Wartburg CEO Travels to China to Lead Workshop on Acclaimed Creative Aging Program

David Gentner, president and CEO of Wartburg, one of Westchester’s largest senior services providers, will lead an international workshop on “Creative Aging Activities: Arts and Technology” at the 10th International Conference of the International Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, which will take place in Shanghai, China, November 17 – 20, 2013.

The hands-on workshop will use as a model Wartburg’s renowned creative aging program, which allows 500 seniors in Westchester to use the arts as a means to learn new skills and build self-esteem.

“While intellectual stimulation helps keep us engaged at every age, research demonstrates that the arts help seniors attain healthier and happier later-life experiences,” said Gentner.

Participants from around the globe who attend the workshop will learn about how Wartburg’s creative aging program helps residents express themselves through art, song, theater, poetry and oral histories. Gentner will teach the participants the step-by-step processes by which to assess residents’ interest, tap into community resources, use a creative aging program to position an organization vs. its competitors, and foster engagement at all levels of staff and management.

Gentner will talk about his experiences in using a museum as a source for new ideas and how videoconferencing can deliver high-quality content to aging facilities whether across town or across the globe. He is co-presenting at the workshop with Ms. Dale Hilton, Director, Teaching & Learning, The Cleveland Museum.

About Wartburg

Wartburg is an award-winning provider of comprehensive senior services, including independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s/dementia care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation and hospice care. Its 34-acre campus in Mount Vernon serves seniors and their families in southern Westchester and the northern Bronx. Wartburg’s nursing home has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as among the best nursing homes in New York State. Over the past few years, Wartburg has launched an ambitious building expansion program, including the Friedrichs Residence, with 61 independent living apartments, and a rehabilitation and adult day services center, both opened in 2013.