Five years ago, Woodbury Mews associate Anna Catando never had touched a paintbrush in her life. But that quickly changed when she met Elaine Lewis, a 94-year-old resident of the Watermark Retirement Communities senior living community in Woodbury, NJ.
What started as a student-teacher relationship has blossomed into a beautiful friendship and an art class for the entire community.
“[Before joining Woodbury Mews], I had never been in a senior living facility. This is my first job doing this,” Catando said. “So when I met Elaine, she made me feel very comfortable here when she took me under her wing and taught me how to paint. I call her my second mom.”
Together, Catando and Lewis started a painting course through Watermark University, programmatic offerings in the seven dimensions of wellness (spiritual, emotional, vocational, physical, social, environmental, and intellectual). Lewis has no formal training in art but has kept the hobby most of her life. Her favorite subjects are landscapes and people, and she has kept busy during her time at the community.
“She’s got 15 paintings in her room,” Catando said. “I showed her a painting of water hitting a rock, and she took it and ran with it and painted a beautiful painting. She totally inspires me.”
The course takes on an extra significance for Catando. She is able to have great conversations with Elaine and other residents about the highs and lows of life while taking advantage of a fulfilling outlet for her creative talents.
“Elaine brings out the talent in all of us, even when we don’t see it in ourselves,” Catando said. “I told her that the artist in you and me clicked, but she said, ‘No, it’s the person that clicked.’ ”
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