For the record, and this is an important update: Since 2015 This facility that was owned by Emeritus, a Fortune 500 company, was acquired by Brookdale Senior Living, another major corporation. Although I am only an pianist-entertainer who plays old music and tells jokes and anecdotes to keep the elders happy, I am volunteering my opinion without any influence or authority from the corporate office whatsoever. Even if honestly I admit my interests are vested, I will say however, that as an entertainer, in my life experience as a performer in venues such as this, I have never in my 50 or so professional years, had ever been so respected to have been given even 5 engagements in a year much less the 20+ dates that Brookdale assigned me in 2015. I believe this is because they want to make their residents feel as happy and nostalgic as possible. They realize the psychological and emotional value of giving them connection with their past, and particularly for stimulating responsiveness for the memory care patients through the music and humor of their time. They realize it is crucial for their adjustment and peace of mind. Brookdale, then in my mind is an unusually humane outfit wherein they subsidize such programming beyond the extra mile unlike many assisted living communities who do so much less for the spiritual and emotional needs of their clients.
-Steve Hershman read more