Finding their voice and their confidence

A weekly sing-a-long at Savannah Court, sponsored by the Jewish Pavilion, has inspired more than 50 residents of Savannah Court and more than a dozen Pavilion volunteers throughout the year. Periodically, the children from the Jewish Academy of Orlando join in the festivities.

Mondays at 3:30 p.m., residents gather for hors d'oeuvres and desserts provided by Gloria Newberger and her cadre of Jewish Pavilion volunteers. After everyone is served, the singing, led by Morris Rashy, Zelda King and Lois Silverberg, commences. No one would know that vocal cords shrink in old age, since tunes are belted out at high volume.

Music is particularly effective with persons with cognitive loss; residents enjoy singing and can recall song lyrics long after writing and speech have declined.