Memory Care Program at the Mark Wentworth Home Awarded ‘Excellence in Care’ Distinction by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

PORTSMOUTH—

The Mark Wentworth Home in Portsmouth has earned the nationally recognized, Excellence in Care Distinction from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) for the nineteen-bed Garden Place Memory Care Program. The Home’s Program, which is only one of the Assisted Living services available at the residence, is the first in the Maine and New Hampshire Seacoast areas—and is one of only two memory care programs in New England—to have earned the distinction.

The Excellence in Care program is an AFA initiative created to establish a nationwide standard of excellence in care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.

The program, which was created with the input of dementia and Alzheimer’s industry experts, consists of a comprehensive on-site evaluation of participating programs and ongoing consultation on strategies to achieve established standards for quality of care and to sustain performance. Key areas of review include: environment, education, staff-client interaction and programming geared toward memory care initiatives. Only the care settings that successfully reach the standards established by this initiative will earn the status of Alzheimer's Foundation of America Excellence in Care Dementia Program of Distinction.

The Mark Wentworth Home’s Garden Place Memory Care Program is lead by Assisted Living Administrator Verna Brewer, RN, and coordinated daily by Sandra Osborne, LNA, and Suzanne Rapozza, RN; each of whom earned the designation of Dementia Care Specialist from the Foundation. More than twenty members of the Mark Wentworth Home’s Enrichment and Licensed Care Staffs have earned the distinction of Dementia Care Professional by participating in a specialized AFA certification process.

More information about the Mark Wentworth Home’s Garden Place Memory Care Program and the Excellence in Care Distinction can be found on the Home’s website at www.markwentworth.org.

Returning in mid February of 2012, the Home’s series of informational and support sessions for families of loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia is open to the public. Session dates will be posted on the website.

Photo caption: Members of the Garden Place Memory Care team with Garden Place Coordinator Sandra Osborne, LNA, DMC (back row, center) and Mark Wentworth Home Executive Director Debbie Rodier (front row, left) proudly display the “Excellence in Care Distinction” plaque. (Courtesy photo)

Level 6 Gymnasts Take Top Honors at DGS Northeast Invitational Meet

PORTSMOUTH—

Level-6 gymnasts from Atlantic Gymnastics of Portsmouth recently returned home with honors from the DGS Northeast Invitational, held at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. Gymnasts from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey battled for first place honors.
Anya Cunningham of Raymond placed first all-around in the 8-9-year-old division. Anya also received first place honors on vault and bars, and second place honors for beam and floor. Megan Cunningham of Seabrook placed second on vault, fifth on beam and floor, and sixth all-around in that division as well.
In the 10-year-old division, Alicia Burchuk of Madbury had another stellar day, placing first all around as well as first on bars, beam and floor and second place on vault. Ratana Ryan of Portsmouth placed third all-around as well as second on beam, third on floor and sixth on vault.
In the 11-year-old division, Casey Penacho of Greenland placed second all-around as well as third on vault and floor, and fourth place on bars. Sophia Salter of Nottingham placed fourth all-around, as well as a fourth place finish for beam, and sixth place for bars and floor. Jillian Dalton of Newfields received top honors for her beam routine, with a personal best score of 9.10, as well as a top 10 finish all around.
In the senior division, Malia Cryan of York, ME placed second all-around, as well as first place on bars, second place on floor, third place on beam and fourth place on vault.
The team will return to practice to prepare for their meet February 4 in Danbury, Connecticut.
Photo caption: From left to right – Alicia Burchuk, Anya Cunningham, Casey Penacho, Malia Cryan, Megan Cunningham, Jillian Dalton, Ratana Ryan, and Sophia Salter. (Courtesy Photo)

Chip’s Picks for Kids: Three Picture Books for the Family

By Chip Schrader
Staff Book Review
The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man
This month’s first featured picture book comes from acclaimed novelist Michael Chabon’s freshmen foray into children’s picture books. “The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man” is a comic book-themed story—not such a surprising venture, given Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winner, “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay.” A novel drenched in the mythos of American comics.
The first person narration of “Awesome Man” is fun and goofy, different from Chabon’s earlier children’s work, a novel, “Summerland.” He introduces his villains—including a giant, flaming eyeball—but the story doesn’t move far beyond Awesome Man’s one-on-one interaction with Chabon’s villains. “Awesome Man” reads as a book meant to set up a series, and in this case it would function well as the introduction to a well-conceived superhero.
With that said, Chabon’s imagination has infinite powers. Coupled with illustrations that help tell the story, rather than just accompany it, Chabon could have a winning series for younger audiences. As for Jake Parker’s illustrations, they are vivid—with fine lines and edges, and they have a richness that rivals the best of comic book-illustrations. Chabon and Parker masterfully use the illustrations to depict conflict that Awesome Man could easily, but less satisfactorily, say. Best read aloud, audiences of all ages will get a serious case of the chuckles from Awesome Man’s freshmen debut.
Reading level: Ages 4 and up, Hardcover: 40 pages, Publisher: Balzer & Bray.
Otis and the Tornado
Bestselling writer and illustrator Loren Long follows up the successful Barack Obama-collaborative effort, “Of Thee I Sing,” with “Otis and the Tornado.” The captivating cover art alone makes it certain that this book will attract fans of “Thomas the Tank Engine,” and like stories. The cover depicts the titular Otis, a tractor with a worried look on his face, as he spots a tornado on the horizon.
Otis has many friends on the farm where he works, and he lives a generally happy life there. However, when Mother Nature gives the animals all a scare, Otis comes to the rescue while readers learn the values of heroism and friendship. Echoes of “Charlotte’s Web” and other classic children’s tales abound in Long’s recent effort.
Long’s writing has an excellent rhythm and his word choices touch upon an almost musical quality. The illustrations are a brilliant rendering of a mixture of imagery from “The Polar Express,” “Thomas the Tank Engine” and “The Wizard of Oz.” “Otis and The Tornado” is a story deserving of an out-loud reading, and the tone of the language is gentle enough for any bedtime story. Though it’s still early in the year, this charming story could be in the running for many awards.
Reading level: Ages 3 and up, Hardcover: 40 pages, Publisher: Philomel.
The Very Quiet Cricket
The latest book from beloved “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” author Eric Carle is, “The Very Quiet Cricket.” The illustration and writing style for his latest work will satisfy devout “Very Hungry Caterpillar” fans, and the story itself won’t disappoint new readers. Carle begins his book telling readers of the four thousand-plus species of crickets living both above and below ground.
Upon the birth of a little cricket in Carle’s story, a bigger cricket begins to rub his hind legs together to chirp; we learn that only male crickets can make this sound. As various insects pass by, they say hello to the little cricket, but every time, “The little cricket wanted to answer, he rubbed his wings together…but nothing happened. No sound.” This phrase carries throughout the book as the cricket tries to learn his language. Which remains the central theme of “Very Quiet Cricket.”
Upon finishing the book, readers are in for quite the surprise feature, as the book makes a sound at the turn of the last page. While the motif’s and style of this book are commonplace with Carle’s work, it is just this kind of work that has earned him his loyal readers. So while not a stark departure from earlier works, it is no less satisfying. The full-page illustrations and poetic tone makes “The Very Quiet Cricket” an excellent book for wide ranging audiences.
Reading level: Ages 2 and up, Hardcover: 32 pages, Publisher: Philomel.