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As an adviser
to seniors, I am constantly impressed by the high level
of skill and caring evidenced by many of the health care
professionals with whom I work. Even so, sometimes one particular
person stands out from the crowd due to their remarkable
degrees of genuine caring and unique type of service.
Christine Bailey, M.A., whose deeply felt empathy and sincere
warmth is immediately apparent, has combined her passions
of holistic health, gerontology and art. She has worked
for more than 10 years to enhance the quality of life for
seniors, most recently as an expressive art specialist for
Masonicare Home Health and Hospice.
She helps the terminally ill and their loved ones in a
variety of ways: expressive puppetry, poetry, music, movement,
aromatherapy, drawing, photography and storytelling. Using
meaningful sensory touchstones to connect them to their
environment and finding openings for sharing past events
of their lives, she helps to re-affirm a positive sense
of identity. Recognizing the value of their lives aids the
terminally ill in their preparation to peacefully leave
this world.
Seeing the positive results of her work, she came to realize
the importance of family legacy and the need for a service
that would preserve a family’s precious memories.
Believing that everyone has a story to tell, Christine
Bailey’s Colorful Chronicles was born. The occasion
of her father’s 80th birthday was the motivation to
bring together her own large but far-flung family to record
their stories as well as to encourage her Dad to look back
over the years and to recall details he thought were buried
and forgotten.
Christine says that people often tell her that their life
has not been out of the ordinary but as she patiently engages
them, their story pours forth. Telling is so important as
they realize their strengths in overcoming past adversities
which may help them to deal with a current struggle and
they also start to reflect on the many moments that have
enriched their lives.
Colorful Chronicles is an affordably priced memory keeper
which helps healthy but aging seniors, record their interesting
stories on a CD, along with favorite music, poems and photographs,
to create a treasured family legacy. To do this, Christine
interviews family members and asks stimulating questions
to encourage the details of colorful past events and stories
to emerge. Interviews can even be done over the phone, so
that family members living far away can also be involved.
According to Christine, the brain has an amazing ability
to retain and retrieve long-term memories which the power
of a person’s voice can help to unlock. Additionally,
Christine will record favorite music or recipes, preserve
and arrange old photographs; she uses all five sense memories
to create a life collage album. Because she is also an artist,
Christine renders a plaster cast of a loved one’s
hands, for clients wishing that memento, as well.
Families might like to plan now for a Colorful Chronicles
appointment to preserve the memory of their next family
get-together or other special event. I can think of so many
occasions I would have loved to have chronicled, including
weddings and special birthdays. What wouldn’t I give
to be able to hear my mother’s lilting laugh or have
a recording of both of us lustily singing our favorite English
ditty, "Burglar Bill"?
- For more about Colorful Chronicles, e-mail Christine
Bailey at colorfulchronicles@gmail.com
or call (203) 278-0120.
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
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