We engage our right hemisphere during activities involving music, drawing, painting, shaping clay, or whatever stirs up our artistic joy. We also retain right hemisphere functioning longer when living with Alzheimer’s, while the left hemisphere function is fading. Below is a poem written with a small group of residents about Friendship — it will make you smile and tear up at the same time. Above, a photo of our art instructor, Diane Stenlund, preparing us for a tropical themed art project by reading a short story to get our creativity flowing.

FRIENDSHIP

Friendship
Confidence
Long listening
Too bare for one person
Healing words helped

Friendship
Honesty
What confidence one gets
From friendship
By listening
The honesty that comes
From a true friend
Is always appreciated
And the humor
Puts one at ease

Oh how we all
Wish for
True friendship