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Tag: Jessica Meyer

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Thu, October 7, 2021 Published by

It occurred to Pooh and Piglet that they hadn’t heard from Eeyore for several days, so they put on their hats and coats and trotted across the Hundred Acre Wood to Eeyore’s stick house. Inside the house was Eeyore. “Hello Eeyore,” said Pooh. “Hello Pooh. Hello Piglet,” said Eeyore, in a Glum Sounding Voice. “We just thought we’d check in on you,” said Piglet, “because we hadn’t heard from you, and so we wanted to know if you were okay.”

Eeyore was silent for a moment. “Am I okay?” he asked, eventually. “Well, I don’t know, to be honest. Are any of us really okay? That’s what I ask myself. All I can tell you, Pooh and Piglet, is that right now I feel really rather Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. Which is why I haven’t bothered you. Because you wouldn’t want to waste your time hanging out with someone who is Sad, and Alone, and Not Much Fun To Be Around At All, would you now.”

Pooh looked at Piglet, and Piglet looked at Pooh, and they both sat down, one on either side of Eeyore in his stick house. Eeyore looked at them in surprise. “What are you doing?” “We’re sitting here with you,” said Pooh, “because we are your friends. And true friends don’t care if someone is feeling Sad, or Alone, or Not Much Fun To Be Around At All. True friends are there for you anyway. And so here we are.” “Oh,” said Eeyore. “Oh.” And the three of them sat there in silence, and while Pooh and Piglet said nothing at all; somehow, almost imperceptibly, Eeyore started to feel a very tiny little bit better. Because Pooh and Piglet were There. No more; no less. (A.A. Milne, E.H. Shepard)

This is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized, and often taboo, topic. The goal is to ensure that individuals, friends and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help. Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues. It can be frightening if someone you love talks about suicidal thoughts. It can be even more frightening if you find yourself thinking about dying or giving up on life. Not taking these kinds of thoughts seriously can have devastating outcomes, as suicide is a permanent solution to (often) temporary problems.

Did you know?

  • 78% of all people who die by suicide are male.
  • Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are nearly 4x more likely to die by suicide.
  • Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–34 and the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
  • The overall suicide rate in the U.S. has increased by 35% since 1999.
  • 46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition.
  • Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:
    • 4.8% of all adults
    • 11.8% of young adults aged 18-25
    • 18.8% of high school students
    • 46.8% of lesbian, gay and bisexual high school students

If you or someone you know are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273 TALK (8255)

You also have crisis resources available here on campus that will connect you to the treatment and support you need. Call Chaplain Peggy (X16109) or Chaplain Andrew (X18481) or Josephine Levy (X16117) and Jessica Meyer from Success Matters (X16110) or speak to any staff member and they will help you find the support you need.

Film Festival Fun!

Mon, August 21, 2017 Published by

Do we need diversion during the dog days of August? Do we want to see some of our favorite stars minus aliens, rock music, guns and mayhem?

If your answer is YES, come to a film festival this Thursday and Friday. The theme is “A Hollywood Tribute to Aging With Spirit.” LifeLong Learners committee members chose four movies and established a lunch plan too. Here’s how it will work.

The movies are free. On Thursday and on Friday, at the Life Center, there’s a movie at 9:30AM and a movie at 1:00PM. Each day, Dining Services will provide an optional buffet lunch so you won’t have to go out into the heat between movies. Purchase tickets for lunch at the Bistro with your B-card for $6.50 each. Movie trivia quizzes will decorate the tables. At the end of each movie, we’ll have a drawing for a $25 Harkins gift card. You won’t want to miss that! Check out the schedule here…

  • Thursday at 9:30AM: Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant)—A misguided New York matron sings at Carnegie Hall.
  • Thursday at 1:00PM: Driving Miss Daisy (Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman)—A Southern matron forms an unlikely friendship with her driver.
  • Friday at 9:30AM: Quartet (Maggie Smith + a host of British performers)—Retired British music performers are amusing but complex.
  • Friday at 1:00PM: Grumpy Old Men (Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Ann Margret)—Two retirees bicker over ice fishing and an attractive new neighbor.

 

Our Thursday special guest is Arlyn Brewster, active in Valley music circles for many years and well-known for directing church music and taking groups on tour. She has conducted at Carnegie Hall and knows the New York setting of our first movie. She will introduce it, and afterwards wrap it up with a few comments.

On Friday, our own Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters, who knows a lot about the challenges and successes of aging, will follow up the movies so far with comments and feedback from you. Is Hollywood doing it right? Then—the final movie is just for fun!

This week’s guest writer is Carole Vendrick,
Beatitudes Campus Resident and LifeLong Learners Committee Member
Staff Liaison is Jon Schilling

Town Hall Informant – April 2017

Mon, May 1, 2017 Published by

David Ragan opened the meeting by welcoming everyone and thanking Gregory’s Market for providing fresh produce for residents to purchase. He invited all to attend the Welcome Coffee for new residents on Wednesday, April 26th at 2:00 PM in the Life Center. The Welcome Coffee gives residents an opportunity to meet their new neighbors and listen to the reasons why they chose the Beatitudes as their home. David also showed some interesting and amusing sayings and signs such as; “a clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory”, and “I went to the Air and Space Museum, but there was nothing there”.

In introducing Michelle Just, President and CEO of Beatitudes, David noted that tomorrow is Michelle’s birthday and residents wished her a “happy birthday” in song. Michelle showed pictures of the participation of the Beatitudes in the Pride Parade on Sunday morning, April 2nd. The bus was decorated for the occasion and the Master of Ceremonies called attention to the Beatitudes volunteers who enjoyed being in the parade.

Michelle announced the Shout Outs for March—Angelo Flores, Jason Corder and Niccole Daine.

Angelo joined the IT team in August of 2016 and has made great improvements to the accessibility of the department and their response time. He is being promoted to Network Administrator for the campus. Jason joined the Dining team in July of 2015 and recently took personal time to help a resident locate a lost item of great sentimental value. He goes above the call of duty in his work. Niccole joined the Nursing team back in August of 2010 as an LPN. She helped a family deal with the loss of their loved one by making everything look its best so the family could have some peace in that moment. Remember to fill out a Radical Hospitality form online or pick one up at the Welcome Center whenever you see a staff member who deserves some special recognition.

Michelle also discussed a new Holleran Satisfaction Survey which will be coming in May. The survey will be shorter than in the past and will focus on measuring engagement rather than satisfaction. Results from the survey will be used in determining whether the right programs are being provided, in preparing budgets and in strategic planning. The surveys will be distributed to Independent Living Residents the week of May 1st and completed surveys will need to be turned in at the Welcome Center by May 20th. Results of the survey will be shared at a future Town Hall Meeting.

A happy announcement by Michelle was the addition of a new bus that can transport up to four wheelchairs at one time. The bus is ours due to a grant from the Maricopa Association of Governments and the City of Phoenix. Michelle thanked the Auxiliary for also providing funds toward the purchase of this bus. It is parked outside the building and residents are encouraged to check it out as they leave the meeting.

Herb Komnick, Residents Council President, provided a report of the Residents Council Meeting on March 8th. David Ragan began the meeting with a report that a good time was had by all at the LeadingAge Senior Fitness Challenge competition. He encouraged residents to attend the Design Studio meetings to help plan our residents’ future. Dining Services Committee Chairman, Pat Dellisanti, reported that Joe Kane, Director of Dining Services, had completed his building meetings and survey distribution. The Sunday Brunch is returning on the second Sunday of each month. Staff members are being trained on CPR, chest compressions, the Heimlich maneuver, and defibrillators. Employee Appreciation Committee Interim Chairman, Barbara Carpenter, reported that a letter will be sent in August and an evening dinner event will be held in August to encourage residents to contribute to the Employee Appreciation Fund. Monthly billing for contributions can be arranged through Cammy Clevenger. Facilities Committee Chairman, Roger Benson, reported that Maintenance has posted instructions of what NOT to put into drains on campus bulletin boards. Lost items should be reported to Security at x16172. Residents are asked to completely fill a recycle barrel before starting to fill another. If the barrel(s) is/are full, please call 18492 promptly. Under New Business, Gayle Richmond was confirmed as the new Life Enrichment Committee Chair; the Resident Telephone Directory is now available on the Resident Website (www.bcampus.org); and Kathy Amend has volunteered to post bulletin board items on the Patio Homes bulletin board. Leave items to be posted there in her mail box at the Welcome Center. Area Representatives’ Reports included the Central Park North Representative, Walt Smith, advising that the water leak survey has been completed, and a Spring Fling dinner in the Rose Garden is planned for March 28th. Plaza South Representative, Don Tamuty reported that Plaza South has completed the dining preference survey and is planning a dinner meeting. Central Park South Representative, Sybil Eppinger, reported that CPS, CPN and the Patio Homes are working together on the Spring Fling plans and also working with Marketing on the Open House being held on March 23rd in the Rose Garden. In response to a concern about a master calendar, it was reported that a software program for scheduling campus activities in coordination with outside groups’ activities being held on site has been purchased and is being installed.

Josephine Levy, Resource Navigator of Success Matters, advised residents about three upcoming programs. On April 12th, at 2:00PM in the Agelink Great Room, Josephine will discuss Health Care Power of Attorney (POA) and Living Will. The program promises to incorporate humor and not be boring! On April 26th, at 1:00PM in the Agelink Great Room, there will be a program on VA benefits and a VA representative will be on hand to answer questions. The last one-hour program will be held on May 9th, at 1:00PM in the Agelink Great Hall, with a representative from the Arizona Attorney General’s office discussing Scams and Such and talking about what is happening right here in Arizona to our senior citizens.

Jessica Meyer, Director of Success Matters, introduced Mitch Sopko and Rich Fauci to residents. Mitch and Rich are Masters level occupational therapy students doing their Level II Fieldwork at Beatitudes for the next three months. They are anxious to engage with residents and get to know us better. When you see them on campus, give them a big Beatitudes welcome! Premier Hearing will be hosting a free lunch and addressing the topic of hearing aid technology and maintenance on Thursday, May 4th from 11AM to 1PM in the Agelink Great Room. If interested, you must RSVP by calling 602-279-0003. Jon Schilling, Director of Life Enrichment, and Jessica will be offering their seventh SAFER Stepping at Beatitudes, a six week comprehensive falls prevention workshop offered periodically through the year. The workshop will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 2:30PM, starting in mid-May. Contact Jessica at x16110 to be put on the registration list.

Jon Schilling introduced Wendy White who began volunteering at  Beatitudes when her parents moved here. She spreads joy wherever she goes and now visits three floors in the Health Care Center with her wonderful therapy dog, Max. She will be presenting a workshop entitled, Happiness is a Choice, on Thursday, April 20th at 2:00 in the Motion Studio.

Michael Smallwood, Fitness Specialist, discussed a new fitness program entitled, BrainSavers (because gray matters) which will be offered on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11AM. The course will begin in May and is structured to have up to 25 students. Beatitudes is making a one-year commitment to this “trial course” that encompasses Brain and Body Total Fitness. The mission statement declares that BrainSavers will help maintain healthy minds, reducing the impact of age-related memory impairment and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The six key components of healthy brain aging include physical exercise, nutrition, cognitive exercise, sleep, socialization and stress management. Dr. Paul Bendheim, M.D. will be introducting the course in a one-hour presentation on Monday, April 17th at 3 PM More information can be found at http://BRAINSAVERS.com. The March B-Fit Winner is Jean Hiser.

Monica De La Rosa, Life Enrichment Specialist, detailed some of the activities on the agenda for this month. They included a Lloyd Foundation Musical Performance in the Life Center on Tuesday, April 13th at 2PM; a movie and discussion presented by resident, Mary Harkness, on Friday, April 14th at 2PM in the Recreation Center; the Paradise Valley Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, April 15th, at 3PM in the Life Center; a trip to the Spring Butterfly Exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden on Tuesday, April 18th at 9AM (tickets are $20 and available at the Welcome Center); our annual off-campus BBQ at Lynx Lake in Prescott, AZ, Tuesday, April 25th, 9:15AM departure (purchase your boarding pass at the Welcome Center for $7); Buzy Bees Spring sale on Friday, April 14th outside Elaine’s; and line dancing at 10AM on Thursdays in the Recreation Center. Synopsis sheets have been distributed to each building. Call Monica at x18526 if you need more copies.

Dosia Carlson discussed the plans for Earth Week, April 17th to April 22nd. Elders for a Sustainable Future have prepared a Triple Header. On Thursday, April 20th, at 6PM in the Life Center, Nature will be celebrated in Words and Music with vocalists, instrumentalists, visuals and reading. On Friday, April 21st, at 9:30 AM, during coffee hour in Elaine’s Fine Dining, we will discuss how we can share our environmental concerns with the younger people in our lives. Bring photos of friends and family members and we will discuss how, together, we can promote sustainability of this planet. On Friday, April 21st, at 2:30 PM in the Life Center, we will present Mother Earth is Crying: Residents and Employees in Conversation. After viewing a few startling videos and discussing our response at tables, we will exchange ideas with people who work here. Don’t miss these important events in support of Mother Earth.

Ken Fomby, Transportation Coordinator, advised residents about just how the transportation system operates. Residents call #16135 to schedule medical appointments, bank trips, RX pickups and other related trips. Residents should call #12905 for any activities/off campus events to reserve a seat on the bus. The information is then recorded on yellow pads for the medical trips and white pads for the off-campus activities. Information is transferred to an annual calendar with the date, time and address. From there, the information is computerized and trips are assigned to specific drivers. Residents are contacted the day before the trip is to take place to confirm the appointments. Residents are given a business card with phone information, and either they, or the office where their appointment takes place, can call to let transportation know that they are ready to be picked up. Ken displayed a graph showing that there are about 500 medical calls per month and as many as 700 calls last December.

David gave residents the results of dining comment cards for March. Over 76% of the comments were positive, which raises the morale of the whole dining staff! David emphasized that residents should send back a meal if they are dissatisfied. That is the best way the dining staff can be made aware of problems with the food.

David introduced Dave Johnson of Hospice of the Valley. Hospice of the Valley had its roots right here at the Beatitudes 40 years ago. Dosia Carlson, Greta Wiseman and Gerald Roseberry were instrumental in its formation. Dave noted that Hospice of the Valley is a non-profit organization, and he is appreciative of our using their services. He said there are over 50 different hospices operating in the Valley. There are flyers at the back of the room for anyone interested in Hospice of the Valley and the organization’s speaker’s program.

David called our attention to a Special Town Hall which was on April 13th. The Fire Department and Beatitudes Campus discussed emergency evacuation procedures. The fire department trains for this kind of activity and some of the firefighters have family here as well.

The Hootenanny is every Wednesday at 6:00 and is free! Bring your friends and enjoy the wonderful music.

Thanks again to Gregory’s Market. They are here for every Town Hall at the beginning of the month and are much appreciated.

Don’t forget Sundaes with Dave on each third Wednesday of the month from 2 to 4PM in the Bistro.

The next Town Hall will be held on May 3rd at 2:00 PM in the Life Center. Plan to be there!

(A quick note from David – please thank Norma Dieffenbach for the continued excellent minutes for the Informant—she does not miss a thing!)

 

National AMD & Low Vision Awareness Month

Wed, February 1, 2017 Published by

February is National Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month, and many of the residents at Beatitudes experience low vision in various forms. Macular degeneration causes loss of central vision and is one of the most common low vision diagnoses amongst older adults, but others on campus have glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and numerous other visual conditions. What many don’t realize, however, is that almost all older adults experience age-related changes in vision.  These age-related changes frequently include increased sensitivity to glare, diminished ability to see contrast, increased sensitivity to light changes, decreased depth perception, diminished visual acuity or sharpness, and decreased ability to see in dim light.  For example, according to University of Kentucky researchers, an 80 year-old needs four times the amount of light to see things as clearly as they did in their 20s!  Thankfully, there are a number of great resources in place to assist residents at Beatitudes Campus to navigate age-related vision changes.

The Low Vision Support Group meets on the second Friday of each month at 1PM in Boardroom East to share resources and support for those who are coping with varying degrees of vision loss. This group is open to ALL residents, and it publishes a reference list of eye doctors, optometrists, specialists, and local organizations that provide services for the visually impaired. In addition to sharing news and information about the latest developments in eye care and vision technology advancements, the Low Vision Support Group makes buttons available to residents with low vision, so that they can easily identify themselves to others.  You may notice your friends and neighbors wearing a button that says, “I HAVE LOW VISION.”  When you see others wearing these buttons, please be mindful of the fact that they may not be able to see your face clearly and may need extra time to orient themselves to their surroundings.  As a courtesy to all residents on campus who may have low vision (whether or not they wear the button), please identify yourself when you say hello.

As an occupational therapist and Director of Success Matters, one of my roles also includes working with individual residents to help make their environments more visually accessible —  from home lighting to computers.  For individualized information on setting up your apartment for improved visibility, feel free to call me, Jessica Meyer, at x16110.  Please contact Mark Pelkey at x15586 or Mary Lou Philips at x18371 for additional information about upcoming Low Vision Support Group meetings.

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.

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.