Wartburg To Appear in The Visionaries Series on PBS

Wartburg will be profiled in the upcoming season of The Visionaries, the award-winning public television series, hosted by acclaimed actor Sam Waterston of HBO’s The Newsroom and formerly of Law & Order. Distributed through the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), The Visionaries will begin airing on PBS stations across the country in July 2015.

The Visionaries documentary series focuses on nonprofit and public service organizations from around the world and is released to PBS stations across the country. “This is one of the most exciting years we have had in our long history,” Executive Producer, Bill Mosher said. “We had an opportunity to explore some of the most important issues of our time, but to do it through the eyes of local people working in their own communities.”

Bill continued, “In the twenty years I have been producing visionaries I know of no organization that has taken the concept of creative aging to such a phenomenal level. It is extraordinary not just for what it has done, but for what it is poised to do. They are going to help lead the nation toward a new way of providing a long and fulfilling life for us all. In short Wartburg is aging creativity.”

Now in its twentieth season, The Visionaries will highlight Wartburg’s award-winning, internationally recognized Council for Creative Aging & Lifelong Learning. Selected from hundreds of applicants, Wartburg’s Creative Aging & Lifelong Learning program was chosen because it goes beyond “bingo,” offering programs to our aging population that stimulate thought, excite the spirit and contribute to a more liable community. Wartburg residents, Adult Day Services registrants and rehabilitation patients an opportunity to try arts-based programs such as puppet-making, quilting, painting, African drumming and Music & Movement. In addition, the Creative Aging program works on a barter system. The artists who volunteer their time are offered rehearsal space for their own work on Wartburg’s beautiful 34-acre campus, thus creating a community of giving and artistic expression.

“We are flattered that the documentary series will highlight Wartburg’s Council for Creative Aging and Lifelong Learning. While the series has inspired people around the globe, we believe the Council to be a replicable model for positive social change beyond the New York Metropolitan area, particularly as we prepare for the public health challenges of dementia and our aging population,” said David Gentner, Wartburg President & CEO.

“I believe that the central idea of The Visionaries-doing what you can about huge, intractable problems-is an idea worth encouraging,” says actor Sam Waterston, the host of the series.

“Now in our 20th season, we capture stories that move beyond just “good works” to present really powerful replicable models that could inspire change in every community in the nation,” said Mr. Mosher. “Viewers will be astounded to discover people just like them who are changing the world in ways they can replicate in their own cities and towns. That is the really exciting thing…we are spreading positive solutions across the country.”

To view Wartburg’s segment on PBS’s Visionaries, please visit Wartburg’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvKgwJ5jEJU.

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 and now the NY Metro Area. Wartburg’s nursing home has been recognized by U. S. News & World Report as among the “Best Nursing Homes in New York State for four consecutive years, in 2014. 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.

About The Visionaries

The Visionaries documentary series, hosted by acclaimed actor Sam Waterston, highlights the rarely told stories of individuals and nonprofit organizations that are working to create positive social change throughout the world. Visionaries winner of several Telly Awards and Emmy nomination for Best Documentary, has produced over 190 documentaries for its nationally broadcast public television series, The Visionaries, which is currently airing its nineteenth season, is presented by WGBY in Springfield, MA. For more information, please visit www.visionaries.org.