Seniors Adapt Broadway Hits at Assisted Living Communities

An assisted living provider has been staging adapted versions of Broadway hits to help seniors express themselves creatively, reports Patch.com . Juniper Communities recently earned Argentum's "Best of the Best Award" for its Perennial Players program, which offers residents opportunities to perform classic Broadway musicals. "Juniper's Perennial Players shows unparalleled passion and commitment to providing an optimal environment for residents and their families," declared Argentum CEO James Balda. "This innovative program stands out for its uniqueness and ability to advance excellence in senior living." Partnerships with other local groups and organizations have been essential to the program's success, according to Juniper's senior director of community relations Katie Kensinger. "For seniors, particularly those with dementia, musical theater demonstrates therapeutic value and a unique outlet for creative expression," she added. Juniper Village at Brookline in State College, Pa., piloted the program in 2018 and was the first senior living community to perform "Guys and Dolls, Senior," followed by "Singin' in the Rain, Senior" in 2019. The program's success has prompted its extension to other Juniper locations, including Bloomfield, N.J.