Welcome From
the Director
Greetings from Silver Club!
After our second shutdown (the first mid- March to mid-August and the second mid-November to late February), I am happy to announce that we have re-opened in-person programming!
With limited membership and safety measures in place, we have welcomed members back into Silver Club for socialization and activities. Although our virtual programming was very popular and a great way to stay connected, nothing replaces being able to interact in person. We will be continuing virtual programming Wednesdays 4pm-5pm (Sing-a-long with Roger, one of our fantastic volunteers)!
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Day Enrichment Program for Moderate Dementia, Monday-Friday 10am-3pm
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Elderberry for Women with Mild Dementia, Tuesdays 10:30am-3pm
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Mindworks for Men and Women with Mild Dementia, Wednesdays 10am-12pm
Those that are interested in learning more about our programs can email germedsilverclub@umich.edu or call (734) 998-9352. More information is also available on our website.
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Please share your suggestions with us or let us know if you have any questions. I hope you all stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Shannon Etcheverry, LMSW
Director, Silver Club Memory Programs
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Giving Blueday!
On March 10th, Silver Club will be one of the featured programs for Giving BlueDay. Giving Blueday is the University’s official giving day. It is an opportunity for our community to join together to offer philanthropic support for a myriad of University of Michigan programs, which includes Michigan Medicine.
Since 1998, Michigan Medicine’s Silver Club Memory Programs have provided socialization for individuals with mild to moderate dementia. The Silver Club’s unique approach offers caregivers the opportunity to recharge while their loved ones enjoy programming such as music, art, fitness, and games in a safe and stimulating environment. Silver Club’s staff and volunteers live by the motto- “Together, we make every moment matter.”
COVID-19 created significant challenges for Silver Club’s members, their families, and for the program’s longevity. Although Silver Club experienced two closures of in-person programs (lasting several months) the staff quickly adapted to provide virtual interactive programming for our members and their caregivers.
We need your help now to continue to offer Silver Club’s specialized programs that benefit people across a broad spectrum of memory loss in our community. Please consider investing in Silver Club’s Programs at this crucial time.
The sixth annual Giving Blueday will take place on Wednesday, March 10, from 12 am through 11:59 pm EST.
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Silver Club Staff Are Excited to Be Back in Person!
“I look forward with great anticipation to getting outside, breathing the fresh air, and working on our raised garden together. We will replace the old with the new (plants, herbs and vegetables) and watch them come to life. Most of all I look forward to eating the fresh herbs in salads, making fried green tomatoes and having different taste tests.” – Pat Hall, Memory Care Specialist
“I am excited to be able to do safe ‘hands on’ activities again with our members and to see members in person. We may be ‘physically’ distanced but there is so much we still can do. There are a couple highlights I look forward to engaging in. One being special festivities including St. Patrick’s Day! I also plan to try out some new exercise routines with the members! (Including drumming!) It will be great to do therapeutic activities together.” – Elise Lenfestey, Memory Care Specialist
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Mindworks
Wednesdays 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Mindworks is a facilitated weekly group for individuals with mild memory loss to come together in exploration and comradery. Participants engage in meaningful conversations and practice brain games. The program focuses on strategies to promote living well with cognitive change.
Contact us to learn more about the intake process and registration:
(734) 998-9352
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At the end of January, the Ann Arbor Art Center donated 20 ArtBoxes for Silver Club families. These boxes are being distributed to encourage our members to get creative at home during the cold Michigan winter. Thank you, Ann Arbor Art Center!
The Ann Arbor Art Center is proud to partner with Silver Club Memory Programs and other local organizations in Southeast Michigan to distribute ArtBoxes to youth with limited access to art supplies. ArtBoxes contain a variety of art classroom materials that can be used to participate in distance learning and provide an outlet for creative expression.
These ArtBoxes were made possible through the generous support of the DTE Energy Foundation.
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Staff Spotlight:
Kathi Tobey
Kathi Tobey has been working for Silver Club since 2007, and has touched the lives of many of our members and their families over the years. She has recently retired, but loves what she does so much that she is transitioning to volunteer status at Silver Club! Thank you Kathi for your knowledge, warmth and empathy that you have toward others.
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What drew you to working with people with memory loss? My grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 30 years ago and I’ve felt drawn to this work ever since. I started working part-time at Silver Club in 2007 while still in grad school at EMU working on my Master of Social Work and began working primarily with the early-stage programs in 2012.
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What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment working at Silver Club? I feel my greatest accomplishment has been the design, startup, and continuation of the weekly Elderberry Club early memory loss group. At the time it was started nearly 10 years ago, it was the only group of its kind in the country – a group for younger women who had been diagnosed with memory loss. Over the years, I’ve met and worked with many amazing individuals who have demonstrated both resilience & positivity in the face of a life-changing diagnosis. They are my best teachers!
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What advice do you give to people with memory loss and their care partners?The best advice I give to people with memory loss and their care partners is to “live in the moment” and let go of “woulda, shoulda, coulda”. As one of my members says to me each week, “today is a gift, make the most of it”!
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What are you looking forward to in retirement? While I look forward to retirement and having time to trace my family genealogy, I hope to stay involved with Silver Club as a volunteer and look forward to assisting the staff with activities and projects. The friendships, laughter and joy the members exude is hard to find anywhere else!
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Funding Updates
We wanted to highlight three organizations/groups who have been gracious enough to give us new or additional funding this last quarter! Thank you for your support during a very challenging year!
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Oscar Reimold Fund - When Oscar Reimold died, he left a gift to create an endowment at the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation that would help Ann Arbor Seniors. As a gift that never stops giving, Oscar’s generosity will continue to help Ann Arbor’s seniors live independently and with dignity. Learn more.
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AAA 1-B - The Area Agency on Aging 1-B provided additional funding for our fiscal year 2021 contract for Dementia Adult Day Services. Learn more.
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Michigan Medicine Geriatric’s Center - Silver Club is one of the three community programs of the Geriatrics Center (along with the Turner Senior Wellness Program and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute). The Geriatrics Center provided additional support last year in response to the financial challenges due to COVID-19. Learn more.
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Partner with Us
The goal at Silver Club is to never turn a family away due to financial challenges. We provide a sliding scale fee so that each family pays what they can afford. We are so grateful to Silver Club families and friends for their generous support of our programs in whatever way they feel comfortable. Click here to make a gift.
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Other Ways You Can Partner with Us
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Be an ambassador – promote the Silver Club by referring families who are caring for a person with memory loss.
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Volunteer – if you have time, there are many ways to help, including spending time with members during program hours, participating on Silver Club committees, or helping with special, time-focused projects.
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Silver Club Memory Programs
2401 Plymouth Road, Suite C
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 998-9352
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