New York Times Features Storytelling Program at Ecumen-Managed Assisted Living Community in Norwood Young America, Minn.

In a recent story about how older people find peace through telling their life stories, The New York Times features a program at The Harbor, an Ecumen-manage assisted living community in Norwood Young America, Minn.

In a recent story about how older people find peace through telling their life stories, The New York Times features a program at The Harbor, an Ecumen-manage assisted living community in Norwood Young America, Minn.

Bonita Heilman, the life enrichment coordinator, uses a program called Life Reflection Story, developed by Celebrations of Life, a company in Minneapolis.  She helps residents tell their life stories, which then go into a bound book that also includes family photographs.

Heilman tells reporter Susan B. Garland that most Harbor residents were farmers. “They tell stories about when they were productive citizens working toward the greater good,” she said. “Remembering gives them self-esteem at a time when they can no longer do the things they once could do.”  Read The Times story at this link.