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First Impressions

Fri, June 24, 2016 Published by

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 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.

Advocating for Phoenix’s Fair Share

Fri, April 8, 2016 Published by

Message from the Office of Councilman Daniel Valenzuela

“Recently the Phoenix City Council gave approval to seek a $9 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to fund 50 additional firefighter positions. Since joining the Phoenix City Council in 2012, I have been honored to travel to Washington D.C. several times, including earlier this month, to meet with federal officials and advocate for public safety funds on the city’s behalf, and I’m pleased the grant application is moving forward.

This year’s budget already has made hiring first responders a priority, and if we are successful in winning this grant, we will boost our already aggressive public safety hiring efforts.

Public safety continues to be my top priority. Since 2012, we have successfully brought home more than $35 million in federal public safety funds that include SAFER grants to support the Phoenix Fire Department, COPS grants to support the Phoenix Police Department, and UASI grants to strengthen the region’s homeland security capabilities. I will continue to work with my colleagues and city staff to search out and fight for every additional dollar available to strengthen our public safety departments including meeting with federal agencies in Washington D.C. again and again to advocate for our city’s fair share of federal funding.”

What Makes A Community?

Fri, April 1, 2016 Published by
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“Game On” Welcome Desk

Many of you know that when I first came to Beatitudes Campus, I had no intention of staying here beyond the one year agreement I made as Interim Vice President for Spiritual Life.  I made it clear that this is not the type of community I am about when it came to my understanding of my purpose in life – I was a preacher type – but felt I could help during the year I would be here.

Two weeks after I started I was being lured into one of the most beautiful experiences and communities that I ever thought was possible.  If I saw my life as trying to help create a community in the larger world where all are valued, empowered and treated equally, it suddenly became apparent to me it was happening here.  Seven years later I am still here because I just could not let go of what I witnessed then and still do today.

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The Light Rail commencement gathering

Just look at the last few weeks and see all of the connecting that is taking place in our community.  If you attended the weekly meetings of the Design Studio, you saw the discussions evolve around bringing down the silos between Independent Living, Plaza View and all other venues.  They also were celebrating there being no distinction between those with walkers, scooters, canes or using none of those – all are whole and valued just as they are.

If you walked through the Agelink building, you saw your neighbors serving as instructors for senior aged immigrants and teaching English to willing leaners while bringing down this time between cultures.  If you went to the new Light Rail Celebration opening, you saw your neighbors with a booth telling the rest of the world all about us– and having the best time there.   Stroll through Plaza View and you might catch “Game On”, an evolving Game Day/Night bringing neighbors from all over the Campus together for good laughs.

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St. Patrick’s Day Theme Dinner Event

On St. Patrick’s Day, if you were in the Luther Life Center, you saw it filled with to the brim with green neighbors looking for that pot of gold and maybe a green beer.  Head back over to Agelink, where Beatitudes Center for Life Long Learners has over a dozen classes in session and brought hundreds of our residents together to learn new insights, as well as learn about each other.  Watch a Diamondback game and you might see your next door neighbor in the crowd rooting for the team.

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English Learning Courses at the Agelink building

I love it whenever I take a visitor on a little tour of the campus and by half-way, after a couple dozen greetings from each of you as we enjoy our walk, they tell me this has to be one of the happiest and friendliest places on earth.    It never fails to happen.  And I think they are right.

Want a glimpse of our community at it warmest? Come to the Welcome Coffee where new residents are celebrated, and just listen to why they wanted to come to Beatitudes Campus and how excited they are to be here (it will make you proud all over again that you are here) and feel the radical hospitality in return as they are welcomed.

All of this makes what a community is all about, and thank you for making it one of the most special.

Peace always,

David

 

 

 

 

Join Me!

Mon, March 16, 2015 Published by

It has bubbled up in more than just a few places as a great idea. First, from residents reflecting upon their first days at the campus and remembering feelings of awkwardness or not knowing how to fit in, especially when hoping to enjoy our many dining opportunities. “How do you get to know people?” “If you are single, everybody seems to be sitting together and you have no option but to sit alone.” All consistently expressed. And, then, it is often heard, and I mean often, from seasoned residents, “How do we get the new folk to join us at our tables, we would love to meet them.” Now I know some are extraverts and will plop themselves down anywhere knowing they are family already – and they are. And others enjoy people, but a tad more introverted and prefer a quiet meal alone or while reading a book. So is there anything for the one’s in the middle?

Your resident Communications Committee has developed a perfect way to help all of us make the most connections possible for anyone looking for a dining conversation. You do not need to be new, you can be here 20 years, and you do not need to be single, couples like company too. It is so simple. As you place an order in the Bistro, or are being seated in Buckwald’s, the excellent staff will ask if you would like to have someone join you or if you would like to join someone yourself. If you would like to have someone join you, then you will be given a “Join Me” card to place on the condiment stand and everyone knows they are welcome at your table. If you would be open to joining someone else who has an open table waiting for you, then all you need to do is pull back a chair at the table and get ready for a perfect dining experience getting to know another of our finest. If you prefer to dine privately that is perfect anytime everywhere.

Our campus is all about radical hospitality to one another and to all. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to help breakdown some unintentional barriers that may be out there. As we do so, one thing is for certain, our community is going to be closer and stronger than ever.

Success Matters!

Mon, February 2, 2015 Published by

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.