Brazilian Carnival
"With seniors, people think they can't do things anymore because they have a cognitive impairment. We're trying to break that kind of thinking." Aegis Living CEO Dwayne Clark
SEATTLE (PRWEB) May 01, 2015
A group of Brazilian Carnival party goers consisting of more than 700 senior citizens, their families and Aegis staff will converge on the Lynnwood Convention Center decked out in feathers and beads on Monday, May 4 from 11:00-2:00. Aegis Living offers residents in assisted living and Alzheimer’s care, unique and fun ways to party and let loose while in a safe and caring environment specially tailored to meet their needs and comforts.
For the past month, each of our local 14 communities has been creating masks and other costume items to wear to the event. They have been documenting this process for a slide show that will be presented to them at the party so they can all see each other having fun. On Monday, they will arrive in a parade of decked out vans and be greeted with colorful Mardi Gras beads. Once inside, they will find special Brazilian mock tails (Caipirnha) waiting for them on brightly colored tables. EntreMundos Quarteto, a Brazilian band will be filling the air with samba music and servers will bring out a special Brazilian style lunch, created just for this event by the Lynnwood Convention Center - Brazilian spiced chicken, tomato-coconut milk coulis, mashed cassava and cilantro.
“A lot of times with seniors, people think they can’t do things like anymore because they’re frail or maybe they even have a cognitive impairment. We’re trying to break that kind of thinking,” says Aegis Living CEO and Founder Dwayne Clark. He adds, “Music penetrates the crevasses of the brain and gets beyond the cognitive impairments a lot of people have.”
A large portion of our residents suffer from mild to severe cognitive impairment. “What we know is that music has the ability to reach our residents in all stages of dementia. Therefore our focus in Life Enrichment is to have a robust music program and this theme feeds right into this”, says Aegis Living Life Enrichment Vice President Chris Corrigall. He adds, “Carnival is a foreign South American event and this provides us an opportunity to bring this part of the world and culture to our residents who don’t have the opportunity to travel anymore.” In the past, Aegis Living has put on other big events like this (USO, Woodstock, Hawaiian Luau, Jumpin’ Jive Lounge).
Here are some other numbers:
700 samba lesson for all 700 guests
600 resident handmade feathered and jeweled masks
100 wheelchairs
1600 Mardi Gras (party) beaded necklaces
200 Rhythm ribbon wands waving
10 feathered, beaded and bedazzled Afro-Brazilian Samba Dancers
5 Brazilian Capoeinistas, flipping and kicking.
1 large lit parade float with Samba Models
700 Brazilian “Mock tails”
700 mini umbrellas
Media Contact: John Yeager Public Relations Director Aegis Living, 425-765-9845
About Aegis Living
Aegis Living is a national leader in retirement, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care providing the finest in senior lifestyle emphasizing health, quality of life, well-being and community. Aegis Living is guided by a simple philosophy: strive to treat all people with the highest possible standards. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Redmond, Washington privately held Aegis Living operates 30 communities in Washington, California and Nevada with 7 in development. Additional information about Aegis Living and its services are available at http://www.AegisLiving.com. Follow us on Twitter @aegisliving and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/AegisLiving