Luther Manor to be featured on ‘Today Show’

A brain health program offered at Luther Manor’s Adult Day Center will be in the national spotlight Friday when it is featured on the NBC-TV’s “Today Show.”
The star of the segment is TimeSlips, an innovative group storytelling program that helps people with dementia reaffirm their humanity and connect with staff members, family and friends.
Luther Manor, a non-profit senior living community based in Wauwatosa, was one of the founding sites for TimeSlips in 1998 and continues to teach, train, and facilitate storytelling sessions each month.
“Today Show” correspondent, Jenna Bush Hager, and producer, Jim Thompson, came to the Luther Manor Adult Day Center on Oct. 12 to film TimeSlips in action.
About a dozen Adult Day Center participants joined in the storytelling session filmed for NBC, which was facilitated by staff members, Dawn Adler, Ellen Nocun and Alfreda Ellis and volunteer Jolene Hansen.
“It’s great that TimeSlips is getting the national attention it deserves,” Adler said. “The program brings joy to the participants and their families by providing a new way to connect.”
Beth Meyer-Arnold, Director of Adult Day Services, said she was first approached about the idea in the mid-90s by then University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh graduate fellow, Anne Basting. Basting is now the Director of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center on Age and Community. Rather than pressure people with dementia to remember, Anne wanted to encourage them to cultivate their imaginations.
“I could tell right away it would change our program dramatically,” Meyer-Arnold said. “It’s not your run of the mill activity. These are the types of projects we want to be involved in at day centers.”
The segment of the Today Show featuring Luther Manor and the TimeSlips program is expected to air during the 8 o’clock hour.
An accredited Continuing Care Retirement Community, Luther Manor has been caring and advocating for seniors for more than 50 years. In addition to independent housing, assisted living and long-term care options, Luther Manor offers rehabilitation, adult day and supportive services, hospice care and community outreach programs.