FEBRUARY 2017—ADAR-NISSAN 5777—VOL 17 NO 6
The Humor Edition
Ross Travis (Charles the Chimp) and Julie Douglas (Olive) of The Medical Clown Project
March Birthdays..................... 2
Resident of the Month............. 3
President’s Message.............. 4
Laughter..................................... 5
March Activities......................... 6
March Activities, cont................ 7
About Clowning and Dementia.8
Health Notes.............................. 9
Dining.......................................10
Marketing.................................11
Rhoda
goldman
plaza
2180 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.345.5060
415.345.5061 (fax)
www.RGPlaza.org
RCFE #385600125
Staff
Adrienne Fair, Assistant Executive Director
415-345-5077
Ira Kurtz, Executive Director
415-345-5080
Van Ly, Business Office Manager
415-345-5073
Ron Martinez, Director of Facilities
415-345-5088
Candiece Milford, Managing Director of Marketing
415-345-5072
Peggy O'Brien, Director of Resident Services
415-345-5082
Nicki Pun, Controller
415-345-5083
Emily Steen, Director of Programming
415-345-5084
Corey Weiner, Director of Food and Beverage
415-345-5069
Board of Directors
Karen Aidem
Carla Buchanan
David Dossetter
Nancy Goldberg
Dr. Carl Grunfeld
Dr. Lawrence Hill
Joan Levison
David Melnick
Raquel Newman
Paul Siegel
Vera Stein
Ronna Stone
Dr. Anita Friedman
Karen Staller
page 2 Happy
Purim!
March Birthdays
Henni Kuflik Sylvia Malnikow Grayce Bergman Rita Sperry Michael McCone Herbert Scholder Warren Hirsch Roberta Graff 6
8
15
16
18
25
27
28
Old age comes at a bad time.
San Banducci
The Olive Press
Resident of the Month—Gilda Plaza
“I love living here. From the very beginning, I enjoyed
the people living at RGP. It was very unexpected to
find myself in a place that felt so much like home. RGP
is such a concentration of interesting people, so many
people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. I
love to hear stories people tell about themselves and to
share their lives and things they have done. Everyone
has had losses and challenges to overcome, and for me,
it is very moving. I am also grateful for the quality of
kindness which staff and residents embody.
I grew up in Fresno which at that time was filled with
many ethnic communities— Armenians, Greeks, Jews,
Italians, Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, and AfricanAmericans. My mother and father created a wonderful
home life, filled with all kinds of people. My father, as
they say, never met a stranger. he didn’t like He loved
people, and often invited newly-met friends for a meal.
My mother didn’t know who was coming to dinner,
but she welcomed and was able to feed any unexpected
guests. During World War II, my father would go down
to the Santa Fe depot and bring about-to-be-deployed
soldiers for meals and gave them a place to sleep.
After the war, our house was always filled with artists,
travelers—people with interesting lives. As a child, at
bedtime, I would sit by the door to the dining room
listening to their fascinating conversations. I am sure
that is where I learned to enjoy meeting people.
My grandfather, my mother’s father was a
revolutionary socialist in Odessa, Ukraine. He founded
the Fresno chapter of the Workman’s Circle in 1914.
The greatest influences on my life have been the
beauty of nature especially Yosemite where I spent
every summer until I was fifteen and the spectacular
land around Fresno, a veritable Garden of Eden.
Nature, my children, and my parents have been the
most profound influences on my life. The culturally
stimulating, intellectually rich, warm and inclusive
family life formed my values and choices. At the age of
fourteen, on a dare from my sister who bet I couldn’t
find a job in one hour, I went from store to store in
downtown Fresno looking for a job. Some stores didn’t
hire Jews, but I kept on looking. Finally just before the
hour was up, I got a job as a sales clerk in a women’s
speciality store. I was very proud of this job because it
gave me confidence and, of course, income.
The Olive Press
In 1952, I travelled to Europe for several
months, first to visit my sister who was
living in Munich, and then to travel alone
throughout Italy, Austria, Switzerland,
France, Germany, and England. I visited
Dachau before it became a museum. At
that time, reminders of WWII littered
Europe. This trip was the educational
equivalent of a college education.
Especially travelling alone, I saw so much,
and gained a very deep understanding of
the world.
After my children were born, I decided
to move from Fresno. I chose to live in
Berkeley because, at that time, Berkeley
had the best school integration plan in
the country. Berkeley, because it was the
most diverse and socially progressive city
in California, was where I wanted to live
and raise my children. Thinking back,
I realized that Berkeley was my family’s
home, writ large. I am happy that Rhoda
Goldman Plaza is a place I can call home
as well.
page 3
Employee of the Month
Cuong Duong
RGP Resident Council President
Hal Auerbach's Message
Cuong Duong, is
an Associate in
our Housekeeping
Department and has
worked at RGP since
June 2014. He was
recently promoted from
part-time to full-time.
Cuong was born in
Vietnam in An Giang
City. He finished high
school, got married, and ran a small store in the
market. In 2002, his brother sponsored Cuong
and his family to immigrate to the USA. He is
very happy to be here, “good for living, good for
freedom and life,” he said. Since his brother lived
in New Jersey, Cuong moved there, as well. In the
first six months, he studied English and found
his first job as a housekeeper in a hotel. Later he
worked for two years as a gardner. While living
in New Jersey, he took a trip to San Francisco
and loved the weather. “New Jersey was too cold,
too much snow,” he said, so he moved to San
Francisco in 2009. Upon arriving, Cuong found a
job working as a night janitor at Club One for a
year and a half; afterwards he was a house painter
for more than two years. In 2014, Cuong started
working at RGP as a part-time janitor.
Every story has a
beginning. Many of
our residents would
like to learn more
about the beginning
of the story of Rhoda
Goldman Plaza, from
concept through
planning, execution and
development. There
are other residents here
who were involved in or know something about
that beginning. Hadley Hall has volunteered to
chair a History Committee to collect, compile
and edit information about that beginning
and eventually put it all into writing. Please
let him know if you would like to serve on that
committee or have information or documents to
contribute to it.
“RGP is a good company to work for,” Cuong
said, “and I like working with the team.” Of all his
jobs, he likes housekeeping the most because he
likes things to be clean and neat. When things are
clean, you also feel fresh and comfortable. The
way I like my house clean, I also want RGP to
look,” he said. “And I like helping seniors. I like
to see them happy and they make me happy.”
Cuong, his wife, his son, daughter-in-law and
newnorn baby live in San Francisco. Cuong
added that he will become a US citizen in five
years. Congratulations! Thank you for being part
of the RGP team!
page 4
We welcome back Warde Laidman who has
returned from his Hawaiian vacation and has
resumed the job of being our council Secretary.
Thanks to Bernie Haas for so ably filling in
as Secretary pro tem while Warde was away.
Thanks also to Stephanie DiGiorgio, your VicePresident, for so memorably presiding over
the January meeting while your President was
battling the flu.
March is an ecumenical month, encompassing
both Purim and Saint Patrick’s day. Whether its
L’chaim or S’lainte mhath, let it be a month of
good health and good cheer for us all!
“Laughter is the shortest distance
between two people.”
Victor Borge
The Olive Press
Laughter, The Forgotten Child of Medicine
by Sebastien Gendry
Laughter is an
untapped science
that, used well,
can have farreaching positive
implications for
the body, mind
and spirit. It
cannot heal nor
solve anything,
but it can help
to heal and dissolve everything. While lots more
research is warranted, we now have more than
enough scientific evidence to suggest what is
experientially evident: laughter is a valid and
most valuable therapeutic ally in healing.
Why isn’t this common knowledge? Besides
the fact that lots more research is warranted, a
possible reason is that, until recently, we didn’t
really know how to use it as a reliable therapeutic
tool. The spontaneous laughter of everyday life
is beneficial, but hard to work with day after
day and not enough if you want to use it for true
healing purposes. Briefly tasting a candy once in
a while does not have the same impact as eating a
whole meal.
We also live in a world where very few things can
make people laugh, while hundreds can make
them frown, howl, and cry. Many people lose
track of the therapeutic values of laughter when
stress and adversity knock at their door. “Why
should we laugh?” they say. “It doesn’t pay the
bills.” Society teaches that problems are serious
and need to be addressed seriously. Laughter, on
the other hand, is often perceived as frivolous
and only relevant in its proper time and place.
Fortunately for us all, times have changed. There
now exists a new laughter technology that offers a
universally well-tolerated, sustainable, wellbeing
solution throughout people’s lifespans. It is lowcost, easy to learn and implement, and requires
The Olive Press
no particular space, equipment or form of
clothing. You don’t have to be happy. It uses no
jokes or comedy. This new technology is based
on the use of intentional laughter, which means
that you already have all that’s required to make
it work. In a sedentary age of sharply rising
healthcare costs and mental health challenges,
this ought to gain more public attention.
I was once an adamant critic of laughter
therapy, claiming that faking laughter—ha ha
ha—was the most idiotic thing on the planet
and certainly not worthy of my attention.
That’s until I realized two things. First, I was
the one who hardly ever laughed and was
getting sicker year after year, while the laughing
people I belittled claimed major health benefits.
Second, and most importantly: It’s not about
faking anything, but choosing to engage in
positive behaviors in an attempt to create the
healing chemistry that invariably come with
them. Choosing to remain positive and be
comfortable with your imperfections and the
challenges in your life does not mean you have
to be complacent about them. You should not.
Laughing about them is a sign of maturity.
It’s a political act, a declaration of freedom, a
demonstration that we are not afraid, that we
refuse to let fear, anger, guilt or resentment win
and rule our lives.
Laughing and understanding what it stands
for saved my life and taught me how to live at
peace, not in pieces. I invite you to learn more
on this topic. There is depth.
Creator of the Laughter Wellness method
www.laughterwellness.org
page 5
March Activities
Special Events
4,11,18
Sat
3:30
6
Mon
3:30
7
Tues
10:15
8
Wed
10:15
8
Wed
2:00
11
Sat
1:00
16
Thurs
3:30
17
Fri
10:30
18 Sat 1:30
22 Wed 5:00
23 Thurs 3:30
25
Sat
4:00
29 Wed
2:00
Technology with Paul
Amnesty International Letter Writing
Tigges Jewelry Repair
Weight and BP Clinic
Terrace Volunteer Social Hour
Purim Play with Mallory and Jeevun
SF Natives Meet Up
Bread Baking
Equal Means Equal. presented by Women Occupy Hollywood
March Birthday Dinner
Afternoon Tea
Art Reception: Terrace Residents
Resident Council Meeting
Outings
1:00
1:30
1:30 1:30 11:00 3:15
Berggruen Gallery-Human Form
Embarcadero Center Cinema
De Young Museum Bouquets to Art
Lunch Outing: Kokkari Estiatorio
Rosie the Riviter Museum
Serramonte Shopping Center
Thurs Mon
Tues
Thurs Thurs
Fri
Mon
Tues
Thurs Thurs Mon
Wed
Thurs
3:00
2:00
4:00
10:30
3:30
10:30
3:30
4:00
10:30
1:00
2:00
10:30
1:00
Haiku—Haikubes
Mystery Read Along Group
Creative Writing
Script Reading with Emma
Story Share with Melanie: Neighborhoods
Limericks with Emily
Short Story Group
Creative Writing Group
Script Reading with Emma
Casting Call
Read Along Group
Poetry with Elizabeth
Joke Telling with Len
Lectures/Discussion
1
Wed
1
Wed
3
Fri
4
Sat
Sundays
8
Wed
10 Fri
12, 19, 26
Sun
15 Wed
16 Thurs 22 Wed
31 Fri
10:30
3:00
3:00
2:00
9:00
10:30
3:00
4:15
3:00
10:30
3:00
10:30
Sam Lauter Lecture
Jewish Film Institute Movie: Autobiography of a Jeep
TED Talk with Dorie
Mystery In History with Mallory
What’s on KQED?
Bonnie Weiss Lecture: Poets of Broadway
TED Talk with Jeevun
Current Events with Jim
Jewish Film Institute Movie: The Klezmatics; On Holy Ground
John Rothmann Lecture
Where in the World?
Documentary Discussion with Mallory
2
7
14 21
24
28 Thurs
Tues
Tues
Tues
Fri
Tues
Literature and Writing
page 6
2
6,13
7
9
9
17 20 21 23 23 27 29 30
The Olive Press
Activities Committee
Gardening Club
Dining Room Committee
Art Classes
1,8,15,22
2, 16, 30
5, 19,26
Wed
Thurs Sun
Mondays
Tuesdays
3:00
10:30
10:30
10:15
3:30
Sun
Sun
Sun
Sun
Thurs
3:30
3:00
3:00
3:00
3:00
Knitting with Max
Music and Mosiacs with Emily
Beading with Shelly
Ceramics with Jeannie
Painting with Kimberley
Music
5
12 19 26 30 Purim Concert with Students from JCHS
Chris Pucci Opera Concert
Yakov Stanislavsky
Tony Braganza Piano Recital
Frank Cefalu
Games
3
Fri
10:30
3,10, 24,31 Fri
1:30
Saturdays 1:30
Mondays
4:15
Tuesdays
1:00
10 Fri
3:00
14,21 Tues
10:15
15
Wed
1:30
17 Fri
1:30
20 Mon
2:15
28 Tues
10:30
29 Wed7:00
Scattagories
Bingo
Rumikub
Crossword (* except 3/20 at 4:30)
RummiKub
Trivia with Dorey
Black Jack with Jeevun
Brain Games with Jeevun
Four Left Trivia
Flower Scavenger Hunt
Black Jack with Ira
RummiKub
Exercise Classes
5,19
Sun 5,12,19
Sun
Mondays
Tuesdays
1,8,15,22
Wed
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Thursdays
Fridays
Saturdays
29
Wed
10:00
1:00
9:00
9:15
9:00
1:00
9:30
2:00
9:00
10:30 9:00
Exercise with Phil
Tai Chi with Janet
Exercise with Rowena
Tai Chi with Janet
Exercise with Rowena
Open Gym with a Trainer
Walking Club
Chair Yoga with Ilya
Exercise with Phil
Chair Yoga with Ilya
Exercise with Mallory
Shabbat Services
Fridays
4:00 The Olive Press
Shabbat Services with Rabbi Me’irah
page 7
March Activities
Committees/Discussions/Clubs
1
Wed
2:00
22 Wed
10:30
23 Thurs 10:00
About Clowning and Dementia
Dr. Amnon Raviv
Medical clowning
has been primarily
identified with
working with
children in
pediatrics wards in
hospitals. Over the
past decade, more
and more medical
clowns have been
working with adults
and with patients
with dementia as
part of holistic
care. Along with
traditional medical care by hospital staff, the medical
clown treats the patient’s emotional side. Furthermore,
medical clowning has unique advantages in working
with patients with dementia. Several studies have shown
that humor assists in improving the quality of life of
patients with dementia. The clown, as the ultimate
comic figure, creates interactions with patients based
on humor, which empowers, calms, and strengthens the
patient while reinforcing the patient’s connection with the
surroundings. Medical clowning is an interdisciplinary
therapeutic art, and the medical clown has a “kit” of
multiple skills (including humor, drama, music, and
dance), all of which have a beneficial, therapeutic impact
on patients.
The clown is the ultimate comic figure, the archetypical
figure of the world of imagination and humor; as an
archetype, the medical clown expresses the energetic
polarities of seriousness and lack of seriousness, order
and disorder thus reflecting the internal tensions of the
patient with dementia and assisting the patient, with the
help of humor, self-expression, and therapy. Working with
adults and with patients with dementia should be medical
clowning’s future mission. Realization of the full potential
of medical clowning will bring about improved quality of
life of many patients.
Medical clowning is an effective therapy in working with
patients with dementia because it is an interdisciplinary
expressive therapy by its very nature, integrating several
page 8
skills such as drama,
music, and dance,
while conducting a
humorous interaction.
Each of these arts
has a beneficial
therapeutic effect
on patients with
dementia. The
medical clown is a
skilled improviser
with the capacity
to respond to the
authentic, immediate
need arising from any
patient in any given situation.
The clown’s capabilities and skills,
together with the humor and fantasy
that are integral to the clownish
image and language, are what enable
the unique interaction with so many
possibilities and that is so beneficial in
working with patients with dementia.
The use of humor improves the quality
of life for patients with dementia,
dissipates tensions and calms down
agitated emotions, and improves
patients’ social bonds.
Dr. Amnon Raviv is a pioneer in the field
of medical clowning, the first clown doctor
to earn a PhD in Medical Clowning. Raviv
wrote “ Medical Clowning: The Healing
Performance”, published by Seagull Books
(2017) .
Below is a link to a report about Dr.
Amnon Raviv that was broadcast on Israeli
Channel 1 News: https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=AkMHNmv2ml4
photographer: Hezi Panet
The Olive Press
Medical Clowns at RGP
Health Notes
Adrienne Fair, MSN, RN,
Assistant Executive Director
Humor and Aging Well
Calvin Kai Ku Executive Director
of The Medical Clown Project
repurposes a walker.
“Clowns are embodiment
of our humanity in all
its imperfections and the
ups and downs. We get to
laugh at what it means to
be human. There is joy in
imperfection.”
Julie Douglas (Olive) The
Medical Clown Project
The Olive Press
Laughter and a positive attitude really affect our quality of
life. In the face of chronic health conditions and our own
deteriorating bodies, a sense of humor truly goes a long way.
I once asked a resident on hospice how she was feeling and
she replied “Well, let’s just say I’m not buying any green
bananas!”
Besides quality of life, a sense of humor has measurable
physical effects as well. According to the Mayo Clinic,
laughter helps to reduce stress and improve health:
•
Positive thoughts release neuropeptides in the brain
which help to fight stress and boost immunity.
•
Laughter can help to reduce pain because it causes the
body to release its own natural painkillers: endorphins.
•
Laughter can also help cope with difficult situations
and facilitate interactions with other people.
•
A sense of humor also goes a long way towards
improving your mood and reducing anxiety and
depression.
You don’t have to go far at Rhoda Goldman to find a reason
to laugh. I find that each time I go to lunch in the dining
room, I am treated to at least one joke from a resident. From
corny puns, to sarcasm, to blue humor, we are lucky at RGP
to have each other to laugh with every day!
Source: www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stressmanagement
“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old.
You grow old because you stop laughing.”
Michael Pritchard
page 9
Dining—Eat to your heart’s content
Corey Weiner,
Director of Food and Beverage
Funny and Serious
“A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it,
then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. “Why?” asks
the confused waitress, as the panda makes towards the exit.
The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual
and tosses it over his shoulder. “I’m a panda,” he says at the
door. “Look it up.” The waitress turns to the relevant entry
and, sure enough, finds an explanation. “Panda. Large
black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats,
shoots and leaves.” *
Dining life at RGP may not be so dangerous and dramatic,
but believe me, it could be. You don’t think it’s dangerous
to get between a resident and her dinner, or their favorite
condiment without which life is not worth living?
I offered a chance at drama, requesting residents and guests
not to bring food into the dining room. Did they think
I was being funny? One lady arrived with a full picnic
in the dining room pleading medical necessity. Funny,
right? I asked resident not to take food out of the dining
room. You’d think I had invited everyone to share an
insider joke. They thought I hadn’t noticed the little tissue
bundles going into purses and walkers, (haha), or even in
the distant past, food hidden in one resident’s brassiere. I
daresay, some people have walkers and wheel chairs just
for the conveyance of food! Medicare does not cover that.
Since the essence of humor is linking the unexpected and
thwarted expectations and highlighting incongruities and
misdirection, you’d think the dining room would be an
excellent place for humor to flourish. Using a walker to cart
out food doesn’t deserve a snicker?
page 10
I just recently wrote an article
on making seating reservations;
apparently people didn’t understand
I was serious. We are serious about
welcoming strangers to your table,
not bringing food into the dining
room and not removing food when
you are “finished”. While we are
serious about guidelines being
respected, we also love to laugh, and
need a daily diet of it.
As they say in Ireland:“Laughter is
brightest where food is best”.
Bon Appetite!
* source: http://www.jokes4us.com/
peoplejokes/waiterjokes.html
The Olive Press
Candiece Milford,
Managing Director of Marketing
Let Us Laugh
When we discussed the theme for
this month’s Olive Press, I felt the
weight of fatigue caused by too
much chaos in the news, none of
which I could truly influence in a
profound way. Then I remembered
a resident who lives at another
community who spreads joy and
laughter through his deliciously
irreverent humor. That thought
alone caused a smile that grew into
a little giggle that spread into my
heart, and I wound up laughing
- all alone in my office. And I
felt cleansed. That’s when I realized that laughter and
its healing role in our lives should be the theme for this
month’s Olive Press.
I also realized that laughter is as universal as music in
its ability to bring people together. It can bridge cultural
differences, tone down high stress situations, disguise
embarrassment or fear, and is as infectious as yawning.
(When my son was very young, he played a game with me.
He would yawn, and yawn, and yawn, knowing good and
well that I, too, would soon be yawning - the suggestion
being just too much to resist!)
phone thinking, “I just met a perfect
stranger on the phone with whom I felt
completely at ease. I could tell, just by
listening to him, that his heart is open, and
rather than impatiently dismiss a request
from a stranger, took time to listen, engage,
and laugh with me.” That was a life lesson
unto itself as I realized that this “master of
laughter” lives a joyous life, from the inside
out; that laughing is almost a point of view
that we can choose as a behavior.
So let’s all make some music together
this month, and beyond. Let’s fill this
beautiful community with the music of
your laughter, even if it’s a challenge to do
so. You might be delighted to find that by
focusing through the lens of joy, laughter
can follow naturally to melt some of the
angst that seems far too prevalent today.
I also had a revelation when I went online to find our
guest author. To my utter delight and astonishment, I
found Sebastian Gendry, the founder of the “Online
University of Laughter.” Not surprisingly, he not only
graciously agreed to provide us with an article, but we
laughed a lot during the conversation. I hung up the
The Olive Press
page 11
Rhoda goldman plaza
2180 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
415.345.5060
415.345.5061 (fax)
www.RGPlaza.org
RCFE #385600125
Founded by Jewish Family and Children’s
Services and Mount Zion Health Fund
Rhoda Goldman Plaza
The appeal of Rhoda Goldman Plaza is
undeniable. Older adults and their families
prefer our unsurpassed assisted living and
memory care community enriched by culture
and tradition.
Residents enjoy superb, “made-from-scratch”
cuisine that is always well reviewed by
our most vocal critics; our residents! While
our dining selections please the appetite,
accommodations showcase spacious, private
apartments designed to maximize space and
comfort. In fact, we’re re-defining your life
as Living Well With Assistance — we believe
our community is every bit as good as a
five-star hotel. And, professionally trained,
courteous staff promotes your health and
well-being with choices of activity programs
both on and off-site.
Our Terrace Memory program provides
specialized memory care to residents through
therapeutic activities that enhance physical,
mental, and emotional health. Both privacy
and companionship are afforded on our selfcontained Terrace.
Living Well With Assistance is more than a
promise, but a way of life for our like-minded
residents and staff who share the vision of
our upscale community.
Visit Rhoda Goldman Plaza today by calling
415.345.5072.
Founded by Jewish Family and Children’s Services and Mt. Zion Health Fund in 2000, Rhoda Goldman Plaza
(RGP) was established as a non-profit assisted living facility to provide a better and more secure life for older adults.