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Linda Wilson
Facilitator and Conductor
Education:
Linda has studied at Transylvania College and Miami University. She has attended numerous workshops related to the Activity Director field.
Background Information:
Linda has created, implemented and served as a consultant for social activity programs in nursing, assisted living and retirement homes in the Austin, Texas area for twenty years. She has been a nationally certified Activity Director who has been trained in volunteer recruitment and coordination. Linda has held offices in the Capitol Area Social Activity Coordinator's Association (CASACA), was a member of the Governor's Committee on Nursing Homes and served on a University of Texas panel concerning head injuries. She has presented numerous workshops on creative activities for long term care facilities.
Linda has the following to say:
"Being an Activity Director is the greatest job in the world. You give love and receive it back two-fold or more. It's a job that requires creativity, organization, people skills, budgeting, community involvement, commitment, dedication, common sense and patience. That's a lot isn't it? But the rewards are the greatest. One resident once told me I was the biggest inveigler she knows. 'Always trying to get residents involved, working on volunteers and sending for freebies.'
"But when a resident says 'thank you, I enjoyed that,' or a family member says, 'You've made such a difference in my father's life. He has something to live for now,' you know your job is worthwhile."
James Wagner
Music Director
Education:
James has studied piano and music theory with Margaret Wyss, Ph.D. and Mary Betty Lathrop, M.A., for thirteen years; the cello and music theory at the University of Texas String Project, Phyllis Young, Ph.D., for four years; sound technology at St. Edwards University, Mary Moody Northern Theater with Ed Mangum, Director in Residence.
Background Information:
James is a musician with thirty years of professional experience, having performed for and with many of the top blues, rock, classical and jazz artists; television, stage and film entertainers, as well as studio session work for nationally distributed motivational tapes and artist recordings. His work at Buckner Villas included therapeutic music for Alzheimer, nursing, assisted living and retirement residents. He works with the Kiwanis to provide entertainment for the assisted living unit's monthly birthday party. He also is conducting an independent study with music in the Alzheimer unit on a bi-monthly basis and at all holiday family dinners.
Linda says about James: "He loves the challenge of changing the climate of a room of Alzheimer residents with his music. He truly believes when playing for any group, you must sense the feeling when you walk in and adapt your music to meet their needs. One resident in an Alzheimer unit said, 'He is a true artist. He knows what we need and knows how to make us feel better!'"
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