EngAGE

As part of the Beginner’s Jewelry Making class, the residents will participate in a Paying It Forward exercise.

These workshops continue to be a welcoming environment offering hands-on creativity and connection every month. This class supports fine motor skills, memory, and cognitive function while offering a calming and therapeutic creative outlet.

Residents will proudly donate their beautiful bracelets and journals for this PAY IT FORWARD cause to women in Homeless Shelters and Domestic Violence Shelters. Los Angeles inspires us to do more to support others within our communities.

Paying it forward with handmade gifts supports the giver by triggering a neurological “warm glow” that boosts happiness and social connection. The act of creating and gifting reduces stress, fosters a sense of purpose, and strengthens relationships by showing the recipient that they are uniquely valued.

The Psychological & Social Benefits:
1. The “Helper’s High”: The act of giving triggers the brain’s reward center, releasing dopamine and oxytocin. This produces a genuine feeling of pleasure and reduces stress.
2. Stronger Relationships: Investing time and energy into a craft demonstrates deep care and thoughtfulness, strengthening emotional bonds and mutual trust.
3. Enhanced Empathy: Crafting a gift for someone requires you to think specifically about their tastes, needs, and personality, which naturally expands your capacity for empathy.

Residents have enjoyed their Book Club for many years. Whether it’s virtual or in person, they get the opportunity to share their thoughts and hear others’ perspectives. The books are typically fiction ranging from Literary & Contemporary, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, and of course, Romance & Mysteries. EngAGE book clubs offer opportutnies for building deeper relationships. 

Book clubs help older adults by fighting isolation through regular social interaction, providing deep intellectual stimulation that supports memory, and offering a sense of purpose and routine. These reading groups keep the mind sharp while fostering valuable community connections.
Specific ways book clubs benefit aging adults include:

Counters Isolation: As retirees transition to new life phases, social circles can shrink. Book clubs offer structured, anchor-based conversations that make it easier to form genuine friendships without the pressure of typical social mixers.

Boosts Brain Health: Reading and debating storylines exercises critical thinking, working memory, and language skills. Research suggests this type of active, sustained cognitive engagement can help lower the risk of cognitive decline.

Provides a Sense of Purpose: Preparing for monthly or weekly meetings gives members concrete intellectual goals. Completing books and sharing personal insights offers a rewarding feeling of accomplishment.Improves 

Emotional Well-being: Immersing oneself in literature and discussing diverse themes acts as a healthy mental escape, reducing stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.