34 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 16, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Students send heartwarming messages to older adults at
NEW HYDE PARK, NEW YORK,
APRIL 7, 2020 – Residents and
patients at Parker Jewish Institute are
enjoying an extra dose of inspiration
that is arriving by mail this week.
These older adults are receiving
heartwarming letters, artwork
and encouraging messages from a
group of 7th graders at New Hyde
Park Memorial High School, which
includes grades 7 through 12.
The items bring optimism,
encouragement and smiles amid the
COVID-19 pandemic, during which
visiting is largely prohibited, per state
and federal guidelines, to protect
against the virus’ spread.
“Stay Positive,” a student expressed
in calligraphy in an illustration
featuring vivid spring flowers.
“We will get through these tough
times together,” another student wrote.
The initiative is all thanks to Bryan
DiScala, an English teacher at New
Hyde Park Memorial High School.
“If we c an do something
meaningful for the residents at
Parker Jewish Institute, we’re happy,”
Mr. DiScala said.
Older adults at Parker, along with
its staff, are welcoming the student
outreach.
“The students are spreading joy
to the Parker community during
this unprecedented time, especially
for older adults.” said Michael N.
Rosenblut, Parker Jewish Institute’s
President and CEO. “The students’
letters and artwork let our residents and
patients know the community
is thinking of them.”
Research shows that
maintaining connections to
others helps reverse feelings
of loneliness. And for
older adults, loneliness and
isolation are also connected
to poor health, memory loss
and other challenges.
S t u d e nt s , t o o, a r e
benefitting from this new
outreach initiative, Mr.
DiScala said. The program
fosters emotional learning
for students who are now
adapting to the stresses
of new dynamics, which
include distance learning
and staying home to help
limit the outbreak. Mr. DiScala
said he is building connections
with other organizations that might
also welcome his students’ outreach,
and that other teachers at his school
would lead a similar effort with their
students.
Meanwhile, the initiative enables
students to sharpen their writing
skills, express themselves through
art and build a sense of empathy as
they help connect the world to make
it a little less lonely.
A compilation of the letters and
artwork is available online.
Contact: Lina Scacco, (718) 289-
2212 or lscacco@parkerinstitute.org
About Parker Jewish Institute for
Health Care and Rehabilitation
Parker Jewish Institute for Health
Care and Rehabilitation, which is
headquartered in New Hyde Park,
New York, is a leading provider
of Short Term Rehabilitation and
Long Term Care. At the forefront
of innovation in patient-centered
health care and technology, the
Institute is a leader in teaching and
geriatric research. Parker Jewish
Institute features its own medical
department, and is nationally
renowned as a skilled nursing
facility, as well as a provider of
community-based health care,
encompassing Social Adult Day Care,
Home Health Care, Medical House
Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice.
Parker Jewish Institute
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