Beatitudes Community

The Creative Corner

The Creative Corner is now open and is flourishing. We have an open workshop every Tuesday and Thursday.
Feel free to stop on by from 9:30AM-11:30AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Bring you projects during this open workshop and we will provide the supplies. All are welcome. We are also offering classes led by residents at this time. We are offering a Card Making class with Sylvia Anderson, a Decorative Painting class with Linda Danik, a Beading class with Noreen Wingham and a introduction to Stain Glass with Chuck Beaujon. You must call in to reserve a spot with the instructor.

  • Sylvia Anderson 623-975-4311
  • Linda Danik 602-544-5134
  • Noreen Wingham 602-544-5495
  • Chuck Beaujon 520-204-1639

Haven’t Been Scammed Yet? You Will Be!

Soon, you will also see announcements of a trial Scam Prevention Workshop. Korry Nelson and I are working together to create a LLL class for you with the goal of arming you with better tools to protect yourself against these criminals.

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.*

 

Points of Pride

Empowered power.

Dosia Carlson & Mim Hoover

Some of the most powerful people I know are living right here at Beatitudes Campus.  I stand back in awe of how, when asked to take responsibility for some aspect of our community’s growth, a vision that once seemed grand soon pales in comparison to what the resident(s) actually create.  A few weeks back, at the Arizona LeadingAge Conference (an organization that unites non-profit communities like ours), there was a powerful exhibition of purpose, power and empowerment – and it was by our very own Beatitudes Center for Lifelong Learners.

Dosia Carlson and Mim Hoover, with the help of Nell Bennett, who was not able to be present, put together a presentation, aptly titled, Success Story.  It wowed the administrators from the other communities who sat in on their workshop.  In the workshop, the participants learned how, when residents in a community like ours, are given a task to create, that the sky becomes the only limit, far surpassing what any one staff person could ever create or do.  The resident-run, Lifelong Learners Team, have created, not only a success story of a program in terms of number of participants and diversity of class options, but have impacted the lives of almost all those who participate and  have been given a sense of purpose in creating excellence.

As I said at the beginning, we have not a resident on Campus who is not gifted with immense power and talent.  The true sign of a successful community is how capable is it in empowering its members to be free to use their gifts toward the betterment of the entire community.  The ultimate job of administration in a community like ours is to facilitate the freedom to excel, and clear the path for creativity and ingenuity for any resident ready to take our community even further toward our goal.

I can testify for our administration that few things are    more gratifying than seeing our residents work together with us to accomplish great  things, making our community innovative and on the cutting edge of our field.  More and more of you are taking leadership roles and bringing great transformation to us with visions and ideas that we as staff would never come up with.  To just name a few –  the Environment Committee, the Garden Club, the Recycling Program, our English Language Assistance program, the resident’s Life Enrichment Team who plan our outings and activities and that is just the beginning.

You are leaders and models for senior communities, and I thank you for being a point of pride (and also for letting us boast a bit to our competitors) when it comes to residents with power and purpose lived out.

Walker Wellness Workshop

Most older adults wisely adopt the use of a walker when they feel that their strength, balance or energy levels do not permit them to walk as safely and steadily as they used to.  Certainly, if you have had a recent fall, or you have nearly fallen, your vision is diminished, your legs fatigue easily or you have significant pain when walking, you are a good candidate for a walker.

With that in mind, proper walker fit and correct walker use are tremendously important to prevent falls and promote safety.  In fact, between 2001 and 2006, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that 47,000 older adults went to the emergency room for falls related to walkers and canes.  87% of these incidents involved walkers.  In the study, the CDC points to the importance of properly fitted walkers and providing education on how to safely use walkers.  However, most older adults have never had their walkers fitted, nor have they been instructed in the proper use of walkers.

On Thursday June 8th, from 4:00-5:00PM in the Motion Studio, you can drop-in to have your walker fitted and receive personalized walker safety tips at our Walker Workshop.  We’ll be ready to adjust your walker to the proper height and provide you with additional safety information, so that you can walk out with your head held higher (literally and figuratively), knowing you are taking the proper walker precautions.

And while supplies last, you’ll have an opportunity to walk away with a free walker satchel or walker water holder, so you can stay well hydrated this summer!

In the meantime, here are a few walker awareness tips:

  • To maintain proper posture, always keep you elbows in line with your sides when you are walking with a walker.  Do not push it out in front of you with your arms extended.
  • Look forward when you are walking with a walker, not down at your feet.
  • Always make sure that your walker brakes are locked when you are not walking.
  • When standing up from a seated position, use the chair armrests or the seat of the chair to push yourself up to stand. Do not use the walker to stand up.
  • When moving into a seated position, first, reach back to feel for the seat with one hand.

Reference: Center for Disease Control. (2009) 47,000 older adults treated in emergency departments annually for fall Injuries related to walkers and canes. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090629.htm

Off To Chicago!

As you read this article, Chaplain Andrew and I will be in Chicago at the 7th International Conference on Aging and Spirituality which began in Canberra, Australia in 2000 and until the 2015 Conference, all were held in countries of the British Commonwealth: Australia, New Zealand, England and Scotland.  This is the second time it will be held in the United States and Andrew and I are excited to attend. These conferences include voices from many parts of the world, voices from the domains of the academic and the aging services, voices from various faith traditions and voices representing the “spiritual, but not religious,” and they include a mixture of keynote speakers, workshops and papers of interest to those coming from a faith based approach and to those approaching spirituality from a secular viewpoint.

We will be meeting at the historic campus of Concordia University, Chicago which has a Center for Gerontology (the study of aging and older adults). The conference theme is “Transition and Transcendence: Transforming Aging through Spirituality.” Together we will explore navigating the transitions of aging, how transcendence is experienced in times of change, and how the experience of aging and our understanding of it can be transformed. “How do we, as persons who are growing older ourselves and who serve older adults, encourage ourselves and encourage them to find the spiritual paths and practices that will sustain them – and us – through hard change and loss?  And how does our spirituality help us to move from focusing on our own needs and pains to seeing ourselves as part of a wider world, where, in spite of limitations, there is still much we can offer and needs we can meet? How do we engage the wider cultures in which we live in conversation about the possibilities and promises of aging in the midst of all these transitions? In short, how can we harness the power of the spirit available to all of us to transform aging wherever we live?”

It is exciting that Andrew is one of the presenters speaking on: “The Road Goes Ever On – Viewing Aging As A Step On Our Spiritual Pilgrimage.” In his presentation, Andrew will be using the experiences of many people here at the Campus to demonstrate how beneficial it is to see aging not as a dilemma, but rather as an essential and beneficial part of our life-long quest for self-understanding and spiritual growth.

Having never been to Chicago, I am looking forward to seeing new sights and learning new insights.  Plus, I’ve heard they have some pretty good pizza!  Look for a future article in which we will share about our experience.

*By the way, the word “ageing” in the title is not a typo.  The Conference comes from other parts of the world, where they spell it as “ageing” rather than how we spell it here in the United States – “aging.”

Plan Now to Make More Possible Tomorrow

Happy New Year to all of you – residents, staff, partners! This is the time of year when we are more mindful about reflecting on our life and our world. New Year’s reflections often remind us to do more of what works – the right things – and less of what doesn’t work.

We now have turned the page on 2016 and are ready to begin a new chapter. With a new year also comes new resolve to think about tomorrow today. What are we truly passionate about? How can we make a difference? How can we be better servant leaders? What organizations or causes do we care about to devote our personal resources of money, time and energy? The list of projects and endeavors we want to be involved in is probably long and varied, but making such a list will help us to think about where we want to place our energy and resources.

You – the residents, staff, family and friends – devote much time, talent and treasure to Beatitudes Campus, through your volunteering, leadership and charitable gifts to many of the campus initiatives, to programs and to the Resident Assistance Fund. I am humbled by your generosity. Thank you!

The start of a new year can also be a signal for us to begin to make plans for future charitable gifts. With a planned gift, you can create a lasting legacy of support and help the campus continue to provide excellent opportunities and services for generations to come. Every day, Beatitudes Campus, along with our residents and friends, are expanding the boundaries of what’s possible through programs that connect us through our mind, body and spirit. We support programs that exercise our minds as well as our bodies, and programs that help us to expand our campus into the community. One of the driving forces behind these programs is you. You make things possible today, and tomorrow, with planned charitable giving. Planning now makes more possible tomorrow.

There are many different types of planned giving options. You can help ensure the future of Beatitudes Campus programming and innovation in a way that works for you. Cash contributions are always appreciated, and there are other creative and flexible options that can benefit you and Beatitudes Campus. There are many ways to make a significant impact through a planned gift – you can consider making a gift that costs nothing in your lifetime through a charitable bequest under your will or trust, or by beneficiary designation. An easy way to include Beatitudes Campus in your estate plan is to name Beatitudes Campus Foundation as a beneficiary of your donor advised fund, retirement plan, IRA or life insurance policy. Planned gifts can also give back—and can help you prepare for your future. They can provide income for you and your loved ones for life. They can also allow you to take income, gift and estate tax deductions and can provide favorable capital gains tax treatment. Planned gifts allow you to leave a legacy for future generations.

All people who have made a bequest or other type of planned gift are invited to join the Culver H. Nelson Founder’s Society at Beatitudes Campus. It’s our way of recognizing you and thanking you for your generosity and for ensuring the future success of Beatitudes Campus. If you have made such a gift, we want to know and recognize you, so please let me know. Throughout the next year, we will offer some workshops on gift planning to help you with your options. In the meantime, I’d love to talk to you. Of course, you will want to talk to your financial or tax adviser also. Feel free to stop by and talk with me about any kind of charitable giving. Please contact me in the Foundation Office (x16136 or stop by the South building – our office is next to Oasis Therapy).

So, let’s turn the page to our next chapter. Exciting possibilities await in 2017!

Excel For Beginners

Are you new to using Microsoft Excel? Maybe you need a refresher to help remember some old tricks?  The Accounting Department offers classes to help those just starting out with Excel as well as those who just need a refresher.  We have successfully completed two rounds of classes and are looking to start a third class in the next few weeks.  We meet for two separate classes that last about an hour each.  If you are interested please contact Ashley Black at [email protected] or at extension 6189.

Excel image

 

Living A Full Life – With Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 25% of Americans over the age of 60 have diabetes, and the aging of the U.S. population is one of the primary drivers of the diabetes epidemic. As we age, our risk for diabetes increases. The exact causes of diabetes are not entirely clear. However, it is commonly accepted that genetics and lifestyle factors, such as weight, play an important role in the development of diabetes.

What exactly is diabetes? Diabetes is a group of diseases, but type 2 diabetes is the most common. In short, when we eat food, it is broken down into a sugar called glucose, which gives us energy. To use glucose as energy, our bodies need insulin. When one has diabetes, the body does not make enough insulin or use it efficiently enough. When individuals with diabetes or prediabetes successfully manage their blood sugar and insulin through monitoring, diet, exercise, and/or medications, they can lead fulfilling and active lives.

However, according to the Mayo Clinic, the longer one has diabetes – and the less controlled one’s blood sugar – the higher the risk of complications. Possible complications include: heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin conditions, hearing impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the signs and symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.

You can help prevent and manage diabetes by maintaining a healthy weight and staying active. If you are interested in your diabetes risk, the American Diabetes Association encourages you to ask your doctor about the ABCs of diabetes:

  • Hemoglobin A1C can be tested to tell you your average blood glucose level for the past 2 to 3 months
  • Blood Pressure control is very important for decreasing the strain on your heart, blood vessels and kidneys
  • Cholesterol control and reduced body fat can help reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke

For those who have diabetes or prediabetes and those who care for individuals with diabetes, there will be a 6-week Diabetes Management Workshop starting this Friday (2/5/2016) at 10AM in the Agelink Great Hall. The course is designed to support and educate individuals with diabetes, so they can continue to live life to its fullest! This workshop is sponsored by Medicare and will address exercise, nutrition, diabetic medications, caring for eyes, teeth, and feet, and much more. The workshop is also open to the public, so if you have children or friends living with diabetes, they are welcome to register. Call Jessica at x6110 to reserve a spot today. *

Mindset – What’s Yours?

Back by popular demand from residents who participated in her previous three workshops on Joy, Wendy White, M.C., will present “Mindset – What’s Yours?” Wendy has asked Jan Whohlers, our wonderful Yoga instructor, to assist her in presenting this informative and fun workshop, which is bound to increase your joy and positive outlook on aging. The workshop will follow our Chair Yoga class on March 19th in the Motion Studio at 2:00PM. This presentation will be limited to 20 people. Please sign up at the desk in the Motion Studio.