Issue link: http://georgiancollege.uberflip.com/i/419610
EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE: BEING AN INNOVATOR IN GERIATRIC SERVICES MARLA KURTZ Therapeutic Recreation, 2001 Marla Kurtz found a gap in how society addressed the non-physical needs of the elderly and set out to fill it by offering holistic, goal-oriented care. Using creative approaches she provides custom therapeutic recreational programming for the elderly through the business she founded, Ray of Sunshine. She also helps to support families to bring happiness to their aging loved ones who have opted to remain in their own home. "Georgian College enabled me to have a viable and vibrant career that I never thought would be possible," she says. While often those who have opted to age at home receive some support and medical services to help them physically, Marla found many were at a loss when it came to using the rest of their time fruitfully. Combining functional fitness with cognitive mental stimulation, she develops programs to keep the elderly active. She often bridges their past interests and professions to current activities such as music therapy, puzzles and jewellery making. With several of her clients traveling south in the winter months, Marla is setting an industry trend by utilizing networking technologies such as Skype to stay connected with them. Marla built her company in a non-medical, non-clinical way and has expanded its scope by providing caregiver and family education sessions to help families keep their aging loved ones active. "We try to keep them connected to the rest of society," she says. We try to keep them connected to the rest of society. Marla Kurtz on her innovative approach to supporting the elderly 2014 PREMIER'S AWARD NOMINEE GEORGIANVIEW 2014 18 ALUMNI HAVING EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES