Senior citizens receive special visit

ALL TOGETHER NOW- Michael Dwyer leads residents and volunteers of Silverado Senior Living in a holiday song at a recent event organized by Alison Cook-Ross (back row, third from left). "Hi, I'm Adam," said 10yearold Adam Castiel of Northridge as he greeted the elderly woman.

"I'm Stella," she said, "Stella Sosa. It means star."

On the seventh night of Hanukkah, Adam and a group of other volunteers led by Alison Cook-Ross of Temple Or Ami brought holiday cheer to the residents of Silverado Senior Living, a Calabasas nursing home that cares for elderly patients suffering from Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Adam had confessed to his mother earlier in the day that he was worried about visiting the senior home.

"He's a very emotional boy, and seeing people in pain really bothers him," said Yazmin Peebles, Adam's mother.

Not all of the residents had immediate health concerns.

One elderly couple, Jean and Fred Magoon, sat in chairs at the back of the Silverado recreation room, fondly holding hands.

"We've been married 50 years," said Jean Magoon, throwing an affectionate glance toward her husband.

"I grew up in the house next door," said Ollie Kimball. The aging veteran masked his fragility with a dose of good cheer while he sat confined to a wheelchair.

The afternoon celebration began with a resounding version of "I Have a Little Dreidel." Volunteers sang in heartened if not harmonious voices and were led on guitar by music therapist Michael Dwyer.

Young Adam lit candles perched atop a hanukkiah while the adult volunteers joined residents in singing the candlelighting prayers. Afterwards, volunteers talked with the seniors and passed out cookies and fruit to those whose diet would allow it.

Sosa shared her story as she was handed a plate full of treats.

"I used to be a draftsman," she said, "There weren't very many women working in that field back then."

Peebles said Adam wants to be an architect when he grows up. The boy beamed proudly thanks to his mother's vote of confidence.

The event carried a somber note as some of the elderly residents- those under hospice care- talked about how they might not be here for next year's holiday.

"I was very moved when I thought of people celebrating their last Hanukkah alone," said CookRoss, who cradled her 6monthold son, David, in a symbolic representation of the young versus the old. "I just wanted to come out and spread some joy."

Many residents reported finding much happiness in the attention and friendship they received from the temple volunteers.

Virginia Norris, volunteer coordinator for Silverado Hospital, an affiliate of Senior Living, talked about how a little human attention goes a very long way for many of the residents.

"We had one woman who would walk outside her room and fling herself to the ground so she could have some human contact when someone would have to help her up," Norris said. "She'd hold onto a nurse's hand sometimes for 40 minutes at a time because she just didn't want to let go. Then we found a volunteer who came in once a week to give her a manicure. The behavior completely stopped after that. I could tell you so many stories like that.

"These volunteers really do make such a difference," Norris said.

You could see it in their smiles, and the way the eyes in the room said thank you.