Hattie Ide Chaffee CEO Barry Zeltzer featured in Fall 2026 Edition of Medicine@Brown

Our CEO, Barry Zeltzer, PhD, recently shared the story of an innovative collaboration between the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home and Brown University in an essay for Medicine@Brown, the magazine of The Warren Alpert Medical School. Published on October 20, 2026, “Creative Outlets” describes Creative Arts with Older Adults, a preclinical elective that Dr. Zeltzer teaches here at the home. The course brings first- and second-year medical students, along with selected undergraduates from Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education, to work side by side with our residents through drawing, music, movement, storytelling, and role-playing.

At the heart of the essay are the students’ own written reflections, which show how creating art together builds empathy, communication, and genuine connection across generations. Students describe a resident sharing memories of her wedding day through sketches, another recalling her favorite foods during a narrative writing session, and a sing-along program where residents shared lyric sheets, drummed together, and formed new friendships. In one memorable moment, a 100-year-old resident who had once performed as a cellist came alive at the mention of the instrument, moving her hands as if playing and humming for several minutes. Through these encounters, students learn to understand dementia, loneliness, and aging from the inside out, and to see the difference that listening, a gentle touch, or simply being present can make. As Dr. Zeltzer writes, these experiences are a celebration of life, and they foster dignity, respect, and a renewed sense of belonging for our residents.

To read the full article, visit https://medicine.at.brown.edu/news/2026-10-20/creative-arts-nursing-home