SAN DIEGO – San Diego Opera announced today that the Company’s Scenic Studio has begun work on the Glenner Center’s “Town Square”, a new Adult Day Program Facility for participants facing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other memory impairment diseases. Located in Chula Vista, CA, this facility will create a replica 1950’s era San Diego themed city replete with historic storefronts including a museum, a movie theater and city hall to provide participants with Reminiscence Therapy.
The concept behind the creation of “Town Square” is Reminiscence Therapy, which involves the use of past activities, events and experiences with other people, usually with the aid of tangible visual prompts such as photographs, household or familiar items, as well as, music and sound recordings from the past. Glenner’s “Town Square” will create a simulated indoor, urban environment, with fully-interactive storefronts. Each storefront is designed to model a historic business and provide specific programmatic value to the participants. By creating a safe location that allows participants a structured day, as well as, autonomy and independence, the participants will be afforded a higher quality of life; specifically, anticipated improved mood, reduced agitation and improved sleep patterns.
Forging meaningful partnerships with the community is at the very heart of the Glenner Center vision, and is part of San Diego Opera’s new mission since General Director David Bennett took the helm of the Company in 2015.
“As San Diego Opera continues its transformation into an opera company for all of our community, I often talk about the need to build meaningful partnerships with our neighbors,” shares San Diego Opera General Director David Bennett. “Our relationship with the Glenner Center, while not a traditional partnership like those we have with the San Diego Symphony or San Diego Theatres, is just as vital to our future. The work the Glenner Center is doing enhances the lives of the San Diegans who use their services, just as the arts enhance the quality of life in our city. San Diego Opera is excited to assist the Glenner Center in the important work they do, and we look forward to building new ways to support their mission.”
“Town Square” is truly an innovative care model that changes the way care is delivered for those facing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia across our city and the nation. We are absolutely honored to be working with the San Diego Opera Scenic Studios, who are helping us to create the most realistic and authentic experience for our participants. The opportunity to merge care and the arts will result in an unparalleled experience for our participants and family caregivers” said Scott J. Tarde, L.N.H.A., Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc. ®
San Diego Opera was contacted because of the Company’s expertise and outstanding reputation for building lifelike and realistic set pieces for opera, theatre, museums and trade shows around the world at the Company’s Scenic Studio in the Barrio Logan. “Town Square” was the vision of Scott J. Tarde, CEO of the Glenner Center and designed by award-winning architect, Douglas Pancake.
The Glenner Center will be holding an invitational reception with renowned neurologist Dr. Howard Feldman, the Director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study and Dean for Alzheimer’s Related Neurodegenerative Research at The Ida and Cecil Green Faculty Club | UCSD School of Medicine on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 5:30 PM. The Glenner Center’s “Town Square” will also be introduced at this event.
The Glenner Center’s “Town Square” is scheduled to open in early 2018 and is currently engaged in a Capital Campaign.
