PRIMETIME

He's a bright light at homes

Anthony Cirillo helps show the positive side of long-term care

JENNIFER SZAKALY

Long-term care communities can sometimes be associated with negative stereotypes, but a performer in our area offers a program that focuses on the positive aspects of these facilities.

Anthony Cirillo, a resident of Mecklenburg County, used his years of experience performing in nursing homes and assisted living facilities to write the book, "Who Moved My Dentures?"

The book collects human interest stories from dozens of residents whom he has met while performing through the years. In addition to making those stories available to readers, Cirillo continues to perform, using song, stories from his book and audience participation to convey the importance of recognizing what we have to learn from older adults.

Cirillo, whose other professional endeavors are in the health-care field, is an advocate for older adults and also uses his performances to address perceptions about nursing homes. "The truly quality facilities take the attitude that these (nursing facilities) are not places you go to die, but to live another quality chapter in your life," Cirillo said.

In addition to the stories that he shares, Cirillo also focuses on the business side of health care as he simplifies the long-term care system for consumers in his book and during his presentations.

Caregivers and family members of older adults will find that their questions regarding the different types of long-term care facilities, how these agencies are regulated, as well as how to make a good selection are all touched on in the book.

For Cirillo, informing people whose lives are affected by the long-term care industry is one of the many goals of the book. His programs, however, promise pure entertainment as he brightens the lives of older adults with laughter.

Though he tours in many different states and makes keynote presentations for various long-term care professional groups across the country, Cirillo will be in our area, as he entertains at a local assisted living facility in Pineville.

Check the box for details on his upcoming program "The Meaning of Life" or visit his Web site for more information about the book "Who Moved My Dentures?"

Want To Go?

Anthony Cirillo will give a presentation from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 28 at The Haven in the Village at Carolina Place, 13150 Dorman Road, Pineville, NC 28134. Complimentary dinner.

There's limited seating, so R.S.V.P. by Sept. 25 to 704-540-0155 or hpinvcon@rsl-al.com.

To research nursing facilities in our area, visit: http://www.medicare.gov/, scroll down for info on nursing facilities.

Jennifer

Szakaly