A friend of mine from the University of Cuenca knew where we had to go to get Move With Balance® into the city of Cuenca’s elder programs. Social Accion. We had several meetings with them. The first meeting we waited a few hours to see them. We ended up giving them a Move With Balance® book in Spanish. They told me to write a document about what I was doing, how the program would work, all the details, etc. OK.
Next meeting: They were very impressed with the document and the book. They said they were doing some of the exercises, but saw the value of other brain exercises we do in Move With Balance. We went back for another meeting where I signed that I had delivered the document, and they had received it. OK.
Next meeting: we met with the Alicia, head of Hogar de los Abuelos, a Social Accion Director, and a lawyer. I talked more about how the program would work. We set up dates, and a time for us to visit the site. OK.
Next, we visited the site to see the space and the people. We decided definitely on dates. Then we had to recruit mentors. We got 17 mentors.
Training:
We had a beautiful mentor training. We started the program, had one session, which was great. Violent protests broke out in Ecuador. The second session was cancelled. The third session was great. Mentors and mentees got in the groove. Everyone had a good time. I was ecstatic. The Move With Balance® program was now in full swing. OK.
The only thing left was that I had to sign a contract with the city. I wasn’t sure when and where this would happen. Suddenly it was time to sign the contract. We had a day’s notice. I thought I’d go in, sign, and leave. OK.
Signing of the Contract:
Here is what happened: They actually had a party! We went to the site. All the elders were there. They brought in elders from another site, and several people from the Social Accion department from the city. They had flowers, decorations, cookies and juice. They gave speeches. The elders dressed in authentic costumes, and performed 3 dances. The choir sang songs. They gave more speeches about the program. Then we went inside and showed several videos that Bill prepared with a day’s notice.
The Reward:
It was so heartfelt and lovely to be in the presence of these Ecuadorians. They are so loving and appreciative. I really hope to have a long, successful relationship with them as we work with all their elders.
We are looking for volunteers (known as mentors) to be paired with elders (known as mentees). The mentees are Ecuadorians from the city of Cuenca’s senior center.
The pairs will practice the unique, award-winning Move With Balance® activities together.
How:
Volunteer mentors will experience a two-hour mentor training on Tuesday October 1 from 10—12, then be paired with a mentee. Both will improve balance, cognitive skills, and have a great time becoming friends. Mentors will meet with a mentee, one hour a week for 10 weeks, from October 8—December 10 from 10:45—11:45.
What:
A collaboration of Cuenca Expat Assist, Move With Balance®, VIP Home Health Care, and the City of Cuencaadult day care centers
Where and When:
Mentors can choose to be paired with a mentee from VIP Home Health Care, or they can be paired with a mentee from Hogar de los Abuelos, a senior center in the area.
With VIP, you will arrange your time with VIP and the mentee. With Hogar de los Abuelos, the sessions are 10 Tuesday mornings. Trainer Karen Peterson will lead the activities. Mentors will individualize the activities for the mentee.
Benefits and Take-Aways:
You will benefit from the sensory-motor integration Move With Balance® activities, improving your balance and brain function.
You will assist a mentee in learning the activities and engaging with them socially.
You will be involved in the Cuenca community, working with both expats and Cuencanos.
You will make friendships with both other mentors and mentees.
You will share your own gifts and life experience.
For more information, find out exact location, and to sign up to participate: Email Karen Peterson kp@givingbackmentoring.org
We were invited to present again at a Sensory/Motor Integration Workshop at the University Of Cuenca for Adultos Mayores (“older adults”).
Last time we presented to students, this time to 8 teachers from Cuenca. They all fully participated in our Move With Balance® sensory/motor integration activities, one of our specialties.
All Spanish-speaking Ecuadorians so we brought along our translator. We are still working on our Spanish.
We were invited to present
at a Sensory/Motor Integration Workshop at the University Of Cuenca for Adultos
Mayores (“older adults”).
We were thrilled that 40+
people attended, all of them fully participating in the demo of the Move With
Balance® sensory/motor integration activities, one of our specialties.
They were all Spanish-speaking Ecuadorians so we brought along our translator. They were glad the book has been translated into Spanish. They loved Move With Balance®. We will present again on April 26, 2019
We spent some time with Alzheimer’s patients doing Move with Balance® with Music at the wonderful Nueromedicenter in Quito, Ecuador. This adult day care center is fun by a husband and wife doctor team, Lissette and Alberto. They have an art room, a gardening section, and all kinds of activities for the clients.
