Teen Bridges Gap to Work With Elderly

Devi Reznik listens patiently although she has heard the story before. It’s the one Faye likes to tell about meeting the legendary comedian Groucho Marx.

“He was kind of making eyes at me,” Faye recalls of their chance encounter at a stoplight on a busy Los Angeles boulevard more than half a century ago. “He said, ‘Got any other sisters like you at home?’ ”

Even though Groucho was popular long before 16-year-old Devi’s time, she smiles. She’s heard the story often during her twice-a-week visits to the Alzheimer’s unit at the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging in Reseda.

Each week, Devi helps elderly and Alzheimer’s patients, such as Faye, make crafts to sharpen their minds and brighten their surroundings. The activities give patients an opportunity to socialize and reminisce.

On her previous visit, Devi helped the group make tissue-paper flowers and construction-paper masks. Most recently, they were busy transforming photocopied pictures of the U.S. flag with red, white and blue glitter for the Fourth of July.

“I’ve never done this before in my whole life,” said a woman named Ruth as she dabbed a paintbrush into a plastic bowl of glue.

“It doesn’t matter,” Devi said, patting her shoulder. “I’ll show you.”

Devi worked her way slowly around two tables pushed together to make room for patients. Half an hour later, she had helped each of the dozen.

“Oh, how pretty this is,” exclaimed 80-year-old Alma as Devi carefully placed red glitter on a flag stripe. “This, I like! This is starting to make sense.”

Devi, who will be a senior next year at Los Angeles’ Milken Community High School, began volunteering at the organization’s Victory Boulevard home last fall. She said she enjoys the company of the residents, whose average age is 91.

“They talk with you,” she said, “and they let you be part of their life. . . . They have so much to share.”

In the crafts room, where Devi helps non-Alzheimer’s residents crochet, string beads for earrings or make handbags to be sold on consignment, she catches up with one of her favorites, 78-year-old Sam. His face lights up when he sees Devi.

“She’s good medicine for him,” said Sharon Webb, arts and crafts activities director.

The two hit if off right away.

“The first time we met,” said Sam, “we had an argument.

“Just ask her! I was right,” he teased.

Sam, who was a pilot for an Israeli airline and worked in construction before retiring, comes to the crafts room often to paint stark images of the Holocaust. Currently, he is working on a portrait of Mt. Rushmore.

Between brush strokes, he and Devi debate abortion, affirmative action, presidential politics and gun control. Inevitably, others will put down their handiwork and chime in.

“Most people have an image of the elderly sitting around and not moving all day,” Devi said. “Instead, they are running all over the room getting involved in the debates. . . . But we all end up agreeing in the end.”

Devi talks with them, rolls and organizes their yarn by colors, helps them prepare and mail important paperwork, whatever they need.

“Maybe I’m just idealistic,” she said. “I just want to help them with everything.”

Devi hopes she can combine her love of debate and seniors to work as an attorney someday advocating for the rights of the elderly.

“She’s going to be a famous lawyer someday,” Sam said.

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