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Tag: Lifelong Learning

New Beginnings

Fri, February 4, 2022 Published by

We are now well into 2022 and settling into what we are certainly anticipating will be a better year than 2021! For many, the start of a new year is a time to look forward, consider the possibilities that lie ahead, and make a resolution about things you would like to change. Sometimes these New Year’s resolutions are small tweaks you’d like to make to improve some aspect of your life. Other times, they are monumental shifts that you want or need to implement. There are a few key areas that might be worth adding to your list.

Share your time, talents, and treasure

We all have unique ways we can contribute to the betterment of the world around us, and the new year is the perfect time to start. Plus, several studies have found both physical and mental health benefits for seniors who volunteer with causes they care about.

There are near-countless ways to give of yourself to worthy groups and many of them are available through CareCorps here on campus. As we begin to restart many of our community outreach programs, tutoring at our local elementary and high schools, animal shelters, food pantries, blood drives, and community centers — just to name a few — are always looking for committed volunteers.

Not sure where you’d like to offer your time, talents, and treasure? Didi Cruz, CareCorps Volunteer Coordinator (x18526) is a great resource start your search.

Try something new

Want to learn to play the guitar? Take dance lessons? Start watercolor painting? Go hang gliding? Learn Italian? This is your year to resolve to try something new! And many of those opportunities are available through our LifeLong Learning program.

Focus on wellness

No matter your age, this is a perennial favorite when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. But the truth is: it’s always a good time to refocus on healthier lifestyle choices.

Maybe you could stand to lose a few pounds, exercise more often, or eat more healthfully. Perhaps you’ve been putting off that trip to the doctor or a preventative healthcare screening. Or it could be that you need to work on lowering your stress level or confronting your anxiety. Whatever wellness area you’ve been neglecting, commit to making a healthy improvement in 2022. It could improve your quality of life or even lengthen your life!

When was the last time you reviewed your personal legal documents including your power of attorney/healthcare proxy, advance directives, and will? For some, it may have been decades since these important documents were created, and a lot may have changed in that time.

Advance directives, sometimes called a living will, are documents that can help guide healthcare decisions made by doctors and loved ones should you no longer be able to voice your wishes for yourself.

If you need to change or update anything on your advance directives, it is best to complete a whole new document and give an updated version to your healthcare providers, attorney-in-fact (from your power of attorney), and other loved ones.

A will allows you to pass along your assets (tangible or monetary) to specific people or organizations after your death. Depending on your particular situation, wills can be very simple or very complex, but regardless, it is wise to review your will periodically to ensure it still reflects your wishes. Always work with an attorney should changes need to be made to a will.

Speaking of monumental shifts, this will also be a year of significant change for me. After six of the best and most meaningful years of my life serving the senior living community at Beatitudes Campus, as well as much prayer and deliberation, I am honored to have accepted the CEO position of another organization. Although I will be physically leaving next month my regard and admiration for this tremendous campus of residents and staff will never leave me. I hold the time spent here and the mission, vision and values that I have been able to enjoy, help refine and live as very dear. I am so happy to see all the progress that has been made and look forward to the completion of the redevelopment program.

I thank the board of directors, Michelle Just, President & CEO and all my colleagues for the opportunity to work with them as well as my cherished teams in Marketing, Sales, Outreach and Assisted Living. And my sincere thanks for all the many kindnesses that you have extended to me and for the many lifelong friendships that I will always treasure!

State of the Campus | Oct. 16

Fri, October 16, 2020 Published by

Starting Tuesday, October 20, we are re-opening the Bistro for dining for Independent Living residents only for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Reservations must be made. The dining room will be laid out in compliance with the CDC and state guidelines. Dining staff will be temperature checking all residents who are eating in the Bistro. Residents will be social distanced, two per table and we will accommodate a maximum of 40 residents. Outdoor seating will also be available.

Can You Catch the “Old Disease”?

Sun, July 22, 2018 Published by

Brad Breeding of MyLifeSite spends a lot of time travelling around the country, speaking to groups of people about senior living options, including Life Plan Communities such as Beatitudes Campus. During his travels, he mentions that he’s fortunate to meet people who live in these communities, as well as people who may be considering a move to a Life Plan Community or other type of senior living community; it’s always eye-opening to hear the perspectives of both personas.

In conversations that I have with prospective residents, I sometimes hear people say that they are hesitant to move to a retirement community because they aren’t ready yet or don’t want to be around a bunch of “old people,” maybe because they saw a few of the residents using assistive devices, such as walkers or scooters.

I believe I understand the sentiments—conscious or subconscious—that they are voicing.

Lack of diversity vs. fear of aging

For some, what they may really be saying is that they prefer to live in an intergenerational environment, meaning a community with people of all different ages. That’s an understandable wish. Fortunately, even though by definition they are age-qualified, more and more senior living communities are developing intergenerational programs. These initiatives offer numerous benefits to both the residents and the younger generations involved in them.

But for many other seniors who say they don’t want to live with other older people, I can’t help but wonder if on some level, they are saying that they are worried about catching the “old disease.” I’ve even heard people well into their 80s and beyond express that they feel they are too young to move to such a community. Even if it is on a subconscious level, it’s as if they feel that if they’re around people who have experienced physical decline as a result of a health condition or the natural aging process, they too will become older and frailer—like a contagious disease.

A continued lifestyle

For seniors who voice concerns about living among “old people,” perhaps they’ve been fortunate enough to have lived a long and healthy life thus far by remaining active, eating well, AND staying young-at-heart. But does that mean being around other older adults will stifle that? In Brad’s experience visiting nearly a hundred Life Plan Communities, he states that he has not found much evidence of this.

“People who are active and have healthy habits when they move to a Life Plan Community or other senior living community are likely going to remain that way, if not more so. In fact, many residents feel they are far healthier and happier than they would have been otherwise. Are there exceptions? Sure, but in my conversations with Life Plan Community residents across the country I hear far more positives than negatives. This is due, in large part, to the wide variety of ways Life Plan Communities further enable and enhance this active lifestyle among their residents. From fitness classes and wellness centers to healthy menu options; from social gatherings and cultural excursions, to affinity groups and lifelong learning—there are countless (but of course, optional) ways to stay physically active and mentally engaged when you live in a Life Plan Community. Of course, residents are not restricted in any way from doing any of the same things they did previously, such as eating out, travelling, attending dinner parties with friends, etc.

So, for those seniors who are opposed to living in a Life Plan Community or other retirement community because they don’t want to be around other “older people”, isn’t this, on some level, ageism among peers? Or does it speak to a more deep-seated fear and/or disdain of aging that is common among Americans?”

Contempt for growing old

A 2013 Pew Research Center survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults examined people’s views of aging, medical advancements, and life extension. While modern medicine is helping people live longer lives, not everyone views this as a good thing. When survey respondents were asked how long they would like to live:

Less than 10 percent of people were hoping to live to be 100 or older.

20 percent of respondents said they wanted to live into their 90s.

32 percent said they would like to live into their 80s.

30 percent of survey participants said they didn’t want to make it past 80.

Interestingly, on the flipside, this survey also revealed that 41 percent of respondents believed that “having more elderly people in the population” is a positive for society.

I find the results of this survey intriguing. Even though older adults are viewed as a positive force within our country, nearly two-thirds of people in this survey didn’t want to live to be 90. This seems like a fascinating paradox.

When looking at the results of the Pew survey, what I believe so many people are missing in this equation is that age truly is just a number. I do not mean to be naive or deny the changes that come with aging. The fact is that some people come to grips with the realities of aging better than others, but I’ve met many people in their 80s and 90s who are still as healthy and spry as someone three decades their junior. The one common denominator I have found among them is a positive attitude and outlook on life, regardless of the age or physical condition.

Here’s my question: Can we as a society get to a place where a person, regardless of age or physical condition, is embraced as a valuable individual, both for who they are and what they’ve done in life? Can we focus not on age, but on what we can learn from one another, and grow as individuals as a result of our shared experiences?*

Keep Learning, Growing and Living Better!

Sun, June 17, 2018 Published by

Springtime means graduation season. There is a recent and growing trend among college graduates that is garnering a lot of attention. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, by 2020, 43 percent of college students are expected to be age 25 and older. And among these older grads are more and more seniors, who are embracing their love of lifelong learning.

You may have seen some of the recent news stories about older people who recently got their diplomas. ABC News highlighted Bob Barger, a WWII Navy pilot, who recently received his associate degree in technical studies from the University of Toledo in Ohio. After returning home from the war, he had dropped out of college to focus on his job and earning a living for his wife and two children.

CBS News shared the moving story of 89-year-old Ella Washington, who, after raising 12 children and putting in a lifetime of hard work, recently completed her associate degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University in Virginia. She’s already begun work on her bachelor’s degree, majoring in history.

Bob and Ella are just two of the many older people who are taking advantage of the free time that retirement offers to pursue their education and learn more about subjects they are passionate about. And studies show that the benefits of seniors’ pursuit of lifelong learning are abundant.

Learning something new, such as a new skill or hobby, can help boost your memory. Neuroscientists at the University of Texas at Dallas conducted a study that found seniors who took on a new mentally challenging hobby saw a lasting increase in their memory skills. These researchers believe that taking on a new challenging activity—like learning to quilt, play an instrument, or operate a computer, for example—strengthens numerous networks within the brain.

A research study conducted by neurologists at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found that engaging in a lifelong pursuit of mentally challenging activities may actually help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The study found that seniors who frequently read, played mentally challenging games like chess, or engaged in other intellectually stimulating activities are 2.5 times less likely to have Alzheimer’s, which impacts approximately 4 million Americans.

Pursuing lifelong learning activities has benefits that go beyond boosting your brain power. Cognitive neuropsychologists at the University of Sussex in England did a study that found that reading for even just six minutes lowered study participants’ stress levels, slowing their heart rates and easing tension in their muscles. And lower stress has wide ranging benefits for seniors’ cardiovascular health, decreasing blood pressure and reducing the risk of a stroke or heart attack, boosting immunity, and lowering levels of depression.

But researchers at Harvard and Princeton had even more impressive findings in their research on the connection between lifelong learning and health. The study authors found that one more year of education increased life expectancy by 0.18 years. They discovered that the more educated a person, the lower their rates of anxiety and depression, as well as the most common acute and chronic diseases (heart disease, stroke, hypertension, high cholesterol, emphysema, diabetes, asthma, ulcer), and they were far less likely to report that they were in overall poor health.

Now, there is a “chicken or egg” debate on whether the increased level of education caused these positive health results, or if the people who were healthier (perhaps based on lifestyle factors like drinking, smoking, eating habits, etc., or the impact of their economic standing) were simply more likely to pursue educational opportunities, but the findings are still significant.

There are numerous lifelong learning opportunities available to seniors. I’m proud to remind everyone reading this article, whether you are a campus resident, seeing it online or considering Beatitudes for yourself or your loved one, that we have an outstanding, resident-run LifeLong Learning program on campus with dozens of classes offered each year and a strong games program matching residents interests in not only bridge and Mahjong, but also a host of others.

Beyond that, if you’re looking to take up a new intellectually stimulating hobby like quilting or painting, contact our Life Enrichment department to see what groups are currently available. The Library, which is managed by the Beatitudes Campus Auxiliary, is another great resource—providing not only a treasure trove of mentally stimulating books, but also offering opportunities to serve other campus residents by volunteering.

One of the many advantages of living in a senior living community, such as a Life Plan Community (formerly CCRC) like Beatitudes Campus, is the array of activities and events offered to residents. Knowing the many benefits to their residents’ mental and physical health, Beatitudes Campus in particular puts an emphasis on lifelong learning opportunities. From guest speakers to art classes to affinity groups like chess, bridge, and book clubs, we are proud to provide their residents with numerous ways to keep their minds active, all in a close-to-home location.

Courses include everything from literature, history, and creative writing, to art and music appreciation, philosophy, and current events.

Whether you are interested in getting educated on a new subject or acquiring a new skill, there are near-countless ways that lifelong learning benefits seniors. So why not challenge yourself and try something new? It’s a lifestyle choice that’s good for your mind, which in turn is good for your health!*

What’s Growing This Spring?

Mon, March 19, 2018 Published by

The world around us is abloom, and new growth can be seen everywhere around us including in one another. Over 170 of you are taking classes in our Beatitudes Center for Life Long Learners and you are growing and shining. We have long proclaimed that Beatitudes Campus is the place where one comes to learn, live and grow, and you are the very proof that we walk our talk. I am so thrilled to be able to work alongside the staff and residents who are making lifelong learning a reality.

As if that is not enough, new growth is also sprouting with our BrainSavers and Fitness Programs. You residents want to work out and strengthen your brains just like you want to keep your bodies fit. As I write this, we are developing new ways to offer opportunities to keep your minds wise and bodies active. If our fitness program is any indicator, those new programs will be overflowing as soon as they start.

You also are planting seeds to experience new forms of transportation. It used to be, not long ago at all, that giving up one’s car was to give up one’s freedom. That is no longer the case and today it can mean even greater freedom. Many of you have discovered Lyft, Go Go Grandparent and Uber, to name a few car services, which will get you anywhere you want to go at any time you want to get there.  Not only is driving in crazy Phoenix traffic a non-issue, but some are saving hundreds of dollars with the elimination of monthly insurance, gas, registration and maintenance costs.

Stop by the Design Studio meeting on any Thursday at 9:00AM in the Plaza Club and see one of the most amazing cross-pollination of ideas taking place right there. These ideas don’t stay as ideas either—they become reality sooner than later, making our community stronger and all the more attractive for the future.

More evidence of fresh growth is visible in just about any direction you choose to look. I am excited to think about what is also germinating below the surface right now that will also bloom into new opportunities for a growing and thriving group of folk at Beatitudes Campus. It is almost out of control, and that is a prettier picture than all of the desert wild flowers around us today.*

Happiness Is…

Mon, June 26, 2017 Published by

Ok, so I’m always reading articles and often quote them in this space when I write for the Roadrunner.  I saw an interesting recap recently of what makes you happy.  You might think it would be money, power or fame. Well, think again. Positive psychology guru, Martin Seligman, studied happiness and found these characteristics of happy people. How do you rate when it comes to feeling happy?

Find your peeps – happy people tend to spend time with others and spend the least time alone. We all need support from others, friendships and meaningful relationships.

Judging—happy people don’t judge themselves by what others do or have. They feel comfortable judging themselves by their own measures.

Toxic—forget the new car, the bigger house and the big screen TV.  Materialism is toxic for happiness.

Stay optimistic—no matter what happens, happy people stay optimistic. They look at the glass half full versus half empty.

Action—staying optimistic leads to action. It’s not just what you believe or your outlook on life that contributes to happiness, but action follows.

Give – remember the adage, “It is better to give then to receive?” This is true of happy people. They aren’t self-absorbed and are more satisfied with life.

Talents – we all have strengths and weaknesses, but happy people know their strengths and use them. They share their talents.

Gratitude – is part of being a happy person. Happy people feel it, appreciate small things and people. Life is a gift and so are the good things that happen to them.

Forgive – people who are willing to forgive others are happy people. Forgiveness prevents bitterness or feelings of resentment. Be quick to forgive and you will live a happier life. Forgiveness is the strongest link to happiness.

Invest – happy people develop intimacy and growth in relationships.  They invest in people and are willing to examine themselves in relationships and grow.

Embrace – shift your focus from material things to appreciating the beauty of our world. Build your intimate relationships and grow as a person. Do everything with a sense of giving and gratitude. Not only will you make the world better, but you will be happier!

I also thought about all of these in terms of the life that’s available here on campus, and so many of them are exactly what I see played out in the life enriching way in which hundreds of you continue to teach me the best avenues for successful senior living.  With over ninety clubs, organizations and classes in which to invest time, talent and a quest for lifelong learning, I hear so many of you say, “I’ve found my peeps”.  Well, maybe not quite that phrase, but that you have more friends and opportunities to engage than in many years or ever.

Your optimism is refreshing and contagious.  Looking at challenges as opportunities throughout life as many of you have, inspires me to be a better man.  So many of you also tell us, as we come to the point of discussing finances when moving here, that you eschewed materialism in order to raise your family and provide for later in life.  What an example you are to those of us who are constantly assaulted by media messages telling us we need more “stuff.”

The examples of giving of yourself, in terms of time and talents, are often astonishing.  Whether it’s a service organization, lifelong learning, teaching English as a second language, being a welcoming resident Ambassador, tutoring at Maryland School or your involvement in the emerging 19 North community action organization, I love basking in the light of your teachings.  You invest in, and embrace others, freely, and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that so many of you often take the time to help me in innumerable ways.  So, before I get myself in trouble by starting a list (and inevitably leaving someone out), can I enthusiastically say, “thank you” from the bottom of my heart to you all?  This community lives out happiness in such a meaningful way, and I am so honored to enthusiastically represent it! 

Community Town Hall Recap – June 2017

Mon, June 19, 2017 Published by

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.

Redefining the Urban Landscape

Mon, May 1, 2017 Published by

I was reading an article the other day about the fact that few people in America walk to work. Most of us drive to the supermarket. But more older people these days are looking for a community where they can enjoy a full life without a car.  The article explained how Ben Brown and his wife, Christine, weren’t really thinking about retirement when they moved to a small town nestled in the Smoky Mountains near Asheville, a haven for many East Coast and Midwest retirees.

“We loved the idea of living in a small town in a rural mountain area,” Mr. Brown recalled. “And we converted a summer house to a year-round home to suit our tastes.”

Yet Mr. Brown, a 70-year-old writer, and his 66-year-old wife said they had second thoughts as they made the transition toward retirement.

“We realized ‘aging in place’ means a lot more than just a comfortable house,” Mr. Brown said. “So we began thinking more about ‘aging in community.’ That means an urban neighborhood where you can walk or take transit to just about everything you need.”

Ben and his wife are considered the “young” old… seniors who are demographically just into the category of senior living and services.  The story went on to talk about West Asheville, a vibrant, urban neighborhood, brimming with trend new restaurants, inviting shops and a number of bus routes into the larger city next door.  Nearly every place they wanted to go was within walking distance, a major benefit for those who don’t want to drive everywhere as they get older.

This made me think a lot about our march toward redevelopment and the larger community in which Beatitudes is located and the community we are excited about continuing to define on this campus.  And when I say excited, I truly do mean that is the sharpest sense of the word.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to the Design Studio group for a couple of weeks and it was enlightening for many to learn of the amount of research that we do to plan and forecast what services, amenities, price points, logistics, technology and environment make for the best in senior living.   One of the terms that we have begun to hear a lot of in urban planning is “walkable” and this has long been a hallmark of life plan communities (previously known as continuing care retirement communities)… that we organize a campus such as Beatitudes to emulate a growing, mixed-use neighborhood with ample amenities to provide a “good life.”  As a result, our campus as seen the evolution of four restaurants which are available to all residents regardless of their home location in independent or assisting living or nursing care.  A bank, ceramic studio, computer lab, library, gift shop… there is a large list of these conveniences.  What is rather thrilling is that we now are on the edge of two facets in the life of the campus that can help us all set the bar far higher in the new age of senior living.

One is our own redevelopment plan which has been revisited, reviewed, rearranged, revamped, redesigned and researched (insert every “re” word you can imagine!) again and again during the year that I have been here on campus and before.   Why?  Achieving marketable feasibility is far more intricate than merely building new apartments or patio homes and hoping for the best.

Often retirement communities have been slow to change.  But the most successful take the time to really assess what makes the most sense and build around those needs.

Now one of the truly exciting facets that very few life plan communities can boast.  Enter our new paradigm: the walkable, urban space envisioned by the emerging 19North Community Association which our Resident Community Outreach Committee has helped ignite.  Emanating out of the completion of the lite rail along 19th Avenue, a number of community members from surrounding neighborhoods and businesses determined that a new opportunity existed to redefine the area as a walkable, safe and invigorated area of powerful living.  Now couple that with Mayor Stanton’s determination to achieve an “Age Friendly Community” status.  I was very honored to be the only senior living community representative named to a new sub-committee to study that topic and was sworn in at the city council this past January.

What a stellar opportunity we have!  We are seeking to not only program on our own campus, but help define what is “age friendly” in our neighborhood and provide even more access to opportunities for diverse interest.  The theme is simple: Get out and walk/utilize easily assessable short distance transportation to basic services such as our campus buses.  We are thinking about folks like the Browns that I mentioned at the beginning of this article as we plan our next generation of this life plan community.

Walkability is much more than a hip marketing pitch. It’s linked to better health, social engagement and higher property values.  The researchers Philippa Clarke and Linda George found that walkable, mixed-use environments could possibly reduce disabilities many face as they age. Pedestrian-friendly communities promote walking to a grocery store, cafe or other services like the salon or library such as we have here on campus or nearby.

Although there is clearly a growing demand for walkable, urban retirement communities, they are difficult to build within cities, said Christopher Leinberger, a developer based in Washington and a professor at the George Washington University School of Business.  Mr. Leinberger noted that most mainstream retirement developers had traditionally favored suburban or exurban sites that involve sprawling “greenfield” building on relatively cheap farmland. The new approach, by contrast, is for dense, urban or town-centered sites that are accessible for services and socially vibrant.

“The model used to be to isolate old people on cul-de-sacs backing up to a golf course,” Mr. Leinberger said. “The new model just beginning to rise is for walkable urban places.”  And here we are in our north central Phoenix location doing exactly that.  I love being a part the development of a new cutting edge model for senior living.  Beatitudes Campus has probably one of the most unique positions in helping redefine high quality senior living that could possibly exist – a long history of quality services on our own 22 acres and now integrating into the surrounding community determined to raise the standard of living for all.

But there are often obstacles. Age-friendly communities within cities may require extensive infrastructure improvements, including wider sidewalks, bike lanes, more public transportation options and longer pedestrian signal walk times.  Thankfully, the mayor and council seem determined to invest in the improvements.

Mr. Leinberger, in a G.W.U. study, found that the walkability factor added more than 72 percent in increased housing value compared with car-dominated developments, where he says prices will fall over time as America ages.  He provides a short list of items to consider when defining and planning an age friendly, walkable community.

Do they have quality health care institutions nearby? Is public transportation adequate? Will you need barrier-free sidewalks and retail establishments? How easy is it to leave and visit other parts of a city or its metropolitan region?  What about local colleges for cultural amenities and lifelong learning programs?  The answers to these questions are basically favorable for those residing here and we’re just beginning.

I’ll be anxious to continue to update you on the progress of 19North and the Age Friendly Sub-Committee.  We present our initial findings and recommendations at the June, 2017 council meeting.  And, of course, we will have a great deal more to publish about our own redevelopment in the next few months.  These are indeed very significant times for the campus and I’m so proud to be a part of what will be the foundation for the look, feel and service of Beatitudes Campus for many years to come.

Town Hall Informant – February 2017

Fri, February 10, 2017 Published by
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