Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida in South Fort Myers has announced a partnership between its new assisted-living memory care center and Keiser University’s Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program. The partnership gives students the opportunity to work one-on-one with residents affected by memory loss. OTA Program Director Marcia Hamilton states that the partnership is an “uplifting and motivating learning experience for our students” and better prepares them as future OT assistants working under direct supervision of a licensed occupational therapist

At Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida, 26 “pioneer” residents and employees took part in festivities to celebrate the 18-year anniversary of the life-plan community’s opening. Image courtesy of Cypress Cove

The memory care center, called The Cottage at Cypress Cove, opened in fall 2016, with Cypress Cove and Keiser testing the partnership in February 2017. Student-resident engagement has been encouraging. “Residents are excited about the varied activities,” explains Carleigh Racinski, program manager at The Cottage. “Many of the activities are quite different, creative and very entertaining.” Students are expected to visit the center at least twice monthly for six to seven months. 

Separately, Cypress Cove celebrated its 18th anniversary with a “Pioneer Party” on April 28. Among the celebrants were 26 of 29 individuals, dubbed “pioneers,” who have resided or worked on the 48-acre campus since the life-plan community’s opening in 1999.

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The ICAA welcomes your news submissions. Please send your press releases to colinmilner@icaa.cc-the ICAA's email for submissions-and staff will consider your news for possible publication. Newsworthy topics include such things as center/community openings; initiative or campaign launches; announcements of awards, promotions or grants; and other topics of interest to active-aging professionals.

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