Farewell, Marietta

Farewell, Marietta

May 20, 2025 | Profiles

I met Marietta in July of 2024 in a memory care community in Marietta, Ohio. Snowy hair, neatly dressed, she was 99 at the time. I asked if she was named after the town or if the town was named after her and she laughed. Marietta told me she once worked in a bridal...
Meet Wanda

Meet Wanda

Apr 28, 2025 | elder care, Profiles

Wanda has a smile at least a mile wide. A community member at The Pines United Church Homes assisted living community, she adds brightness to every gathering. I felt lucky to have her attend all three of the poemRENOVATION workshops I held while there as an...
Meet Mable

Meet Mable

Apr 24, 2025 | elder care, Profiles

Mable’s hand shook when she tried to move the poemRENOVATION word blocks around on the table. She struggles to keep her head up straight, so it was difficult to read the words, too. But once she teamed up with Kelly de la Rocha, poemRENOVATION’S founder, collaborative...
Meet Marlene

Meet Marlene

Apr 24, 2025 | elder care, Profiles

Marlene, a member of a memory care community in Marietta, Ohio, spends much of her time sleeping and doesn’t often participate in group activities. The staff was delighted when she decided to try poem RENOVATION.  Rev. Patricia Vargas, the community’s chaplain, said...