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June 1, 2025

Lifting Spirits and Sparking Joy: The Impact of Tribute Together



Caregiving at Tribute extends beyond meeting physical needs—it’s about nourishing the mind, delighting the senses, and lifting the spirit. That’s the heart behind Tribute Together, our new initiative bringing enriching and intellectually stimulating experiences to the residents of our partner communities.

Each month, our project leader, Kristin Schwarz, curates a variety of meaningful group activities designed to spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and foster social connections. It’s more than just an event on the calendar—it’s a time for discovery, celebration, and shared experience.

Here’s a glimpse into a couple of recent Tribute Together activities that are already making a powerful impact:

Spring into the Herb Garden: A Sensory Journey Through Memory and Meaning

Tribute Together Spring into the Herb Garden event

CareOne Sharon Facebook Page Post

In our Spring into the Herb Garden event, residents didn’t just attend a presentation—they embarked on a sensory journey led by herbalist and nurse Linda Shanahan of Bluestem Botanicals. Linda invited residents to reconnect with nature through the language of plants—using taste, touch, and smell to awaken memories and curiosity.

Each herb and plant she passed around came with a story—not just of its health benefits, but of the role it plays in our daily lives, often unnoticed. Residents explored the five tastes—sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami—not as flavors on a chart, but as experiences they could feel, hold, and taste. They held fresh sage leaves, rubbed their fingers across velvety petals, and smelled the earthy notes of herbs they might only have known as powders in their spice cabinet. From chamomile’s gentle bitterness to the tart zing of hibiscus petals, each herb became a conversation starter and a bridge to memories.

As one resident tasted the sharp tang of hibiscus, she smiled, recalling having a cup of Red Zinger tea in her mother’s kitchen. Another remarked how dandelion greens reminded her of springtime meals from childhood, or “this is sage? I always used the powder from the spice cabinet!” The room buzzed with discovery as the group realized how much they already knew—but perhaps hadn’t taken time to notice.

Each time we hosted the presentation, the residents in attendance were active participants. In addition to learning something new, they left with a renewed connection to their histories, healthy living, and the natural world that nourished us.

Creative Craft for the Birds: Springtime Celebration

Tribute Together bird feeder decorating

Tribute Together Craft Event

There’s something magical about spring. It arrives not just in the weather, but in the little signs we see and hear—a bird’s song, a budding tree, the sun warming the windowpane. In our Creative Craft for the Birds activity, we brought that magic indoors with a hands-on experience that turned everyday items into moments of memory and joy.

Using pieces of nature and materials from around the house —ribbons, pinecones, seashells, fabric scraps, buttons—we invited residents to decorate their own birdfeeders. At first glance, it was a playful spring craft. But as the room filled with memories and conversations, residents were connecting the dots – between the objects in front of them and the seasons of their past. Ribbons were embellishments they used to add to their favorite dresses and handmade baby gifts. A pinecone became a reminder of walks in the woods, while a seashell sparked memories of trips to the beach. The chirping of birds brought back mornings spent on porches, coffee in hand. These humble materials became symbols of something greater: renewal, joy, and the beauty of spring.

Each creation was different, just like the personalities behind them. Some residents laughed at how their designs included every item on the table. Others were quietly reflective, lost in thought, while creating something new.

The design craft bridged the familiar with the forgotten. It invited residents to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways. Also, it offered them a moment not only to create, but to remember, to feel, and to share. It was a celebration of the season, of the senses, and of all the springs we’ve lived and loved.

More Than Activities—Moments That Matter

These are some of the many activities we offer with Tribute Together. Each event is our way of bringing love, creativity, and inspiration to our community partners. For care teams and families, these experiences offer something special: a glimpse into the joy that still lights up when we engage their senses, their stories, and their sense of purpose.

We’re honored to lead these moments. And we’re just getting started.