Spiritwood Senior Living Network

 Programs for

Mind-Body-Spirit

A Fresh Way To View Senior Lifestyle

Unlimited access to a variety of programs

designed for seniors

DONATE BELOW

Call Donna Surface at 218-349-7908 or email her at    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Spiritwood Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit Organization

              Memories and Music                            

                                                       Click on the TV in the picture below for our video...

SPIRITWOOD SENIOR LIVING NETWORK

Pat and Donna Surface

and

The Spiritwood Foundation

Music and musical performances are integral to the human experience. 

With dementia, we see music break through to memories that were deeply buried, and thought lost.

Hi!

We are Pat and Donna Surface of the Spiritwood Foundation.

We are committed to penetrating the barriers that engulf the aged with vibrant musical performances.

That is why we created the Senior Living Network. 

Please continue...

Along with performing our multi-media shows in theaters, we have performed at nursing homes, assisted living communities, memory care facilities, and Veterans Homes for many years. Our performances are interactive and fun, combining sing-alongs, 'Sign'-alongs (Donna is a Performance Artist In Sign Language) and dance.

And that has been a joy. 

Since March of 2020 we have been unable to provide live entertainment to our seniors.

Our Solution

Remember how you looked forward to weekly musical shows?

Through the 50s, 60s, and 70s...we loved them all - television entertainment we couldn't wait to tune into each week. We have created a fresh but familiar version of these beloved shows.

Heeer's Pat & Donna, and Awakenings

More info on the project, and the next phase - Building The App! HERE

CLICK ON PAT & DONNA SURFACE IN THE BLACK BOX ON THE RIGHT FOR A SUBSCRIPTION PROMO VIDEO: 

But, we needed a studio to accomplish this mission (you can donate below).

Senior Living Network Recording and Broadcast Studio

In order to attain our goal of providing fresh weekly programming to our subscribers, we needed to build a permanent studio - sanctified just for video and audio recording - where everything can remain set up and available: green screen, lights, camera, computer, monitor, sound system. It is a big setup to do what we do.

Thanks to generous donations the studio is built! Now we need funding to build the App, for performers, and tech consultants.

We will be recording hundreds of live, multi-media performances to build weekly shows for seniors - everything from musical variety and gospel shows to peaceful, calming wilderness shows and interactive seated exercise and dance shows. Every week communities will receive fresh new shows, but the library of shows will always be available to view on demand. Over time this library will grow - and our Senior Living Network will be like Netflix for seniors.

With an aging baby-boomer population the need for senior communities is growing. And so is the need for creative programming.

By helping us with this project, you will assist us in providing not only entertainment, but respite from loneliness, boredom, and depression for thousands of our seniors. We will give them something to look forward to - musical content they can relate to and experience on so many levels.

Movie Magic - How We Use Technology To Address Social Isolation 

We have learned that it can be useful to swerve out of your lane and navigate unfamiliar territory. Innovative technology is available...and look at us, ahem, baby-boomers...we have harnessed it to improve social connection and stimulation for our elders. By using a giant green screen behind our performances, state of the art video recording and editing software, special sound equipment, and an intuitive camera, we can create movie magic with entertaining, compelling videos that visually bring music and lyrics to life. Between the videos and the Performance Sign Language, audiences can actually 'See The Music'.

Awakenings Radio - A Free Service

With a subscription to the recorded video programs, we will provide free in-house music therapy 'radio channels,' and live Zoomed musical shows.

"Music remains one of the most magical, inexplicable, and fulfilling aspects of the human experience."

                                            This amazing video punctuates that quote...

                                            CLICK ON THE POWER OF MUSIC FOR THE VIDEO:

So Many Opportunities

There are thousands of senior living communities, nursing homes, memory care facilities, and Veterans Homes around the country - with more than a million residents residing there.

The challenges of the pandemic initiated the pursuit of this initiative. We saw what was happening to our elders during this crisis and developed Awakenings - a solution not just for these unprecedented times, but the future. The fact is, even without a pandemic, seniors living in housing facilities sit and wait for diversion. Every time we visit one we hear... 

"When are you coming back???"

For senior community residents, activities and family visits are important ways for them to feel socially connected. Visitors and entertainment link them to the outside world. Even in the best of times, senior living communities can feel isolated. 

This makes music programming more important. 

When senior communities and facilities locked down in 2020, all services and programs were suspended. These restrictions created a sad, isolated, and lonely environment, with lasting ramifications. 

Social isolation and loneliness are major risk factors that have been linked to poor physical and mental health. Awakenings will provide interactive programming - while residents remain shuttered - and then when they can gather again to enjoy programs as a group.

So, You See, We Really Need Your Help - YOU CAN DONATE AT THE LINK BELOW

A  Personal Story

In 2004 Donna lost her father, Rocco Michael Passaretti, to Alzheimer's Disease. A WWII hero, Daddy's greatest passions were his family, his army service, and music. Even when he did not know us anymore, couldn't remember what a fork was for, he never lost his music. He loved to listen to Pavorati sing the aria, Nessun Dorma. We played it for him in his final moments - and as Pavorati's magnificent voice soared at the end of the aria, my father's arm rose to the sky...along with his spirit. 

Please Read This! It's One Of Our Remarkable Awakenings Experiences:

Hi Donna and Pat,

Thank you so much for making the long journey to bring your music and art to Alexandria. The residents and staff of Grand Arbor were truly enriched by your performance. I’ve since been bombarded by requests to have you return as soon as possible and have witnessed numerous people aglow with gratitude and joy as they recount the feelings and emotions that were evoked during your performance.

In the healthcare industry, we often associate caring for individuals with things such as blood pressure checks, administering medication and stethoscopes. 

However, providing true care encompasses not only taking care of the physical body but also the spiritual and emotional aspects of being human. During your visit you were able to provide an amazing amount of fulfillment and enjoyment to one of our memory care residents named Jack. Jack is a retired high school band & orchestra instructor who’s life has been filled with music. Although Jack’s dementia impairs him from having the ability to speak very much, it has in no way impaired his ability to be spoken to by music. During your performance, Jack had an awakening that was seen physically by his radiating smile but also felt emotionally by his intense engagement as he was carried away and swept Over the Rainbow. Jack was emotionally inside of the music and was keeping time, anticipating key changes and feeling the crescendos and decrescendos. This kind of “care” is every bit as important-if not more. 

Thank you for enriching the life of Jack and all the staff and residents here at Grand Arbor. I look forward to working with you again soon.

All my best,

Laura Kremer

Life Enhancement Coordinator

Grand Arbor Nonprofit Senior Lifestyle Provider

GIVING BACK...

Subscription sales will benefit the Spiritwood Foundation (more about the Foundation's impact here).

Your tax-deductable donation will be a gift that keeps on giving. Donate to Awakenings Recording and Broadcast Studio below. Any amount is greatly appreciated:

   Please select 'Share your mailing address with Spiritwood Foundation so they can acknowledge your donation'.

   We will send you an official receipt for Income Tax purposes.

 Musical Show Subscriptions

           Jukebox Time Machine - Classic Jukebox Hits Through The Decades

           Hallelujah Gospel Show

             Peaceful Journeys - Wilderness and Wildlife with Peaceful Instrumentals                          

             Featuring our Telly-Award Winning Boundary Waters Videos

             Bonus Feature Videos: Lloyd LaPlant, Dr. Lynn Rogers, Will Steger, Sigurd Olson, Joe Seliga

              Coffeehouse with Pat Surface
                  
              

                 Music and Movement with Donna Surface                     

Awakenings In-House 'Radio' Channels

Each channel offers hours of music from our catalog

                               Classic Hits

                               Gospel Favorites

                                                   NAP - Nice And Peaceful - Instrumentals/Music Therapy

                                                   Bluegrass/Country

                                                   Celtic