🌟Senior Spotlights🌟
~ shining light on the untold tales in senior homes ~
Albert Lim
Brookdale Senior Living, Emerson
Albert Lim
Albert Lim is a resident at Brookdale Senior Living and is a regular participant in our program. Having attended our art sessions, Mr. Lim has shared that this marked his first time painting in nearly 55 years. He is presently in his sixth year of recovery following his diagnosis of Transverse Myelitis, a rare spinal nerve disease, since May 17, 2017. Since his injury, Mr. Lim has been admitted to over 10 hospitals and 8 rehabilitation centers in NYC and NJ, diligently attending numerous physical and occupational therapy sessions. Mr. Lim has achieved remarkable progress since his initial diagnosis. He recollects a period of complete paralysis lasting for 5 days, during which he unable to feed himself due to his bedridden state. Now he has regained mobility in the upper half of his body. Thanks to his perseverance, Mr. Lim is able to join us every class, improve his dexterity with each lesson, and share his life stories for us to hear.
Doris
Juniper Village, Paramus
Doris
Doris is a resident of Juniper Village in Paramus. Known for her positive attitude and cheerful demeanor, she has earned herself the endearing nickname "terminally delightful" among staff and fellow residents. Doris keeps herself actively engaged within the community, serving as an elected ambassador and president of the resident council. In these roles, she manages various responsibilities, from assisting residents with medication collection, to reading the monthly minutes, Doris undeniably makes a significant impact every day. Although Doris radiates an outgoing personality today, she shares that her journey hasn't always been this way. Reflecting on her childhood, she recalls periods of loneliness due to the absence of a present family or home life. These early experiences has led her to navigate life independently for a considerable duration, which meant forgoing college in favor of seeking employment. Given her challenging past, Doris explains that her deep involvement with the senior community stems from finding a genuine sense of family and belonging at Juniper. Doris' story serves as an inspiration for people of all ages: her story embodies the resilience of the human spirit.
Richard
Juniper Village, Paramus
Richard
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Richard, a resident of Juniper Village in Paramus, is easily recognizable by his distinctive rainbow-colored lanyard and his remarkable talent for creating graphic novels that capture life both inside and beyond the senior home.
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With a 50-year career as an architect in Philadelphia and having started his own successful firm, Richard took up illustrating graphic novels as a personal hobby.
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He attributes the inspiration for his comics to the life stories of the homeless people he has encountered and befriended over the years. Recently, Richard has found a new way to stay engaged by designing flyers and signs for Juniper's community events. His passion for the arts serves as a constant inspiration for everyone around him, encouraging us to never stop practicing our own talents and to strive to make a positive difference in any way we can.
