Call us at 1-833-252-2737 (TTY 711)

8AM-8PM Monday-Friday

Call us at 1-833-252-2737 (TTY 711)

8AM-8PM Monday-Friday
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The Benefits of Tea Therapy

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This blog post is guest written by Angelina Holmes, a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at the Flushing Teamcare center.


Tea Time With Angie

Every month, I lead Tea Therapy with a dedicated group of participants who look forward to trying a new tea. For May I chose peach tea because it is fragrant, delicious, and perfect for the warming weather. I make it special for the participants with decorations, a festive tablecloth, flowers, decorative tea pots, and place settings. This month there’s an extra treat for each participant—a fresh peach, wrapped in cellophane with a bow!

Benefits of Peach Tea

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Peach tea has a lot of healthy properties that are particularly relevant to an older population. For instance, it contains calcium that strengthens teeth and bones, which also lowers risk for osteoporosis. It’s herbal and therefore naturally caffeine free, which is perfect to have in the evening. Like most teas, it’s also a diuretic, which can help the elderly use the bathroom before bed. There are also many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which improve the immune system and bolsters heart health. Peach tea is delicious hot or cold, and it’s very refreshing.

quality time socializing

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It’s not just about the tea—it’s about the opportunity to sit down with each other over a cup of something special and talk about life. I make sure to ask the participants about their past, the times before I knew them. We talk about their past jobs, their kids, and their age. One of the regulars used to take care of foster youth, and now is 103! Another participant used to be an accountant, and another was a stay at home mom. It’s fun to talk about our lives and how we got to know each other through CenterLight. In the end, it’s about more than learning about a new drink. It’s about spending quality time getting to know each other a bit better. A lot of us speak different languages—this month we had participants who speak Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and English—and tea therapy provides an opportunity to share an experience together. You never know what you can learn when you’re in the graces of other people. It’s a good thing to take care of other people, and they often take care of you back.

 
 

H3329_2019_BLOGTeaTime Approved 06212019
Pending CMS and DOH approval
Last updated June 6, 2019

Ready to find out if Teamcare is right for you? Call us at 1-877-212-8877, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. TTY users should call 711. You may also request a callback from one of our representatives by completing the form below: