Beatitudes Community

Looking Towards a Bright Recreational Future

Have you heard? The Recreation Department is looking to bring our community recreation programming to its highest level yet! But first, with all new visions coming with the new people and preparation for new opportunities, we have been doing a little remodeling so, when complete, we will be ready to start climbing. During this transition time, however, some misperceptions have arisen that we would like to address and, hopefully, create some clarity. One example is a revamping of our staffing and trying to create the most efficient structure to maximize our potential. Where we previously had one part-time driver and one one part-time Recreation Coordinator positions that we were looking to fill, after only receiving a couple of applications, the Transporation and Recreation Departments got together and came to a conclusion of offering a full-time, dual responsibility, position. This position will have dedicated hours for both being a driver and being a Recreation Coordinator. These hours may vary, but Jeff Mathison, Transportation Director, and Didi Cruz will be working together to ensure this new position is successful for the employee and our community.

This does not mean we will have our drivers be fully responsible for off campus events. It is quite the opposite. 90% of our off campus events will have both a driver and a staff/volunteer to make sure that tickets, meals, attendance and your experience is a great one! We do make some decisions where there may be only a driver. These will primarily be trips that only include a drop-off and pick-up at a location (such as a casino). The reason for this is we feel our trip participants to certain off campus venues are fully capable of being independent while enjoying their time off campus. This also allows our Recreation Staff still on campus to provide engaging programming to the other 450 plus residents who do not attend these trips.

Speaking of on campus programming, let’s talk about Theme Dinners. We hear you, and are thankful for our residents who take the time to express the good, bad, ugly and everything in between about community sponsored programming. As you read this, the Recreation Committee members are brainstorming different ways for you to share ideas on what the themes will be moving forward. The on campus and off campus programs that Didi has put on have come directly from residents’ suggestions, and we are so happy that community members share those ideas with her. In the meantime, Didi is working on a suggestion box outside her office and always please bring suggestions/concerns directly to Didi. Thank You!

Online Education: Dementia Dialogues Webinars

As a caregiver of someone with dementia, your time is precious and sometimes traveling to receive ongoing education is simply not possible. Join us for Dementia Dialogues, where we bring dementia education to you online! Dementia Dialogues offers a different, pertinent webinar topic each month. Tune in from the comfort of your home or office and learn from experts in dementia care!

Dementia Dialogues are meant to provide a caregiver with helpful information and tools to better understand and care for loved ones living with dementia. The series will be fully accessible from anywhere at any time with full lecture information available online and in accompanying audio versions.

Webinars will be hosted on the third Wednesday of each month from Noon to 1PM in the Admin Conference room. Every month, a new topic surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia care will be discussed by experts and guest caregivers. Limited space is available in the Conference Room so please come early, if we outgrow the space we will look to move to a bigger area.

The Topics that will be covered on the Webinar are:

  • Planning for Care Across the Stages of Dementia (March 18th);
  • Alzheimer’s Medications: What They Are, What They Aren’t and What You Need to Know (April 15th);
  • Planning Successful Travel (May 20th);
  • Men as Caregivers (June 17th);
  • Understanding Psychosis (July 15th);
  • Maintaining Realistic Expectations as Dementia Progresses (August 19th);
  • Best Lessons from Powerful Tools for Caregiving (September 16th);
  • How and When to Execute Powers of Attorney (October 21st);
  • Preparing for Holidays (November 18th);
  • The Gift of Presence (December 16th).

The Lenten Journey

On Wednesday, the season of Lent begins, and we are invited again on a journey to refocus our spiritual selves for inner renewal and reconciliation with God and others. The Lenten journey is a time of self-examination when we are encouraged to slow down, take a deep breath, and take stock of things. In the words of Pope Francis, “The purpose of Lent is to adjust your life.” We often associate Lent with giving up something, however, why not do something positive, too, instead of just removing the negative? Maybe this year resolve to spend more time volunteering, take time with your family, or write a letter to a dear friend.

lent wordThe 40 days begins this Ash Wednesday as you are invited to come and receive the imposition of ashes upon your forehead—a sign of humility that we all are in need of God’s grace. There are two opportunities to receive the ashes: Rosary and Communion in the Plaza View Lounge at 10:00AM, or anytime between 10:00AM—3:00PM, the Life Center will be available as a space for prayer and reflection with your Campus Chaplains offering the opportunity to be marked with ashes. Throughout the Sundays in Lent, worship opportunities are Catholic Mass at 10AM and the campus Vespers services at 3 and 4PM when the Chaplains will be preaching on the theme of “Characters of the Cross.”

There was Peter who denied Jesus three times, Judas who betrayed him, Pontius Pilate, the judge at Jesus’ trial, Barabbus, whom the crowd chose to be released instead of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, who experienced the power of forgiveness. Or perhaps you might hear a reflection on one of the soldiers who mocked Jesus and took his clothes, or the two thieves who hung on the cross beside Jesus at the crucifixion. Then we come to Holy Week which will be marked by special services on Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday, the Life Center will be beautifully set up with the Stations of the Cross. And the culmination of it all, of course, is Easter Sunday, which celebrates the promise of the empty tomb as we meet our Risen Lord once again! Our Sunrise Service is at 7:00AM on the west walkway outside the Plaza Bistro, followed by a continental breakfast Catholic Mass is at 10:00AM, and there is a service led by the Chaplains at 3:00PM in Plaza View. Join us in this journey of Lent as we take time to be holy!

What’s in a Name?

What’s in a name? The founders of Beatitudes Campus thought a lot about the name of the campus fifty years ago. At first, the campus was called “North Congregational Retirement Home,” paying tribute to our roots. But, within a few years, they decided that the name just didn’t fit this active community and wasn’t descriptive enough. Our residents and our grounds seemed more like a college than a “retirement home.” Our residents were active, social and lifelong learners. After much reflection, our name was changed to Beatitudes Campus to reflect the lifestyle and the purpose.

Namestorm-Ledger LeadingAge, the national membership organization for not-for-profit continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) like Beatitudes Campus, has embarked on an initiative to find a new name for a continuing care retirement community—one that actually resonates who we are. According to Larry Minnix, president and CEO of LeadingAge, “It’s about the ‘R’ word – retirement – and the ‘C’ word – care.” These two words and the perceptions surrounding them are the reason LeadingAge is spearheading an effort to develop a new name for a continuing care retirement community.

Continuing care retirement communities like Beatitudes Campus are different from other senior living options because they combine an active and robust community where you can live independently with additional services available should the need arise. Yet, the name that we have been using to describe communities—Continuing Care Retirement Community – focuses mostly on care. We want to develop a name that focuses more on the unique living experiences that we have.

Beatitudes Campus residents, families and staff have been chosen by LeadingAge to help in this initiative, called “CCRC NameStorm.” LeadingAge is asking that our residents complete a short, 10-minute survey and be part of shaping the future of CCRCs. The survey is anonymous. It will ask a few general questions and will give you 11 different names and will ask you some questions about each name. The website address for the survey is www.researching.com/namestorm. We encourage you to complete the survey online, either on your own computer or in the Computer Lab on Tuesday the 10th or Thursday the 12th from 10 to 11:00AM. We will have volunteers there to help you complete the survey. We have a very limited number (about 40) paper surveys available at the Welcome Center.

I encourage all of you to participate. Your ideas and input on the survey will spark a new conversation about living as an older adult. Your input will help determine what name best describes the expanding possibilities that can be experienced in a CCRC.

Watch the Community Channel or look for flyers for more specific information about the survey. Thank you for participating in this most important endeavor.

Success Matters!

It started 50 years ago when a new community opened its doors promising the highest quality of life and opportunity for successful aging. Until those doors opened, the chances for truly successful living, in what were mostly “nursing homes,” were close to none. They were simply a place to exist day in and day out with no real belief in lifestyle choices and options that can strengthen physical and mental outlooks.
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What the founders of this new community knew was that offering only day to day existence was beyond an insult because learning, living and growing takes place all the days of our lives no matter what level of physical or mental capability. Fifty years later, Beatitudes Campus continues its mission of offering its residents, at every level in its community, the opportunity to access the highest quality of life and success each day and to embrace those tools that will help create it. And just like fifty years ago, it is our mission to continue to discover new and innovative ways to achieve success for every resident whom we have the honor to serve.

At Beatitudes Campus, success matters – your success matters! No one can force success on another. But we know that if we can offer our residents the insights, tools and programs, that for what others are convinced is inevitable when it comes to aging, our residents can redefine and thrive instead.

What does success look like? It might look like waking up one day realizing that getting out of bed and standing is getting harder and harder – and then going to the Fitness Center and looking for new ways to strengthen those legs and keep them lifting you for years to come. It might look like realizing that your sense of balance is changing – and then instead of waiting for “the fall”, checking with your doctor and taking Fall Prevention classes and balance exercises all aimed at keeping you upright for all those times you want to be. It might look like observing that you have been staying home and even ordering dinner in not only getting out less but socializing less becoming the recipe for depression – and then pushing yourself into the Bistro or Buckwald’s and joining in some activities. By the way, it is not too late to register for a Lifelong Learning class. And it might look like awakening to the fact that days are feeling more sad than happy, and motivation to do anything is slipping away – and then talking to your doctor or pharmacist about medicines that might be causing those feelings – or seeing our excellent counselor in the Wellness Center – or talking to our Chaplains – or pushing yourself back out and surrounding yourself with friends to expose you to some of the most inspiring people right here in your midst. The fact is doing all of the above is part of a recipe for success that you can start cooking up any day you choose. It is the beginning of successful living.

Success matters – your success matters. That is why we are still discovering new ingredients and cooking up new ways to do all we can to be a part of your success. In the next few months, be watching for Resident Services to unveil what we think has been a missing ingredient to our being able to offer you a complete recipe for your mind, body and spirit’s success. We think we have found it and we can’t wait for you to have a taste. Success matters, your success matters at Beatitudes Campus.

Fifty years later this campus is still dedicated to your learning, living and growing – your success – and if you dare to embrace success it is yours. And fifty years later we are still researching and dreaming up innovative approaches and tools to offer, so as to have the greatest potential for achieving the most success at every level. That’s success.

Stay tuned and remember: Your Success Matters to us.