Glenmeadow Partners with Young@Heart to Offer Three Programs
NORTHAMPTON—Glenmeadow has partnered with the Young@Heart chorus of Northampton in its 35th anniversary year and will host three events featuring the performers this fall, beginning on Oct. 11.
Glenmeadow is a life plan community—formerly known as a retirement community—and it has a mission to serve seniors in the Greater Springfield region, whether they live on the Longmeadow campus or in their own homes.
The Young@Heart chorus is based in Western Massachusetts and has been touring across the globe for 20 of its 35 years. Directed by Bob Cilman, performers in Young@Heart range in age from 73 to 89.
Two of the three upcoming programs to be presented in collaboration with the chorus are offered through Glenmeadow Learning, which provides free educational presentations at venues throughout Greater Springfield.
In the first, called “Rock ‘n Talk: Young@Heart Film and Q&A with Chorus Members,” to be held on Oct. 11 at 2 p.m. at the life plan community at 24 Tabor Crossing, Glenmeadow will offer a viewing of Young@Heart’s award-winning documentary.
After the screening, participants can take part in a question-and-answer session with Young@Heart singers and learn about their backgrounds and musical inspiration.
The second program will take place Nov. 6 at 2 p.m., also at Glenmeadow. Called “Groovin’ with the Oldies: Open Rehearsal of Young@Heart Chorus,” the event will offer a behind-the-scenes chance to watch the Young@Heart chorus learn and rehearse new songs, accompanied by piano.
These programs are free, but seating is limited, and registration is required. To register, call (413) 567-7800 or visit glenmeadow.org/events.
The third program Glenmeadow is involved with is a daytrip to a Young@Heart concert on Sunday, Nov. 19 at the Academy of Music Theatre at 274 Main St. in Northampton. This trip is offered through Glenmeadow’s Getaways program, which provides day trips to performance venues.
The event is the chorus’ fifth Annual Mash-Up Concert, in which the octogenarian singers will team up with the nationally renowned Brooklyn Youth Chorus in a blend of talent and ages. Music will range from Leonard Cohen to the Psychedelic Furs and will also include pieces by Los Lobos, Radiohead, Tears for Fears, and Emerson Lake & Palmer.
The trip will end with a three-course dining experience at the Delaney House. Tickets are $99 and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, call (413) 567-7800 or visit glenmeadow.org/events.
Glenmeadow Learning is one of many free programs Glenmeadow offers to members of the wider community. And these programs represent only one facet of the life plan community’s mission to serve seniors across the region and to operate as a socially accountable organization.
Established in 1884, Glenmeadow is a nonprofit, accredited life plan community; it provides independent and assisted living at its campus at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow and expanded Glenmeadow at Home services throughout greater Springfield.
To learn more about Glenmeadow and its history and offerings, visit www.glenmeadow.org.
About Glenmeadow
In the 1800s, elderly individuals without family or means were sent to live at what was called “the poor farm.” In 1884, a group of civic leaders raised funds among themselves and other area families and purchased a house on Main Street in Springfield’s south end, establishing The Springfield Home for Aged Women. Quickly outgrowing that house, land was purchased on the corner of Chestnut and Carew streets, where a new home was constructed and opened in 1900. In 1960, the name was changed to Chestnut Knoll, and, in 1992, it began to admit men.
In 1993, the organization purchased a 23-acre parcel in Longmeadow to build a new community that would provide both independent living and assisted living in one building with various common areas. This was a new concept known as a continuing care retirement community. Existing residents from the old Chestnut Knoll property were moved to the new campus in 1997. Shortly after the move, the board voted to change its legal name to Glenmeadow to coincide with the name being used by the developer of the property.
Continuing care retirement communities are now referred to as life plan communities, responding to the needs of the aging population with new opportunities for care, plus creative, educational and personal exploration. Glenmeadow offerings, which include everything from senior living options and handyman services to personal care and travel programs, are provided at its Longmeadow campus and across the region through Glenmeadow at Home. Glenmeadow strives to fulfill its mission of nurturing the whole person in mind, body and spirit.
