By Kathy Bohannon
For Coastal Senior

When Chaplain Chuck Courtenay arrived for an April visit to River's Edge Retirement Residence on Waters Avenue, folks started lacing up their dancing shoes.

Courtenay operates the Door of Hope Ministry where, according to information published by the program, the primary goal is to, "Provide a better quality of life to those living in retirement, nursing and assisted living facilities." To do this, Courtenay shares his musical therapy program with residents, often taking them on a trip down memory lane in the process.

One of his biggest fans is River's Edge resident Clifford Barton, the crossing guard he knew as a child.

"I like him," she said. "Everybody likes him here. I used to help him across the street."

Armed with a keyboard, speakers and microphone, Courtenay may begin his routine with songs from the 1940s, 1950s or 1960s. He may toss in a few tunes from the 1970s, and toes start tapping and hands start clapping.

During the visit to River's Edge, Ida Stein, who is 93, took off her oxygen mask to dance. The silver-haired youngster danced several times during the event and was still kicking up her heels on her way out of the room.

"We don't have any old people here," Courtenay announced as he opened up the session with Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin'." Hands began clapping to the beat, and continued keeping time with "Blueberry Hill" and "Rock Around the Clock"

"Once I see the toe tapping or the smile, I know I'm in an area they are reacting to," Courtenay stated.

In the early days of the ministry, residents began requesting oldies and boogie-woogie music, so the chaplain picked out spunky dance tunes of yesterday.

"I enjoy doing the spiritual programs," he said, "but I have added to that program by doing songs they danced to and listened to 40 years ago. Music is a powerful tool, and I thank God every day for what I do."

Watching faces light up when a familiar song begins verifies Courtenay's purpose of helping his audience to remember a specific time and place. "You can hear a song and remember where you were," he said.

Courtenay fondly remembers a particular resident in another facility that had Alzheimer's. As soon as he began playing "Blue Moon," he noticed the patient responded immediately. The staff was delighted.

In addition, getting people to move with the music is often quite an accomplishment.

"We started getting endorsements from several physical therapists," Courtenay said, adding that he has heard several times that many who responded to the music were residents who previously rarely moved at all. "I'm just someone who is creating an atmosphere and providing the music, reading the people to see what makes them move, and getting them moving to the music."

Natasha Edwards, director of therapeutic activities at Jennings Health Care in Augusta, wrote a letter of appreciation to Courtenay:

"I have never witnessed such a positive transformation of our residents," she stated in the letter. "It is very difficult for staff to promote physical activity and exercise and yet you come in and get these people out of their wheelchairs and dance!"

Edwards continues by expressing her amazement at her patients who normally complain of aches and pains responding to the music ministry. "God has truly blessed you with a talent and I thank you for sharing it with us," she wrote.

At River's Edge, several residents decided that toe tapping wasn't enough, so they began dancing. Lisa Harris, a private nurse, encouraged people to dance as singles, pairs or in groups. Residents from ages eighty to 90-somethings smiled broadly as they took their turns on the floor.

Courtenay enjoys the reactions of his audience, and grinned as he recalled a performance during St. Patrick's week, when one of the River's Edge residents threw beads down from the second floor during his performance. It was just one event in several, as Courtenay travels weekly with his program.

His week begins in Augusta and the entertainer performs three to five times a week in residence homes from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Jacksonville, Fla., and all over Georgia. He visits about 50 facilities overall, and serves as resident chaplain of the Allgood Health Care facilities in Atlanta.

Performing is second nature to the chaplain who remembers performing at nursing facilities as a child growing up in Savannah. He would stop in on his way home from school to sing for them and entertain his captive audience. Courtenay said he has always had the utmost respect for senior citizens, and has always been an advocate for the elderly.

River's Edge resident Eloise McCranie said, "We're going to try to get him every month. I love the whole program." She added, "He has such a wonderful personality, and I have never seen the people move like they move with him."

Performing runs in the family. Chuck's sons perform as the Courtenay Brothers in Savannah, offering an eclectic mix of tunes to their audiences.

Door of Hope Ministry is an independent non-profit non-denominational ministry. The program subsists on donations, tithing, pledges, sponsorships, and fundraisers.