Beatitudes Community

March 2019 Community TOWN HALL Recap

Rev. David W. Ragan, Sr. VP of Resident Services, welcomed residents and offered a special welcome to one resident that was attending for the first time. He urged residents to attend the Community Welcome Coffee on the fourth Wednesday of each month and meet the newest residents who have become our friends and neighbors. Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton said that “the pen is mightier than the sword” and residents were entertained with humorous writings that proved this point. For example, “As the prosecution wrapped its case, Reynolds listened and knew he’d been foiled again.”

The Residents Council Report was given by Tom Denny, Residents Council President. Tom noted that during the February meeting, six committees and three building representatives reported on their respective activities. There was also a report and request regarding the on campus Transportation Survey.

David thanked the Transportation Committee for its work and also residents for the great response in turning in the transportation surveys. Save the date of Friday, April 26th for an All Day Celebration plus a “Protect” March for Earth Day. The Community Outreach Committee is urging residents to support the Scholarships for Washington High School Students project for 2019. For information, contact Jim Lefebvre at x15063 or Jim Elliott at x18328.

Joe Kane, Director of Dining Services, announced that, because attendance is down, Buckwald’s will be closing on Sundays only effective March 10th. Beginning on the 24th of March, Elaine’s Fine Dining will offer a Sunday Brunch with selected brunch cocktails and an a la carte pricing of entrees including both Bibb Lettuce and Waldorf Salads, Salmon Eggs Benedict, Corned Beef Hash, Croque Madame Sandwich, Large Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Bourbon Frosting and Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Custard with Fresh Berries. If brunch popularity grows, dining services will consider adding another Sunday in the month, and if the popularity outgrows Elaine’s, moving back to Buckwald’s. The Corner Perk has now re-opened. A new Dining Guide has been printed and will be delivered to each resident.

Josephine Levy, Resource Navigator for Success Matters, announced that Success Matters will have its own website—successmattersbc.org, linked to the campus website. The website will have pictures of residents around campus, Success Matters activities, newsletters, health and wellness resources, etc. Josephine said there will be a Money Matters Workshop on Friday, March 22nd at 1:00PM in the Agelink Great Room. There will be a panel discussion of financial issues that are most relevant to residents of the campus. The Panel will consist of Allen Bloch, Campus Chief Financial Officer, Megan Selby, Laurel Peacock and Ellen Dean. Panel members are experts in money management and working with older adults in financial situations. Josephine will be the MC for this Health and Wellness Committee Workshop. Katie Holmes, A.T. Still Intern, provided the Tip of the Month—Resiliency is the ability to bounce back after a setback. It is important to identify and acknowledge strengths and supports, make a list of three things that you are grateful for, and use the list to focus your strengths and build resilience. Hang it up in your home as a reminder.

David reported that Monica De La Rosa had her baby. He announced several upcoming Life Enrichment activities including the Current Events Meeting with Bob Black every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 4PM in the Administration Conference Room, and the Beginning Middle Eastern Dance every second Wednesday of the month at 4PM in the Recreation Center. The Outdoor Farmers Market at North Phoenix Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 20th from 11AM to 1PM will include lots of walking and not a lot of seating. To reserve your seat on the bus, call 12905 and for questions, call Didi at 18473. Also, don’t forget the Tempe Arts Festival on the Light Rail on Friday, March 29th at 9:30AM. The deadline to sign up is Thursday, March 21st.

Mike Smallwood, Fitness Specialist, thanked residents for the support of Black History Month. He explained Five Tips for Staying Healthy and Happy as you Age. TIP 1 is learning to cope with change and encompasses building resilience, focusing on the things you are grateful for, finding healthy ways to process your feelings and trying to look at challenging situations as opportunities for personal growth, and stay healthy through humor, laughter and play. TIP 2 is finding meaning and joy in living by perhaps picking up a long-neglected hobby or trying a new hobby, traveling somewhere new and spending time in nature, or writing your memoirs. TIP 3 is to stay connected by maintaining your support network as a buffer against loneliness, depression, disability, hardship and loss; to make an effort to make new friends; to spend time with at least one person every day; and to find support groups in times of crisis or change. TIP 4 is to get active and boost vitality by regular exercise which can help prevent memory loss, cognitive decline, and dementia; by walking or exercising with a friend or family member; and by eating well and getting plenty of sleep. TIP 5 is to keep your mind sharp through being active and social; challenging our brain by doing things we enjoy like puzzles and games; and by attending workshops online or on campus that allow you to tackle new subjects. It’s not about adding years to your life, it’s about adding life to your years. Mike announced a new organized recreational activity—Basketball Bounce led by Frances Califano on Mondays from 2—3PM in the Fitness Center. The March B-Fit winner is Bonnie McCulley.

Rod Bailey discussed the Groundbreaking ceremony that was improvised to an indoor location due to weather. Residents viewed a clever video that showed Michelle Just, our President and CEO, opening the ceremony on the Myrtle Avenue property. The project will build new living options and replace aging infrastructure. At completion, there will be 1000 residents on campus, making us the largest life plan community in Arizona. Every single aspect of the campus will be updated. Referring people to marketing can be rewarding with the possibility of earning $3,750 over three referrals. The money is earned when a referral has moved to the campus and been here for four months. A new program, Earn for Tours has been instituted. The first 100 residents who fill out a marketing referral form and refer someone who tours the campus with marketing will earn a $25 gift card. Twenty-nine of the new patio homes have been sold and a BVIP program is in place for the new Promenade residences. David noted that the 260 million dollar project was covered in the Phoenix Business Journal.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is available for the sixth year in a row: offering free tax preparation to residents right here on campus. Aides will be available on Mondays, 3/18 and 4/01 with appointments from 9AM—2PM in the Boardrooms. Please enter through the Life Center. To schedule an appointment, please call the Welcome Center (dial “0”) and they will assist you. Bring to your appointment last year’s income tax returns, W2 and 1099 forms, etc., and a photo ID.

The Holleran Survey Report will be discussed in a Special Town Hall on Wednesday, March 27th at 10AM in the Life Center. The survey tells us how engaged and connected we are. David said that there are some things that can be done to improve and the Administration is willing to do them. Come and hear about it on the 27th!!

As always, the Hootenanny is every Wednesday at 5:45PM in the Life Center. Bring a friend and enjoy the free entertainment. Sundaes with Dave on Wednesday, the 20th in the Bistro—enjoy a free yogurt sundae with all the toppings and share your thoughts or just come for a treat. We extend a big “Thank You” to Gregory’s Fresh Market for bringing a wonderful array of fresh produce to residents.

The next Community Town Hall will be held in the Life Center on Wednesday, April 3rd at 2PM.

 

February 2019 Town Hall Recap

Read all about it! The latest recap of our February 2019 Community Town Hall is now available online for your reading pleasure!
Be sure to read it here: https://wp.me/p7o8lu-gQl

LifeLong Learners Update

You’ve been asking—when is the new catalog coming out? When do classes start? I hope we’re having a short story class again. What’s Tom Denny teaching this time? Your questions are answered. You have your catalog. The schedule is set, and so are the registration dates—Jan. 14th and 15th. If you have questions, join us today (Jan. 7th) at the back of the Plaza Bistro from 10:00AM to 2:00PM.

A quick look at the schedule shows old favorites such as Poetry, American Art, Arizona History (that’s the Tom Denny offering), Spanish, French, TED Talks, Movies, Word Playing and American Short Story.

To pique your interest, we’re offering these new courses:

Jewish Short Story taught by Rabbi Elana Kanter

Beginning Spanish (often-requested)

Court Compendium, an outgrowth of Our Courts

Death and Dying, discussions to be facilitated by Success Matters interns

Supreme Court Decisions by our resident judge, Bill Schafer

Storytelling—If you attended the Christmas service where Rev. Doug Bland told about nativity figures and children, you met our Storytelling teacher.

In addition, Dosia has organized a three-parter called The Wonder of Birds, and Bill Chase will energize the subject of Construction, by explaining what’s going on all around us. Last, our faithful computer ladies have come up with a new topic—The Useful Internet.

And in between old and new are an expanded Enneagram, an updated Presidential Fiscal Policy, Recorder for both new and continuing students, Income Tax, PowerPoint, Word, and the popular Saturday phone/tablet courses.

We hope you’ll find something intriguing among the offerings – no grades, no credits, no tests! See you in class.*

Hand Arthritis workshop

Have you ever realized how important your thumbs are in your everyday life? Join us for a FREE Hand Arthritis Workshop. Try out simple gadgets and practice techniques to reduce the strain on your joints, making everyday activities easier. In addition, learn about an exciting research opportunity. Open discussion Q & A forum with Dr. Cindy Ivy, Certified Hand Therapist from Mayo Clinic.  By the end of the workshop, you will give yourself, Two Thumbs Up! Join us this Friday, July 20th at 1PM in Agelink Room 1.*

 

Success Matters: 2017 Year In Review

More than once the Success Matters team has been asked, “What is it you do exactly?”  Since this has been a great year for our Success Matters program, we thought we’d share some highlights.

A big part of our work is educational outreach. Our Lifelong Learner classes include: “Family Ties”; TED Talks “Life Lived Well”;  “Healthy Aging”; and “Maintain your Brain”.  We held information sessions on urinary incontinence, Life Planning documents, GoGoGrandparent, and Medicare.

Our SimulAge staff training helps employees continue to do their best work in interacting with residents. We have worked with approximately 150 staff from across Campus.

Jessica and Josephine teamed up to present at the Beatitudes at Home Spring Education Conference. Jessica also presented on the topic of “Assessing and Addressing Frailty” for the AZ Geriatrics Society; Josephine served on a discussion panel about transportation issues, and completed the Area Agency on Aging Medicare Counselor Volunteer Training.

October was Driver Safety Awareness Month, with OT students from NAU conducting Driver Check-Ups, and featuring AARP for the Smart Driver Course. We held A.T. Still University’s “Listen Up” program, which helps couples resolve communication issues stemming from hearing loss. We hosted the A.T. Still course “A Matter of Balance,” and held our own 6-week Safer Stepping series.

Jessica mentored three OT students from A.T. Still University, Mitch Sopko and Rich Fauci, and Maddie Thueson. Having Maddie, Rich, and Mitch in our department was a definite highlight.

Guest speaker Betty Delano from the AZ Attorney General’s Office spoke about scams, and Tony Motley from the AZ Department of Veteran Services presented on VA benefits.

We started an email newsletter and just published our 4th edition. Contact Josephine at x16117 if you want to be added to the email list.

Our daily focus is working directly to help residents maintain independence and a good quality of life. This might include answering questions about Life Planning documents or benefits, facilitating communication, transportation issues, apartment safety, support groups, and more.

Our little garden just outside the back of Agelink continues to grow. Please feel free to come visit. We aren’t growing anything edible but we do have a nice grouping of ferns, succulents, flowers, and cacti. They love to be admired and fussed over. We have seen two hummingbirds at our feeder, and a few lizards taking it easy out back. There is a bench where you can sit and contemplate on the east end of Agelink. Welcome!

Success Matters at Beatitudes Campus was awarded the 2017 Arizona Leading Age Award for Innovative Health and Wellness Programs.

ATLAS: Strength and Endurance

img_2773At last Wednesday’s Town Hall, I had the opportunity to share some exciting news. I announced the campus has been invited to participate in a very successful two-year program offered to eight past grantees of the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. The program, ATLAS, is designed to strengthen and sustain the operating capacity of Trust-identified nonprofits who play important roles in Maricopa County’s human service, civic and cultural life.

ATLAS, symbolic of strength and endurance in Greek mythology, is a Piper Trust project, launched in 2012, designed to increase the operational capacity and organizational resilience of nonprofits, who are already successfully living out their missions through their strong foundation, leadership team, and culture of innovation and learning. Dr. Susan Kenny Stevens designed and developed ATLAS in partnership with Piper Trust and serves as the lead consultant for the project. Dr. Stevens is a renowned expert on nonprofit capacity building and pioneered the nonprofit lifecycle framework. She holds a doctorate in organizational behavior and is the author of five books, numerous journal articles and case studies. ATLAS draws heavily on the principles in Nonprofit Lifecycles, Dr. Stevens’ award-winning book first published in 2001.

The Campus ATLAS team, made up of members from our senior staff team and board of directors, will spend the first four months assessing organizational operating capacity, identifying current critical challenges, and facilitating the development of a plan to move forward. The remaining 20 months will be focused on addressing areas identified in the plan. Assisting our team is Jeri Royce, of 3-P Leadership, a trained organizational lifecycles consultant paid for by Piper Trust. Jeri will work closely with our team, not only through the assessment process, but through the two year odyssey of plan implementation. The Campus will also receive $50,000 in grant funds from Piper Trust to support the implementation of the capacity building plan!

img_2772Piper Trust has a history of proactively leading and developing programs intended to further strengthen nonprofit organizations so they can serve the community’s ever growing needs. We have been blessed with two grants from Piper Trust over the years. The first in 2002 to fund our initial redevelopment work, then again in 2011 to launch a new program in our organization, Beatitudes Home Health.

I am honored that the campus was selected to participate in the third cohort group of ATLAS. Our team joins seven other organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Foundation for Senior Living, in this round of the program and will have the opportunity to participate ongoing facilitated peer learning discussions. Past participants include our Duet: Partners in Health and Aging, UMOM, Adelante Healthcare, and Rosie’s House.

I look forward to sharing with you the progress of our participation in ATLAS, how it will play a role in our strategic and redevelopment plans, but most importantly, how it will continue to build upon our strong 51 year mission of service.

Federal SAFER Grant to Hire 50 Firefighters

neighborhood-news

The City of Phoenix has won a major federal grant to hire 50 more firefighters over the next two years. With this $9 million Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant, Phoenix has brought home more than $36 million in federal funds in the past five years to support the Phoenix Fire and Police department’s capabilities to prepare for and respond to a host of threats to our community’s safety. This is in addition to more than $28 million in regional homeland security funds Phoenix has won for the city and its local partners.

I have had the honor to advocate in Washington D.C. several times since 2012 for our city’s fair share of funds to hire more first responders. Our federal advocacy is working, and I pledge to continue efforts in the capital to fight for funds to support our Police and Fire departments. I will be in Washington soon to personally thank Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) representatives for approving our grant and to immediately begin discussions on the next round of funding.

I want to thank Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner for her continued leadership and advocacy on our SAFER grants, my colleagues on the council, our city staff and representatives in Washington for working together. This $9 million grant comes less than a month after Phoenix received the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award for $591,726 to provide regional Incident Safety Officer System (ISOS) training for 100 company and command officers from Phoenix Fire and 50 attendees collectively from Buckeye, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe.

View a Premier Screening of Gen Silent

Alexandre Rheaume cared for by partner Lawrence JohnsonYou are invited to a special screening of Gen Silent on Tuesday, July 19th at 6:30pm in the Everett Luther Life Center.

An enlightening but sobering documentary about the paradoxical dilemma of six LGBT older adults in Boston. The generation that fought hardest to come out of the closet is going back in to survive. After the film, you are invited to engage in the panel discussion.

The panel will consist of:

  • Dana Kennedy, AARP State Director
  • Cheryl Knupp, Sr. VP, Health Services, Beatitudes Campus
  • Linda Travis, Educator/Consultant, Beatitudes Campus
  • David Ragan, Sr. VP, Resident Services, Beatitudes Campus

Resources will be available after the screening. For more information, please contact: Frances Figuccio at 602-995-6139 or [email protected]

Beatitudes Campus | 1610 W. Glendale Avenue | Phoenix, AZ 85021

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