Lenbrook

We all know that ‘selfies,’ photographic self-portraits, are a fun way to capture a moment in time, tell a story and share it. While “selfies” are especially popular with younger people, portrait photography is a remarkable way to catch a glimpse of a smile, glance or feeling -- if just for an instant -- and reveal the inner self of the portrait’s subject at a specific instance in their life.

Here at Lenbrook, Atlanta’s premier Life Plan Community in Buckhead, we have an active and vibrant tradition of celebrating Jewish life, including monthly Shabbat services followed by a meal for Lenbrook’s Jewish residents, their adult children, and often, their (non-Jewish) guests. 

With more than 500 residents living at Lenbrook, there are a lot of life experiences available to learn from. That’s what Lenbrook’s Training and Development Specialist, Tammy Washington, hopes to share with the community’s associates and interns. “Can you imagine all that knowledge and understanding about life that’s within these walls?” asked Washington. “We’re hoping to unlock that vast treasure chest and offer the most incredible learning experiences.”

As a chaplain, I have the privilege of interacting with our residents from varied religious groups and denominations within our Lenbrook Community, as well as those in the community with no set religious affiliation.

I’m a firm believer that everyone needs some type of community in order to thrive -- a belief that's supported by study after study. One of the blessings of a community as large and diverse as Lenbrook is that residents have a vast selection of friends and neighbors available to connect with and create community!

Serving cornbread in a senior living community can be a dicey proposition. Residents from northern states have a preference for a sweeter cornbread. Residents from southern states have a taste for a more savory cornbread. Personal preferences can run even deeper, even down to whether or not whole corn kernels should be present in the bread, whether it should be prepared in a cast iron skillet or hotel pan, and how crumbly the final product should be. How do we find the right recipe to satisfy the cornbread conundrum? 

One of the most frequent questions I get asked by residents is “How can I prevent mental decline through diet?”  The good news is Martha Clare Morris, PhD has created the MIND diet, Mediterranean - DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.

The MIND diet is a hybrid of the DASH and Mediterranean diets to help create a diet aimed at reducing the risk of dementia and the decline in brain health that people often experience as they age. Such decline, however, is not considered a normal part of aging.