While the categories of wellness overlap and influence one another, some examples of physical wellness will include Mobile Valley Physicians, Oasis Outpatient Therapy, Dispatch Health, our own Fitness Director, Mike Smallwood, Zounds, Premier and Costco Hearing, mobile dentistry and more.
Rev. David Ragan, Sr. VP of Resident Services, called the meeting to order at 2:15PM, wishing all a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Joyous Holiday Season. David also asked residents to be sensitive to those who may have lost a loved one recently or have other reasons to be sad over the holidays. A kind word or deed can make a big difference. He shared the spirit of the holidays by showing some pictures of staff, both now and in previous years. Staff Christmas photo cards from years past of Michelle Just, Joe Kane, Mike Smallwood, Peggy Roberts, Jon Schilling, Barbara Wood and many others brought gales of laughter from residents. How we do change over the years!! David called attention to the Welcome Coffee held the fourth Wednesday of each month, but taking a break in December, with the next Coffee on Wednesday, January 23rd.
Michelle Just, President and CEO, also wished residents happy holidays and provided updates on several items. She thanked residents for their participation in the Holleran Survey and said the findings will be used by Senior Staff, the Board of Directors and others in planning for the future. Michelle also thanked residents for their generosity in raising over $165,000 for the Employee Appreciation Fund. The staff party with be on Friday, December 7th, and employees are very grateful for the money they receive from the Fund. It will definitely make a difference for Christmas. As for the redevelopment, residents have no doubt noticed that the homes along 17th Drive and Myrtle Avenue have been demolished. Abatement will be started tomorrow in regard to the old patio homes. They will not be demolished until sometime in January and residents will be duly notified of the date so that they may party on their balconies. A new name has been given to the Courtyard buildings. It is to be called the Promenade Residences. In response to letters received and rumors, Michelle assured residents that the Mall would not be closing down for this phase of the redevelopment. That will not occur until the Promenade Residences are built 2 ½ years down the road. She has also received word that residents are very happy with the Holiday decorations and she assured us that the Poinsettia tree in the Life Center will remain lovely without watering as the flowers are silk! Michelle asked a favor of residents—that some residents (in their Beatitudes T-shirts) would attend the Alhambra Village Planning meeting on December 18th at the Washington Adult Center. More information will be available in the Roadrunner.
As Barbara Carpenter came forward to report on the Residents Council, David noted that there had been a Barbara Luncheon. Barbara said that 18 Barbaras attended and had a lovely time.
Barbara reported on the November Residents Council Meeting, noting that David Ragan welcomed the Representatives, Committee Chairs, Staff and Residents. He had updates on the demolishing of the new patio home and garden apartment sites, the Community Channel and a new loop system for the Life Center. Bylaws and Elections Chairman, Herb Komnick, reported that the elections went smoothly, each building has elected representatives, and over 60% of independent living residents voted. Dining Services Chair, Pat Dellisanti, shared the mostly positive comments that the committee had received on our dining venues. Bette Henriques, Employee Appreciation Chair, announced that the 2018 fund had broken the previous record and she, too, thanked all who participated so generously. Enviroment Chairmen, Gerald Roseberry, said that servers in Buckwald’s and Elaine’s will be offering water on request as part of our conservation effort. It was approved for the Recycling Sub-Committee to move to the Facilities Committee. Facilities Committee Chairman, Roger Benson, and his committee are working with our Director of Plant Operations on the serviceability and appearance of the campus facilities. Committees reporting in December include Communications, Community Relations, Health and Wellness, Life Enrichment, Spiritual Life and Welcome. Representative, Nils Larson, of Plaza View welcomed new representative, Dick Tucker and reported on happenings there. Kathleen Hall of Plaza South and Hollister Newlin of Central Park South each reported about good things in their buildings and all independent living areas will be celebrating the season with holiday events starting next week. Donna Ellis reported for the newly formed Diversity and Inclusion Action Council, which will be working to promote these values, a part of the Beatitudes Promise. The Residents Council will be appreciating all our 2018 volunteers, electing new officers and seating our new representatives next week so join us for an exciting glimpse into 2019 on Wednesday, December 12th at 2:00PM. Cake and coffee will be served. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN 2018!
Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters, announced a Courtney Cookie Send-off to be held on Thursday, December 20th from 10 to 11AM. Courtney Ramos has completed her internship at the Beatitudes and we thank her for her work on Campus and wish her well in her upcoming career as an occupational therapist. Courtney, who has now completed her Master’s Degree, thanked the residents for being so welcoming and expressed her feeling that this is a wonderful community.
Didi Cruz and Monica De La Rosa, Life Enrichment Specialists, combined forces to remind residents of several upcoming opportunities such as the Holiday Light Tour Off Campus on Monday, December 17th and Wednesday, December 19th at 6PM. Call x12905 to reserve your seat. There will be a trip to Organ Stop Pizza on Tuesday, December 18th at 3PM. Organ Stop Pizza accepts CASH ONLY and to join this trip, call 12905 by Friday, December 14th. If you plan on decorating your balcony, and don’t mind having folks stop by around 6PM on weekdays, call Didi at 18473 by Thursday, December 13th. Those who participate will be entered in a raffle to win a $25 gift card. Free gift wrapping is available on Saturday, December 15th from 9AM to 5PM. Volunteers will be available to help wrap your gifts. All supplies are provided and please schedule a time by calling Monica at x18526. If you would like to be a Town Crier, and be available from 8 to 8:20AM to announce the events/classes going on for the day and the following day, and answer questions regarding the events/classes, contact Korry Nelson, Communications and Media Design Specialist at x18493 or talk with a Communications Committee member. You can volunteer for one day a week, or two days a week or whatever you might be able to do.
Michael Smallwood, Fitness Specialist, provided riddles and jokes along with good news about keeping fit. It seems that as Americans continue to live longer, we also are aging better and thriving more in later life. Seniors are more satisfied with their standard of living, worry less about finances, have a significantly higher sense of well-being and have reduced amounts of stress in their lives than their younger counterparts. Hawaii ranks as the #1 state for older Americans well-being, followed by ARIZONA, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Colorado. The least happy states were Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Kentucky and West Virginia. So stay here at the Beatitudes and join a workout and wellness class! The B-Fit winner for December is Norma Dieffenbach.
Tena Alonzo, Comfort Matters Director of Education and Research, introduced John Czaplewski, a Doctoral student, whose dissertation project involves the cognitive examination of people at least 90 years old. John said that participating in the project will require 20 to 30 minutes of activities such as puzzles, identifying pictures, remembering a short list of words, drawing pictures and connecting the dots. If residents participate, they will be a part of something that will benefit the care of others, create something new, represent individuals 90 years-old and over and impact the field of Neuropsychology. There is no other research like this in the country. If you are interested in participating in this important study, contact Tena at x16182.
David said that the DirecTV installation is complete and Cox is terminated throughout the campus. If Cox is trying to bill you for the white boxes that were in your apartment, tell them to cease doing so as they are part of the bulk account between Beatitudes Campus and Cox and this does not involve you. Always put in a work order should you have any issues involving your television or internet from now on.
The Arizona Republic is for sale in the Bistro for $2.00 a copy, including Sunday. Remember the Hootenanny takes place each and every Wednesday night in the Life Center. Bring your friends and enjoy the music. Wednesday Sundaes with Dave will take place on December 19th from 2 to 4PM in the Bistro. Enjoy a free yogurt sundae and share your thoughts with David. A big Thank You to Gregory’s Fresh Market for the bags of fruits and vegetables given to residents as they came to Town Hall on Wednesday.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL. The next Town Hall will be at 2:00PM in the Life Center on January 2nd, 2019.
This year kept us busy—join us on a tour of highlights below:
We welcomed Occupational Therapy interns from A.T. Still University and NAU. Laura Milligan, Brian Keene, and Courtney Ramos each contributed to our Campus in their own ways. An extra “thank you” to Campus Residents for welcoming these young professionals into your homes and your lives.
We joined forces with Resident Services and Comfort Matters in our five-part Summer Series “Behind the Curtain”, which benefitted greatly from resident input.
We travelled to San Francisco for the American Society on Aging Conference.
Jessica participated in the leadership training with the Nollau Institute, and continues to be involved with the Caregiver Support Group; Better Breathers; Low Vision Support; Grief Support; and Accessibility Committee.
Josephine continues volunteering as a Medicare counselor with Area Agency on Aging, and completed her Assisted Living Manager Certification.
We continued our own staff training with our SimulAge experience, expanding it to quarterly trainings with new staff from across Campus.
We provided resident driver screenings with the help of NAU OT students, partnered with AARP to offer the Safer Driving Course, and presented Down the Road: Driving Decisions and Alternate Transportation Options.
We partnered with the Health Services Advisory Group to offer a Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) for residents, staff, and community members.
Educational offerings this year included Safer Stepping; A Matter of Balance; Financial Resources 101; Scam Awareness; Life Planning Documents; National Healthcare Decision Making Day; Medicare ABCs; and GoGo Grandparent / Transportation Alternatives.
We spoke at the Desert Christian Fellowship Luncheon about services on and off Campus.
We presented to Valley Leadership members about aging issues and how businesses might address them.
We were hosted by Plaza South at their Spring Party, and had a great evening visiting with our 19North neighbors.
We hosted the Crisis Network to educate employees about how Network services can aid residents and staff.
Health and Wellness Committee partnerships included Blue Zones for Healthy Living; End of Life Planning Panel; and treating pain with Alternative/Integrative Medicine.
Thanks to the residents who work so closely with the Spay/Neuter Hotline to identify and trap cats on Campus.
We are looking forward to 2019 and the joy of the coming year!
Interested in getting monthly email updates from Success Matters, or in sharing our news with family? Send or call Josephine with the email address you would like added to our list! *
David Ragan, Sr. Vice-President of Resident Services, called the meeting to order at 2:15PM, welcoming the residents in attendance and congratulating two residents who were at Town Hall for the first time. David said that he had always had a fascination for Dick Van Dyke and he showed a video of Dick, at age 90, enjoying a dance routine. The active, spry Dick Van Dyke is an inspiration to us all.
Barbara Carpenter, Residents Council President, reported on the May Council Meeting. David Ragan urged residents to stay hydrated during the summer; asked that problems or issues in a building be reported to the building representatives; noted that 17 patio homes are under contract; and asked residents to be respectful of our staff people. Community Relations Chairman, Gene Lefebvre, reported that 5 students from Washington High School were awarded $500 scholarships thanks to the great support of residents. Marc Adelman, Chairman of the Communications Committee, said his committee continues to evaluate a better hearing system and will be discussing mailbox options for the independent living buildings. Health and Wellness Chairperson, Ruth Crowley, said that the second spring seminar was well attended and important issues were addressed. Life Enrichment Interim Chairperson, Sherwin Block, urged residents to check the Community Channel and the Roadrunner for the many activities coming up this month, and he outlined a plan for expanded transportation services for residents through the transportation subcommittee. Paul Kelley, Spiritual Life Chairman, presented heartfelt thanks from our resident theologians, Michael Down and Connie Barlow, for a wonderful month with us. Welcome Committee Chair, Char Telleen, explained how her volunteers make new residents welcome by partnering for lunch, tours and information, and she encouraged residents to attend the monthly Welcome Coffee. Senior Area Representatives, Lois Pfau of Plaza North, Robert Berry of Central Park West, and Martha Trout of Central Park North/Patio Homes, reported on their current building activities. Residents asked about logos for our buses which are coming, and were advised that the Life Center is available for walking from 6:00 to 8:00AM daily. Dogs on leashes are permitted. Please see Barbara Carpenter or any of the committee chairs for more information or join a committee and make a difference in the Beatitudes community. The next Residents Council Meeting will be on Wednesday, August 8th, at 2:00PM in the Life Center.
Rod Bailey, Sr. Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, said that as of today, 20 out of the 34 patio homes have been sold. He noted that the atmosphere of camaraderie here at Beatitudes Campus is important to prospective new residents and sets us apart from some of the other communities. Beatitudes Campus Resident Referral Program is back in business with the opportunity for residents and family members to earn $1,000 for a first referral, $1,250 for a second referral, and $1,500 for a third referral. Call marketing at x18467 about any prospective residents and be sure to fill out a referral form.
Josephine Levy, Resource Navigator for Success Matters, talked about the seminars being held every Tuesday through July 3rd, at 2:00PM in AGR. The seminars cover Policies and Resources, Levels of Care, and a Q and A panel of Assisted Living and Health Care team members to address questions that may not have been answered in previous sessions. Josephine advised that residents should not be concerned about the need for a new AZ Travel ID Card as these cards will not be required until October 1st of 2020, 28 months away. Residents and family members who would like to receive the Success Matters email Newsletter each month should call Josephine at x16117 or email her at [email protected].
Joe Kane, Dining Services Director, said that Executive Chef, Brian Rocco has left the campus and we welcome back as our new Executive Chef, Cosmin Barbu. Chef Barbu worked here for 15 years, left to become a Sous Chef and now returns as our Executive Chef. He will be introduced to residents at the August Town Hall meeting. Joe reported that more feedback is being received from the Kiosks. They are mostly self-explanatory, but instructions on their use are available on the in-house video. Residents were urged to type in comments on the feedback to help dining staff understand why a thumbs down was given. Kitchen tours are still being given every Saturday at 2:00PM through October. Sign up for a tour in the Bistro and have a good look behind the scenes.
David reported that after careful research of all the providers, DirecTV has been chosen, and the transition will be coming in August. Beatitudes Campus will provide DirecTV’s top tier service level, including all of the movie channels like HBO, STARZ, TMC, and SHOWTIME. We will provide for two hookups per apartment and the DirecTV boxes. This will all be included with your monthly service fee at no additional cost to you. DVR’s will also be available for those who want them for approximately $10 per month. It should result in a significant monthly savings if you are currently using more services from our current provider.
Speaking for the Life Enrichment Committee, Sherwin Block, said the Life Enrichment Committee meets for an hour each month to plan events. Let Didi or Monica know if you would be interested in working with this committee.
David reminded residents of the opportunities for service available through the Beatitudes CAREcorps. Volunteers can walk dogs, feed pets, change cat litter, hand out flyers, host events, help neighbors, etc. There are many opportunities for service that encourage inclusivity and inspire purposeful aging. Call Didi or Monica to join CAREcorp and start volunteering. David also reminded residents of the opportunity to be VIP Guides or to be a guided person. Volunteers can take residents to and from campus activities, giving their regular caretakers a needed break to run errands or just take a nap. To sign up, call Monica at x18526 or stop by the office to fill out a form.
Tena Alonzo, Director of Comfort Matters, introduced Evelyn Sowell, LeadingAge Arizona Volunteer of the Year. Evelyn has contributed more than 6,000 hours of service to the Comfort Matters Dementia Care Education program and has served as a mentor to the Comfort Matters team. Tena said that Evelyn has helped to create wonderful curriculum that is used across the nation and throughout the world. She has spent much of her career guiding teachers on the best ways to teach others. Evelyn told residents that the Comfort Matters staff was easy to work with and her advice for everyone is to find something to love and do it. David noted that the campus would not be where it is today without volunteers.
Bob Telleen, LifeLong Learning Committee member, said that there would be a LifeLong Learners Film Festival on August 23rd and 24th in the Life Center. Movies will show at 9:30AM and 1:00PM. Cost of the movies is free, but residents will soon be able to purchase buffet lunch tickets for each day if they wish to. More publicity will be coming soon.
Mike Smallwood, Fitness Specialist, reported that the LeadingAge Arizona Fitness Challenge for Seniors would be Wednesday, November 7th this year. Mike hopes to add the corn hole toss and darts to the list of challenges which include basketball bounce, competitive walking, obstacle course, and Wii bowling. More specific details will be available at future Town Hall meetings. The Tai Chi Class meets with Jack Mathews every Wednesday at 4:00PM in the Recreation Room. The Life Center is open from 6:00 to 8:00AM daily through October for morning walks. The B-Fit winner for June is Nils Larson. Residents were treated to an inspiring video of Ida Keeling, a 102-year-old runner who defies age to set world records. She is the 2018 Fitness Award recipient. Her advice is for everyone to be active and get up and do something!
Keep watching the Community Channel 1960. All the latest information is posted there, so be in-the-know!! Also, our free WiFi is now accessible by using the password—“bcsummer” and will change on the first day of each new season to the season itself—bcfall, bcwinter and bcspring.
David thanked Gregory’s Market for bringing nutritious produce for residents and staff to purchase. We are grateful to them for their service.
There will be no Town Hall in July. We will take a little breather and come back rejuvenated on August 1st.
Mark your calendars for a special series of presentations and discussions coming to you Tuesday afternoons, starting June 5th, at 2:00PM in the Agelink Great Room (AGR). Sponsored by the Health and Wellness Committee, this five-part series examines situations and solutions that arise when living and working in a Life Plan Community such as Beatitudes Campus. It results from months of planning and collaboration among staff from Resident Services, Success Matters, and Comfort Matters.
Rev. David W. Ragan, Sr. VP of Resident Services
David Ragan (@dragan), Sr. Vice President of Independent Living opened the meeting at 2:15PM with a forecast of truly melting weather. Close to 100 residents braved the heat to attend the meeting and find out “what’s new” at Beatitudes Campus. There were no new residents at the meeting, but David intends to corral all the new residents in September and bring them to the meeting.
First on the agenda was a heartwarming story of a grandmother who could not afford the birthday cake her little granddaughter had picked out at the grocery store. The young man in line behind them bought the cake and convinced the grandmother to accept it as he had been the recipient of a similar kindness when he was seven years old. When the little girl showed her grandfather the cake and a message that the young man had given her, it became apparent that the grandfather was the man who had bought the cake for the seven year old boy many years ago. The story summed up by saying that a simple act of care creates an endless circle.
Or as David put it—you never know what impact the little things you do today might have and the blessings that come back to you in so many ways.
Remember the Welcome Coffee coming up this month on Wednesday, June 28th at 2:00PM in the Life Center. Come and meet your new neighbors!
Michelle Just (@mjust), President and CEO, complimented Mim Hoover (@mimhoover) and Dosia Carlson (@dosiacarlaol-com) (pictured at right) on the wonderful job they did in their Lifelong Learning Program Workshop at the Annual Meeting of LeadingAge Arizona, an organization of not-for-profit senior living communities. They were the only resident presenters at the meeting, and their presentation generated interest in starting similar programs at other communities. Michelle also celebrated two awards that were presented to Beatitudes Campus by LeadingAge Arizona. The first was for Innovation in Environmental Design and it went to Patty’s Garden, the healing garden honoring and named for Harriet Ivy’s mother. Beatitudes Campus was fortunate to be chosen to receive funding for this garden. Tena Alonzo (@talonzo), Director of Comfort Matters, noted that the garden provides a sensory experience for residents who may not think like they once did, but retain their feelings. The garden has a positive impact on their quality of life. It was built using solar power, LED’s, low water usage, color that does not attract bees and overall low maintenance. The second award went to the Success Matters Program, led by Jessica Meyer (@jmeyer), Director, and Josephine Levy (@jlevy), Resource Navigator. There is nothing else like this program in our peer group here in the Valley. The program seeks to keep residents independent as long as possible and make the most of each resident’s individual potential. They strive to make each resident’s quality of life as great as possible, and perhaps make life greater than when the resident moved to our community. Mim Hoover said she was given the confidence to feel that she could still do things as well as feel that life is still good. Michelle asked that residents join her in celebrating the Success Matters and Comfort Matters teams. She is incredibly proud of these two Innovation Awards. Congratulations also go to Tara Bethell (@tbethell), Sr. Vice-President of Human Resources and Risk Management, who was named to the Class of 2017 Forty Under Forty by the Phoenix Business Journal. She finished in the top ten!!
Herb Komnick, Residents Council President
Herb Komnick (@hkomnick), President of the Residents Council, reported on the May Residents Council Meeting. David Ragan welcomed everyone to the meeting, congratulated the Lifelong Learning Program and announced that Mim Hoover and Dosia Carlson would be speaking at the Arizona LeadingAge Workshop, and Success Matters is receiving the Innovative Health and Wellness Program Award. The Security-focused Town Hall was a success with residents learning firsthand about emergency procedures here on campus. Holleran 2017 Resident Engagement Surveys should have been completed and turned in between May 12th and May 27th. The Community Channel is now available to all residents on channel 1966. Pat Dellisanti, Dining Services Committee Chairman, announced the Luau which was held on June 8th as part of the Marketing Program. New menus are being prepared for the Health Care Center, Plaza View and Buckwald’s. A Lifelong Learner’s class will be offered to include kitchen tours. Sunday Pizza will return when the football season arrives. Barbara Carpenter, Interim Chairman of the Employee Appreciation Committee, outlined several Committee activities including letters to new residents, all residents, groups who use campus facilities and friends of the campus; relocated Tip Boxes; possibly adding a statement on menus; and a dinner being planned for August 17th. Gerald Roseberry, Environment Committee Chairperson, reported that leak testing for all resident buildings except Plaza View and the Health Care Center has been completed with the information provided to Scott Mardian (@smardian). Roger Benson, Facilities Committee Chairman submitted a report stating that Mitch Bradshaw (@mbradshaw) had been informed of complaints about the area around the dumpster at the Northeast corner of the campus. Roger was advised that vehicle traffic between Central Park North and the Garden Apartments was necessary for resident moves and appliances stored in the Garden Apartments. Kim Shull, Grounds Manager and Color Coordinator, has resigned. Residents are requested to help keep the campus looking neat by straightening chairs, etc., that are disarranged and calling in work orders for any obvious problems they observe. There was no unfinished business. Under New Business, a motion to appoint Sue Lefebvre as Parliamentarian was approved; the Holleran Resident Engagement Survey forms were given to Council members for distribution; and Don Tamuty reported he had received a request to keep the 17th Drive gate open for a longer period of time during the summertime (Herb reported that since the meeting, he has been informed that because of Security concerns, this request was denied.) Bette Henriques, Senior Area Representative for Central Park North and Patio Homes; Don Tamuty, Senior Area Representative for Plaza South; and Sybil Eppinger, Senior Area Representative for Central Park South reported on the various activities that have taken place and those that are planned for their buildings. Residents asked questions concerning window washing, use of plastic bags in dining venues, recycling procedures, and locating recycling containers near dining venues. Jeremy was complimented on his excellent work in emptying the recycling bins. Residents were reminded not to feed the feral cats. The next Residents Council meeting will be on Wednesday, June 14th in the Luther Life Center at 2:00PM.
Rod Bailey,
SVP of Sales & Marketing
Rod Bailey (@rbaileybeatitudescampus-org), Sr. Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, reviewed the referral award program in which residents can earn up to $3,750 for bringing new residents to the campus—people who have not been in the system or contacted previously. He also unveiled a new summer program that will be available through September 30th. Residents who just fill out a referral card will receive a dinner for two at Buckwald’s. If the referral card results in a move-in, the resident will receive three different dinners for four at Elaine’s Fine Dining in addition to the monetary award.
Congratulations were extended to Michelle Just for being elected to the Board of Directors of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. The Beatitudes is the only senior living organization that has a presence at the Chamber.
Ruth Crowley, Residents Council Chairman of Health and Wellness Committee
Ruth Crowley, Chairman of the Health and Wellness Committee, noted that the response had been so positive in the spring that three additional workshops have been planned to expand on the topics presented earlier. The first workshop, “What’s in Plaza View” was held on Thursday, June 15th at 3:00PM in the Life Center. Cheryl Knupp, Sr. Vice-President of Health Services, and her team from Plaza View, focused on assisted living at Beatitudes. It was suggested that you review your contract with Beatitudes prior to the meeting so presenters can provide more specific information in answer to your questions. In July, a workshop on Dementia and Skilled Nursing is planned, and in August there will be a workshop about the services available in independent living to help residents stay in their apartments when health issues arise.
Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters at Beatitudes Campus
Jessica Meyer (@jmeyer) announced that the Success Matters team is hosting a farewell for Rich and Mitch. They will be finishing their clinical rotation on June 23rd and residents can thank them for their contribution to the Beatitudes and wish them well in the Bistro on June 22nd from 12:00 to 1:00PM. Free cake as well!
Jon Schilling, Director of Life Enrichment at Beatitudes Campus
Jon Schilling (@jschilling) advised that planning is underway for the 2017 Active Aging Week. Residents interested in helping plan for this event should contact Jon at x10333. Jon reported that Anthony Farias, formerly in Transportation, is now working as a Life Enrichment Specialist in the Health Care Center. Jon reminded residents to bring suggestions for activities on campus and off campus to the Life Enrichment Committee. The Life Enrichment Team does their best to make things happen for residents. Mike Smallwood (@msmallwood), Fitness Specialist, provided a fitness report on the BrainSavers Class which is in the 6th week of the 12 week Quarter. Mike has made some significant adjustments to the program and has received positive feedback from the residents. Angie Moore, Manager of the Program, observed the class last week and approved of the adjustments that were made to accommodate the needs of seniors. The second Quarter is scheduled to start the 1st week in August. Starting Monday, June 12th and continuing through October, there will be Indoor Morning Walks in the Life Center. Residents were reminded of the importance of staying hydrated during these hot summer days. Residents were also reminded of the many fitness classes available, including Tai Chi, Chair Yoga, Zumba Gold, Zumba Exercises, Memory Maker Yoga as well as Fitness Foundations, Functional Fitness, Water Exercise and Sit and Be Fit. The June B-Fit Winner of a $50 gift card is Tom Denny. Winners have not been present at many of the Town Hall Meetings, and Mike suggested that you might have a better chance of winning if you don’t come to Town Hall!
Monica De La Rosa, Life Enrichment Specialist
Monica De La Rosa (@mdelarosa), Life Enrichment Specialist, reminded residents that there are suggestion boxes in the Life Center Lobby and the Information Station in the Plaza Bistro. Please use them to call attention to events, performers and off campus activities that are of interest to residents. Wednesday, July 5th is the last day to sign up for the Wednesday, July 26th baseball game between the Diamondbacks and the Braves.
New menus for Buckwald’s, Plaza View, and Elaine’s Fine Dining will be out in July. Look for the changes on the Community Channel, in the restaurants and in the Roadrunner. David assured residents that hot dogs and baked potatoes will not be taken off the menu. Apparently, keeping them available was a lesson learned the hard way.
David noted that the Beatitudes Auxiliary Backstreet Boutique is in need of volunteers who can help in the Furniture Annex, moving furniture, etc. The Annex plans to reopen in September. Talk to your children, grandchildren and friends about this rewarding volunteer activity.
The Community Channel #1960 is now available across the Campus. Make sure you tune in and see what is going on. Through this Channel, residents will receive updates on last minute changes as well as ongoing information in an emergency. If you have input to make the channel better, let David or Korry Nelson (@knelson) (x18493) know about it.
There will be a Hootenanny every Wednesday night, beginning at 5:45PM. Tell your neighbors and enjoy the enthusiastic music. It’s free! Wednesday, June 20th, from 2:00 to 4:00PM in the Bistro, enjoy another freebie, a frozen yogurt sundae. Just come for the treat or share your thoughts with Dave every third Community Wednesday.
David reminded residents to take staying hydrated seriously, and to have a great June. He looks forward to seeing residents at all of the events. There will be no Town Hall in July and the next Town Hall will be held at 2:00PM in the Luther Life Center on August 2nd.
The number of people who have trouble thinking because of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia is increasing. Most of us know at least one person who has had trouble thinking and we know how distressful this experience often is. Comfort Matters® which is a philosophy, a model of care and an education program was developed at Beatitudes Campus to improve the quality of life for people with dementia and their families. The program also improves the working experience for staff by giving them tools geared toward creating comfort for people with dementia. When people with dementia are comfortable then others around them are usually comfortable too.
The Comfort Matters® program helps people with dementia rest when they’re tired, eat what they want whenever they’re hungry, spend time engaged in hobbies of their choice and direct how their individual needs are met. Since people who have trouble thinking may not be able to carry out what’s important on their own it’s essential that we as staff understand the best ways to help them find comfort. Many of you have attended either a two hour or full day Comfort Matters® Dementia Care Education Course. These education courses are critical since people with Alzheimer’s disease or other kinds of dementia live everywhere on campus. If you’re interested in attending a Comfort Matters® education course please contact your manager or Karen Mitchell at [email protected].
In addition to the education courses available on campus, Comfort Matters® Dementia Care Education program is also teaching other senior communities across the country. Currently the program serves 15 communities in Washington, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Maryland. Senior communities spend one to two years learning how to create comfortable opportunities for the people they serve and then participate in an accreditation assessment where they can become a Comfort Matters® accredited organization. To date six senior communities have achieved this distinction. Over the next year, the Comfort Matters® team anticipates that another 15 senior communities will begin the program.
Serving our residents with dementia, their friends and family is often not easy. Taking what we know about dementia and comfort and teaching other communities can be challenging too. Everyone on campus has helped Comfort Matters® become a nationally recognized program. The Comfort Matters® team is honored to tell our story about supporting people with dementia and why comfort matters so much. Together we have improved quality of life and quality of service for people with dementia not just in our community but in communities across the nation. Thanks to all of you for making this possible.
For additional information about Comfort Matters® please contact either Tena Alonzo at [email protected] (602)433-6182 or Ivan Hilton at [email protected] (602)995-6104.
Do you work around people with dementia or Alzheimer’s? The answer is yes. Many residents here on campus suffer from this disease but not all live in our memory support areas. Sometimes you can get in difficult situations with them because you don’t understand how the feel and how they are interpreting their surroundings. There are ways of deescalating these situations in a quick and positive manner and luckily we offer that training right here on campus. Also it will help in future encounters if you can better understand this disease.
We have an eight hour Comfort Matters class scheduled for Thursday, August 18th in the Facilities Management Meeting Room. To sign up please contact Karen Mitchel at x8460 or [email protected].
We have heard the term “First Impressions” in senior living for a number of years, however, as often happens at Beatitudes Campus, we are redefining the term in the context of our Radial Hospitality program. We are adding “Operation Welcome” to our way of greeting prospective residents, their families and friends to the campus. The entire team has made tremendous progress in many areas of hospitality in the last few years and now we are taking steps to elevate our staff, facilities and methods to the highest levels.
As a result, you will begin to see quite a number of improvements in the look of common areas in the residential buildings as well as Town Plaza. “We judge books by their covers, and we can’t help but do it,” said Nicholas Rule, Ph.D., of the University of Toronto. “Furthermore, the less time we have to make our judgments, the more likely we are to go with our gut, even over fact,” he added. In today’s increasingly competitive senior living environment, we are keenly aware that to meet our mission of service, we must pay close attention to all aspects of the experience.
It is rather thought provoking to learn after repeated studies that irrespective of the quality of care and services in a senior living community, the “look” and “feel” of the environment has a much greater influence on the decision to move forward in considering residency. Quality is generally perceived as a given and is not, at least initially, weighted as highly as friendliness, cleanliness, state of repair and updated furnishings and colors.
However, “First Impressions” is not only about the look of facilities. That is but one leg of the stool……the others are the human environment as well as the perception of quality of life. Beatitudes Campus is well known for its world class “life-long long learning” programs as well as nationally recognized “Comfort Matters” dementia care which speak strongly to a superior quality of life. On the human environment standard, we have determined that while we are certainly above normal standards, we are going to provide training to achieve that same “best in class” signature. As a result, the entire campus staff will be provided specific training over the course of the next few months in All-Staff meetings as well as a separate session which will be conducted at a number of times. The sign-ups will begin soon, so watch for announcements here in the Team Talk newsletter as well as information from your supervisor.
These are indeed exciting times as we move toward higher occupancies, even more elevated standards and progress to superior service levels! Beatitudes Campus rocks!
Rod Bailey,
SVP of Sales & Marketing
Rod joined the Beatitudes team in April of 2016. He comes from an extensive background in the healthcare field. He has a great passion for the work he does and is a great addition to the Beatitudes Team.
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.
For 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
