Erie, PA, Nurse Named Winner In Aging Well Rocks! Song Competition

Erie, PA, Nurse Named Winner In Aging Well Rocks! Song Competition

Mather LifeWays Competition Draws Worldwide Entries

EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Priscilla White, a 56-year-old nurse from Erie, PA, intrigued the judges when she submitted her song titled "Aging Well," for the Aging Well Rocks! Song Competition at Mather LifeWays, a not-for-profit organization that enhances the lives of older adults by creating "ways to age well." It was White's voice, lyrics and guitar accompaniment that catapulted her original song to first place, with a theme that best demonstrated how aging and getting older can be a joyful and positive experience.

"Many contests today strive to find the best and brightest young musicians, but Mather LifeWays designed this competition specifically to celebrate the talents of older adults," said Mary Leary, president and CEO of Mather LifeWays. "This was a unique opportunity for us to uncover some great music and to hear why older people think getting older is a good thing."

White's song was selected from entries submitted by songwriters from as far away as Ireland and England. Her song will be featured on Mather LifeWays' website, http://www.matherlifeways.com/agingwellrocks which is where White first learned of the competition.

"I believe in having a positive outlook on life and learning new things every day," said White. "It's good medicine to stay active and keep your interests fresh and new, no matter what your age might be. I have been playing guitar since I was 14 and love to write new songs for special occasions, so winning this competition is a real thrill for me."

White is a registered nurse who manages orientations and in-service training at the Pennsylvania Soldiers and Sailors Home in Erie. Also known as the State Veterans Home, the health care center was founded in 1886 and serves 180 older adults. White was already familiar with Mather LifeWays after participating in its PREPARE emergency-preparedness training program for elder care service providers program in 2006.

After hearing about online petitions created by older musicians asking shows like "American Idol" to do away with age limits, Mather LifeWays felt that it needed to create a worldwide competition that encouraged older adults to use their creativity and challenge them to prove that experience almost always makes a better musician.

"Getting older is not synonymous with giving up on your dreams," said Reed Engel, director of wellness strategies at Mather LifeWays. "In fact, older Americans who remain engaged with their hobbies and passions tend to be happier and sometimes healthier than their counterparts who don't dedicate time to their most loved activities."

About Mather LifeWays

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather LifeWays enhances the lives of older adults by creating Ways to Age Well.(SM) Founded in 1941 by entrepreneur and humanitarian Alonzo Mather, Mather LifeWays is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a continuum of living and care; making neighborhoods better places for older adults to live, work, learn, contribute, and play; and identifying, implementing, and sharing progressive practices for wellness, workforce issues, memory care support, and empowering caregivers. To learn more about our senior living residences, community initiatives, Institute on Aging, and making a donation, please call (847) 492-7500 or find your Way to http://www.matherlifeways.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Mather Lifeways

CONTACT: Stuart Greenblatt of Mather LifeWays, +1-847-492-7434,
sgreenblatt@matherlifeways.com

Web Site:

http://www.matherlifeways.com/

-------
Profile: intent