PULSE Magazine | August 2018 Issue

Community Relations

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The art of playing is creativity at its best for children and seniors. It is important to keep the mind active to prevent and treat many things , including aging. Those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, often talk about babies and teddy bears because it gives them a sense of nurturing which most seniors need. Or perhaps it takes them back to their childhood. It does not really matter why, at the end of the day teddy bears put a smile on most faces! This hits close to home for Clemente Leal who states, “My mother is 91 years young and admitted to the Alzheimer’s unit at the Nursing Center where she resides. I’ve witnessed her and other residents take personal attachment to teddy bears, and with my mother, she’s says, they are her babies, meaning her kids. Yes, the ugly one represents me, she calls it the Demon!” Wouldn’t it be awesome if nursing home seniors, Alzheimer’s and dementia patients within our community had beanie babies to love and snuggle in their own rooms? At the end of the day, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who didn’t have or always want a teddy bear. And that is a wish that is timeless and not age specific, one that we here at Austin-Travis County EMS is trying to make come true for hundreds of nursing home residents. Beanie Babies make us feel loved, providing needed snuggles and helps with loneliness. The Beanie Babies were graciously donated to ATCEMS by Karen Hassinger, wife of retired ATCEMS employee Warren Hassinger. The Hassingers generous gift has made its way across the greater Austin area bringing smiles and joy to many deserving seniors. The first two stops were at Riverside Nursing & Rehab Center and Heritage Park Nursing Home with many more to come. ATCEMS Brings Joy to Seniors with donated Beanie Babies

Riverside Nursing & Rehab Center

Heritage Park Nursing Center

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