Category: Participant Stories

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When participant Pamella Rose first heard about CenterLight Healthcare PACE, her health was not in the best place, and she was looking for a way to get assistance while remaining as independent as possible. She says that joining CenterLight PACE brought back light into her life in what seemed like such a dark time. In her own words:

Pamella Rose loves the different activities at the CenterLight Healthcare PACE Day Health Center (DHC). She said that the activities keep her active, motivated, and help her forget about her pain. Pamella Rose's favorite activity, of course, is BINGO (she said this laughing because her daughters call her The Bingo Queen). 

According to Pamella, making friends is a wonderful part of participating in the DHC. They truly have become family to one another. Sometimes it is like they are sisters and brothers. They play dominos together, teach each other crochet stiches, and just talk. Pamella recalls being so into her word search book one day that it was like she could not hear anyone around her, she just had to find the next word. Her friend at the center was trying to get her attention all morning, but she was in her own little world. Her friend tapped her on the shoulder and said, “Finally your nose is out of that book!” She said she thought she was sitting here all alone. She apologized to her friend, and they just laughed about it.

Pamella Rose has been a CenterLight PACE participant for 8 years and is enrolled as a participant at the time of posting.

H3329 PamellaBlog2024 Approved MMDDYYYY
Pending CMS and DOH approval
Last Updated September 27, 2024

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Participant Irma Hoyos first heard about CenterLight Healthcare PACE and joining the Westchester PACE Center in 2014. Irma says she had always been a social person, but as she got older, she found staying at home more often. Looking for socialization, Irma joined CenterLight Healthcare PACE and was greeted by staff and fellow participants with open arms. She states that everyone made her feel welcomed. In Irma’s own words:

CenterLight PACE Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Arianna Corretjer also loves having Irma at the DHC. She says, "Irma may be 97 years old, but she has the most youthful, energetic and loving spirit that many of her peers gravitate to. We love having her smiling face and positive attitude at the CenterLight Healthcare PACE center in Westchester.”

In addition to the DHC activities, Irma also enjoys physical and occupational therapy and receive all the services she needs to remain living in the community. 

According to Irma, every day is a new adventure at the CenterLight Healthcare PACE Center and an opportunity to make new friends. “I forget that I am 97 years old, I forget that I have pain and feel lonely at home. I truly feel happy and alive when I am at the CenterLight Healthcare PACE center.”

Irma has been a CenterLight PACE participant for 10 years and is enrolled as a participant at the time of posting.

H3329 IrmaBlog2024 Approved 09172024
Last Updated August 1, 2024

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Shelly Colley, director of the Friends of CenterLight Foundation, sat down with Bronx CenterLight PACE Center participant Nancy Rivera for an interview. They discussed Nancy’s passion for painting and how she has had to adapt this passion to accommodate her near blindness caused by a myopic stigma, coupled with Glaucoma.  

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Shelly: Ms. Rivera, is it okay if I call you Nancy? I am so happy to meet with you today. When I saw your paintings, I told the CenterLight PACE recreation staff that I just had to meet the artist!

Nancy: Oh yes, it is fine if you call me Nancy. My mother named me after Frank Sinatra’s daughter Nancy because she felt it is a strong American name.

Shelly: I am really admiring your paintings. The brilliant colors of yellow, red, and green daisies pop out from the canvas like real flowers. The hues of smaller blue and pink flowers interwoven together seem so life-like to me. When did you start painting and what piqued your interest to paint?

Nancy: I started when I was a little girl. I couldn’t wait for the Sunday Daily News to arrive so I could color in the “color by number” picture that came with it. We spent a lot of family time in our home, so my brother and I had many creative outlets.  My biological father was also a professional artist, and I think my brother and I inherited his talent.

In the 1970’s, I graduated from the High School of Music & Arts, which is now known as the La Guardia High School of Music, Arts & Performing Arts. And yes, this is the school on which the movie Fame was based. The four years I spent at this school helped me to home in my artistic skills and fed my love for painting. I continued painting for the rest of my adult life. As a mom raising my son and daughter, I always had art supplies available at home for them. My son is an engineer and designer, and my daughter has always loved arts and crafts.

Shelly: I understand you are legally blind and have been dealing with vision loss for many years. Could you explain what it is like painting with impaired vision?  Also, what inspires you to create these beautiful paintings?

Nancy: The way that I see, well, I try to describe this to people -- it is as if I am looking through one-piece of Cheerio cereal, and the center hole is where I see into. What inspires me is nature in all its glory. It can be any type of natural setting too. From landscapes to flowers in a market, to walking outside to seeing photographs. My friends travel the world and I ask them to send me photos from wherever they are. Then I pull the photos up on my iPad and enlarge them. From there, I can see the most brilliant landscapes.

Shelly: Just one last question: how long have you been attending CenterLight PACE at the Wallerstein center in the Bronx?

Nancy: I have been coming to CenterLight PACE for the last 5 years. I love the painting classes that our Therapeutic Recreation (TR) Specialist Michelle Van Etten runs. The room that we paint in has very good light, which is so important for me. I have some wonderful friends here who also paint. We all find it so relaxing and soothing. 

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About This Article

This blog post is part of CenterLight PACE’s series highlighting our participants’ stories.

Nancy Rivera has been a CenterLight PACE participant for 5 years.

Shelly Colley is the Director of the Friends of CenterLight Foundation.

"When Nancy saw the article, she got emotional as we spoke about how much this interview meant to her and how it made her feel. She thanked me for providing her with this opportunity and connecting her with Shelly. Each encounter I have with Nancy brings a whole new dimension and meaning to me for the work that I do, not only with Nancy, but with all of the participants in my painting group. They are my MUSE and continue to excite me to wake up and go to work each day. Thank you for helping me spotlight Nancy, and incredible woman and artist. My heart is full."

Michelle Van Etten, CenterLight PACE TR Specialist

H3329_2023_BLOGPassionForArt Approved 03302023
Last updated March 9, 2023

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CenterLight Healthcare PACE Amityville Participant Sister Maryanna Euring, 82, is an accomplished Asian brush painter. She has been a CenterLight participat since 2018. Here, she shares ways this 2,000-year-old artform has impacted her life, especially in the age of COVID.

A Lifelong Dream.

I’ve always loved Asian brush paintings. When I was a little girl, my mother took me to the Brooklyn Museum and there was a room dedicated to Asian art. It captivated me. It’s one of the oldest art forms, based on the Buddhist tenet of being present. I started taking art lessons and it came very naturally to me. Even though I am a Catholic nun I appreciate the Buddhist way of mindfulness.

Giving Back.

I’ve earned thousands of dollars for my painting but I don’t keep the money myself. As a nun, I took a vow of poverty. I have donated the money to literacy programs for immigrant women and to Puerto Rican earthquake relief. It gives me great pleasure to share my gifts with the world.

In addition to the DHC activities, Irma also enjoys physical and occupational therapy and receive all the services she needs to remain living in the community. 

Divine Inspiration.

I meditate first and the brush leads the way. I have an idea but the brush does something else. It helps me let go of any worries. Painting is what kept me going during COVID. I have an idea but the brush does something else. It helps me let go of any worries. Painting is what kept me going during COVID.

Silver Linings.

One good thing about COVID is that there has been more time to reflect and spend time with family, which is a wonderful gift. I hope when we get back to “normal,” whatever that is – that we’ll still take time to be with each other.

H3329_2021_BLOGArtist Approved 07022021
Last updated June 11, 2021

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Ms. Betty has been a CenterLight PACE participant for 9 years and was enrolled at the time of posting. This blog post was written in her own words.

I’m Betty J. Murray, I live in the Bronx, and I’m 74 years old. I have 3 sons and 1 daughter. My children grew up here, and through adversity all four of my children are successful. My job was to teach in a specialized kindergarten. We were the first special ed kindergarten in our district. There were children from shelters, children that were being raised by grandparents. We were trying to figure out ways to bring the community together so we created a lot of cultural programs. I’ve done about 46 years of community work. I’m still doing it!

I had a tragic situation that happened with me where I got hurt on the job with one of my children. I had an inflamed sciatic nerve and that put me in the hospital, which put me into a nursing home. I was in my head going crazy like, I can’t work? Something is changing, I’m becoming different. The me that I knew was becoming a different me. A social worker was kind enough to tell me about CenterLight.

The very first day I came to CenterLight I didn’t want to talk to people. A nice person came up in a wheelchair and she introduced herself. She said, “I know what you’re going through.” Her name was Sabrina.

And I had the opportunity to meet the young ladies I call CenterLight daughters. They were so warm and inviting and they got me into painting. It sparked something in me that I knew I have another life. There’s another part of Betty Murray besides the other part that I was leaving.

I always said that God sends you different people when you need them. I have a wonderful aide and she helps me get ready every day. Especially since I had surgery, she’s been everything to me. Joining CenterLight was the best thing that ever happened to me because it educated me about my body and it encouraged my mind and my spirit. So, it was another part of Betty that became a better Betty.

H3329_2019_BLOGBetty Approved 03122019
Last updated February 27, 2019

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Ms. Irene has been a CenterLight Healthcare PACE participant for 10+ years and is enrolled at the time of posting. This blog post was written in her own words.

My name is Nilda Lugo. I was born in Puerto Rico. I came here when I was 11 years old. I went to school and I got married here. I have 3 beautiful children and 4 grandchildren. On Sundays, my family comes here. I love to cook for my family—I did it for such a long time and besides, if I get company here, you’re not leaving without eating!

I found out about the center, CenterLight, 16 years ago when my mother needed help and joined. Then when I started to have trouble with diabetes and other problems, I decided to join as well. My mom went to the center for almost 16 years. When I started at the center, the doctor told me that she wanted me to get some therapy. I was getting arthritis in my hand. They were almost going to operate. Thank God, so far, I can do everything with them. I think they do a great job. 

Right after I eat my breakfast I go to see my people. I’ve got to say good morning to them. I say hello and give my love to everyone. We’re getting a lot of new people. I welcome them. 

I really like the treadmill and I love the bicycle. I didn’t even know how to ride one. Using these made me feel stronger and I have lost about 55 pounds. We go on trips. We go to eat out in restaurants. We go to museums and even to the theater. A nurse comes to visit me every week to check my blood pressure and that I am taking my medication.

My doctors and therapists and nurses listen to me. Each one of them are different and they all make you feel good. They have taught me not to be afraid. CenterLight helps me to be independent and strong and I love it!

H3329_2019_JanuaryBLOG Approved 02132019
Last updated January 30, 2019

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Ms. Irene has been a CenterLight Healthcare PACE participant for 2 years and is enrolled at the time of posting. This blog post was written in her own words.

My name is Irene Weinberg. I’m a native New Yorker—I grew up in the Bronx. I had a great childhood and had a lot of friends. We used to sit on the stoops, kind of like A Bronx Tale. I went into the financial world and I worked for almost 50 years. After being outsourced, I was really lost for a while. Very depressed. My health began to quickly decline and I didn’t know what to do. I kind of felt that I was just getting older watching the world go by. Where were the golden years?

I did some investigating on my own and I found CenterLight. I started one day as a trial and I haven’t left since. I enjoy it tremendously. When I arrive in the morning, I’m greeted by very friendly, smiling faces. I just come to life as soon as I walk through the door. My favorite activity is drawing. It relaxes me. It lets me express…me!

I also come to the open gym. I discuss with my Occupational Therapist, and she guides me. Leg exercises, arm exercises—I feel that my body really has shown improvement.

I have a health attendant that comes to my home. We shop, we take walks outside. She also assists me with housecleaning and laundry. She’s a great aide. It’s helped tremendously.  Because of CenterLight, my mental health really has improved dramatically. As we mature, there are some things we have to face in life, and CenterLight has really helped me face them gracefully!

H3329_2019_JanuaryBLOG Approved 02132019
Last updated January 30, 2019