Boomer
Name: Attleboro Retirement Community
Width: 4.917"
Depth: 4.75"
Color: Black plus one
Comment: JE - Good Life
Ad Number: 00072478
is a crucial part of "living well”.

ARTIS SENIOR LIVING OF HUNTINGDON VALLEY sits on four and a half
acres of beautifully landscaped private courtyards threaded with walking
paths that overlook a gorgeous wooded retreat that is resident-friendly.

We want your loved one to experience the secured freedom that makes
Artis Senior Living so unique!
As part of our Grand Opening Celebration, we are offering you
a special opportunity to lock into our current prices for one year
and we will waive our community fee of $3000!
*move in must occur by May 31st to take advantage of this special*
FIND GREAT
RECIPES @
www.jewishexponent.com/ category/lifestyle/food/
Name: Artis Senior Living
Width: 4.917"
Depth: 4.75"
Color: Black plus one
Comment: The Good Life
out in nature and sharing activity outside is something which
Ad Being
Number: 00073461
brings immediate benefits to people living with dementia and we believe
Continued from Page 20
“The fact that we are a group and act as
a team — what that has generated as a
class is camaraderie,” said Anthony
Jenkins, 56, a pastor, behavior specialist
consultant and former Marine who is
Mapp’s de facto second-in-command and
gives me false hope by saying my pot belly
is diminishing. “There is a camaraderie
among a diversity of people.”
“It’s like a 45-minute social network. It
brings the community together,” Mapp
said, citing the age, gender, racial and reli-
gious mix of participants. “In a Jewish
community center, you have a beautiful
melting pot.”
Patty Rettig, 59, whose sister, Susie
Rettig, also is in the class, put it more
simply. “I just look forward to Monday and
Wednesday night,” said the pediatric
nurse practitioner, who tended to me the
time I cramped up and made a fool out of
myself rushing from the room.

That said, the class is about exercising
— and people are seeing results.

“I see all the regulars getting strong and
fit,” Patty Rettig said.

At 70, retiree Bill Rosenbaum is among
the oldest participants. He said the class
gives him more energy.

“It makes me motivated to come,
although I might not want to do so,” he
said. “I’m kind of surprised I can do every-
thing pretty easily.”
Rosenbaum’s also the most enthusiastic
participant about the music and is willing
to bust out a dance move or two if coaxed.

You might think the music’s a small point,
but Mapp takes pains to come up with
playlists that motivate.

“I get to know their personalities
through music,” she said.

Sometimes, however, that can backfire,
such as the time Mapp demonstrated — to
the sounds of Hall & Oates — a new exer-
cise that didn’t seem appealing.

My simple response of “I can’t go for that”
got a good laugh and temporarily derailed
things, even if we still had to do the exercise.

Mapp expects the class to continue to
evolve as she fine-tunes things according
to the group’s needs.

“The greatest success is you keep
coming back,” she said, failing to note that
an even greater success would be for me to
keep coming back and stop grumbling —
a far more difficult result to achieve. l
Contact: agotlieb@jewishexponent.com;
215-832-0797 22
MAY 18, 2017
THE GOOD LIFE
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



Ramblin’ Man
and Stroke Victim
Russ Cohen
NOW WALKING TALL
JON MARKS | JE STAFF
BUT UNLIKE MANY in his situation, Russ Cohen never gave up.

Confined to a wheelchair following a 2013 stroke on his right side, he finally stopped feeling sorry for himself
after the loss of a close friend and decided to get up — literally — and do something. So he started volunteering
at area nursing homes.

And while the wheelchair still sits in his cramped apartment at the Elkins Park House as a reminder, for the
most part he’s walking.

He wants those facing some of the same issues to not feel quite so alone.

“I was depressed,” said the 54-year-old Cohen, whose situation came to the attention of the JEVS Human Services
Nursing Home Transition program about three months after his stroke. JEVS has been at his side since,
now helping him adjust through its Supports Coordination program. “I wasn’t in denial.

Photo provided
See Cohen, Page 24
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THE GOOD LIFE
MAY 18, 2017
23