August 28, 2024 —This month Michele Tarsitano-Amato celebrates her 31st anniversary working at Kendal, and that puts her in an elite group: founding staff member of Kendal, which opened in 1993.
Michele has been working in the field of aging since her undergraduate years at Ohio University, and from day one at Kendal she has held the position of Director of Creative Arts Therapy.
Advocating for Licensure of Art & Music Therapists.
“As an art therapist, the focus on the emotional wellbeing of individuals as they age has always been a center piece of my practice,” she says. “As an Art Therapist Registered Board Certified, I am excited about Ohio passing legislation to license Art and Music Therapists. I have been an advocate for licensure starting in the late 1980s. It is rewarding that the public will have confidence that those offering art therapy in the state of Ohio are licensed to do so.”
Taking the Lead with Volunteers
She also created the volunteer department and has taken the lead on coordinating volunteer activities along with hosting interns and students. “It is important to me that older adults have opportunities to mentor multi-generationally. It is why I work hard to offer internships and engagement between the different generations and our residents,” Michele says.
Michele’s two children, Mikey, 25, and Angie, 23, both grew up at Kendal, and were members of Kendal Day Care when Kendal offered childcare for infants to pre-school.
No matter where she goes, Michele says Kendal is never far.
“When my husband Mike and I eloped and got on the plane, there were Kendal residents also on the plane heading to Florida. When we took a train to New York, when we got up in the morning for breakfast we sat with Kendal residents who were also on the train. When I went to the Chicago Museum of Art, who do we run into – Kendal residents. This reflects on how involved and traveled our residents are. Kendal isn’t just a retirement home where staff do for the residents, but a CommUnity of people that work with each other.”
Story by Molly Kavanaugh
In the past, Molly Kavanaugh frequently wrote about Kendal at Oberlin for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, where she was a reporter for 16 years. Now we are happy to have her writing for the Kendal at Oberlin Community.
About Kendal at Oberlin: Kendal is a nonprofit life plan community serving older adults in northeast Ohio. Located about one mile from Oberlin College and Conservatory, and about a 40 minute drive from downtown Cleveland, Kendal offers a vibrant resident-led lifestyle with access to music, art and lifelong learning