The trip, scheduled for Dec. 11 – 13, includes a two-night stay at the resort which boasts fine dining, more than 50 activities, designer boutiques, a world-class spa and a 103,000-square foot gambling and entertainment center

The visit will include an afternoon tea with live music and a holiday concert among decorated trees and thousands of poinsettias.

Costs depend on room occupancy. For details and to sign up, stop by the center’s Trip Desk, which is located at 119 S. Villa Ave.

The Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT) is a scientifically proven method designed to build sensitivity and awareness in individuals caring for those with dementia.  It is a dementia simulation tool created to assist anyone in understanding the condition.

There are approximately 35 million Americans age 65 and older, and more than 5.4 million suffer from Alzheimer’s disease.  Dementia is the overriding diagnosis for cognitive impairments – the largest category under dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

Comments from those who have taken the tour include the following:

• “No training is anything like it.  It truly allowed us to walk in someone else’s shoes.  I benefited from the experience and know it will impact how I respond to those with dementia.”
• “Wow!  What a great learning tool!  If I had dementia, I would want to be around people who not only understand it, but who care enough to protect me from harm’s way.”
• “Thank you for the opportunity to experience the obstacles confronting a person with dementia.  (It was) so much different than reading about it or even observing it first hand.”

The VDT will be facilitated by Mary Chaput of the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities, and Mary Fridley, registered nurse and founder of Gero-Resources, LLC.  To register, call 410-222-4464, ext. 3043, or go online at www.aacounty.org/aging.

Pictured are center members and ‘Hearts of Gold FUNdraisers’ team members Shirley Callahan, Edgewater, on left, and Peggy Barba, Gambrills, with a sampling of the plants that will be available on the sale days

South County Senior Center’s annual plant sale will be held May 7, 8, and 9, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The sale features hanging baskets, hibiscus, mandevillas, herbs, and small planters, all at great prices. There’s also a ‘Garden Shop’ with a variety of plant related items. The sale is presented by the center’s ‘Hearts of Gold FUNraisers.’ All proceeds from the sale benefit the Woodland Beach Volunteer Fire Company and the Wounded Warrior Project. For more information call the center at 410.222.1927.

The anonymous survey was conducted by Holleran Consulting in November 2012 among 256 independent living communities in 36 states with over 57,900 recorded responses. Ginger Cove received Highest Honors in the following survey categories:

• Overall level of satisfaction with the retirement community: 95% of Ginger Cove residents responded “excellent” or “good”
• Recommendation to friend or family member: 95% of Ginger Cove residents said that they would recommend Ginger Cove
• Confidence in the community’s long-term future: 96% of Ginger Cove residents indicated a very high level of confidence

According to Ginger Cove CEO and Executive Director Dr. Edgar Mallick, the survey results and subsequent honors are significant beyond the national recognition: “Although the scores suggest that our mission to create an abundant life for all our residents is meeting with success, the comments and ratings will help us identify opportunities to achieve the highest levels of satisfaction in every aspect of our operation.”

The Anne Arundel County Commission on Disability Issues announced today that it will hold an Opening Night Reception on Thursday, April 25

Thirty-five local artists have been selected by jurors from the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County to display their work in the exhibit. The featured artists range in age from school children to older adults. The exhibit gives these artists who struggle with various disabilities a chance to showcase their talents in a highly visible, respected way.

In addition to the opening night reception, the public is invited to view the art exhibit at the Arundel Center during normal business hours from April 25^th through June 7^th.

Encore Creativity for Older Adults, the nation’s largest and fastest growing choral program for older adults, offers unique summer “performing arts sleep away camps” for older adults who want to learn, sing and perform. Last year’s St. Mary’s Encore Chorale Institute attracted more than 75 participants from around the country. Encore was delighted to also welcome local St. Mary’s and Calvert County commuters.

The Encore Choral Institute at St. Mary’s College of Maryland will run from June 18-22 and is led by Encore founder and conductor Jeanne Kelly, and Krystal Rickard McCoy, music director of St. Maries Musica and the Southern Maryland Encore Chorale. Singers have a full day starting with stretch/Yoga class and followed by a full choral rehearsal. After lunch singers will choose from a vocal technique class, a choral sectional, or free time. An afternoon choral rehearsal will follow. Repertoire will include spirituals, oratorio selections, songs from the American Song Book and Broadway. Singers may sit for rehearsals and performance.

The program will culminate in a grand finale performance on Saturday, June 22 at 1:30pm for friends, family and the public at the Historic St. Mary’s Hall.

Participant program fees include all classes, materials, accommodations on site, and meals. Commuter students are welcome and fees adjusted accordingly. Non-participating spouses or guests are also welcome and their fees include shared accommodations and meals with the program participants. Institute participants need not be current Encore singers. The deadline to register is May 17, 2013.

Anne Arundel County residents who are over age 55, with an Adjusted Gross Income of $49,000 or less, and/or disabled are welcome to have their taxes completed free of charge at any of the seven Senior Centers in our county. This includes the Annapolis Senior Center, Arnold Senior Center, Brooklyn Park Senior Center, O’Malley Senior Center, Pasadena Senior Center, Pascal Senior Center and South County Senior Center.

Tax preparers will be available to assist with simple 2012 income tax returns only. Volunteers cannot do returns involving partnerships or corporations, self-employed persons or rental properties. Guidelines also call for doing only Business EZ and no more than 5 stock transactions.

If you meet the above criteria, please call or visit your nearest Senior Center to schedule an appointment.

• Annapolis Senior Center – 410-222-1818
• Arnold Senior Center – 410-222-1922
• Brooklyn Park Senior Center – 410-222-6847
• O’Malley Senior Center – 410-222-6227
• Pasadena Senior Center – 410-222-0030
• Pascal Senior Center – 410-222-6680
• South County Senior Center – 410-222-1927

The Virtual Demential Tour® (VDT) is a scientifically proven method designed to build sensitivity and awareness in individuals caring for those with dementia. It is a dementia simulation tool created to assist anyone in understanding the condition.

There are approximately 35 million Americans age 65 and older, and more than 5.4 million suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia is the overriding diagnosis for cognitive impairments – the largest category under dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

Comments from those who have taken the tour include the following:

• “No training is anything like it. It truly allowed us to walk in someone else’s shoes. I benefitted from the experience and know it will impact how I respond to those with dementia.”
• “Wow! What a great learning tool! If I had dementia, I would want to be around people who not only understand it, but who care enough to protect me from harm’s way.”

“Thank you for the opportunity to experience the obstacles confronting a person with dementia. (It was) so much different than reading about it or even observing it first hand.”

The tours will be given on Saturday, February 23 at the Arnold Senior Activity Center, 44 Church Road, Arnold. Reservations can be made for the 10:00 a.m.-noon or 1:00-3:00 p.m. sessions.

The VDT will be facilitated by Mary Chaput of the county Department of Aging and Disabilities, and Mary Fridley, registered nurse and founder of Gero-Resources, LLC. To register, call 410-222-4464, Ext. 3043, or go online at www.aacounty.org/aging.

Monday, December 3, 12:30 pm

“Genealogy Club” ~ “Getting Started” ~ by Bobbie Bold and Etta Sue Haggerty. This is meant to help those who want to get started in genealogy, however, all are welcome!

 Wednesday, December 5, 1:00 pm

“Storyteller Jon Spelman” ~ Jon Spelman portrays Yancey Register, a natural born folklorist and imagination stretcher. Yancey is a ‘rural raconteur’ or ‘talkin’ teller’ who spins tall tales, folktales, and learning stories, recreating the wise culture of North American oral tradition. Yancey begins a bit shyly, but soon he’s carried away by the imaginative power of his tales, hightailing along a trail of homespun humor and wise sayings.

Thursday, December 6, 1:00 pm

“Chefs on the Go” ~ return for a festive meal which could easily be used for holiday entertaining. The menu includes: Christmas Antipasto made with a variety of colorful ingredients: artichoke hearts, mushrooms, pimento, peppers and a variety of seasonings. The soup will be long remembered, butternut squash and green apples, with again, many spices. Our main dish is Pork Tenderloin served with Creamy Mushroom Gravy.  The spiced tenderloin is tastefully cooked until tender and served with the gravy. Cardamon carrots provide a colorful and delicious taste served with the meat dish.  The method of cooking the carrots gives them a nice, crispy taste and a variety of spices were also used with them.

We end this meal by serving Chocolate Mousse Au Grand Mariner.

Sign up at the front desk by paying your $3.00 supply fee.

Monday, December 10, 10:00 am

“Hope for the Holidays” ~ The holidays arrive, and there is an anticipation of what to expect.  This anticipation may be tinged with anxiety a loved one is not physically present.

This workshop will provide suggestions for how you can honor your loved one and honor your own grief. We will discuss how grief affects us spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially and how we might care for our families and ourselves during the holidays. Part of caring for ourselves might include how do we—or, do we not—engage in activities and rituals, and we will discuss how to navigate this aspect of the holidays. We may want to modify or create new traditions that celebrate the memories and gifts of our families/friends and what our loved one meant to us.

This approximately one-hour workshop is presented by Hospice of the Chesapeake staff and the support of Brightview Assisted Living. Refreshments will be served.

Monday, December 10, 1:00 pm

“Heritage Harbour Chorus” ~ returns to entertain us with their Christmas concert.

Monday, December 10, 1:00 pm

“Wreath / Centerpiece Making Workshop” ~ Sign up is required to learn to make a festive holiday wreath. You’ll pay your $20 supply fee to the instructor Nancy Jenkins. Also, bring a grapevine, fake evergreen, or wire blank wreath form.

Wednesday, December 12, 10:00 am – 12 noon

“Seated Massage” ~ Sign up at the front desk for a free ten minute seated massage by Lillian M. Elliott, Professional Massage Therapist.

Wednesday, December 12, 10:00 am

“Card Making Workshop” ~ If you ever wanted to try your hand at making cards, here’s your chance.  This workshop will teach you the basics of using rubber stamps, cardstock, patterned paper and embellishments to make your own original card.  Two cards will be presented.  The cost of supplies will be $3.00. See the display for samples of the cards that you will be making, and sign up at the front desk.

Wednesday, December 12, 1:00 pm

“Anne Arundel Co. Retired Teachers’ Chorus” ~returns to entertain us with their Christmas concert.

Friday, December 14, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm

“Van Trip to ‘Holiday Happenings’ ~ at St. Johns College. We make our annual visit to 12 noon performance of The Talent Machine Company , preceded by a meal at Double T Diner. Please pay the $5.00 ticket price for the show when signing up.

 Friday, December 14, 1:00 pm

“Special Holiday Baked Treats” ~ Sign up by paying your $3.00 supply fee for this special workshop by Melissa Owens.

Wednesday, December 19, 1:00 pm

“That Magic Kinda Guy Mike Rose returns” ~ Mike’s show consists of impossible magic tricks, weird mind reading stunts, and off the wall comedy.  Mike has been hard at work developing new and unusual magic tricks that are completely different from those he performed the last time he was here.  You are guaranteed to see something you have never seen before.

Friday, December 21, 1:00 pm

“Healthy Holiday Side Dishes” ~

Sign up by paying your $3.00 for this special workshop by Melissa Owens.

The Center’s trip booklet “Trips for 2013” is now available and deposits are being accepted. Pick up your booklet today!

South County Senior Center is one of seven senior centers operated by Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities. It is located at 27 Stepneys Lane in Edgewater; the phone number is 410.222.1927. Membership, which is free and available for persons age 55 and older, is required for participation in programs. Find us on the web at http://www.aacounty.org/Aging/activeSeniors/soco.cfm.

The Heritage Harbour Chorus, a local chorus from Heritage Harbour, will sing songs from the Nutcracker and other winter favorites at 1 p.m. Dec. 5.

The Pascal Go-Getters, an entertainment troupe from the Pascal Senior Activity Center, will perform holiday music at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 10.

Ladies from Maryland Hall, a multi-disciplinary arts center in Annapolis, Md., will present a Hawaiian holiday hula show at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 11.

Katherine Riddle, a senior vocal performance major at American University, a guitarist, pianist, and ballerina, will perform Golden Age musical theatre selections, jazz standards and classic pieces at 1 p.m. Dec. 19.

Band, orchestra and choral students from Annapolis Elementary School will share some holiday music with the seniors at 11 a.m. Dec. 20.

For more information about center activities, call 410-222-1818.