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WHO'S WHO: RE-CREATIVE RESOURCES' INC CONTRIBUTORS

There are many people that have contributed significantly to the Re-Creative Resources Inc. website, blogs and the free-monthly e-newsletter, The Rec-Room. Please take a moment to learn more about these knowledgable individuals.

About Kimberly Grandal, CTRS, ACC/EDU                                                                       Executive Director, Re-Creative Resources Inc.                          

Kimberly Grandal, Founder and Executive Director of Re-Creative Resources Inc. has over eighteen years of experience working with the elderly in numerous management and consultant positions. She is an ACC/EDU and CTRS. Kim is a member of the NJAPA, NJEPA TRA, COAP and NAAP.

In 1990, Kim graduated from William Paterson University with a BA in Sociology and later studied gerontology courses at Union County College and Therapeutic Recreation courses at Kean University. Throughout her career, Kim has been the Director of Therapeutic Recreation for several long-term care facilities, including one of NJ’s largest.

In 2006, Kim founded Re-Creative Resources Inc. She is a speaker for various national, state and local activity associations such as NJAPA, MOCAP, and NJACA, NAAP, NCCAP, as well as the Society of Licensed Nursing Home Administrators of NJ. She also provides seminars, webinars, consultation and support to numerous facilities in the state and nationwide.

Kim is the editor and writer for the “The Rec-Room", a monthly newsletter published by her company. In addition, she writes monthly articles for the Activity Director Today E-magazine and has contributed articles to Creative Forecasting Magazine, Current Activities in LTC, E-Zine and The Continuing Care InSite newsletter. She also has several blogs, a You Tube Channel and a group on Face Book.

Kim is a recipient of the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation 1997 Triumph of the Human Spirit Award, the 2008 NJAPA Power Player of the Year, and received special recognition for her contributions to NCCAP in 2009. She is a strong advocate for the Activity and Therapeutic Recreation field and currently serves on the NJAPA board as the Chairperson for the Legislation Committee, and is serves on the NCCAP and COAP Government Relations Committees. Kim also supports national certification and is an NCCAP reviewer.

About Nikki Carrion, MA                                                                                               Exercise and Fitness for the Elderly

Nikki Carrion is co-owner of Fit Xpress Consulting Services in Waterloo, IA.  She has over 25 years of experience in the field of health promotion and says her passion for her work comes from her desire to practice preventive health and promote positive lifestyle changes.  Although she works with a wide variety of ages, from college students to older adults, she says her focus is on empowering older adults to higher levels of functional fitness. Nikki has a graduate degree in Community Health Education with an emphasis in Gerontology from the University of Northern Iowa.  She also has a number of certifications including balance training, chronic disease self-management, exercise for hip & knee replacements, group exercise instruction, personal training, yoga and pilates.

Nikki says she feels the aging segment of our population is “the spirit of America”.  When she says this she refers to the abundance of experience that exists in our older Americans.  She feels this type experience can only be acquired through the aging process, and she feels it is this type of life experience that we can all learn from if we take the time to listen and to learn. 

About Pat Czarnecki, HTR                                                                                                   Horticultural Therapy

Patricia (Pat) Czarnecki is a registered horticultural therapist by the American Horticultural Therapy Association and owner of GreEn’ergy, LLC—a New Jersey-based company that specializes in horticultural therapy programs and garden design for people of all ages and abilities.  Pat has a Masters degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University, is a horticultural therapy instructor at The New York Botanical Garden, past Vice President, New Jersey on the Board of the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, an active Master Gardener through Rutgers University, and public speaker on the many benefits of horticultural therapy.

About Christine Jennings                                                                                     Christine's Column

Christine received her North Carolina State AD qualification through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Continuing Education Health Occupations Program in November 2007. She has been volunteering at living assistant and adult care facilities since 2007. As a subscriber to the on-line Activity Director Today e-magazine and a member of the AD Community Yahoo group blogs, she keeps current on the changes and issue that AD’s encounter in the profession. In her free time she likes to research, create and plan activities to offer AD's that might have a need for an activity agenda with special themes. Christine now writes for The Rec-Room and compiles fantastic monthly theme-related activity ideas for Christine's Column found on the Re-Creative Resources' website.

About Dr. Donalyn Gross, PhD., LCSW, CMP, Thanatologist                                    The Dying Resident

Donalyn Gross, PhD., LCSW, CMP, Thanatologist, has worked with the terminally ill and their loved ones for over thirty years. She has worked in hospitals, correctional systems, been a hospice volunteer director, has taught college courses in death and dying, and gives workshops on death and dying issues.

Author of various books and booklets on her experience with the dying, she is presently a social worker. Dr. Gross created the Good Endings® program and began the first program at the SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She is currently the Good Endings® program director at Heritage Hall West, Agawam, MA.

"From my 30 years of experience working with the needs of the dying and those responsible for their care, I concluded that there is a need for psychosocial and psychological death education."

A professional musician and Certified Music Practitioner, Dr. Gross sings and plays the harp for the sick and dying at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, and Jewish Geriatric Services, Longmeadow, MA.

Her program, Good Endings®, is designed for nursing homes, healthcare agencies, and the education of their professionals and volunteers. It consists of a comprehensive, on-going program headed by a Vigil Team that provides care for actively dying residents and their loved ones.

About Judith Zausner                                                                                        Therapeutic Crafts

Judith is a consultant, designer and writer focused on empowering creativity. She launched Caring Crafts, Inc. to provide craft kits for adults who have fine motor skill difficulties and/or cognitive problems. She is a recipient of a grant from The Society for the Arts and her work has been profiled in print magazines and on websites. She teaches creative craft workshops and programs classes for creative crafts focused on older adults. In addition her blog/column, Creativity Matters can be read on (http://agingandcreativity.blogspot.com), www.eldr.com, as well as the National Center for Creative Aging (http://creativityandaging.blogspot.com/). It is also featured in print in senior newspapers. In 2009, Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, a national Comcast television program, will air a segment of Judith demonstrating Caring Crafts and in 2010 she will be featured in Vickie Howell’s book, Craft Corps to be published by Lark Books..

Originally from New York City, she is a graduate of Hunter College and studied Occupational Therapy in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the mother of two grown children.

Denise Lima-Laskiewicz, AAC, CRmT 1                                                            Therapeutic Writing

Denise is an Activity Assistant certified through NCCAP as well as a Certified Remotivation Therapist level 1 through NRTO. She has been working in the field of recreation since 1987 and as a freelance writer since 1988. Since then, her articles have appeared in such publications as Creative Forecasting Magazine, Seek Magazine, Conscious Living, and Kids World to name a few. On line she has contributed articles to the Gaia Network, My Pawprints ezine, Of Spirit and the Re-Creative Resources e-newsletter, “The Rec-Room”. Denise is also the Historian of the Ocean and Monmouth County Activity Professionals Association.

Currently, Denise is a Contributing Editor for Suite 101. In 2001, she started a therapeutic writing program, "Heal Through Words", in Assisted Living facilities and Long Term Care facilities in New Jersey. By the use of words she facilitates group activities that allow the individual the opportunity to explore their emotions through therapeutic writing.

Debra Stewart MBA, MATLT, CDP, ACC/MC/E/AD/AC                                             Cane Fu for Seniors

Debra Stewart has over 14 years of health, leisure, and fitness experience in all levels of care for the senior adult population. She currently serves as Director of Wellness for the campus of St. Leonard which is home to over 720 senior adults. Debra is a Dementia Practioner, A certified personal trainer, a professional senior fitness trainer, and an Activity Consultant Certified, and her goal for the senior population is to help seniors find holistic balance.

Debra has a Bachelor of Science degree, and holds a Masters of Business Administration, and a Masters in Teaching and Learning with Technology. She is a Master Instructor of Tae Kwon Do, and is a Tai Chi instructor for seniors and an instructor of yoga. She volunteers as an instructor for Sinclair College Lifelong Learning program and teaches balance and conditioning programs for seniors throughout the community in civic and senior centers.

Kathleen "Mimi" Taylor, ADCP                                                                                      Activity Swap Meet

Better known at work as Mimi, my name is Kathleen Taylor. I live with my very patient husband in the only town in the world called Jaffrey, NH. I had a mid-life career change to healthcare, after working at home, aiding in kindergarten, and working in the hardware business for 20 years. I began my career as an Activities Assistant, then in a turn of events, became a nursing assistant. Things changed after moving to a facility closer to home. This nursing assistant turned back to her first love, Activities. I even left the profession for two years to have a fabulous job with a dentist..no weekends, no holidays, great money. The job was awful. Luckily, I found my way back to Activities. I worked for two years as an assistant, and then after my director decided to semi-retire, we switched places and here I am, where I belong. I have two wonderful daughters, and six sweet grandchildren. I love wearing my polka dotted boots and going for walks in the rain. I read anything by John Updike, and I can't go a day without lipstick.

Stephanie Zilinski, TRD, PhD                                                                                   Activity Swap Meet

Stephanie A. Zilinski, PhD., TRD has worked in the field of Therapeutic Recreation with the geriatric and pediatric population for over 20 years.  She has worked in nursing homes and preschools, is certified by the Connecticut Association of Therapeutic Recreation Directors and in Palliative Care in Parkinson’s disease from the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses. 

 She received a scholarship from the Probus Club in Hamden CT, awarded a Service Award for “Superior Service in Health Services”, and the Carol Rosenwald Award by the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, for pursuing her interest in the field of Therapeutic with extensive training of the physiological, sociological, and psychological of the aging population.  Stephanie attended Gateway Community College in New Haven, CT; Southern CT. State University, In New Haven, CT and Suffield University online.  She received, Volunteer recognition at the 1995 Special Olympic World Games, and her contributions for the victims of Hurricane George.  

Stephanie provides consulting and support for shoreline facilities in the state of CT, is currently the co-editor for Re-Creative Resources Inc. blog, Activity Swap Meet, and the Supervisor of the Therapeutic Recreation Department at CT. Baptist Homes in Meriden, CT.  She has several blog entries and monthly calendars/ newsletters and is a member of the Facebook Community.

Robert Lowden, ACC, DMA                                                                                         Music and Music Therapy

Bob Lowden has studied Piano, Organ, and Theory at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, Theater Arts at Glassboro State College in New Jersey, Piano at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Piano at the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Music Education, where he was a Piano and Voice major at Trenton State College. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Education, Masters Degrees in Music History and Choral Conducting and a Doctorate in Music Therapy. Bob spent many years performing piano and vocals in various settings, was a piano accompanist for the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, held several Music Directorships at various churches, and taught vocal music in several schools. In 1993, Bob decided to leave the field of education to work in Recreation. He is currently the Director of Recreation at the Franklin Care Center in Franklin Twp., N. J., where he oversees a staff of 8 and provides Music Therapy daily.

Lisa Williams, ADC, CALA                                                                                                    Activity Swap Meet

Lisa Williams has over twenty years experience in geriatric recreation.  She is an ADC and CALA.  Lisa is a member of NJAPA and serves as the Vice-President of SOJAD.  Lisa has an Associate’s Degree in Education from Cumberland County College.  Throughout her career, Lisa has been employed as a Director of Recreation in both profit and non-profit facilities in NJ.  In 2004, Lisa obtained her CALA license and served as Administrator in the Adult Day Health Industry. 

Lisa has been a speaker for NJAPA at the Annual Convention, as well as for NJASDA and SOJAD.  Lisa specializes in Grant Writing Activities and has helped her facility obtain over $40,000 in grants for the Recreational Needs of the Residents.  Currently Lisa is employed at the NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, where she serves as Recreation Director for a predominately male population of Residents who served in the US Military. 

Gloria Hoffner, BA, ADPC CALA                                                                               Science for Seniors

Gloria Hoffner earned a B.A. from Temple University in journalism with a minor in music and has graduate credits in astrophysics from West Chester University.  She has NCCAP activity director provisional certification and is working towards completing ADC requirements. She is a member of NAAP, NCCAP, COAP, and has her own business, Guitar with Gloria (GuitarwithGloria.com), providing live guitar music sing-a-longs at retirement communities, assisted living homes, nursing care facilities, adult day centers and senior club meetings throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region and Northeast Pennsylvania.

Science for Seniors began in October 2007 when while working as a musician at Sterling Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Media, Pennsylvania, Gloria suggested a celebration for the 40th anniversary of Sputnik. As a result of this program’s success, science became a monthly activity at Sterling.

Science for Seniors won first place in the 2010 NCCAP Best Practices Awards. Gloria wrote about Science for Seniors for Creative Forecasting Magazine, August 2010. She has signed an agreement to write a monthly feature on the program for the magazine beginning January 2011. She is working on a book on Science for Seniors for Idyll Arbor Publishing.

Further information on booking Guitar with Gloria sing-a-longs, featuring large print song books, handheld jingle sticks for all residents and themed programs from patriotic to holidays including St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween as well as information on Science for Seniors programs visit her website at: GuitarwithGloria.com; by email: GuitarwithGloria@yahoo.com.