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Category: Announcements

Success Matters Welcomes Josephine Levy

Wed, January 11, 2017 Published by

Thank you for welcoming me to Beatitudes Campus – I am so happy to be here as the new Success Matters Resource Navigator, a position that will enable me to work with residents to find needed resources and answer questions. This is a new position that will develop under the guidance of Jessica Meyer, who is already a tremendous resource herself as well as a delightful colleague.

I first became interested in learning more about the aging process when I was a hospice volunteer. From that six-year experience I learned firsthand that we are all part of this great thing called living and dying, and that we are intimately tied to one another throughout this whirlwind of a journey. I also learned how to double-bag trash cans, haul laundry bags, and make a great grilled cheese sandwich.

At that time I was working as a high school guidance counselor; before that I taught English for nine years. Some people might wonder about the shift from working with adolescents to older adults, but I see it as a natural transition. Both younger people and older people are faced with issues of changing identity and growth. Both are subject to stereotyping and generalizations. It seemed to me that our society does not take the time to appreciate the subtleties of the aging process.

My academic interests culminated in a Master of Arts, Gerontology degree from USC. This exposed me to a wide range of social, political and biological issues that affect our lives. I completed the USC Andrus Gerontology Center’s Executive Certificate in Home Modification, as well as the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) designation. I realized how much the physical living environment plays a key role in maintaining dignity and autonomy, and how we can alter it to suit our changing needs. Too often we assume the problem is within ourselves, when really, it is in the physical barriers we have created that surround us.

Most recently, I worked as the Managing Director of Tempe Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a volunteer-based nonprofit that provides resources to Tempe residents who are aging in place. My work in this capacity solidified my interest in providing resources to others that help make aging a more satisfying experience.

I’m a Phoenix native and although every summer I can’t believe I still live here, that seems to be the case. I have a husband, four cats and a dog who surround me with affection, joy and chores. I enjoy yoga, reading newspapers, watching Frasier reruns and desert landscaping. Again, thank you for welcoming me to Beatitudes Campus and I look forward to learning and growing along with you on our common journey.

The Informant – January 2017

Mon, January 9, 2017 Published by

DAVID RAGAN, Senior VP of Resident Services, called the first meeting of the New Year to order at 2:15PM. He noted that the campus continues to be one where residents reach out and care for each other. For the New Year, David had some new definitions which served to start the year off with a laugh. For example, the word balderdash is defined as a rapidly receding hairline, coffee is the person upon whom you cough, and abdicated is when you have lost all hope of a flat stomach.

Annual Eye Exams: A Smart Way to Identify Age-related Eye Diseases

Thu, January 5, 2017 Published by

Beatitudes Campus is happy to be working with Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Vision Care.  Come to January’s Town Hall to learn more about some special advantages for you through Vision Care.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), once you reach age 60, it’s important to have an eye exam every year. Checking your visual acuity isn’t the only reason to get your eyes examined. An eye exam can also help identify age-related conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other diseases.

What exactly are these common age-related eye diseases? The AAO defines them as:

  • Cataracts – Light rays travel into the eye through the pupil, pass through a clear lens and hit the retina. In an eye with a cataract, the lens gets cloudy and light scatters throughout the eye instead of hitting the retina. The clouding of the eye happens when proteins in the lens break down (typically after age 40). People usually start to have some clouding of their lenses over age 60.
  • Glaucoma – Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve.
  • Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) – AMD is a deterioration of the eye’s macula. The macula is a small area in the retina — the light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eye. The macula is the part of the retina that is responsible for your central vision, allowing you to see fine details clearly.
  • Diabetic Retinopathy – Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease that occurs when blood vessels in the retina change. Sometimes these vessels swell and leak fluid or even close off completely. In other cases, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina.

Schedule Your Eye Exam – It is important that you schedule your annual eye exam. Your doctor will check for eye health as well as any prescription changes. You can schedule your eye exam by calling Vision Care at 602-358-0223 or visit VisionCareAZ.com.* Located at the Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ campus at 2444 W. Las Palmeritas Drive, just 2 miles and a free shuttle ride from Beatitudes Campus.

Town Hall Informant, October 2016

Tue, October 18, 2016 Published by

David Ragan, Senior VP of Independent Living, called the Town Hall to order at 2:15PM. He noted that Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, has just been celebrated and in keeping with that, a short film was shown that illustrated compassion and caring. With themes of selflessness and forgiveness, we were given a chance to start all over and have a good year. Although attendance was excellent with close to 200 residents, there were no new residents at the meeting. David reminded those in attendance to invite their new neighbors to a Town Hall and be sure to attend the Welcome Coffee especially for new residents which will be held on Wednesday, October 26th at 2:15PM in the Life Center.

David introduced Michelle Just, President and CEO of Beatitudes Campus. Michelle said that she had spoken with the auctioneer for Power of the Purse. She is very impressed with the stories of giving and that is what this community is about. Michelle thanked residents for the way in which they continue to give back. She was very happy to report that the campus has received a grant of $50,000 from the Virginia G. Piper Atlas Program. The Atlas Program is interested in not for profit organizations that are innovative and have a strong community brand. Beatitudes is one of eight organizations participating in the program. The first four months will involve an assessment of our programs and the remaining 20 months will be focused on addressing the areas identified through the assessment.

Employee shout outs were given to Suzanne Lewis of dining services, who is responsible for suggesting special utensils that make dining easier for residents with tremors and other problems; Ella Adams of housekeeping who, in addition to a ready smile and a song, is praised for her excellent work on a resident’s floors; and Martin Medina of maintenance who put his needs aside to help make a room ready for a resident group meeting. Please continue to call attention to employees who go above and beyond by filling out Radical Hospitality forms at the Welcome Center or on line at www.bcampus.org.

Barbara Carpenter, representing the Employee Appreciation Fund Committee, asked residents to be generous in donating to the Fund which allows residents to reward our faithful employees with some extra money at Christmas time. Money will be collected until the end of October and it is hoped that we can reach our goal of $120,000 to show our employees a wonderful holiday this year. Barbara noted that the employees make a big difference in our lives each and every day.

Michelle asked that residents fill out the Resident Satisfaction Survey either on the form or on line. She assured residents that she looks at every survey and reads all the comments. If there are areas that need improvement, the administration will work on ways to make those improvements.

Jim Plaster, Residents Council President, presented his report. During the Council meeting, David Ragan announced the purchase of 200 chairs for $28,000 to replace older chairs in various locations across the campus. He also said that residents’ “B” cards will increase to $200 per month beginning October 1st. Rod Bailey, Senior VP of Marketing and Sales spoke about the Friends and Family Referral Program and the first impressions updating of the resident buildings. George Taylor, Plaza View Representative, announced the first annual Treasure and Trinket event, and Barbara Carpenter reported for the Employee Appreciation Committee. Donations are growing and there is every hope that the goal of $120,000 will be reached. The Environmental Committee report highlighted their program of toilet testing. Leaks in CPW were discovered in 9 toilets and 6 leaks were found in CPS. CPN, Plaza South and Plaza North are yet to be tested. The Facilities Committee received requests for ceiling fans to be installed in the exercise room; for the bulletin boards installed in the elevators to be removed and placed in the lobby; to limit air pollution in the use of leaf blowers and lawn mowers; and a request was made to repave the east drive, but that will not be done until the new building construction has been completed. The Wellness Committee reported good attendance at both the women’s and men’s seminars on bladder control. In addition, a seminar was held in September on “ Getting Our Affairs in Order”, and a session is scheduled in November on the subject of ”Am I Depressed or Just Tired?”

David announced that the “guru” of Medicare, Ellen Dean, would be discussing changes in Medicare and how they affect residents on Wednesday, October 19th at 2:30PM in the Motion Studio. Open enrollment begins November 1st. Dean and associates has recently added to their staff a retired Glendale policeman who will be working with the Medicare drug program and also fraud.

The Reverend Peggy Roberts was privileged to announce that Gene Lefebvre is the 2016 Recipient of the Anne Barstow and Tom Driver Award for Excellence in Nonviolent Direct Action in Retirement. The award was presented in Tucson for Gene’s work on “No More Deaths”. His wife, Sue, is writing a book on this work.

Nancy Splain, Interfaith Outreach Ambassador, announced that residents have been invited to a Sikh luncheon and tour on Wednesday, November 2nd. Call transportation at x12905 to reserve a seat on the bus!

Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters, reported that CarFit is offering a free event on Saturday, October 29th. To make an appointment for this service, call Jessica at x16110. CarFit has trained technicians to help “fit” senior drivers to their vehicles. Services include checking mirrors and blind spots, wheel and seat adjustments as well as guiding residents through a driver screening to assess vision and range of motion and answer questions for residents.

Ruth Crowley, Health and Wellness Committee Chairman, said that on November 7th at 3PM in the Life Center, the A.T. Still University Audiology Department is sponsoring a workshop on Communication Strategies for Hearing Loss. These strategies will be shared for those with hearing loss and their loved ones. Ruth also advised residents to mail in early ballots or vote early on Tuesday, November 8th in order to attend Dr. Catherine Lindstrom’s session on “Am I Depressed or Just Tired” at 3:00PM in the Life Center that day.

Jon Schilling, Director of Life Enrichment, thanked all the residents who participated in Active Aging Week, and he noted that the Street Fair was enjoyed by all and well attended. Jon introduced Mike Smallwood, our new Fitness Specialist, who has been leading the Functional Fitness class in the Motion Studio and will take on a larger role in the exercise classes on campus including working with residents in Health Care and in Assisted Living. Mike drew the name of Bob Malinski as the B-Fit winner of a $50 gift card this month.

Monica De La Rosa, Life Enrichment Specialist, reminded residents that a synopsis of each month’s events both on and off campus is available in each of the resident building lobbies. If more copies are needed, give Monica a call at x18473 and she will provide them. October events include the Oktoberfest Theme Dinner to be held on Thursday, October 27th in the Life Center. Entertainment will be by the Oom-pah-pah Band and tickets will be available at the various dining venues. Also, don’t miss the 2nd Annual Variety Show taking place on Friday, October 29th from 10AM to 12 PM in the Life Center. On Sunday, October 30th, the Arizona Broadway Theatre is presenting Funny Girl and tickets are available at the Welcome Center for $80. Last, but not least, there will be a trip to Lake Pleasant for lunch and a cruise on Friday, November 4th. Tickets are $22 at the Welcome Center.

Monica introduced Don Tamuty, Beatitudes resident, who encouraged residents to attend a presentation in the Life Center on Tuesday, October 25th at 10AM by a survivor of the USS Indianapolis which went down on July 30, 1945 with 1200 men aboard. Eight hundred and eighty seven of these men were drowned or eaten by sharks with only 317 saved. Those saved spent five and one half days in the water. There are 21 survivors alive today and a list of those survivors, compiled by the Smithsonian, will be available at the presentation. Come and learn how one courageous young Mexican American faced impossible odds…twice!

 Joe Kane, Director of Dining Services, provided an extensive and interesting list of “Did you Knows” concerning the restaurants at Beatitudes Campus. Some of these are: Did You Know we cook with no added salt, with zero trans fats, with no growth hormones in milk or meats, use compostable containers, record and read every comment every month, are inspected by 5 different agencies, cannot cook a hamburger under 155 degrees internal temperature by county code, our soft serve ice cream (when available) is gluten and lactose free, gluten free bread, rolls and pasta are available, you can get a split plate and half portions are available on some items, Monday night Sports Night has a themed buffet for only $6.00 with drink specials and a drawing if you have some team sports item with you, Sunday Brunch is the second Sunday of every month, many menu items can be modified to fit your needs, Buckwald’s has full meal options that cost less than the Bistro, the Bistro Lunch/Dinner menu has over 50 items to choose from and the Breakfast menu has over 40 items to choose from, and residents may eat in the Eleanor Menagh Dining Room in Plaza View where a full meal is $7 and table service is provided. The Bistro is offering large pizzas for $8.50 and chicken wings for $2.50 for delivery on Sunday. They must be preordered by 6:00PM on Saturday.

Joe also discussed the Dining Incentive increase to $200 per resident on October 1st and 15th depending upon your new month beginning. The incentive was never intended to supply groceries. Its purpose is to create relationships and socialization around meal times which goes to build the strongest families and communities. Cerreta’s candies and the convenience store items to the right of the ice cream freezer can no longer be charged to your “B” card incentive. You can, however, reasonably purchase an ice cream container, candy bars, etc. The cashiers are adjusting as well and things should be smoothing out. If there is a need to make further changes, they will be made.

Joe announced that Buckwald’s will be closed on Thursday, October 13th due to a large number of visitors on campus. Should you meet any of these visitors, do not hesitate to tell them how much you enjoy life here on the Beatitudes Campus!

David urged residents to get their flu shots. Flu shots will be available in the Honor Health Clinic on Friday, October 14th from 8:00AM to 1:00PM. Residents should bring their insurance cards. Shots will be $25 if your insurance is not accepted. He also noted several Wellness Center announcements:

Affiliated Dermatology will be on campus every 3rd Friday from 9 to 11AM, walk-ins are welcome and to schedule an appointment, call 480-556-0446 x333 and be sure to tell them that you live at Beatitudes Campus; Belton will be on Campus in October; Premier Hearing has changed their hours to every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 1 – 4PM, and to schedule an appointment call 602-279-0003; Zounds Hearing will continue their current schedule of every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 9AM to 1PM, and to schedule an appointment call 602-765-7800; Revolution Health will now offer Massage Therapy in the Wellness Center every Tuesday from 8:30AM to 12:30PM at a cost of $60 per hour or $30 for 30 minutes, by appointment only, by calling 602-265-1774; Essential Oral Healthcare will give a presentation on Wednesday, October 19th at 9:00AM in the Life Center.

David noted that “The Night of the Living Will” is being presented on Saturday, October 29th from 9AM to 2PM by the State Bar of Arizona. Lawyers dressed as storybook characters will fill out advanced care directives, fill out living wills and answer questions. The Area Agency on Aging will provide Medicare enrollment assistance. The services are free. An RSVP is required to meet with a lawyer. RSVP at 480-426-2641 or [email protected] .

David also called attention to the Facebook Group, Beatitudes Social Media, and advised that the best information on campus can be found there. Join today and if you want to learn how to get on Facebook, call the front desk and we will find you a buddy to help. The Hootenanny is tonight and every Wednesday night at 6PM (except October 12th). Resident can enjoy the music and bring a friend. Gregory’s Market is on Campus during Town Hall and their service to the residents is appreciated very much.

Feral cats are becoming a problem on campus and David asked residents to follow Beatitudes Policy and refrain from feeding them. They are being fed and moved farther and farther away from Campus. Also, insects gather around bird feeders and only hummingbird feeders are allowed on Campus.

While residents were being reminded of Wednesday Sundaes with Dave, Michelle Just announced that a new yogurt machine will be purchased. Residents cheered!

David advised residents that there will be no Town Hall in November and the next Town Hall will be on Wednesday, December 7th at 2PM in the Life Center.

 

 

 

 

Senior Driving Safety: CarFit at Beatitudes

Mon, October 17, 2016 Published by

With years of experience, older drivers are some of the safest drivers.  In fact, older drivers are more likely to wear seatbelts and less likely to speed or drink and drive.  However, older drivers, who do experience accidents, are at greater risk of serious injury, due to greater bone fragility.  Older drivers are also more likely to have physical, visual, hearing and memory impairments that can influence their ability to drive safely, and it can be difficult to know when to make the decision to stop driving.

Thankfully, there are a variety of programs and resources that can help keep senior drivers stay safe on the road despite many of these challenges.  From 9AM-1PM on October 29th, Beatitudes Campus will be cooperating with the NAU Occupational Therapy Program and AARP to host our second annual CarFit event.  CarFitcarfit-large is an educational program that offers older adults the opportunity to check how well their personal vehicles “fit” them.  The CarFit program also provides information and materials on community-specific resources that could enhance their safety as drivers, and/or increase their mobility in the community.

At the upcoming CarFit event, a team of trained occupational therapy CarFit technicians will work with each participant to ensure they “fit” their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety.  Each CarFit check takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.  During the check, the CarFit technicians will review 12 items, such as line-of sight, proper steering wheel tilt, positioning of airbag and head rest, mirror alignment and neck mobility for blind spot checks.  The CarFit technicians will also offer ideas for simple equipment and devices for those who have difficulty getting in and out of their vehicle or reaching the seatbelt.

Additionally, for those who are interested in learning more about whether and when it may be a good idea to stop or limit driving, there will be resources provided for senior driving evaluations, senior driver rehabilitation, top signs that it’s time to stop driving, and how to talk to loved ones about when to give up the keys.

Space is limited at the Saturday, October 29th CarFit event, and residents are required to make appointments.  Please contact Jessica Meyer at x16110 (@jmeyer) to learn more and book your CarFit appointment.

Wear Your Name Tag Week Begins October 24th—30th!

Mon, October 17, 2016 Published by

The Welcome Committee is planning a WEAR YOUR NAME TAG WEEK beginning October 24th through the 30th. During this time, we are encouraging all residents to participate! Wearing your name tag gives other residents the opportunity to greet you by name and start up a conversation. It picks up the spirits of anyone who may not be having a good day, and is a great way of making new friends. It broadens your horizon as you gather more people into your circle of life and you get to know them even better when this friendship becomes stronger. We all come from different backgrounds and different parts of our country and have great stories to share with everyone.

Employee Appreciation Fund: There’s Still Time!

Mon, October 3, 2016 Published by

As you know, the staff and salon contractors at the campus cannot accept gifts or gratuities even though they provide excellent service year round.  If you appreciate their dedication and hard work, please consider a donation to the Employee Appreciation Fund of the Residents Council.  Your tax-deductible gift will be split among the staff the first week of December.  Donations can be made in the form of cash (please mark the envelope), check (made out to Beatitudes Campus Foundation and Employee Appreciation Fund in the memo section), credit card (Welcome Center, Billing Office, or Foundation Office), or you can sign up for a monthly donation with your bill in the Billing Office.  Last year, we were shy of our goal, please help us meet or beat the goal of $120,000 by donating before October 31, 2016.  Thank you for your generosity!

To date, there’s been $75,826 contributed (THANK YOU!) with a goal of $120,000. Help us reach our goal—contribute today! DEADLINE for contributions: Oct. 31, 2016.

Active Aging Week: Explore the Possibilities

Mon, September 26, 2016 Published by

aawlogohi-res2016Active Aging Week 2016, “Explore the Possibilities”, has officially begun!! We hope everyone comes out and attends as many events as possible, takes advantage of the food and drinks, and, most importantly, has fun and get to know your neighbors!  The Life Enrichment Department would like to thank Nancy Campbell, Sherwin Block, Naomi Oglesby, Bonny Hoffman, Farrell Kenimer, Bob Longoni, and Igor Glenn for their time and effort in making this week a success!

Each day has a different theme and we also have suggestions on what type of attire to wear for the day. Back by popular demand, we will start off each day by meeting in front of the Bistro for our Community Walk.  We have a goal for Beatitudes Campus to walk 150 total miles by Friday during the morning Community Walk. We will need to average 30 miles per day.  The more community members we have the faster we will achieve this goal!

  • Monday, wear Purple and White to show your support to end Alzheimer’s.
  • Tuesday is Retro Rewind – Dress how you would have in the decade you were born.
  • Wednesday is Tie Dye day – Let’s make this campus colorful!
  • Thursday wear Sports Attire – Wear your favorite sport’s team’s attire or your workout clothes.
  • Friday is wear High School/College gear – Show your high school or college pride!  Please dress up if you would like and have some fun with these ideas!!

During this week, Beatitudes celebrates Mind, Body and Spirit with the different programs throughout the week. Use this week to get out and try something new, whether it be at the Campus or while you are out with friends and family. Celebrate all the positives we have going on in our lives and all for which we are thankful.  Tell/show someone in your life how much you appreciate everything they do for you and be happy! Enjoy the week!! *

Progress Marches On

Thu, September 22, 2016 Published by

I can’t believe it’s already four and a half months since I came to Beatitudes Campus! It has been a great time of assessing where we have opportunities and tooling up for our future.  What a pleasure it is in my many travels on behalf of the Campus to speak of our many unique characteristics and determination to serve as many seniors as possible in meaningful ways.

During these first few months, we have been able to kick off a number of projects and initiatives – a few that have been contemplated for some time and others that have been developed to distinguish Beatitudes in our rather active marketplace.  The First Impressions project, funded by the Beatitudes Foundation, has begun in earnest and is already making an impact on the environment around the property.

As you might well imagine, on a campus with buildings that span from less than ten to over fifty years old, many opportunities for improvement in the look of furnishings, colors and floor coverings have presented themselves. So about three months ago, we took an entire inventory of where we were and how we could best tune up image and surroundings to benefit our valuable residents and those who are considering residency.  It may not surprise you to learn that the tab was very, very high if we were actually able to do each and every item on the wish list, but undaunted, we went about breaking it down into phases and ways in which to achieve the best “bang for the buck.”

About $66,000 had previously been set aside for flooring in the Foundation and they generously granted an additional $271,000 for the project which includes not only carpeting and wood vinyl, but also replacement of a good deal of furniture, artwork and accessories in the Health Care Center, Plaza View Assisted Living, Plaza North and Plaza South as well as the Central Park buildings.  To date, we have seen completion of new wood vinyl flooring in all of the Central Park lobbies and elevators, as well as new paint schemes in those lobbies and throughout the upper floors at the entrances of resident apartments.  We have also completed the replacement of all upper floor lounge carpets in Plaza North and Plaza South.  A two tone painting scheme in hallways separated by a chair rail is underway in those buildings.  The big news is that the remodel of the first floor lobby begins the week of September 19th with the removal of the desk/counter as well as carpet.  It is all going to be replaced with our new flooring selections as well as a great executive desk, credenza and hutch, which our volunteer staff will continue to staff as they do in other buildings on campus.  We have also completed the installation of new flooring in Plaza View’s upper floor elevator vestibules and lounges and then the first floor dining room and activity room will see their new carpet installation start around the first of October.  Last, but certainly not least, 200 new multi-purpose, colorful chairs for use throughout the campus are starting to hit the scene.  As a result, we will be retiring a lot of the extraneous and dated seating that has survived through the years.

Major activity will begin on October 10th when we will begin to see the furniture, artwork and lamps delivered throughout the campus.  We are also hosting the 2nd annual PASRS (Professional Association of Senior Referral Specialists) conference on October 13th when we will enjoy the company of about 300 visitors on campus who will be looking at us for potential placement of their clients.  Of course, we are putting out the welcome mat, but also will be working feverishly to have our décor in place to present ourselves well, in addition to our mission and outstanding care services.   Some of the items will not be delivered until November, but once all of this work is completed by Thanksgiving, Phase I will essentially be complete.

All of the remaining areas of need have been collected into a Phase II process which will occur through our upcoming fiscal year (October 1st, 2016 – September 30th, 2017), funded by both the Foundation as well as largely by our campus operations.  Our board approved the plan this last week, but capital expense budgets are only possible by well executed operations, so we will also be working diligently to meet all of our occupancy and expense budget targets.  The completion of the First Impressions plan is scheduled through quarters one through four this coming year and we are tremendously excited about the impact that all that we are doing is making on campus.

So that brings me to the new Friends and Family Referral Program that we have kicked off as of September 7th.  For every qualified referral that you provide to the marketing department, that has not been previously identified to us or toured, we are anxious to pay you, our valued residents (or members of your family) $1000 for the first successful admission, $1250 for the second and $1500 for the third.  That’s $3750 that you can earn per year!  In addition to the prospects not having been previously in our marketing database, they must complete three months of residency and be current on their account.  It’s that simple!  Think about former neighbors, members of your church or members of your own family that you would recommend becoming a part of Beatitudes Campus and provide their names to the marketing department.  The program runs all through next fiscal year to September 30, 2017 but I urge you to hurry.  As I write this article, there are 23 apartments that are “sold” and not yet occupied between rentals and entry fee (Central Park).  Even though we will experience some residents that will transition to higher levels of care, there are a few apartments to fill and enjoy this opportunity.  I will say I honestly cannot wait to hand out that first check at a Residents Council or Town Hall meeting to someone who has referred a successful admission under this program!  And, I want to keep handing them out…….again and again throughout this year.  I love working together with you – simply the finest Life Plan Community I have ever known.  Together, we are creating the community of choice in, not only the Phoenix metropolitan area, but the southwest U.S. – full of choices, opportunities for service and a place of love, acceptance and fellowship.  Please be sure to get in touch with me if you have any questions…… call Marketing at x18487 or myself, at x16107.*

Town Hall Informant – September 2016

Tue, September 13, 2016 Published by

Welcome to the 2016 Beatitudes Campus Town Hall Informant Newsletter. Below is a summary of information and news discussed at the Town Hall meeting. We welcome all new residents for the month of July and August (since our last edition)! You may also view all new residents online at: https://bcampus.org/view/new-residents/

David Ragan, Senior VP of Resident Services, called the meeting to order at 2:15PM. Speaking to a full house of 200 or more residents, at least seven of whom were first time attendants at a Town Hall, David expressed his welcome and reminded residents of the Welcome Coffee which takes place on the 4th Wednesday of each month. The date in September will be Wednesday, the 28th.

Michelle Just was not able to attend this month’s Town Hall, but will be present for the next Town Hall on October 5th.

Employee Shout Out recipients of Certificates of Appreciation were Rod Bailey, Marketing and Sales; Jerry Amaya, Facilities Department; and Ronnie Dew, Dining Services. Radical Hospitality forms are available online at www.bcampus.org and also at the Welcome Center and the Information Station in Town Plaza. Residents are asked to please continue to Shout Out their appreciation of staff members in this way.

Jim Plaster, Residents Council President, presented his report. Issues discussed at the August meeting included the ever-broken yogurt machine, the new phone system and a bulletin board for patio home residents. The Community Relations Committee noted that the 19th Avenue North Association is moving forward. Jim Elliott is the liaison with this organization and Gene Lefebvre will serve on the Interfaith Council. The Recreation Committee reported that the Friday Happy Hour has been relocated from the Bistro to Bucky’s due to overflowing attendance. The Welcome Committee reported that June saw eleven new residents and July welcomed an additional six new residents. The Employee Appreciation Committee distributed annual letters to residents and friends of the Campus and the goal is to make this the best year ever for the Beatitudes staff.

Rev. Peggy Roberts, Senior VP of Spiritual Life, complimented residents on their generosity in the food collection drive for ICM. In this collection alone, the Campus has provided 73 families with food for three to four days. The 15th anniversary of the September 11th Observance will take place on Monday morning, September 12th, at the Peace Pole on Central Park Mall at 8:30AM. The Bell of Hope will ring at 8:46AM, followed by a prayer and reading honoring those who died, first responders, and rescue and recovery workers.

Ron Ingram, Director of Plaza View Assisted Living and Early Memory Support, discussed the plans that have been made for National Assisted Living Week, September 11th through September 17th. Ron invited both Plaza View and Independent Living residents to take part in the week’s activities and to wear the color designated for each day. Monday (blue) will honor our fallen heroes of the 9/11 tragedy. On Tuesday (yellow) the Paradise Valley Entertainers will be at Plaza View. Wednesday (black) will feature an Open House with a Treasures and Trinkets Showcase. On Thursday (green) Plaza View will be hosting a sing-a-long as well as Happy Hour with Karaoke. Friday (red) will bring a Men’s Breakfast in the morning and a close to the week with a Resident Appreciation Dinner.

Joe Kane, Director of Beatitudes Dining Services, announced that our Chef, Brian Rocco, is back on the Campus and he extended a thank you to Rick Melbourne, the Chef who filled in for Brian while he was recuperating. Joe discussed the Independent Living Dining Incentive B-Card changes that will be taking place on October 1st. Residents buying power has increased by $30, from $170 to $200 per month. This will allow residents the opportunity to enjoy more meals in the Bistro, more opportunity to eat at Buckwald’s, more opportunity to eat at Plaza View, and more opportunity to entertain friends/family or neighbors at any of the dining places. The $200 can be used toward purchasing meals in every restaurant, and includes grab and go items in the Bistro, catering from Campus Catering and guest meals. The B-Card cannot be used for things that you buy that are not part of the meal program, such as alcohol purchases, and now, C-store purchases, large tubs of ice cream and Cerretta’s candy. Items in the beverage case, ice cream bars, pastries, desserts, Farmer’s Market grab and go items and quarts of milk will have a quantity limit per transaction. There are meal plans in many communities that force you to eat everyday with them. The Beatitudes has built in flexibility so you can still go out to dinner and not feel tied to the on-campus restaurants. The renewed focus of these changes is on keeping residents eating socially and well during the month. These changes will be spelled out for residents in coming issues of the Roadrunner. In answer to a question, David said that the price of food will not go up at this time.

Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters, told residents about an upcoming A.T. Still Falls Prevention Workshop starting Friday, September 16th at 1:30PM in the Agelink Great Room. The workshop will last for eight weeks and is a great opportunity for anyone who has a fear of falling or has a history of falls. Call x16110 and leave your name and number to reserve a space.

Jessica provided an update on the recent CAREcorps Open House. Thirty-four volunteer groups were represented and well over 100 residents and staff members attended. Those attending were enthusiastic and provided a stimulus for new volunteerism. Similar events will take place in the future.

Ruth Crowley, Health and Wellness Committee, apprised residents of an upcoming Workshop, Getting Our Affairs in Order: Legal and Financial Issues of Aging. Nancy Splain, Attorney at Law and Interfaith Outreach Ambassador at Beatitudes Campus Spiritual Life Department, will address legal and financial planning questions residents may not have considered, including technological issues which have come to light in recent years. The Workshop will take place on Friday, September 23rd at 10AM in the Life Center.

Rod Bailey, Senior VP of Marketing and Sales, unveiled a new Friends and Family Referral Program and New Resident Tools. Residents received a door-hanger outlining the way to earn a check for up to $3750 for referring prospective residents. The program is open to current residents and family members of residents and applies to new referrals only. All residents and family members are eligible through 9/30/17. Rod explained that it is more cost effective to invest in the people who know about the Beatitudes than investing in any other resources. The New Resident Tools include a punch card for 12 meals (1 per week) to host a prospect and the opportunity to have a small open house in the new resident’s apartment for friends, family prospects, clergy, former neighbors or others. In answer to a question, Rod said that a program is being established to provide prospective residents comprehensive help in selling a home, downsizing and moving to the Beatitudes.

Rod also discussed opportunities for resident participation in activities of the 19 North Association. There will be a Grand Opening on October 7th. See Jim Elliot or Rod Bailey for details. There will also be an Arizona Night Out on October 22nd at the 17th Avenue Park. See Rod Bailey for details and he will get some sign-ups going for transportation to these events.

Chris Mason, Life Enrichment Specialist, reminded residents of the events of Active Aging Week last year. Sybil Eppinger and Barbara Glenn received $10 certificates acknowledging their ability to remember specifics of last year’s activities. This year’s Active Aging events explore activities in health,

Technology, Spirituality, Community and Fitness—The week begins on September 25th with a free kick off breakfast at 9:00 a.m. in the Life Center. Tuesday will be a chat with IT; Wednesday features a labyrinth with Spiritual Life; Thursday will be a Field Day with all the fitness instructors, and on Friday a Street Fair will be held in the Mall area and will include many free give-aways.

This month’s B-Fit winners were Lila Levy and Shirley White who each won $50 Visa gift cards.

Didi Cruz, Life Enrichment Specialist, offered congratulations to Monica for the birth of her daughter, Hosanna Rea De La Rosa, who arrived three weeks early and weighed just 5 lbs. 7 oz. Sign-ups for the Variety Show will be accepted until Friday, September 23rd. The show will take place on Friday, October 28th from 20 to 12 in the Life Center.

Lifelong Learners Fall Registration will take place in Agelink from 9AM to 1PM on Monday, September 12th and from 9AM to Noon on Tuesday, September 13th. Independent residents pay $25 total for unlimited classes and may pay with Beatitudes account, cash or check. Call Security if you need a ride. Late registration is available by contacting Neil at x14814.

David Ragan announced that bus transportation for groceries will continue to go to the Fry’s Marketplace on Glendale and 19th Avenue. There will be no change, but residents are asked to take charge and take complaints to the store management. Glen Ehland, Fry’s Store Manager, spoke to residents of his appreciation for their business and his efforts to make the shopping experience for residents safe. Joe Kopelic, Asst. Protection Manager, also spoke to residents and informed them that they have added a security guard from 7:15AM to close and have off duty policemen hired from 5PM to close. Residents are asked to be conscious of people around them and never ever leave their purses in an open cart. Residents were advised that four new scooter carts have recently been purchased for use. It was also advised that residents call 911 if they see something happening that needs to be reported. The new light rail line seems to be responsible for an increase in pan-handlers and trespassers in the area. Several suggestions from residents included keeping residents and grocery carts inside until the bus arrives and then leaving two at a time as well as having smaller grocery carts available for use by some residents and posting a security guard at the front door.

Michele Mully, Transportation Coordinator, was happy to report that the Free Zone for transportation will extend east to Highway 51, beginning October 1st. The extension will include rides to Cigna on 16th Street and Associated Retina Consultants on East Glendale.

Residents were reminded that with the new phone system, phones will ring 8 times before you can leave a message. Call 16135 for medical appointments and x12905 to reserve a seat on the bus for activities and shopping.

The last chance to register to vote will be Monday, September 12th in the Bistro from 11AM to 2PM.

David Ragan introduced Warren Myllion and Howard Sommers, DDS of Essential Oral Healthcare.

EOH is embedding its services here and is intent on helping residents maintain good oral health which is important in reducing the risk of pneumonia, fevers and the flu.

In closing, David reminded residents to check on their neighbors, join Facebook Beatitudes Social Media and look forward to having Gregory’s Market here for the next Town Hall on Wednesday, October 5th in the Life Center.

 

Editor’s Notes: Please thank Norma Dieffenabach when you see her next for taking such excellent notes from our Town Hall Meeting.

New Phone System and Frequently Asked Questions

Fri, August 5, 2016 Published by

Here at Beatitudes Campus, we provide a FREE phone service to all residents, including a phone number, voicemail, call forwarding, call waiting and Caller ID. We are able to do this by owning and operating our own phone system. This ownership requires that we continually perform upgrades to stay up to date and avoid extended outages. We have just completed such an upgrade, and are working through the kinks generally associated with revamping 750 phones in a mostly 50 year old wiring infrastructure.

I was asked the question today, “Why did we make this change if things were working good in the first place?” Well, our previous phone system was a digital/analog Nortel Meridian 61C that was in service here  for 13 years and served our community very well. When an electronic piece of equipment that you rely upon very heavily on a daily basis becomes that old, you enter a time frame where there’s a risk of catastrophic failure. If that were to happen, all 750 phones would stop working with no clear idea of how soon repairs could be made. So, with that said, our new system is a Mitel My Voice Business system and utilizes the most up-to-date telecommunication technology called Voice Over IP or “VoIP” for short. Due to some backwards compatibility equipment, we’ve enabled our residents to continue using the analog phones that they’re used to. However, as with all technological advances—there is change.

I would like to point out some of the more prominent changes that you, as residents, will need to learn and get used to. Our goal is to help you transition through these changes and be able to utilize the new systems comfortably. Here are the most common frequently asked questions (FAQs):

How do I dial an on-campus extension?

  • Simply add a “1” to the old extension and dial all 5 numbers. Ex: 2611 = 12611
  • Please note that dialing “0” does not require a 1.
  • A new resident directory reflecting these changes will be distributed soon.

How do I dial an off campus number?

  • Dial a 7 to access an outside line and then dial the full 10 digit number. Ex: 602-995-2611.
  • All off campus dialing will require the full 10 digit number to be dialed—even 602.
  • Don’t forget to change your speed dials.

How do I know I have voicemail or an answering machine?

  • If you retrieve your messages by pushing a button on your phone base, you have an answering machine.
  • If you retrieve your messages by calling a number and pressing buttons on your phone, you have voicemail.

How do I access voicemail?

  • Dial *86 on your phone to access and set up your new voicemail box and greeting.
  • If you dial *86 and get a wrong number recording, you’re not set up for voicemail on our system and need to call in a work request to have voicemail added for you.

How do I forward my phone to another phone?

  • Dial *355 then 7 and then the full 10 digit number. Ex: *355, 7, 602-995-2611.
  • To cancel forwarding, dial *350 and hang up.

Everyone should have received a copy of the “Beatitudes Campus Resident Technology Services Resource Guide.” This guide explains all technology services offered to residents. If you do not have one, there will be copies available at the Welcome Center in the Nelson Administration Building and at the Information Station in Town Plaza. If you have experienced any problems with your service, please know that we are working diligently to restore all service back to 100% and we apologize for any inconvenience. If you haven’t already, please call to place a work request for your concerns. *

 

Comfort Matters – Update

Mon, June 20, 2016 Published by

We are so pleased with the continued success of the Comfort Matters dementia education program, developed right here at Beatitudes and now being implemented in long term care organizations across the United States. With our last update in Teamtalk, we were excited to announce that we were then working with five organizations outside Beatitudes, including the three large organizations that we have been working with for the past four years. Since that report, we have added eight additional long term care organizations including Snyder Village, Metamora, IL; Someren Glen, Denver, CO; Roland Park Place, Baltimore MD; Sharon Towers, Charlotte, NC; Fellowship Square, Mesa, AZ; Judson Smart Living, Cleveland, OH; Lillian Booth Actors Home, Edgemont, NJ; and United Church Homes, Canton, OH.  Of these 13 programs, two have advanced in the application of Comfort Matters to the point of accreditation and are now recognized officially as a Comfort Matters Accredited Organization. Those organizations are Horizon House in Seattle, WA and Schowalter Villa in Hesston, KS.

Beatitudes-912-7752For those of you who might be new to Beatitudes Campus – Comfort Matters is a philosophy, a care practice and an evidence-based accredited education program that offers a holistic and integrated approach to improve quality of care and quality of life for persons with dementia.

As a result of the continued growth of the program and expanded interest we have had the opportunity to add an additional educator to the Comfort Matters team.  Linda Travis started working with Comfort Matters in April and has already made a significant impact to the wonderful work that we are doing all across the country.   She comes to the team with excellent credentials and a passion for what we are doing in this important work and is a perfect fit with our team.

Karen Mitchell is continuing in her role as the Comfort Matters Nurse Educator and we are pleased to announce that, through Karen, the Comfort Matters education will continue to be provided on our campus. Karen will be scheduling one, two hour education sessions each month and one all-day education session each quarter. Staff members can contact Karen for additional information. We encourage anyone who is interested, to sign up and take advantage of this exciting opportunity to learn about dementia and why comfort really matters.

–by
Tena Alonzo, Director of Education and Research, Comfort Matters
and
Ivan Hilton, Director of Business Development, Comfort Matters

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Protect Yourself and Others from the Stomach Bug

Fri, May 20, 2016 Published by

A stomach bug is floating around and we want you to be protected. Here a few pointers on how to stop this bug from “bugging” you.

  1. Practice proper hand hygienetake-washing-1165099
  2. Washing your hands carefully with soap and water for 20 seconds
  3. Use hand sanitizer if soap and water is not available
  4. Stay in your apartment avoiding all public ares if you are not feeling well
  5. Wait 48 to 72 hours before returning to public areas after your symptoms pass
  6. Take care in the kitchen
  7. Do not prepare food while infected
  8. Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces
  9. Wash your laundry thoroughly

Residents: Notify Kathy Amend at x6192 if you have symptoms. Request free meal delivery at x6192 if feeling symptomatic

Staff: For employees please notify your immediate supervisor if you’re feeling any symptoms.

From the CEO: State of the Campus

Fri, May 13, 2016 Published by

One of the greatest privileges of being President and CEO at Beatitudes Campus is being able to share with you our mission in action over the past year. The work “behind the scenes” has been extraordinary, and the initiatives that we are exploring and putting into action will help position the campus not just for success today, but for years to come. Throughout this past year, the senior staff has been developing our plan, which is based on five strategic pillars that will continue to hold up the vision and promise of Beatitudes Campus.

I have taken the opportunity to present the State of the Campus to our board of directors and the Residents Council and will be speaking to several other groups; however, I want to share it with each of you so you have a better understanding of work behind the scenes of this wonderful community.

Since becoming your CEO two years ago, we have experienced many successes and milestones. We launched the business plan for Comfort Matters, our dementia education program, as well as beginning the pre-work and research of our redevelopment planning. We celebrated two deficiency-free surveys in assisted living and the health care center! We have also maintained our Center for Medicare Services 5-star Quality Rating for the health care center. Kudos! Resident satisfaction, as evidenced by the Holleran Satisfaction survey held last spring, is at an all-time high of 87.6%, which is above the Holleran Benchmark of other life plan communities (formally known as CCRCs). Most importantly, we continue to see the fruition of the purposeful living initiatives through the creation of many resident-driven groups.

We have also had a few hurdles to overcome. Due to occupancy issues in various programs, the staff dealt with two budget contingency plans, with the focus on cutting costs without losing quality. This also included the incredibly difficult decision of wage freezes and the elimination of 11 staff positions – by far the most crucible moment of my career. At that time, we also saw a spike in employee turnover. All of this weighs heavy on our community and you will see later in this article the successful steps we have taken to address this issue.

As we embark on the 52nd year of operation, there continues to be a strong focus on delivering on the promise of our mission, vision and core values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence.  The following highlights are just some of the great work that is happening campus-wide.  Please know these are just some examples of the team’s work and there are many more initiatives taking place in departments, interdisciplinary teams, and resident groups across this community.

Pillar #1-Financial Sustainability: We will improve our financial performance and the effective use of our assets to guarantee financial sustainability so that we can continue to invest in our people, services, research, innovation, infrastructure, and mission expansion.

There is a significant focus on occupancy stabilization and programmatic growth while continuing to manage expenses. Department directors are doing extremely well in managing their budgets and we have invested funds and time into occupancy development. To date, I am delighted to share we are meeting budget expectations.

We welcomed Rod Bailey as our Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing earlier this month and we will see a continuation of our radical hospitality/first impression initiative through the generous grant given by our own Beatitudes Campus Foundation. These dollars will be used for upgrades throughout the campus in and around various lobbies and common spaces.

Pillar #2-Redevelopment/Repositioning: We will focus our efforts to reposition ourselves by looking for ways to improve the marketability of our campus and enrich the community experience for existing and future residents.

We have officially kicked off our master planning in the last few months. This process consists of research, financial modeling of various options, and eventual focus groups while accomplishing two key objectives. First, we must identify the best path to feasibility for the new phase of entrance fee apartments and health care center. Second, the phase must produce enough additional borrowing capacity and strengthen the campus’ financial portfolio to complete the rehabilitation of the North and South Plaza Apartments and Plaza View Assisted Living. As always, we will keep you updated on the process as it unfolds.

Pillar #3-Employee and Board Development: We will increase our commitment to developing and engaging our employees through education and training while recruiting a knowledgeable and engaged board of directors.

Employees are the heart and soul of our mission. They are the ones who deliver quality care and services every day, and their retention and satisfaction is important. Due to the high turnover experienced over the past several years, having spiked at 49.5%, our human resources team and department directors have implemented new interview and hiring tools, transitioned to panel interviews with peers, and created onboarding practices to set new team members up for success. Departments, like maintenance and housekeeping, have produced leadership development and mentoring programs. Turnover is down to 41% with a goal of reaching 35% by the end of next year.

As a nonprofit organization we are governed by a volunteer board of directors. With the ever-changing health care and aging services arenas, the executive committee and I are focusing on governance best practices, right-sizing the board, recruiting members with certain specialties, and education of campus programs and trends in the aging services field.

Pillar #4-Programming and Amenities Enhancement: We will continually evolve our programming, amenities, and services to meet the changing needs and preference of those we serve through our commitment to person directed practice.

The vibrancy, empowerment, and just plain fun that happens among the residents is one of the most important aspects of this community. In the last year and through funding by the Campus Foundation, we saw the launch of Success Matters, a program designed to assist residents with living fully.

We have also seen a significant increase in other programs and resident-driven initiatives, like Lifelong Learners, fitness classes, and various arts programming. Did you know there are an amazing 96 resident groups, committees, clubs, and services currently on campus?  This type of engagement would not be possible without the dedicated and creative life enrichment and fitness team, our highly active Residents’ Council and the volunteerism and donations by the Beatitudes Campus Auxiliary.

Pillar # 5-Home and Community Based Services: We will expand our efforts to those in need of a variety of services to the boarder community and provide support of independence to those who may never choose to live within a community such as ours.

Our home- and community-based programs, Beatitudes At Home and Beatitudes Home Health, continue to serve more clients and broaden the types of services provided. Beatitudes at Home recently launched its geriatric case management program and Beatitudes Home Health has doubled the number of seniors it serves.

It’s not just the individuals we serve through our community programs, it is organizations as well. Comfort Matters dementia training is now taking place in 13 communities across the nation with one already accredited as a Comfort Matters organization.  We are delighted to share the evidence-based practice that was created within the health care center is recognized as one of the top dementia care programs internationally.

As you can see there is much going on in this beautiful campus and I hope you never forget we are one community with empowered residents and a dedicated staff. We continue to honor our past, evolve to better serve those in the present as we plan for the next 50 years.

My best,

Michelle