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Year: 2018

Only the Brave Weep

Thu, July 5, 2018 Published by

Early on in my ministry, I discovered that most people are uncomfortable with crying. I would not be able to count the number of times that someone has apologised to me for crying. “I’m sorry” they say between sobs, as though their natural reaction to their pain and loss is somehow something wrong, or a display of weakness which should be publically avoided

It wasn’t always the case that tears were seen as a sign of weakness. The bible is full of strong heroes who weep freely and very publicly. One of the greatest biblical heroes, King David, was a famous weeper. He breaks down when his best friend Jonathan is killed in battle, and he is inconsolable when his son Absalom is killed. Upon discovering that their camp had been raided by the enemy, their women and children taken captive, David and his troops “wept until there was no strength left in them to weep.” Lest the reader get the impression that this emotional outburst rendered these men helpless, the bible goes on to describe how David and his men tracked the raiders, resumed battle and returned with their wives and children.

In classical literature, the heroes of Homer’s epics are no less adept at displaying their emotions. The battle-hardened Achilles weeps bitterly when his friend Patroklos is killed, and he also has a tearful outburst when Agamemnon takes his new found love. In turn, Agamemnon’s tears flow freely, when he finally admits his mistake “weeping even as a fountain of dark water, that down over the face of a projecting cliff, poureth its dusky stream.”

Rather than seeing tears, particularly in men, as superficial and weak, these ancient sources imply the opposite. Weeping is an expression of a well-developed interior character. Words are inadequate to express the full depth and range of human feeling. Tears flow when language breaks down. When a dear friend of mine suffered a tragic and untimely death, I found language wholly inadequate to convey the full force of my feelings. To fight my tears would have been both a betrayal to myself as well as to the memory of my friend. Tears are important and necessary. Denying this most human of expressions is not always a sign of strength, but sometimes is quite the opposite. Sometimes it takes bravery to cry.*

Independence Day

Thu, July 5, 2018 Published by

An amazing event took place 242 years ago, when thirteen colonies asserted their independence from England which ultimately led the way to the creation of the United States of America. This special day continues to be celebrated every July 4th and is known as Independence Day. Many of us learned about our independence day in history classes, but there are some little known facts you might not have learned previously. Constance Gibbs, wrote the fun article “5 things you didn’t know about the Fourth of July” which ran July 4, 2017 in the New York Daily News to share some of those facts.

“Fun fact: Many Americans don’t know some basic facts about their country. Polls have revealed that only 45% of Americans knew what the initials in GOP stood for, 25% of Americans couldn’t identify the country from which we gained independence from, and a majority of Americans couldn’t name more than one protection guaranteed in the first Amendment of the Constitution.

With the explosive success of the ‘Hamilton’ musical, those who have seen it have internalized info about the American Revolution. But if it’s been a while since AP U.S. History, here are five fun facts about Independence Day worth brushing up on.

  1. INDEPENDENCE DAY IS REALLY LONGER THAN A DAY

July 4 is the day we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, but not all 56 eventual signers signed that day. There is actually quite the dispute about who signed the document and when. Some say it was the 4th of July, 1776—when John Hancock affixed his big, loopy signature. This copy was then sent to the printers, where 200 copies were made. A few others signed the original a few days later, perhaps on July 8th, the day it was read aloud in public for the first time. But most members of the Second Continental Congress did not sign until August 2 — so maybe we should just celebrate Independence Month.

  1. A FREAKY COINCIDENCE MARKED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who drafted the Declaration of Independence, died exactly 50 years after it was signed — on July 4th, 1826. As legend has it, Adams’ last words were, ‘Jefferson still survives.’ But he’d already died five hours earlier.

  1. WHY RED, WHITE AND BLUE?

Most people are aware what the stars and stripes represent on the American flag (the 50 states and original 13 colonies, respectively), but why red, white and blue? The common story is that the colors represent purity and innocence (white), hardiness and valor (red), and vigilance, perseverance and justice (blue). But that was actually the reasoning the creator of the Great Seal of the United States gave for including the flag in the stamp that wasn’t used until 1782. The colors of the flag, however, may simply have been chosen because it was designed after the British Union Jack. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

  1. WHAT DO FIREWORKS HAVE TO DO WITH INDEPENDENCE?

Fireworks on the Fourth of July is a tradition dating back to 1777, the first anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail, that he wanted Independence Day to be ‘celebrated with pomp, parade, shows, and Illuminations’, hence the splashy show we put on. The day in the letter to which Adams is referring, however, was not July 4, but rather July 2 — the day the Declaration was voted upon by delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies.

  1. TWO OTHER COUNTRIES CELEBRATE FREEDOM ON JULY 4

Fireworks have been a tradition in America on July 4th since the first anniversary of the signing of the Declaration thanks to former President John Adams.

There are two other countries that celebrate July 4th as a day of independence or freedom. In the Philippines, this day is Republic Day—not the Southeast Asian country’s independence from Spain — but their independence from the U.S.! The Philippines were a U.S. territory until 1946.

And over in Rwanda, July 4 is Liberation Day, when the country ended the awful Rwandan Genocide in 1994 after 100 days of conflict.”

As we celebrate our independence again this year, I will be reflecting on how lucky we are that our forefathers fought for  our freedom to make our great nation. Enjoy!*

Transportation Update

Sun, June 24, 2018 Published by

Hey Beatitudes—GREAT NEWS! We are proud to announce that the Transportation Department has been given approval to revamp the 29 passenger bus, which will include repowering the bus with a brand new Cummins engine. This will take care of the issues we have experienced in the past and allow us to explore the Phoenix Metro area with piece of mind. We do ask that you be patient with us during this process; we hope the bus will be fully functional by the middle of July. It is even more important to make sure you call x12905 for your reservations as we will only have the smaller buses at our disposal.

Even more GREAT NEWS! The Transportation Committee, along with a recommendation from the Life Enrichment Committee, has decided to reduce the number of reservations needed for off-campus outings from a 9-person minimum to a 5-person minimum on a 6-month trial basis. This means that for off-campus outings that are scheduled by the Life Enrichment Committee, we will only need to meet the 5-person minimum for trips that are out of the no-minimum zone.

No-Minimum Zone – what could that be? This new rectangular no-minimum zone has a perimeter including the I-17 on the west, Peoria Ave. on the north, Hwy 51 on the east and McDowell Rd. on the south. This means the Life Enrichment Committee can schedule any off- campus trip within this area with any number of reservations. We hope these changes will increase the number of our off-campus trips. These changes would not have happened without your voices. Changes will happen at Beatitudes if you keep sharing your ideas with the Residents Council and its various committees.*

Our Best Friends

Sun, June 24, 2018 Published by

I miss her. I miss our four-legged friend who shared our home for almost 14 years. Jasmine, our sweet Pug, was named after the Disney Princess in the movie Aladdin. We chose her from the litter because she was round and puggly and playful and she was a great dog. We recently had to bear the heartbreak of saying goodbye to Jasmine as she struggled to breathe due to collapsing trachea, a common condition for Pugs. I’m a die-hard dog lover who has always had at least one and sometimes a few companions to grow old with. Sometimes non-pet friends wonder why we do it? Why is it, that even though we know all the work and responsibility involved, even though we know we will have to bear the eventual heartbreak of watching our pets grow old, even though we know we will someday lose them altogether-why, then, do we still regard the prospect of sharing our homes with cats or dogs (or fish, or rabbits, or what have you) with such unalloyed joy? Anatole France said, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

We have a special bond with our pets. They unconditionally love us. Who doesn’t love opening the door from a hard day to be greeted by a happy dog or a purring kitty? Pets make us healthier and happier. They become our companions, each having their own personality and enjoying certain pleasures. Jasmine loved to find a pile of laundry or anything available and she would climb on top and rummage around in it until she found a spot to sit. She would sit in front of me and whine until I would give her another treat. She had a favorite spot under the Christmas tree. I love hearing the stories of the pets who share your homes and I share the grief and devastation you feel when you lose your special family member. Will Rogers said, “If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die then I want to go where they went.” I believe we will see our animals again in the eternity of heaven so as hard as it is when they cross that rainbow bridge I am comforted by that bond of love which is never broken.*

Be Bold, Claim Old!

Sun, June 24, 2018 Published by

That title caught your attention, didn’t it?

That is the name of a campaign started by a colleague of mine in North Carolina. It is her action learning project for LeadingAge Leadership Academy, an executive leadership program within our national association of not-for-profit aging services organizations. This is the same program I had an opportunity to participate in 2008, Jon Shilling completed in 2014, and Cheryl Knupp in 2016. The action learning project is an important aspect of the curriculum, designed to influence change and help advance innovative programs and practices, by implementing a specific program or practice within their own organization.

Be Bold, Claim Old was recently highlighted in a LeadingAge webinar and is now an exhibit as part of the ChangingAging tour. The national tour is a social movement bringing communities a new and highly disruptive understanding of aging. The premise of Be Bold, Claim Old is simple; fight ageism by sparking a new way of thinking about old in a society that inherited a cultural value that youth is the gold standard and anything that does not appear young is less valued. Amy, the campaign creator, is working with residents in her community to take the Be Bold, Claim Old campaign to their broader community.

Now, you are probably wondering why I would write about this topic. I’m preaching to the choir-you are all well aware that age is just a number! Look at the amazing programs, projects, and events you all create, implement, and hold. And everyone who steps foot on this campus sees the vitality that exists here and it changes their view of aging and what goes on behind the walls of communities like ours.

During our new employee orientation I have the opportunity to talk to our new staff members about our mission, vision, and core values.  We also have a long conversation about society’s views of aging, as well as their own views of aging. The typical stereotypes usually come up in the conversation and I, or better yet a new employee who has already worked a few shifts on Campus, have an opportunity to dispel the myths by lifting up examples of your lives. That is the rewarding work.  As they experience it, they pass it on to others.

With this, the cultural shift continues and we each get to play a role in this important work. Keep spreading the message Be Bold, Claim Old!*

 

 

 

If you would like to learn more about Be Bold, Claim Old or the ChangingAging tour, you can find more information at the following links:

www.beboldclaimold.com/amy-gorely/

www.changingaging.org/tour/

Living into the Fullness of Creation

Sun, June 17, 2018 Published by

Creativity, seen or unseen, is a natural part of the human condition. To not be creative is to not live into the fullness of who we are created to be. Throughout our Campus community, there are as many forms of creativity at work as there are people. We create relationships, conversations, new lives, homes, hospitality, as well as works of prose, art, music or crafts. In other words, this Campus is as much a venue for creativity as the Symphony Hall downtown.

Creativity is also often connected to personal cost. Many authors, writers, artists and musicians produce their most inspired work during difficult times.

There seems to be a profound connection between brokenness and openness in music, art and literature. Perhaps it is in the ‘telling of the tale’ that light can begin to penetrate the darkness of strain and suffering. As Leonard Cohen sang: “There is a crack… in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

In the gospels, when Mary of Bethany came to Jesus to anoint him with costly perfume, its sweet fragrance could only be released when the alabaster jar was broken. Creativity very often happens, not in spite of – but because of – brokenness. It is in going through the difficult challenges life inevitably throws at us that increases our potential for growth in our relationships and pursuits. A broken heart can become an opened heart.

As a Christian, I believe we are made in the image and likeness of God, and with that I believe  we have the ability and vocation to be co-creators with God.

Living into our creative abilities isn’t all about painting, writing or sculpting, especially when we do so with an open and enquiring heart. Eckhart Tolle reminded us that we all have the power to create something far more beautiful; “the power for creating a better future is contained in the present moment. You create a good future by creating a good present”. May we all celebrate the many unseen and unsung acts of creativity, beauty and kindness that quietly take place here in our community each and every day.*

Keep Learning, Growing and Living Better!

Sun, June 17, 2018 Published by

Springtime means graduation season. There is a recent and growing trend among college graduates that is garnering a lot of attention. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, by 2020, 43 percent of college students are expected to be age 25 and older. And among these older grads are more and more seniors, who are embracing their love of lifelong learning.

You may have seen some of the recent news stories about older people who recently got their diplomas. ABC News highlighted Bob Barger, a WWII Navy pilot, who recently received his associate degree in technical studies from the University of Toledo in Ohio. After returning home from the war, he had dropped out of college to focus on his job and earning a living for his wife and two children.

CBS News shared the moving story of 89-year-old Ella Washington, who, after raising 12 children and putting in a lifetime of hard work, recently completed her associate degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University in Virginia. She’s already begun work on her bachelor’s degree, majoring in history.

Bob and Ella are just two of the many older people who are taking advantage of the free time that retirement offers to pursue their education and learn more about subjects they are passionate about. And studies show that the benefits of seniors’ pursuit of lifelong learning are abundant.

Learning something new, such as a new skill or hobby, can help boost your memory. Neuroscientists at the University of Texas at Dallas conducted a study that found seniors who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills. These researchers believe that taking on a new challenging activity—like learning to quilt, play an instrument, or operate a computer, for example—strengthens numerous networks within the brain.

A research study conducted by neurologists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found that engaging in a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that seniors who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are 2.5 times less likely to have Alzheimer’s, which impacts approximately 4 million Americans.

Pursuing lifelong learning activities has benefits that go beyond boosting your brain power. Cognitive neuropsychologists at the University of Sussex in England did a study that found that reading for even just six minutes lowered study participants’ stress levels, slowing their heart rates and easing tension in their muscles. And lower stress has wide ranging benefits for seniors’ cardiovascular health, decreasing blood pressure and reducing the risk of a stroke or heart attack, boosting immunity, and lowering levels of depression.

But researchers at Harvard and Princeton had even more impressive findings in their research on the connection between lifelong learning and health. The study authors found that one more year of education increased life expectancy by 0.18 years. They discovered that the more educated a person, the lower their rates of anxiety and depression, as well as the most common acute and chronic diseases (heart disease, stroke, hypertension, high cholesterol, emphysema, diabetes, asthma, ulcer), and they were far less likely to report that they were in overall poor health.

Now, there is a “chicken or egg” debate on whether the increased level of education caused these positive health results, or if the people who were healthier (perhaps based on lifestyle factors like drinking, smoking, eating habits, etc., or the impact of their economic standing) were simply more likely to pursue educational opportunities, but the findings are still significant.

There are numerous lifelong learning opportunities available to seniors. I’m proud to remind everyone reading this article, whether you are a campus resident, seeing it online or considering Beatitudes for yourself or your loved one, that we have an outstanding, resident-run LifeLong Learning program on campus with dozens of classes offered each year and a strong games program matching residents interests in not only bridge and Mahjong, but also a host of others.

Beyond that, if you’re looking to take up a new intellectually stimulating hobby like quilting or painting, contact our Life Enrichment department to see what groups are currently available. The Library, which is managed by the Beatitudes Campus Auxiliary, is another great resource—providing not only a treasure trove of mentally stimulating books, but also offering opportunities to serve other campus residents by volunteering.

One of the many advantages of living in a senior living community, such as a Life Plan Community (formerly CCRC) like Beatitudes Campus, is the array of activities and events offered to residents. Knowing the many benefits to their residents’ mental and physical health, Beatitudes Campus in particular puts an emphasis on lifelong learning opportunities. From guest speakers to art classes to affinity groups like chess, bridge, and book clubs, we are proud to provide their residents with numerous ways to keep their minds active, all in a close-to-home location.

Courses include everything from literature, history, and creative writing, to art and music appreciation, philosophy, and current events.

Whether you are interested in getting educated on a new subject or acquiring a new skill, there are near-countless ways that lifelong learning benefits seniors. So why not challenge yourself and try something new? It’s a lifestyle choice that’s good for your mind, which in turn is good for your health!*

Join BCCRew.net today!

Sun, June 10, 2018 Published by

Join us ONLINE at bcampus.org where you can read Roadrunner articles, learn who’s new to campus, view all the upcoming events for the month, before the Roadrunner newsletter even comes out and also browse/search the Resident Telephone and Email Directory which is now available online.

To get all the latest news and information about Beatitudes Campus, sign up for our FREE online community! This incredible resource is available to all residents, staff, family members and friends of Beatitudes. It even allows you to communicate with your neighbors in your building, or across campus—even family from around the world! Discuss building news and updates or simply post about your day— it’s a great way to stay connected with family, friends and campus staff. Join us today!

Sign up here: https://bcampus.org

Time to Think

Sun, June 10, 2018 Published by

“I hate my mom’s phone and I wish she never had one.”

Those are the bitter words of a seven year old girl whose teacher had asked her to name an item she wished had never been invented. Like many of her classmates, she chose the cell phone. It appears as though that girl is jealous because her mother appears so bound up in tweeting and texting and emailing that she has no time left for her, and last week her poignant reflection boomed around the internet, read no doubt by most people on their phones.

The problem is the pressure that so many of us place on time. It is too easy to view time as a commodity that needs to be exploited to the full. We can end up cramming every single second with activity so there is no space left in our lives at all. Pope Francis has invented a word for this tendency ever to increase the pace of life. He calls it rapidification. A faster pace of life means an ever greater consumption of the world’s finite resources, and so Pope Francis suggests that the pressure we are putting on time has become a critical issue for the future of the planet.

It may be that an eighth century Saint can pour some wisdom into this very contemporary conundrum. Bede was a monk who lived in the North of England around 672/3 – 735. Bede had a fascination with time. He monitored the tides, he watched the movements of the moon and stars, but Bede had a very different understanding of the purpose of time. For him time was not a commodity to fill up but a means of marking out the spaces where he could meet with God. It was a way of ensuring that life was fitted around a daily pattern of prayer and an annual calendar of seasons and festivals that told the story of Jesus. The purpose of time was to encounter the timelessness of God and, in so doing, to discover human identity.

Maybe there is something in Bede’s thinking that can help us all. Rather than seeing time as something we have to fill up and exploit to the maximum, perhaps we might begin  to see it as the space in which relationships can be fed and human purpose explored. Empty time is good time. Being with those who are close to us is time well spent. Why not lose the phone, slow down and ‘waste’ some time with the people you love.*

Say Hey!

Sun, June 10, 2018 Published by

Before the Diamondbacks, anyone growing up in Phoenix was either a Dodgers fan (games were radio broadcasted from LA) or a San Francisco Giants fan (their minor league team was abased here – the Phoenix Giants). I was a Giants fan. I even have all of the 1970’s autographs of the greats including a bat and ball signed by Hall of Famer, the “Say Hey Kid” himself– Willie Mays.

Mays was famous for his greeting, “Say Hey!” to everyone he encountered – so much so he will forever be known as the “Say Hey Kid” and for the legendary smile that followed. Everybody loved Willie Mays!

A few years back, I experienced another type of “Say Hey”. I officiated the wedding of a relative and they wanted to pay my way to Colorado Springs for the event. I was happy to do it and another Holiday Inn stay would not hurt me a bit. I had no idea where I was going and when my rental car took me to the gates of the Five-Star resort, The Broadmoor, I was sure there was a mistake. I have experienced some nice hotels (ok, I worked at them) but I had never seen anything like this.

From the moment I entered the property of The Broadmoor, I was greeted, welcomed and smiled at by every single employee I passed. From a busboy on his way to the dining room, to housekeepers cleaning someone else’s room as I was just walking by, I heard, “Good morning!” Within my first half-day I must have been greeted 30 times, and so had the other 1000 people staying at the Resort. It was contagious – because the guests were greeting each other as well.

At first, I will admit, it felt strange. By the second day, I was ready for it. By the third, I was convinced that Disneyland could no longer claim to be the happiest place on earth. It was the culture of the Broadmoor to be welcoming to every guest or employee that anyone encountered. It alone made it a five-star experience – much more so than the lap of luxury that surrounded me.

We already have that going for us as we are known for our boundless welcoming spirit. However, is there room to take it up to an even higher level and make it a Five-Star experience for anyone walking around Beatitudes Campus? There is always more room to make someone else’s life happier. If you haven’t tried it yet, try greeting any and every one at every turn and watch what happens. It is contagious. Just say hey! Try it – we all deserve a five-star experience.*

Upcoming Events in June

Mon, June 4, 2018 Published by

As a first announcement, the Arizona Diamondbacks game scheduled for Tuesday, July 31st, has been moved to Wednesday, August 8th against the Phillies. If you are interested in attending this game, the deadline to sign up is Friday, July 27th. Tickets price ranges from $40-45. To join this trip, call Didi at x18473 to put your name on the list.

Be sure to check out the Boy’s Christian Choir group on Friday, June 8th at 2:30PM in the Life Center. There will be 44 singers not including instrumentalist on stage. You will not want to miss it. On Saturday, June 9th, we will have a Harp Program going on as well in the LC. Kim Robertson is an internationally known harpist of great skill and finesse. She instantly connects with her audiences in a most delightful way. The program will take place at 2PM in the Life Center. All are encouraged to attend.

Hungry much? We will be headed to Red Robin for lunch on Tuesday, June 19th at 10:30AM. Enjoy burgers, salads and more! If you are interested in attending this trip, call x12905 to put your name on the list. Deadline to sign up is Friday, June 15th.

We will be heading to the Phoenix Art Museum on Tuesday, June 26th at 10AM. Enjoy taking a self-guided tour around the museum (the Phoenix Art Museum in ADA accessible). The entrance fee is $15 and you can pay upon arrival. After the museum, we will be heading to the Spaghetti Factory for lunch. The price of lunch is not included in the $15 fee. To join this trip call x12905 to put your name on the list. Deadline to sign up is Friday, May 22nd.

For more information on trips and on campus events, feel free to call Didi at x18473.*

 

Shingles Shots & Wellness News

Mon, June 4, 2018 Published by

Some of you have asked about a Shingles Shot Clinic.  Since there’s a new shingles shot available, pharmacies currently only receive small lots of that vaccine (10 shots at a time).  Our Fry’s pharmacist is working on getting that limitation lifted and will be happy to come to Campus again once he is able to request a higher number of vaccines.  At that time we will want to make sure we can confirm 25 or more participants.  If we don’t quite make that number or if you don’t want to wait, Campus Transportation will gladly take you over to Fry’s on our scheduled shopping days to receive your shingles shot.  Updates will be posted in the RoadRunner.

Massage Therapist Extraordinaire JoAnn Clinton has reduced her on-Campus schedule to once a month:  every first Tuesday in the Wellness Center W-Office.  She does, however, make special trips to Campus for house calls – how amazing is she!!!  To schedule your appointment, call 602-730-2508 and leave a message if no answer; she’s likely with a client.

Mobile Dermatology service is brought to you by CareToU.  You may have seen their Van parked by the Care Center Fountain.  Regular screenings can lead to early detection, which leads to greater success in fighting skin cancer.  Their next visit will be Thursday and Friday, June 21st and 22nd.  Call 480-202-3914 to schedule your appointment today.

Temperatures are on the rise!  Stay out of the heat and take advantage of other wellness services right here on Campus.  For your convenience, the full Wellness Center Schedule is posted in this edition of the RoadRunner.  Why not put it on the fridge?

For any questions and/or suggestions regarding your Wellness Center, call Gabi Holberg at x18490.

Sabbath Rest

Mon, June 4, 2018 Published by

As you are reading this, I will be on vacation enjoying some time with my husband and daughter before she goes off to college.  I will be doing my best to “disconnect” from the usual busyness of work and other responsibilities and I am looking forward to the Sabbath time. Scripture tells us to “Remember the Sabbath.” Remember that everything we have is a blessing.  Remember to stop and offer thanks for the wonder of life.  The assumption being that we will forget and given enough time we do.  In his book, Sabbath: Restoring the Sacred Rhythm of Rest, author Wayne Muller says: “Long ago, the tradition of Sabbath created an oasis of sacred time within a life of unceasing labor.  This consecrated time is available to all of us, regardless of our spiritual tradition.  We need not even schedule an entire day each week.  Sabbath time can be a Sabbath afternoon, a Sabbath hour, a Sabbath walk.  Sabbath time is time off the wheel, time when we take our hand from the plow and allow the essential goodness of creation to nourish our souls.”  In many ways, we have lost the rhythm between work and rest.  Our society often reinforces that action and accomplishment are better than rest; that doing something is better than doing nothing.

I know that I am not good at doing nothing.  I easily become impatient when I am forced to do nothing such as when I need rest when I am sick.  Remember the Sabbath.  The body needs rest to heal from illness and from exhaustion.  Muller says, “Sabbath honors the necessary wisdom of dormancy.  If certain plant species, for example, do not lie dormant for winter, they will not bear fruit in the spring.  If this continues for more than a season, the plant begins to die.  A period of rest—in which nutrition and fertility most readily coalesce—is not simply a human psychological convenience; it is a spiritual and biological necessity.  A lack of dormancy produces confusion and erosion in the life force.  When we act from a place of deep rest, we are more capable of cultivating what the Buddhists would call right understanding, right action, and right effort.”

As the summer months begin, residents have shared with me that they are leaving for cooler climates or they are looking forward to family reunions or travel for rest and relaxation.  Some have shared that even though they will not be going anywhere to escape the heat, they will find moments of Sabbath on their morning walk, in prayer or worship or in moments of silence.  In some way, my friends, may you remember the Sabbath this summer and find restoration and renewal for your soul.*

Aquatic Therapy

Mon, June 4, 2018 Published by

With the onset of summer and warmer weather and water, Beatitudes wants to remind all residents that we offer aquatic therapy as part of our outpatient therapy clinic services for our residents. Nancy Reyes, one of our contracted Occupational Therapists began working with residents for a couple of years now and the residents seem to enjoy it.

Aquatic therapy takes place in a warm water pool with a temperature ranging between 84 to 90 degrees.   The principles of aquatic therapy which provide rehabilitative benefits are: hydrostatic pressure, buoyancy and viscosity.

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted equally on all surface areas of an immersed body resting at a given depth. As pool depth increases, fluid density increases causing an increase in pressure. This principle is beneficial to individuals who may suffer from lower extremity edema. The increase in pressure can help reverse these inflammatory effects which may then cause a decrease in swelling. Hydrostatic pressure can also benefit those with unstable joints. In this case, increased pressure coupled with underwater exercise helps improve joint stability.

Buoyancy is the upward force a fluid exerts on an object of less density.  It works in the opposite direction of gravity. For example, someone who is neck deep in water experiences about 10% weight bearing, at chest deep water level this increases to 25 to 30%, etc. This principle may be beneficial for individuals who present with weak muscles, difficulty with weight bearing or restrictions in their range of motion. In these examples, buoyancy can assist by providing weightless movements which allow spastic muscles to relax and allow for an overall increase in movement. The ability to perform movements which were not attainable on land can have a profound positive psychological effect.

Viscosity of water is referred to as, “the stickiness of a fluid”, thusly, resistance can be increased by speed of movement. By creating a more viscous environment, the force of resistance increases. This increase in resistance allows the opportunity for muscle strengthening which can benefit individuals who need to build strength but have difficulty coordinating their movements on land. Individuals suffering from illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease have had positive results in muscle strengthening thanks to therapeutic aquatic exercise. Viscosity allows them to perform strengthening exercises without the challenges of loss of balances they may experience exercising on land.

While aquatic exercise has been shown to have great benefits; there are some reasons aquatic exercise may not be for you, such as: skin infection, open wounds, recent deep x-ray therapy, inability to adjust to fluid loss due to kidney disease, perforated eardrum, incontinence, hyper or hypo tension with short periods of exercises; frequent rest breaks.

Residents that would be good candidates for hydrotherapy include those who may have or had the following: orthopedic surgeries/injuries arm, wrist, hand fractures, total knee replacements, hip replacements and hip pinning, stroke, spinal cord injury, and cardiopulmonary issues like COPD.

Medicare Part B benefits can cover the cost but a physician’s order will need to be obtained. The hours available for aquatic therapy are 11:30A.M to 2:00P.M Monday through Friday by appointment. Please feel free to contact the therapy department for further information or to schedule an appointment with Nancy by calling (602) 433-6153. Nancy is certified in PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation), and has been practicing aquatic therapy for 20 years. She previously ran the aquatic rehab program for 4 years at Chris Ridge Village and taught post therapy aquatic programs at Maryvale’s Women’s Center for the fibromyalgia and arthritis aquatic exercise programs.  Please note that all necessary equipment needed will be at the Beatitudes pool and there is a lift for individuals who may have ambulatory difficulties. Nancy and the therapy team look forward to introducing you to the benefits that therapeutic aquatic exercise can provide.*

Behind the Curtain: Setting The Stage For Success

Tue, May 29, 2018 Published by

Mark your calendars for a special series of presentations and discussions coming to you Tuesday afternoons, starting June 5th, at 2:00PM in the Agelink Great Room (AGR). Sponsored by the Health and Wellness Committee, this five-part series examines situations and solutions that arise when living and working in a Life Plan Community such as Beatitudes Campus. It results from months of planning and collaboration among staff from Resident Services, Success Matters, and Comfort Matters.

Narnia: The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe

Tue, May 29, 2018 Published by

As a child a favorite book of mine was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis. It is an exciting, imaginative story set in another world which deals with trust, betrayal, hope, courage, sacrificial love and life after death. C.S Lewis created a world of talking animals, full of allegory and metaphor, which whether you hear the story as a child or an adult, offers us all insights into the nature of God.

Join us Monday June 4, 10:00AM in the Life Center when we will be showing the wonderful film adaptation of this tale. If you haven’t seen the movie, we hope that you will join us, and even if you have- come and see it again!

The film adaptation helps us to understand that God is not in our pocket, and God does not wait simply for us to make requests or commands. As people of faith, we believe in a God who is active and at work in our lives. At the end of the story, one of the characters watches Aslan the Lion (an allegory for Jesus) walk away into the distance and asks if she will ever see him again. She is told,

“He’ll be coming and going. One day you’ll see him and another you won’t. He doesn’t like being tied down – and of course he has other countries to attend to. It’s quite all right. He’ll often drop in. Only you mustn’t press him. He’s wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”

Although within, God is also set apart from our comparatively safe world. God works in ways beyond our sight and comprehension. C.S Lewis has a wonderful way of taking complex theological points, and speaking to them in ways which we can all appreciate. When the children in the story first hear that Aslan is a lion they are concerned and ask, ‘Is he safe?’

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good, I tell you.”

God is neither tame nor safe, but God is good, and in this tale we are given many other insights into our relationship with God and the nature of God.

As we look around our world and see the darkness of war, areas of poverty and other world-wide problems – this tale reminds us to trust in our God who is good, our God who is neither ‘safe’ nor ‘tame’. We are reminded to look forward, in the hope that we have the courage to take risks, to make changes, to show God’s love and so to bring forward God’s kingdom in this world.

Looking for Veterans

Tue, May 29, 2018 Published by

The 4th of July is always an exciting time to celebrate our country’s birthday and what better way to celebrate than a parade and neighborhood festival!

As part of the 19North neighborhoods, Beatitudes Campus has once again been asked to open the festivities at the Royal Palm Neighborhood 4th of July Parade and Festival on Monday, July 4th at Royal Palm Park (8405 N. 15th Ave.)  We are looking for a few veterans who would like to volunteer to carry in the flag, lead the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem to help kick off the morning events. The volunteers will need to be ready to go by 7:00AM and can leave as soon as the national anthem is completed. There will be a parade, followed by a great festival in the park. Last year, we had a table and connected with hundreds of our neighbors!

Many local businesses plan to be on hand to help celebrate and give out information and free 4th of July gifts. The entire event is a few hours long but the veterans only need to commit to the first 30 to 45 minutes of the day.

So veterans—can you help? We would love to have another great group kicking off the event. If you  are interested in this patriotic volunteer opportunity, please contact Jonathan Gibbs, Senior Community Relations Ambassador at x18589.