peer
support. As the group continues to grow in closeness so does the depth of their discussions,
which are often therapeutic and cathartic in nature. In one recent meeting, the group
explored the topic of “Self-Imposed Limiting Beliefs” in which the participants shared their
own limiting beliefs and what they felt kept them from attempting and achieving. One of
these participants was Sahra Aschenbach.
Homestead
Beverly & Bill
Vincent
Walter Jarvis
Christmas
December 25
North
Claudette Houle
Betty Gitlin
Kwanzaa
December 26–
January 1
Sahra has been a resident at Pillsbury since early 2014. She was diagnosed with Macular
Degeneration in 1996. At age 81, Sahra is now legally blind and is continuing to lose her
eyesight. Sahra worked as a psychologist for the majority of her life and only retired in 2012
due to her failing eyesight. Sahra enjoyed the socialization and mental stimulation that the
group allowed her but she would often express feelings of hopelessness and despair about her
dwindling eyesight. As her eyesight diminished her world began to feel smaller as well. During
the discussion around “Limiting Beliefs” Sahra described herself as feeling “useless” and
“stymied” in regard to this unexpected “curve ball” that life had thrown her. She further
shared that aside from being a psychologist she also used to be a photographer. She had
loved her photography, particularly taking pictures of people and nature. (Continued on page 2)
December Birthdays
We Will Miss You
Margaret Highter
Lena Smith
Mary Cunningham
Florence Myers
Becky Read
Charlotte Pudvah
Sylvia Weinhagen
Angela Rock
Marie-Paul Comtois
Dec 02
Dec 07
Dec 10
Dec 12
Dec 13
Dec 14
Dec 17
Dec 17
Richard Manley
George Perry
Joan Charbonneau
Bud Ovitt
Lee Nunziata
Sally Wetzel
Virginia Donner
Dec 17
Dec 19
Dec 20
Dec 21
Dec 22
Dec 26
Dec 28
New Year’s Eve
December 31
From our family to
yours:
We hope everyone
has a safe and
happy holiday
season!
PAGE 2
PAGE 3
Sahra’s Story Continued
Now, with only a small percentage of her eyesight remaining, she feels that this was yet another part of herself she
had to let go of; another part of herself lost to this disease. As the group tried to help her discover a way to find
meaning and purpose in her life again, a light bulb went on for her, and she unveiled her own solution. She had
heard of a visually-impaired photographer in Vermont, Ira Chomsky, and resolved to find him by contacting the
Vermont Association for the Bind and Visually Impaired (VABVI). Sahra was hopeful that Ira would be willing to
work with her and teach her how to operate as a visually-impaired photographer herself. The discussion group
cheered her on and hoped her aspirations wouldn’t fall by the wayside.
Two months later, Sahra's progress was an inspiration to the entire group. She had called the VABVI and to her
delight, Ira Chomsky answered the phone.
UVM Top Cats put on an
amazing performance for
Allenwood & Harborview!
Ira was happy to help Sahra get started and helped her find an appropriate camera to begin her newly- awakened
endeavor. Sahra took her camera on her daily walks and snapped photos of her two favorite subjects: nature and
people. Her children helped her upload them to her computer, sort through them, and choose their favorites to
develop. She now has an album of pictures that she proudly shares with others. “I’m ecstatically happy that I can
go out and take pictures like I used to; being a photographer was one of the happiest periods of my life”, Sahra
excitedly explains. She remembers how she felt isolated and disabled by her impairment, “and now I am alive and
excited with this life, and what I can do with this,” she eagerly adds. She is able to view her own photos through a
high-powered magnifying lens in her room and then to identify colors and images in her pictures that she is unable
to see in her everyday surroundings. “I look at the world totally differently now – there was a period of time where
I wasn’t seeing anything, but now I’m seeing everything,” she joyfully recounts.
North ladies socializing
before lunch!
Recently, Sahra was contacted by another Vermont resident of the same age who is beginning to lose her eyesight.
She had heard about Sahra, felt touched by her story, and reached out to her – and Sahra reached back. Sahra
warmly shares that a friendship is developing between them.
She is using her experience to connect with others and to offer support and
friendship along the way. With her rekindled passion for photography, Sahra
has an avenue for self-expression and a proud milestone in her journey to
overcoming an obstacle that had felt insurmountable. Sahra’s story is a
powerful testament for those who choose to pursue possibility beyond the
perceived limitations of disability. In her own words, “I want to be able to
share these photos because it feels like a triumph over this diagnosis!”
One of Sahra’s Artistic Shots!
The Pillsbury Manor South Round Table Discussion Group continues to meet
each week and encourage existing and new residents to explore their
possibilities!
Homestead residents
making yummy
delicious pies for
Thanksgiving!
South residents enjoyed
a therapy dog visit on
Thanksgiving
Your Referrals Count!
We are paying $ 500.00*
Per Referral to any of our locations!
Do you know someone who is looking to down-size,
make a change, or needs more help?
We had a wonderful Hanukkah
Celebration at Allenwood.
Residents gathered in a circle and
spoke about the history and
meaning of Hanukkah, then shared
latkes and doughnuts!
Contact Erin or Olivia in
Marketing at 861-3750.
Thank you!
* Referral paid once resident is approved / moves into
community. Resident/family must specifically
mention referral at time of application.
Hilda Lahti gives a
helping hand decorating
the tree at Gazebo!