MEET SARAH SCALES:

FRIENDS ACROSS THE AGES ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR

 

Dear Friends Across the Ages:

 

My name is Sarah Scales and I am your new Administrative Coordinator.  I am thrilled to be part of your wonderful organization and look forward to helping in its continued growth.

 

I am a native Floridian and attended the University of Florida from 1999-2003, graduating with degrees in both Public Relations and Spanish.  My husband and I then moved to New Orleans for him to attend medical school and I started working for the LSU School of Dentistry.  It was there that I gained the many experiences that will help me in my new FATA role.  I managed the day-to-day activities of the department, assisted our business manager and helped plan special events for large groups.   We recently returned to Gainesville for my husband to start his residency and for me to begin graduate school in Speech-Language Pathology.  We are both huge UF fans, so we were thrilled to find out we would be back in Gator territory!

 

I'm looking forward to becoming a FATA team member and welcome you to contact me with any questions or concerns.

 

Thanks to the Friends Across the Ages Board of Directors for giving me this wonderful opportunity!

 

Best Regards,

Sarah Scales

 

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Note from the Board: We are so thrilled to have Sarah as part of this organization.  She is professional, talented, and friendly, and we feel very lucky to have her.  She will be the main point of contact for Friends Across the Ages, so any phone calls to our main number or contact forms on our website will go to her, and she can direct you to other members of the Friends Across the Ages leadership team as appropriate.  She will be coordinating the process of bringing on new volunteers, and will also be responding to “monthly logs” from our long term volunteers, so some of you may be hearing from her soon.  Welcome, Sarah!!!

 

 

SPANISH SPEAKING VOLUNTEER NEEDED

There is a new resident at North Florida Rehab and Specialty Care that speaks only Spanish.  We have been alerted to his presence because he is a family member of Leticia Ewbank, who has been a friend of our organization for many years.  Leticia makes many of the pillows and crafts that we give out at the Bingoathon each year.  Leticia cannot currently visit him due to health problems of her own.  If any of our Spanish-speaking volunteers would be interested in making a special trip over to visit this gentlemen, either once or as an ongoing commitment, please reply to this email and let us know. 

NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Each month, in addition to groups that meet weekly for regular volunteering/visitation, Friends Across the Ages sponsors a few special events and activities at various nursing homes.  These events require no ongoing commitment, though we do ask you to let us know ahead of time if you plan to attend any of these events so that we can be on the lookout for you.  If you would like more information about our weekly visitation groups and becoming a regular Friends Across the Ages volunteer, please let us know that as well.  Here are our special events for November:

 

Monday, November 10th, 3:30 – 4:30PM – Blackjack with Steve – A monthly event at Parklands Nursing and Rehab – By popular demand, Steve comes the second Monday of each month to deal blackjack for the residents (who play for prizes).  He can always use some extra dealers, so let us know if you’d like to come join the fun!

 

Friday, November 14th, 2:30PM – “Reaction Reading” -- Lead by board member Vi Asmuth, this event will be held at Park Meadows.  Residents will be invited to participate in a program that consists of choral reading of poetry.  The group reacts with active participation, knowledge, opinions, feelings, and imagination.  Vi did a study monitoring the results of this small group program in three nursing homes in the Fort Myers/Cape Coral area. One facility liked the program so much that she continued leading groups there for five years.  If you find this concept interesting, you are welcome to come out to participate.  This is a monthly event. 

 

Thursday, November 20th, 3:30-4:30 PM -- Birthday celebration -- Help us wish a happy birthday to all residents of Parklands Nursing and Rehab with birthdays in November. Meet us in the dining room where we will have singing and cake. Volunteers are needed to help gather the residents together, serve the cake, sing, clean up, etc.  Do you play an instrument or have some other talent?  We are always looking for new entertainment for the party – let us know!  NOTE: This event normally takes place on the last Thursday of the month, but has been moved up due to Thanksgiving.  Also note, the time is an hour later than normal due to conflict with another activity.

 

Saturday, November 22nd, 10:30AM – Flute Concert – Christine Alicot, a local flute teacher, will be bringing her students for a concert at Parklands Nursing and Rehab.  Volunteers are welcome to enjoy the music and share the fun with the residents.  Watch for a Holiday Flute Concert from this same group next month at Signature Health Care!

 

 

MORE INFORMATION

Remember, be sure to check above to find out the nursing home at which an event will be held.  Directions to all the nursing homes can be found at:

http://www.acrosstheages.org/directions.asp

All events are open to everyone (children are welcome at most events, please inquire). If you've never been to a nursing home before, feel free to reply to this email and us know what events you'll be attending, so we will be looking for you. You can also call us at (352) 381-1117.