By Michelle Peterson, PNA Philanthropy Director
“Hi! Mike said, ‘I loved MOPOP! I loved the guitar twister!’ That’s the first thing he said!”
“What’s that, Linda? I didn’t catch it, a ‘guitar twister’? Can you tell me about that?”
I hadn’t even asked Linda one question yet, but she knew I was calling to find out about their May outing with Greenwood Senior Center’s Memory Loss Program to Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPop).
For Mike and Linda, who had never been to the museum before, it was an ideal adventure because the group welcomed people living with memory loss at different stages, along with care partners and participants who were able to attend independently. The group first gathered together at Greenwood Senior Center before boarding a bus generously provided by Aegis Living Greenwood. Others drove on their own, and once they connected at MoPop, the group divided into two smaller tours, allowing everyone to explore at a comfortable pace, linger at favorite exhibits, and enjoy the museum without feeling rushed.
“The twister! It’s incredible. He really loved it. A huge sculpture made of hundreds, probably thousands of guitars and other instruments, all shaped up like a giant tornado. He loved that, and the fantasy exhibit and we really enjoyed the photo gallery,” Linda was happy to share with me. “Oh, and lunch. Michelle, these things mean so much.”
She went on to share details of their day. After a cool, cloudy morning wandering exhibits, the two groups came back together and watched the sun emerge over the picnic tables near the Artist’s Playground where they planned to enjoy boxed lunches brought by Aegis Living Greenwood, one more detail Linda didn’t need to arrange. She was grateful to slow down and connect with others.
“Nobody knows the journey like we do,” Linda said.
Under the sun, she said, they relaxed and found themselves in small groups chattering and catching up. These moments nurture the soul. Caring for a loved one living with memory loss can often feel isolating, and opportunities to spend time with people who truly understand can sometimes outshine the activities themselves.
For Linda and Mike, the MoPop outing was one of many ways they’ve found community through the Greenwood Senior Center. Mike was first diagnosed five years ago with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), which has progressed to vascular dementia. Both Mike and Linda participate in their respective online support groups and the weekly zoo walks at Woodland Park Zoo. Mike also participates in Art Appreciation and Brain Games. Kristen Oshyn, PNA’s Memory Loss Program Manager, let me know that Mike will help teach the upcoming Whittling for Beginners at Camp Greenwood in August because, as she said, “He’s a far better whittler than I am!”
Linda wanted to tell me more about the caregiver support group. “They’re like family,” she told me. “I really feel it when I miss one. I just know I have to log on. It helps my heart. It helps my soul.”
I spoke with Linda to learn more so that I can share with others why it’s important to support programs like these and spaces like Greenwood Senior Center. Donations and memberships are down across the PNA, but program expenses keep rising. I asked Linda why she thinks it matters, and she said very plainly that support is essential. As our community grows older, more families will experience memory loss, and caregivers often carry tremendous emotional and physical demands. Early support, welcoming spaces, and opportunities to connect can make a profound difference for everyone involved.
“The sooner people find the Greenwood Senior Center, the better!” For Mike and Linda, the robust and thoughtful programming at PNA’s Greenwood Senior Center, as well as other Seattle treasures like the Frye Art Museum and Seattle’s Memory Hub, help Linda prepare her daily schedule – one for her and one for Mike – engaging them both in the activities that help them thrive. “It can be lonely,” she shared, “but we know we are not alone.”
Special thanks to our partners at Aegis Living Greenwood and Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture. To learn more about the Greenwood Senior Center’s Memory Loss Program or find ways to support this work, visit Memory Loss Program | The PNA