While you don’t see shovels in the ground YET, know that there is plenty going on in regards to our redevelopment and master plan process.
I am sure you have noticed there has been plenty of activities—events, tours and meetings between our Marketing team, led by Rod Bailey, and our BeVIP members interested in the Patio Homes.
Remember when Poker was fun?
Please be aware – we may have certain late notices when the Life Center will be closed due to an event booking.
The world around us is abloom, and new growth can be seen everywhere around us including in one another. Over 170 of you are taking classes in our Beatitudes Center for Life Long Learners and you are growing and shining. We have long proclaimed that Beatitudes Campus is the place where one comes to learn, live and grow, and you are the very proof that we walk our talk. I am so thrilled to be able to work alongside the staff and residents who are making lifelong learning a reality.
As if that is not enough, new growth is also sprouting with our BrainSavers and Fitness Programs. You residents want to work out and strengthen your brains just like you want to keep your bodies fit. As I write this, we are developing new ways to offer opportunities to keep your minds wise and bodies active. If our fitness program is any indicator, those new programs will be overflowing as soon as they start.
You also are planting seeds to experience new forms of transportation. It used to be, not long ago at all, that giving up one’s car was to give up one’s freedom. That is no longer the case and today it can mean even greater freedom. Many of you have discovered Lyft, Go Go Grandparent and Uber, to name a few car services, which will get you anywhere you want to go at any time you want to get there. Not only is driving in crazy Phoenix traffic a non-issue, but some are saving hundreds of dollars with the elimination of monthly insurance, gas, registration and maintenance costs.
Stop by the Design Studio meeting on any Thursday at 9:00AM in the Plaza Club and see one of the most amazing cross-pollination of ideas taking place right there. These ideas don’t stay as ideas either—they become reality sooner than later, making our community stronger and all the more attractive for the future.
More evidence of fresh growth is visible in just about any direction you choose to look. I am excited to think about what is also germinating below the surface right now that will also bloom into new opportunities for a growing and thriving group of folk at Beatitudes Campus. It is almost out of control, and that is a prettier picture than all of the desert wild flowers around us today.*
Did you make it out to our 4th Annual Resident Art Show? If not, you missed a good one! Entertainment by Paul Sherman Thursday night had the mood set while folks walked through the show and Anthony Farias put icing on the cake with a live painting demo on Friday morning. Of course, we could not have done it without the fascinating artists we have here on campus. Marble printed pillows, scarfs and more on display, along with woodcarvings, oil, acrylic, pen and pencil pieces, handmade crafts/ cards, ceramics, quilts and much more were on display. With an estimated number of 200+ folks who walked through and purchased items, we would like to thank you for your support. I would also like to thank each of the artists who participated in the show and displayed their talent! We cannot wait to do it again next year!
Be on the lookout for the upcoming Dog Show on Thursday, April 12th. The show will begin at 10:30AM in the Dog Park. If you are interested in registering your dog for the show or being a judge for the show, please call me at x18473 to sign up. This show is all in good fun! Deadline to register your dog or to be a judge is Friday, March 23rd.
Be sure to stop by and enjoy presentations from Art All Around Us every Tuesday in the Boardrooms at 1PM. The upcoming chats include:
These chats are free and open to everyone on the campus.
Our Arizona Diamondbacks regular season is upon us as well! The games are as follows:
Help us meet our 9 person minimum by encouraging your friends to join you. If we do not meet our 9 person minimum, we will gladly offer help in setting up an Uber or Lyft with your small group at your expense. It is much more enjoyable to attend with a large group, so please invite away!*
Last week, we hosted a special guest, The Very Rev. Tracey Lind, who came to speak about the spiritual insights and lessons she has gained from a life complicated by dementia. Tracey is a newly retired episcopal priest who for the last 17 years served as Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Cleveland. On Nov. 8, 2016, Tracey was diagnosed with early stage Frontotemporal Dementia. In what some might consider a cruel twist of fate, the type of FTD Lind has, Primary Progressive Aphasia, affects the neurons in the part of the brain that involves communication and language. The woman who in 2004 wrote and published the book “Interrupted by God,” who wrote and delivered weekly sermons for nearly three decades, who could converse and joke as easily with a homeless woman as with a corporate CEO, was going to be robbed, gradually, of her ability to write, read, speak and understand what others are saying. As she spoke it was clear that the deep and abiding faith that has inspired this gifted preacher and teacher throughout her life continues to sustain her as she meets the challenges of the years ahead supported by her wife of 18 years. Tracey’s message was filled with honesty, courage, faith, and hope.
At lunch Tracey shared with us a blog she is writing using the story of Pandora’s box and how she had found new meaning in it. Of course, Pandora is well recognized as the Greek mythical character, the first woman, created by Zeus. Upon her creation, the gods gave her many gifts – beauty, charm, wit, artistry, and cunning; the last gift was curiosity. Included with the gifts was a box, which she was told to emphatically, “Never open the box.” She even hid the box deep in the ground but the pull of curiosity was too strong. Finally, she could hold back no longer, she lifted the lid, and out flew all the evils of the world, such as toil, illness and despair. That’s how most of us remember the end of the story, but wait, at the bottom of the box, the last creature that she let loose was HOPE. Pandora’s last words were: “HOPE is what makes us strong. It is why we are here. It is what we fight with when all else is lost.” The Very Rev. Tracey has preached about hope for years and now she is living it out in a new way. The diagnosis hasn’t stopped her from fully immersing in what life has to offer — and what she has to give.
As many of you are aware, Tara Bethell left Beatitudes back in November of 2017. At that time—we brought in an Interim Director of Human Resources until a replacement was hired. During our search, we had the opportunity to look at and evaluate our organizational structure and the decision was made not to replace the original Sr. VP of HR and Risk Management position and instead allow myself (with over ten years of Human Resources experience) to oversee the HR Team from an executive level (including the corporate risk management role) and hire a Director of Human Resources to oversee the day-to-day operations. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to grow and develop as a leader by taking on these responsibilities. Additionally, this change allows others to be part of our organization and provide new ideas and knowledge to ensure we continue progressing as a leader in the field of Aging Services.
Our new Director of Human Resources, Barb Williams, joined us in early February and was introduced at the February Town Hall. Barb has already hit the ground running in the month she’s been here—meeting with employees, department heads and learning her way around our community. She has worked in the field of Human Resources for 18 years and has the PHR (Certified Professional in Human Resources) and SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resources Certified Professional) certifications. She has spent most of her career in the healthcare field, gaining this experience by working at medical universities and homecare. Barb enjoys working with employees in the senior living and health services fields because she can help those who provide care and support to residents. When Barb isn’t working, she loves spending time with her family, reading and hiking. She’s been married for just shy of 30 years to her husband, Kevin, has a daughter—Brianna, and son—David, as well as a grandson—Damien. Barb is also a pet lover and has three dogs (Keena, Chessie and Nichole) and Ally, the cat.
Another management change will be taking place on March 19th when Priscilla Von Wilczur will be joining us as our new Health Care Center Director of Nursing. Priscilla comes to us with over 36 years of nursing experience and has specialized in long term care and rehab. Most recently, Priscilla was the Director of Quality Management for Sun Health La Loma Care Center. Priscilla helped lead the team to a deficiency free survey in 2017 and maintain a CMS (Center for Medicare Services) 5-star rating for several years. Priscilla has a great eye for detail, excellent follow-up and high quality expectations of her team.
You may now be wondering where our current Director of Nursing, Teresa Borton is going. After spending a couple of weeks transitioning Priscilla into her new role—I am very pleased to share that—Teresa will begin a state-approved Administrator in Training (AIT) program on April 2nd in our Health Care Center. Teresa will spend over 1,000 hours during the following six months learning and rotating through all of the departments within the Health Care Center, gaining the experience and understanding to take on the Administrator role. Don’t be surprised if you see her shadowing staff—which may involve cooking meals, serving meals, being a CNA, cleaning floors, helping maintenance, etc. Teresa will go through her program with oversight from myself as her preceptor. She will be assigned a site evaluator who will review her monthly progress reports, come on-site to ensure she is following her training program and provide any additional support she may need. When she finishes this program—she’ll take her state exam and then federal exam to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA). Afterwhich she will take over as the Administrator of the Health Care Center and oversee day-to-day operations.
Teresa has done a great job as not only the Director of Nursing these last few years, but has also been my right-hand in operations. With this experience, plus the AIT program under her belt, I know she will make a positive impact as Administrator for our community.
While all these exciting changes happen, please know that our commitment to providing quality resident services and care as well as providing our employees with a positive and purposeful employment experience hasn’t changed; we hope you will see that this will just enhance it.
This week, we celebrate Long Term Care Administrator’s week, from March 11th through the 17th. In honor of this special week—we would like to thank and congratulate @cknupp, Sr. VP of HR & Health Services, for everything she does involving long term care at our community. If you see her around campus, be sure to congratulate her this week!
February is National Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month, and many residents here experience low vision in various forms. While many have macular degeneration, which causes loss of central vision, others have glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa and numerous other visual conditions. What many don’t realize, however, is that almost all older adults experience age-related changes in vision. These age-related changes frequently include increased sensitivity to glare, diminished ability to see contrast, increased sensitivity to light changes, decreased depth perception, diminished visual acuity or sharpness, and decreased ability to see in dim light. Not only that, most older adults with vision loss have some degree of hearing loss too, which can make previously simple tasks like talking on the phone more challenging. To address both vision and hearing challenges on Campus, the Low Vision Support Group will be sponsoring a special presentation on February 9th at 1:00PM in Boardroom East. Connie Short is a representative from CapTel phones and has previously worked with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She will be demonstrating and answering questions about the latest telephone technology for those with vision and/or hearing loss. AND THE BEST PART IS…THE PHONES ARE FREE TO RESIDENTS WHO QUALIFY! We hope you’ll join us to learn more!
Some words of wisdom brought to us today by Dr. Bob Moorhead, a former pastor who wrote a collection of essays, prayers and homilies titled, “Words Aptly Spoken.” Here is his essay, “The Paradox of Our Age.”
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent. Remember, to say, ‘I love you’ to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind. And always remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by those moments that take our breath away.
How’s life? I hope so very good. Did you know, though, that just a few years back a national survey discovered that the number of retirees who say their retirement is “very satisfying” has dropped nearly 13% in the last decade and below the 50% level for the first time? Theories are being generated as to why. Some suggest it is for financial reasons and more prevalent theories deduce that is comes from the yearning for more and varied activities than is often available to them.
An article from the website MarketWatch has some excellent advice on how to make life good. Most of you know this all too well, but I wanted to share some of it so as to affirm your excellent instincts.
Stay socially connected. Keeping up with old friends and making new ones is extremely vital to one’s emotional outlook – your mental health. New friends often open our minds to new thoughts and new experiences. There is not a better set up than the Beatitudes community for that. Consider joining someone you do not know for lunch or dinner, or greeting and talking with a neighbor you have never really spent time with. Don’t forget the New Neighbor Welcome Coffee every 4th Community Wednesday either. Meet them right off the bat.
Find things you love to do. Research shows that the happiest retirees are those who keep themselves busy. Another researcher and author notes that, “Following your interests and passions can add years to your life, and joy to your golden years.” Think about those things that have brought you joy over the years of your life and do them again. There probably was never a good reason to stop doing them anyway other than life got too busy. Beatitudes has nearly 100 groups and activities taking place right now, and if per chance not a one of those is your passion, let us know and we will make it happen and bet others will want to be part of it too. We will get you the list if the Beatitudes Calendar does not have something calling out to you today.
Plan the use of your time. Rob Pascale, a psychologist and the co-author of “The Retirement Maze,” cautions that “without adequate planning, you have a lack of structure, and that can make you feel you have little personal control over your life.” Write out your goals for each day, week or month. Plan out your participation with a good number of those over 100 groups and activities.
The article concludes with something that all of us know and that is, if we create the expectations for happiness and joy the more likely we will meet or exceed them.
So let’s plan on it. Make life good, beginning today and every day.
Oscar A. Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, in El Salvador, was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in a small chapel in a cancer hospital where he lived. He had always been close to his people, preached a prophetic gospel, denouncing the injustice in his country and supporting the development of popular and mass organizations. He became the voice of the Salvadoran people when all other channels of expression had been crushed by the repression. A prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener of Saginaw for a celebration of departed priests that continues to be used on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Bishop Romero. I think it is a powerful prayer as we start a new year. It reminds us that we plant the seeds of future promise but our vision is limited and we cannot do everything but we can do something.
It helps now and then to step back and take a long view.
The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction
of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of
saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection, no pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the Church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives include everything.
This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one
day will grow. We water the seeds already planted
knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of
liberation in realizing this.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning,
a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s
grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the
difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders, ministers, not
messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.
In 2018, may we be about planting seeds and laying foundations trusting that the Lord’s grace will enter and do the rest.
Someone stopped me in the Bistro the other day and told me he often uses the articles that I have been putting in the Roadrunner to share with friends who are considering a move to Beatitudes Campus. That was a much appreciated compliment and it occurred to me today (New Year’s..) one of those reflective times when I am thinking of a lot of plans for 2018) that it might be worthwhile for all of you to have a bit of a tool to use when speaking to family or friends about their potential move to our Life Plan Community.
That’s really one of the best points – “Life Plan.” When you made the decision to live at Beatitudes, you did yourself the favor of taking one of the most important steps in planning for your “senior” years. If your friend or a loved one is considering their senior living options, they likely have begun doing research on retirement communities. With all of the choices available, it can be a lot to take in so the decision process can take some time, depending on the situation. Some senior living decisions are needs-based and move much quicker, while others are more preference-based and can take months or even years.
The timing conundrum
Ideally, one should not wait until the day they need to move to begin planning. If for no other reason, this can be problematic because of the very subject I am addressing here—there could be a wait list for the living setting you prefer. But one of the challenges of planning ahead for long term care housing needs is that it can be hard to foresee exactly when you will need it. It could happen slowly with the natural aging process or the progression of a degenerative disease, or it can occur quickly with an illness or injury. So it is advisable to get on the waiting list if you are looking at the Beatitudes for yourself or a family member; this way, when the time comes and your house sells or situation changes, you will hopefully be near the top of the list and, most importantly, you will be able to enjoy the many, many benefits of independent living on the campus while you can.
We are taking reservations right now for the new patio homes that we’ve announced and will begin “pre-sales” (deposits) in mid-February. Our priority program has reached 56 members with 47 who have paid their initial placeholder deposit for a chance at one of our 34 patio homes. One of the additional benefits that has also occurred during the last few months as we have presented the opportunity to hundreds of interested prospects has been that some are deciding to move into our present residences rather than wait! If your friends or family are eyeing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC, also known as a Life Plan Community) another consideration is that many communities require new residents be able to “walk in,” that is, they must be relatively able-bodied when they first move to the community. In fact, many Life Plan Communities have a very active base of residents such as we do who live independently today, but want to be someplace where care is available to them on-site when needed. Most Life Plan Communities maintain an assisted living and/or health care center in addition to offering independent living such as Beatitudes Campus. We are blessed to have such highly rated licensed care options here for eventual needs as well as supplemental care options (Beatitudes Home Health and Beatitudes at Home) to extend independence.
How waiting lists work
Many Life Plan Communities have wait lists—yet, these lists are not necessarily just for assisted living or skilled nursing. When applicable, wait lists are often also associated with an independent living residence. When adding your name to a wait list, you’ll typically specify which type of unit you desire, e.g., a patio home, one or two-bedroom apartment, etc. When a resident in your desired unit type moves out (often because their needs have progressed and they are transferring into the on-site assisted living or healthcare facility) then the unit becomes available to you.
Once you’re on the wait list, retirement communities may offer a variety of perks to future residents—maybe unlimited use of their pool and exercise facility, or access to other community events and activities. We have begun our L.A.F.F. (Lifestyle, Activities, Fun and Friendship) Club to facilitate that very type of relationship to the campus. In fact, a growing number of Life Plan Communities are beginning to call their wait list a “membership” just like ours. I would encourage residents-to-be to take advantage of this benefit as it allows you to begin the process of assimilating into the community and meeting future neighbors, even before you live there. We do have some club members who have not put their names on the wait list, but many do so in order to have good familiarity with the campus when the time is right.
It is also good to be aware that some communities will have an internal waiting list such as we do. If you find yourself in a situation where you need (or want) to move into the community and your preferred unit is not available—forcing you to settle for your second or third choice–you can go ahead and move in but stay on the internal list and wait for your desired unit-type to open up. Existing residents will typically get priority over non-residents, so you may be able to get your preference more quickly. Adding your name to the waiting list is one of the ways you can plan for your future. This step can give you and your loved ones a level of security, knowing that you will be well-cared for in the future.
Remember that, as a Beatitudes resident, if you refer a prospect who becomes a priority program member, you’ll earn $100. If that prospect does sign a residency contract and move into Central Park or a Patio Home, you’ll receive a $1,000 bonus after they have lived on campus for four months. Your second successful referral is worth $1250 and the third earns $1500 – that’s a possibility of $3750 a year! The only requirements are that the prospect is not already in our marketing database and that you do register the name with the sales staff prior to their initial tour.
These are indeed exciting times here and we are equally as excited to see all of the progress being made!
As the clamor of the holiday season has faded once more into hopefully happy memories of light and joy, we turn now and look to the future, as we step into the New Year of 2018.
There are many special days for us individually which cause us to pause and reflect on what has happened in our lives and what may be yet to come, but as we hang our new calendars on our walls and try to remember to write 2018 in our check books, we have a chance to collectively contemplate as we celebrate.
Looking back over 2017 we can remember both times of celebration and times of sadness and difficulty. Thinking firstly of celebrations, 2017 marked 500 years since the beginning of the Protestant Reformation, with events demonstrating unity within the Christian family of faith, while recognizing the contributions of Martin Luther and his fellow reformers. 2017 was also the year during which global measles deaths dropped below 100,000 for the first time – an 84% fall since 2000, and while after starting the season with odds at 15/1, the Houston Astros won the World Series for the first time.
Unfortunately, as well as being able to reflect joyfully on these and many other events, many of us will also be reflecting on how our lives have been touched by sadness this year on a personal level and on a global scale. During 2017 conflicts in the Middle-East continued to add to the largest humanitarian and refugee crisis since WW2, and the people around the world mourned together for the loss of lives in the Las Vegas mass-shooting and as a result of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.
As we step in to 2018 we may ponder to ourselves what news the next twelve months will bring both in our own lives and in the wider world. Amid our wonder and our apprehension, perhaps we should greet 2018 with the words of this poem by M. L. Haskins in our hearts and minds;
“And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied: ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.’ So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.”
May our New Year bring us closer to God, who walks beside us on our pilgrimage of life, and a Happy New Year to you all.
More than once the Success Matters team has been asked, “What is it you do exactly?” Since this has been a great year for our Success Matters program, we thought we’d share some highlights.
A big part of our work is educational outreach. Our Lifelong Learner classes include: “Family Ties”; TED Talks “Life Lived Well”; “Healthy Aging”; and “Maintain your Brain”. We held information sessions on urinary incontinence, Life Planning documents, GoGoGrandparent, and Medicare.
Our SimulAge staff training helps employees continue to do their best work in interacting with residents. We have worked with approximately 150 staff from across Campus.
Jessica and Josephine teamed up to present at the Beatitudes at Home Spring Education Conference. Jessica also presented on the topic of “Assessing and Addressing Frailty” for the AZ Geriatrics Society; Josephine served on a discussion panel about transportation issues, and completed the Area Agency on Aging Medicare Counselor Volunteer Training.
October was Driver Safety Awareness Month, with OT students from NAU conducting Driver Check-Ups, and featuring AARP for the Smart Driver Course. We held A.T. Still University’s “Listen Up” program, which helps couples resolve communication issues stemming from hearing loss. We hosted the A.T. Still course “A Matter of Balance,” and held our own 6-week Safer Stepping series.
Jessica mentored three OT students from A.T. Still University, Mitch Sopko and Rich Fauci, and Maddie Thueson. Having Maddie, Rich, and Mitch in our department was a definite highlight.
Guest speaker Betty Delano from the AZ Attorney General’s Office spoke about scams, and Tony Motley from the AZ Department of Veteran Services presented on VA benefits.
We started an email newsletter and just published our 4th edition. Contact Josephine at x16117 if you want to be added to the email list.
Our daily focus is working directly to help residents maintain independence and a good quality of life. This might include answering questions about Life Planning documents or benefits, facilitating communication, transportation issues, apartment safety, support groups, and more.
Our little garden just outside the back of Agelink continues to grow. Please feel free to come visit. We aren’t growing anything edible but we do have a nice grouping of ferns, succulents, flowers, and cacti. They love to be admired and fussed over. We have seen two hummingbirds at our feeder, and a few lizards taking it easy out back. There is a bench where you can sit and contemplate on the east end of Agelink. Welcome!
Success Matters at Beatitudes Campus was awarded the 2017 Arizona Leading Age Award for Innovative Health and Wellness Programs.
