Senior Living News in Catonsville

Charlene “Sally” DiDomenico lives a sweet life. For the last 50 years, she has been whipping up cannoli from scratch, following a recipe handed down from her late husband’s Sicilian grandmother. Now, Sally is sharing her family recipe with her friends and neighbors at Charlestown and across the Erickson Senior Living network of communities.

Charlestown's community garden features 90 personal spaces, each measuring 10-by-10 feet, where residents' green thumbs can grow a variety of plants and flowers.  Two other groups, the Wildflower Group and Birdbrains (bird watchers), also offer excellent opportunities to connect with neighbors who share similar hobbies and interests.

"It's a wonderful program for our residents, especially those who cannot volunteer in other capacities as well as retired elementary school teachers and principals who miss these intergenerational connections." The students kick off the program for the year by writing letters about their hobbies and what they are learning in school. After receiving students' letters, Charlestown pen pals write back, asking questions about their interests and sharing life stories.