Who's Who: Re-Creative Resources' Inc. Contributors
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There are many people that have contributed significantly to the Re-Creative Resources Inc. website, and the free-monthly e-newsletter, The Rec-Room. Please take a moment to learn more about these knowledgable individuals. |
About Kimberly Grandal, ACC/EDU, ACM, CCRM, SGP
Owner, Re-Creative Resources Inc. |
 Kimberly Grandal, Founder and Executive Director of Re-Creative Resources Inc. has over twenty years of experience working with the elderly in numerous management and consultant positions. She is an Activity Consultant Certified/EDU. She also holds several certifications in the field of spirituality.
In 1990, Kim graduated from William Paterson University with a BA in Sociology and later studied gerontology courses at Union County College and Therapeutic Recreation courses at Kean University. Throughout her career, Kim has been the Director of Therapeutic Recreation for several long-term care facilities, including one of NJ’s largest.
In 2006, Kim founded Re-Creative Resources Inc. Throughout the years she has spoken for various national, state and local activity associations such as NJAPA, NJEPA TRA, VAAP, NJ-GAP, MOCAP, Activity Professionals of Hudson Valley, NJACA, NAAP, NCCAP, as well as the Society of Licensed Nursing Home Administrators of NJ. She has also provided seminars, webinars, consultation and support to numerous facilities in the state and nationwide. Thousands of Activity and Recreational professionals use training materials and other resources created by Kim.
Kim is the editor and writer for the “The Rec-Room", a monthly newsletter published by her company. In the past she has written articles for the Activity Director Today E-magazine and has contributed articles to Creative Forecasting Magazine, Current Activities in LTC, E-Zine and The Continuing Care InSite newsletter. She also has several Youtube channels and Facebook pages.
Kim is a recipient of the Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation 1997 Triumph of the Human Spirit Award, the 2008 NJAPA Power Player of the Year, and received special recognition for her contributions to NCCAP in 2009. She is a strong advocate for the Activity and Therapeutic Recreation field and served on the NJAPA board as the Chairperson for the Legislation Committee for many years. She served on the NJ/EPA TRA Board of Directors for two years and during her presidency, the organization received the 2012 ATRA Chapter Affiliate of the Year Award.
Guided by her heart and intuition, Kim expanded the company in 2012 to include services that are more spiritual in nature. She now offers crystal resources such as an online crystal store, spiritual wellness, and spiritual coaching. She is an intuitive and has helped thousands of people through one on one coaching, videos, and in many Facebook groups. Kim also completed the DoulaGivers End of Life Doula course. |
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 Gloria Hoffner earned a B.A. from Temple University in journalism with a minor in music and has graduate credits in astrophysics from West Chester University. She has NCCAP activity director provisional certification and is working towards completing ADC requirements. She is a member of NAAP, NCCAP, COAP, and has her own business, Guitar with Gloria (GuitarwithGloria.com), providing live guitar music sing-a-longs at retirement communities, assisted living homes, nursing care facilities, adult day centers and senior club meetings throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region and Northeast Pennsylvania.
Science for Seniors began in October 2007 when while working as a musician at Sterling Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Media, Pennsylvania, Gloria suggested a celebration for the 40th anniversary of Sputnik. As a result of this program’s success, science became a monthly activity at Sterling.
Science for Seniors won first place in the 2010 NCCAP Best Practices Awards. Gloria wrote about Science for Seniors for Creative Forecasting Magazine, August 2010. She has signed an agreement to write a monthly feature on the program for the magazine beginning January 2011. She is working on a book on Science for Seniors for Idyll Arbor Publishing.
Further information on booking Guitar with Gloria sing-a-longs, featuring large print song books, handheld jingle sticks for all residents and themed programs from patriotic to holidays including St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween as well as information on Science for Seniors programs visit her website at: GuitarwithGloria.com; by email: GuitarwithGloria@yahoo.com. |
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 Nikki Carrion is co-owner of Fit Xpress Consulting Services in Waterloo, IA. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of health promotion and says her passion for her work comes from her desire to practice preventive health and promote positive lifestyle changes. Although she works with a wide variety of ages, from college students to older adults, she says her focus is on empowering older adults to higher levels of functional fitness. Nikki has a graduate degree in Community Health Education with an emphasis in Gerontology from the University of Northern Iowa. She also has a number of certifications including balance training, chronic disease self-management, exercise for hip & knee replacements, group exercise instruction, personal training, yoga and pilates.
Nikki says she feels the aging segment of our population is “the spirit of America”. When she says this she refers to the abundance of experience that exists in our older Americans. She feels this type experience can only be acquired through the aging process, and she feels it is this type of life experience that we can all learn from if we take the time to listen.
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 Patricia (Pat) Czarnecki is a registered horticultural therapist by the American Horticultural Therapy Association and owner of GreEn’ergy, LLC—a New Jersey-based company that specializes in horticultural therapy programs and garden design for people of all ages and abilities. Pat has a Masters degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University, is a horticultural therapy instructor at The New York Botanical Garden, past Vice President, New Jersey on the Board of the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the American Horticultural Therapy Association, an active Master Gardener through Rutgers University, and public speaker on the many benefits of horticultural therapy.
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 Christine has contributed special activity themes for Re-Creative Resources since March 2009 and for Activity Director Today since July 2010. Christine received her North Carolina State AD qualification through Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Continuing Education Health Occupations Program in November 2007. She has done volunteer work at several living assistant facilities, as well as an adult care center. She keeps current on the changes and issues that AD’s encounter in the profession through on-line webinars, newsletters and several AD group blogs. She is currently a full time care giver for her grand-daughter, however she continues to research, create and plan activities to offer AD’s that might have a need for an activity agenda with special themes.
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About Dr. Donalyn Gross, PhD., LCSW, CMP, Thanatologist
The Dying Resident |
 Donalyn Gross, PhD., LCSW, CMP, Thanatologist, has worked with the terminally ill and their loved ones for over thirty years. She has worked in hospitals, correctional systems, been a hospice volunteer director, has taught college courses in death and dying, and gives workshops on death and dying issues.
Author of various books and booklets on her experience with the dying, she is presently a social worker. Dr. Gross created the Good Endings® program and began the first program at the SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She is currently the Good Endings® program director at Heritage Hall West, Agawam, MA.
"From my 30 years of experience working with the needs of the dying and those responsible for their care, I concluded that there is a need for psychosocial and psychological death education."
A professional musician and Certified Music Practitioner, Dr. Gross sings and plays the harp for the sick and dying at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, and Jewish Geriatric Services, Longmeadow, MA.
Her program, Good Endings®, designed for nursing homes, healthcare agencies, and the education of their professionals and volunteers is no longer in business. Over the years, it consisted of a comprehensive, on-going program headed by a Vigil Team that provided care for actively dying residents and their loved ones.
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 Judith is a consultant, designer and writer focused on empowering creativity. She launched Caring Crafts, Inc. to provide craft kits for adults who have fine motor skill difficulties and/or cognitive problems. She is a recipient of a grant from The Society for the Arts and her work has been profiled in print magazines and on websites. She teaches creative craft workshops and programs classes for creative crafts focused on older adults. In addition her blog/column, Creativity Matters can be read on (http://agingandcreativity.blogspot.com), www.eldr.com, as well as the National Center for Creative Aging (http://creativityandaging.blogspot.com/). It is also featured in print in senior newspapers. In 2009, Seeking Solutions with Suzanne, a national Comcast television program, will air a segment of Judith demonstrating Caring Crafts and in 2010 she will be featured in Vickie Howell’s book, Craft Corps to be published by Lark Books..
Originally from New York City, she is a graduate of Hunter College and studied Occupational Therapy in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the mother of two grown children.
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 Denise is an Activity Director certified through NCCAP. She has been working in the field of recreation since 1987 and as a freelance writer since 1988. Since then, her articles have appeared in such publications as Creative Forecasting Magazine, Seek Magazine, Conscious Living, and Kids World to name a few. On line she has contributed articles to the Gaia Network, My Pawprints ezine, Of Spirit and the Re-Creative Resources e-newsletter, “The Rec-Room”. Denise is also the Historian of the Ocean and Monmouth County Activity Professionals Association.
Currently, Denise is a Contributing Editor for Suite 101. In 2001, she started a therapeutic writing program, "Heal Through Words", in Assisted Living facilities and Long Term Care facilities in New Jersey. |
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About Debra Stewart MBA, MATLT, CDP, ACC/MC/E/AD/AC
Cane Fu for Seniors |
 Debra Stewart has over 14 years of health, leisure, and fitness experience in all levels of care for the senior adult population. She currently serves as Director of Wellness for the campus of St. Leonard which is home to over 720 senior adults. Debra is a Dementia Practioner, A certified personal trainer, a professional senior fitness trainer, and an Activity Consultant Certified, and her goal for the senior population is to help seniors find holistic balance.
Debra has a Bachelor of Science degree, and holds a Masters of Business Administration, and a Masters in Teaching and Learning with Technology. She is a Master Instructor of Tae Kwon Do, and is a Tai Chi instructor for seniors and an instructor of yoga. She volunteers as an instructor for Sinclair College Lifelong Learning program and teaches balance and conditioning programs for seniors throughout the community in civic and senior centers. |
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 Bob Lowden has studied Piano, Organ, and Theory at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia, Theater Arts at Glassboro State College in New Jersey, Piano at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Piano at the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Music Education, where he was a Piano and Voice major at Trenton State College. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Education, Masters Degrees in Music History and Choral Conducting and a Doctorate in Music Therapy. Bob spent many years performing piano and vocals in various settings, was a piano accompanist for the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia, held several Music Directorships at various churches, and taught vocal music in several schools. In 1993, Bob decided to leave the field of education to work in Recreation. He is currently the Director of Recreation at the Franklin Care Center in Franklin Twp., N. J., where he oversees a staff of 8 and provides Music Therapy daily. |
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 Carolyn Crummey is the Vice President of äh Massage Services, a professional therapeutic massage management company dedicated to bringing the mental and physical benefits of massage on-site to those who have a need but neither the time nor ability to find a qualified provider. For over 17 years, Carolyn successfully held leadership positions in a number of diverse, fast-paced and high stress environments. In January 2010, Carolyn co-founded äh Massage Services after making a life altering decision to leave her corporate position she had held for the previous ten years. Due to her personal understanding of the effects stress can have on one’s physical and mental well-being, Carolyn focused on making äh a company that not only delivers premium massage and relaxation services but also educates individuals on the need to incorporate relaxation and stress reducers into their life as a much needed preventative care. |
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 Ginger Bonner won the Re-Creative Resources Inc. February 2011 STARS Award and has been in the recreation field all of her life. At 12 years old, she volunteered with developmentally disabled Girl Scouts. Her Mom was her Girl Scout leader, homeroom mother, PTA Chairman and is the inspiration behind everything she does. At 16, she volunteered at the Westbury Senior Center and during college, Ginger worked as a Youth Group Director at two local Synagogues.
After receiving an AA degree at Nassau Community College, Ginger traveled through Europe on a backpack for 2 years. She then graduated from Adelphi University with a B.S.W and worked at the Sid Jacobson North Shore YM-YWHA in East Hills, NY where she instructed a large tapestry of innovative programs for 12 years to many diverse populations. She created many fun-filled creative after-school programs and also owned a children's birthday party business called "Kids Just Wanna Have Fun".
Ginger was in the therapeutic recreation department at Sunharbor Manor Nursing Home in Roslyn, NY, where she created and led an Alzheimer's unit for 6 years. In January 1998, Ginger became the activity director at Amber Court Assisted Living, where she still works. Her costume closet can dress up 200 people and she is in one of the costumes on a theme day at least once a week! She has many specialty programs from genealogy to I Love Lucy to palm reading and also conducts a full spiritual Sabbath service every Friday. She loves to dance and play the tambourine and most of all, she empowers seniors to feel young and her residents to rock n roll! |
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About Michelle Olson, PHD, LCAT, ATR-BC, ACC/MC
Art With Seniors |
 Dr. Olson is a social gerontologist and a licensed, board certified and registered creative arts therapist and certified activity consultant with a specialization in memory care. She is a life care manager and dementia consultant with Clear Guidance, LLC and she is also an adjunct professor at the Center for Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago and an instructor at the Lifelong Learning Institute at Vassar College.
Dr. Olson has worked passionately in long-term care, assisted and independent living communities for over twenty years in the Hudson Valley region of New York. Dr. Olson has worked as a consultant for various eldercare and non-profit organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and Meals on Wheels since 2012 providing services and support for older adults and their family care partners.
She has recently founded a 501(c)(3) charitable organization called, Evergreen Minds, Inc. which offers people living with dementia opportunities for meaningful connections and pathways to physical, social and emotional well-being through mindful immersions in nature, expressive arts and intergenerational connections. In addition, Evergreen Minds also plans to conduct research on the efficacy of nature-based dementia care and provide training programs for eldercare organizations.
Michelle is a devout advocate for person-centered care, combating ageism within sociocultural and health care settings and creating dementia-friendly communities and mindful time spent outdoors to reap the mind, body and soul health benefits from being in and with nature. molson@evergreenminds.org, or visit http://www.evergreenminds.org/
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