3121 Fruitvale Avenue • Oakland, CA 94602 • (510) 842-3192

WoodPark RCFE 019200514
3121 Fruitvale Avenue • Oakland, CA 94602 • (510) 842-3192
WoodPark Dresses Up!
July/Aug 2016
AgeSong at WoodPark has been DRESSING UP!
• First the front living room and rooms
throughout the community were
redecorated.
• Next a “Dress Up Station” was created in
the hallway just before the Engagement
Room.
• After all that sprucing up, community
members, staff, and families got all decked
out for a “Senior Prom.”
Join in the Summer Fun!
Monday, July 4, Independence Day, WoodPark will
hold a BBQ, with everyone wearing red, white, and
blue. Wednesday, July 6, StageBridge brings theater &
music. Thursday, July 14, Bastille Day, community
elders dress for the AgeStrong Revolution.
On Thursday, August 18, the community staff dons
international costumes of origin to welcome new
Gerowellness Interns. Families, friends and neighbors
are welcome to deck out in festive duds and join in the
summer fun!
Sandra Mirasol Brings
Compassion and
Experience to Her Role as
WoodPark ED
With 15 years in healthcare, and
a family caregiver of her
grandmother since she was a
child, Sandra is committed to
supporting the needs of
WoodPark community members
and the staff who care for them.
“My door is open to you,”
she said.
“Until the age of 19, I helped my
mother care for my
grandmother, who was
bedridden,” Sandra recalled,
“My grandmother was not easy
to care for (she swore in 5
languages), but I loved her.”
Sandra is married, with two
adult sons. Her husband, a
former nurse & USAirways
Utilities Supervisor, now
volunteers to drive neighbors to
appointments. Like Sandra, he is
service-oriented.
Nitasha Swanson: Elder
Advocate, Promoter,
and Protector
Whenever a new elder or staff
member joins the community,
community members become
acquainted with them through a
group interview.
Elders recently interviewed
Nitasha Swanson, WoodPark’s
new Wellness Director. “How do
you like it here?” asked Anita.
“So far, so good,” Nitasha
replied, “I enjoy working with
seniors and in memory care
because my grandmother has
Alzheimer’s.” “We don’t call it
Alzheimer’s, except to medical
professionals,” someone said,
“We call it memory loss.
Everyone has memory loss, from
the moment they are born.“
Nitasha agreed.
With a background in
management of care staff and
nurses, med room audits, Title
22 compliance, and scheduling,
Nitasha is well qualified to meet
the responsibilities of Wellness
Director.
Jan Shé Welcomes
Prospective Community
Members and
Their Families
Jan Shé (pronounced “Yan
Shay”) brings many talents to
his new position as Outreach
and Education Coordinator.
Jan has served in several roles at
AgeSong – as Communication
Coordinator, Hospice Volunteer,
and Assistant to the Senior
Program Director.
He started out at AgeSong as a
San Francisco Conservatory of
Music volunteer, chanting songs
in the spiritual tradition of the
elder to both groups and
room-bound individuals.
With his winsome personality,
computer technology expertise,
and organized, thorough
approach, Jan is intent on
bringing in new community
members so that they can feel at
home in the joyful WoodPark
environment.
Congratulations!
Families Want More
Communication
At the June Family Connect
brunch, families expressed need
for more communication.
They also noted what AgeSong
does well: (a) recent &
upcoming events are emailed
weekly; (b) community and
family members participate in
“Getting To Know You” groups
& daily activities; and (c)
WoodPark front desk is open
every day from 6:30 am to
10:00 pm.
Ina W dressed up for Senior Prom
Thanks to 2015-2016
Gerowellness Interns!
Ina W: June Elder Teacher
of the Month Likes Food
& Friendship
and Monuments, all except
Hawaii, along with 13 cities and
11 countries in Europe.”
Ina W, WoodPark community
member, recalls, “Growing up in
Crockett was pretty exciting,
even though it is a small town.
There are only two major
restaurants: Nantucket and The
Dead Fish. Crockett is home to
the ONLY SUGAR MILL in the
US. The sugar mill whistle
always tells me when to get up
in the morning and when it’s
quitting time.
Ina’s favorite things about
WoodPark are “sharing my
coloring pages with friends and
helping my friends play Bingo.”
She says, “I like the food and
friendship, good music, & the
care-partners.”
My hobbies were football,
baseball, knitting, and travel. I
visited all states in the US,
including the National Parks
Upcoming Events
July 4
July 7
July 11
July 14
July 25
Aug 1
Aug 11
Aug 22
Independence Day BBQ
StageBridge Theater
July Resident Council
AgeSong Academy
July Birthdays
Aug Resident Council
AgeSong Academy
August Birthdays
Ernie E, May Elder
Teacher of the Month,
Brings Community to
New Heights
“When I was 6 or 7 years old,
they used to call me “Mr. Get
Along with People,” said Ernie
E, May’s Teacher of the Month.
Seventy years later, he still is Mr.
Social, leading morning group
exercise and daily walks.
Ernie E has a new title at
WoodPark: ”The Little Prince.”
The Little Prince, who dreamed
about flying through the
universe, has accomplished what
he set out to do. He started
flying at the age of 18 and flew
his own plane across the country
and even the ocean. “No one
would fly with me, but I was
never scared,” he declared.
The fearless Little Prince
continues to forge ahead at
WoodPark, rolling out stories
and jokes, ready for any
adventure.
Julia Morgan Junior High School students apply finishing touches to semester-long intergenerational mural project. Elders view the completed
mural out the window of AgeSong at WoodPark’s Engagement Room. Thank you, students, and Jeni Anderson, art teacher and project
coordinator!
We Love Hearing From You!
Sandra Mirasol, Executive Director, [email protected]
Jan Shé, Marketing Coordinator, [email protected]
Nitasha Swanson, Wellness Director, [email protected]
Ashley Trahan, Engagement Coordinator, [email protected]
Marco Perez, Chef, [email protected]
Front Desk Coordinator, [email protected]