Concordia student leads writing group at Ridgewood Care Center

What started as an on-campus writing group activity resulted in some special relationships for Concordia student Adam Hubrig. The junior from Hankinson, N.D., is leading a writing group every other Wednesday for residents at Ridgewood Care Center in Seward.

Hubrig and other members of a student writers' group initially went to Ridgewood to deliver homemade Valentines. While there he saw an opportunity to explore information he was studying in his gerontology class and a chance to minister to the elderly population at Ridgewood.

"We were studying ways to help elderly folks in Gerontology, and I stumbled on writing therapy," said Hubrig.  "Writing therapy is supposed to help relieve stress, help people feel connected, and, because it is a cognitive practice, it should help prevent mental illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer's."

Hubrig, with the help of several other Concordia students, began the writing therapy sessions in March. During each session, Hubrig reads a poem, the group discusses it, and he gives them a writing prompt related to the original poem.  The residents then share their works.

"The residents have written some astounding poetry," Hubrig commented. "The poems themselves have led to lots of wonderful discussions.  They all have stories to tell, experiences to share with the next generation."

Hubrig plans on continuing the writing group sessions this summer and next fall. "Sometimes more visiting goes on than writing, but it is really up to them.  If they want to do more visiting than writing, that is totally okay. We're there for them."