Activities plus at Montgomery Place: the "new" active senior wants to be entertained, enlightened, and engaged--and will let you know how. (Feature Article).

The face of the elderly is changing. No longer does a person skid into "old age" on his or her 65th birthday. Many of today's seniors still have more than enough pulmonary power to blow out the candles of that significant birthday cake. Today, older adults are more educated and well-traveled than the elderly of days gone by. Active seniors are downsizing and relocating to retirement communities in increasing numbers or; if necessary, to assisted living residences often located on a campus that encompasses the entire continuum of care. They recognize and are excited by the unique opportunities that this lifestyle provides and don't look upon retirement as taking a seat in heaven's waiting room. While service and hospitality options for the elderly continue to expand, it is equally important for activities directors to develop innovative programs to engage this more active population.

Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Montgomery Place is doing just that. This CCRC, which includes a Health Care Pavilion and Alzheimer's support program, offers a wide array of activities and services to its residents, almost all of which the residents have initiated or organized themselves. Comprised of a diverse population that includes retired professors, teachers, doctors, social workers, and labor leaders, Montgomery Place residents have not been shy in letting the administration know what activity programming piques their interests. Because these residents are vigorous and enjoy a challenge, they seek projects that stimulate their spirit, imagination, and thought. Working with Dana Witta, director of activities, they keep busy in new and fulfilling ways.

That's Entertainment!

An activity called Playreaders is just one of the community's challenging creative outlets. "Each month a different play is produced and read," says Montgomery Place resident Dr. Jack Kramer, who leads the group. "One member volunteers to select, produce, and 'cast' the play. This is usually an American or British one-act piece, although we have done a one-hour performance of Shakespeare's Macbeth. The producer usually rehearses the readers once before the open reading. The Playreaders use microphones as they read the script aloud for an audience of other residents and friends," explains Dr. Kramer. The activities department advertises the performance and sets up the "theater" as required, but it is the resident producer (a different resident volunteers each month) who is responsible for casting and scheduling rehearsals. He or she also secures props and acts as the narrator of the play. "Most of the performances are staged with the residents seated, so most of the 'acting' is done through the verbal interpre tation of the script, although the actors sometimes enter and exit the stage to symbolize birth, death, etc., or to indicate a new scene," says Witta.

Recently, the Playreaders performed a puppet show loosely based on Montgomery Place events called Daze of Our Lives. According to Resident Council President Allen Lang, "This was a totally original production. Ann Parks, a very talented resident, wrote the play and created the colorful puppets. She built a puppet theatre with a proscenium. About a dozen residents were recruited to read the script and sing the music, and another half-dozen became puppeteers." Witta adds that the puppet show was a great vehicle to get some of the more reticent residents involved since they could maintain their anonymity by working backstage.

Some step forward, though, in unusual ways. Explains Lang: "Our elevators had a cameo role, because they are part of our daily lives and occasionally the subject of discussion. One resident who uses an electronic larynx was cast as the 'voice' of the elevator since he sounds like a robot. Not only was he a very convincing elevator, but he also fabricated little elevators that ran up and down the set as he spoke his lines." The puppet show was so successful that an encore presentation is scheduled for the staff. A holiday puppet show for children is also being planned.

Another entertainment option is the After Dinner music program. According to Witta, a resident music committee prepares a schedule of resident-selected recorded musical entertainment. Each Wednesday evening, residents are treated to music, commentary, and lively discussions led by a resident "conductor" who chooses the featured musical style and representative works. Witta acknowledges that, among all the residents, the facility has access to a remarkable collection of music. "Many of the programs are classical," says Witta, "but jazz, spirituals, big bands, and even show tunes have been spotlighted. Themes have ranged from English gardens to composers who died before the age of 40. The latest presentation was 'Richard Strauss: Creativity in Old Age,' during which his composition Duet Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon was played."

In addition to these representative diversions, and because of Montgomery Place's close association with The University of Chicago, students from the University's School of Music and performers from other Hyde Park institutions often treat residents to special performances. Besides an appreciation of the arts, Montgomery Place residents want to be informed. "On Friday evenings, we may have a guest speaker or residents will talk about their life experiences, which is a great way to get to know one another, especially for new residents," says Witta. "In May, Mr. Lang spoke about zeppelins, and Mr. and Mrs. Skagg are preparing a talk and slide presentation about the time they lived in Saudi Arabia."

Preserving the Past

To chronicle the evolution of Montgomery Place from its original roots as The Church Home to the vibrant community it is today, several residents, with Montgomery Place Administrator Micheal Apa and his staff serving as advisors, are interviewing, writing, editing, and compiling the backgrounds and reminiscences of the community and its residents. "Residents on the book committee have done a wonderful job collecting stories and encouraging others to contribute," says Witta.

"The book will have three sections," Lang explains. "It opens with the 100-year history of this institution, which began as a church home for indigent, but wholesome, widows. The second section tells what we did before we moved to this location, and the final section will describe how the residents have invented and directed the culture of Montgomery Place ever since." From one woman s attendance at a breakfast with President Kennedy the day he was assassinated, to the story of a man's odyssey from picking cotton in the Deep South through his rise to becoming a union leader, the book will offer a compendium of remarkable, compelling life stories when published later this year.

And Now, the News

Opportunities to write, report, or provide commentary abound at Montgomery Place. Unlike many facility newsletters, the Montgomery Messenger is far more than a schedule of events and birthday greetings; it is very much a "news" paper. Lang and resident Barbara Fiske are the Messenger's current editors. "Barbara insists that we print news--it has to be something coming up, not something that's been done," says Lang. "We have our own rules. We do solicit articles and have regular contributors. In addition, some people volunteer to report on what's going on in our neighborhood-whether it's the progress of the engineering project going on at the lakefront, or the experience of going on a bird-watching walk around the area." The Messenger keeps everyone informed about committee meetings, library notes, and scheduled speakers and guests. It's more than an activities calendar. Last year, a column even explained why the new phone system increased the monthly phone bills of residents with computers and advised them of cost-saving strategies.

And That's Not All

As involved as the residents are in their intellectual and cultural pursuits, many other activities are available. From water aerobics classes, indoor carpet bowling (a game similar to boccie ball), and exercise groups to poetry reading, creating in the art studio, and Bible discussion groups, Montgomery Place's active adults are just that.

How do they keep the activity ball rolling, financially? Three times a year a large meeting room houses a rummage sale, with proceeds earmarked for the purchase of materials and equipment that capital expenses don't cover, such as microphones for Playreaders. Stocked with furniture, books, clothes, CDs, kitchen gadgets, and such, this has become an anticipated Hyde Park event. "Along with baby blankets that are donated to area hospitals, our Needlecrafters group knits or crochets items specifically for this sale," says Witta.

Another activity is the Art Crafters group. "Although Hallmark might not like it, these residents enjoy cutting up old greeting cards and reassembling them on construction paper to make new greeting cards that sell for 25 cents, the back of which bears their colophon, 'Recycled by Montgomery Place Art Crafters,'" says Lang.

In addition to the physical, intellectual, and creative pursuits enjoyed by Montgomery Place residents, their meeting rooms are often used for civic purposes. Witta explains that community groups, such as The League of Women Voters, hold meetings and discussions on local issues. Prior to elections, candidate forums are held at Montgomery Place, so residents can remain active members of the larger community.

Lang confides that all this is possible because "we have a marvelous activities director. Every month she presents new ideas to the resident activities committee and arranges many off-site trips to programs, events, and places of interest suggested by the Activity Committee. She also coordinates the calendar and meeting room schedules so conflicts do not occur. There are so many activities that the meeting spaces, bus, and van are constantly in demand." Witta explains, "The residents let us know how they want to spend their time. It's a free-flowing exchange of ideas, which results in a vibrant, happy, and progressive senior community."

For further information, phone Dana Witta, director of activities, at [phone], or fax [phone]. To comment on this article, please send e-mail to [e-mail].