Mountain Vista Newsletter Spring2016

SPRING 2016

AT MOUNTAIN VISTA

The 6 Dimensions of Wellness In Action at Mountain Vista Mountain Vista Says Thanks To Volunteers Highlighting Alzheimer’s and Memory Care

Mountain Vista Rehab Courtyard

A Message from the Community Administrator Spring, what a wonderful time of year! We are all ready to “get over” our cabin fever. The birds are flitting about, the warm sun beckons us outdoors where we can see bulbs starting to peek out and we feel as though we have been given a new start. As the plants gone dormant in our gardens are now preparing to spring forth, so must we.

Spring is the time for resurrection, renewal, and restoration.

We should all embrace this time of year! Get out of the daily routine and demands that may have worn us down during the winter months and face the new challenges ahead. It is time to focus on our personal missions and encourage one another to achieve our goals to improve each of our lives.

As we take a new look at our-

SPRING :: 2016

selves and each other, remember several key steps to help you achieve your goals and support those around you. Effective communication – remember communication goes both ways. Often it is not what you say, but how you say it. Active listening – Try to understand what is being said and take moment before forming your response. You may be surprised what you learn. In the workplace be observant of what is happening around you, bring clarity, manage and communicate expectations, support your co-workers and focus on the greater good.

take time to reflect on your plan, stay focused on goals and don’t let setbacks stop you. There will always be a few weeds in every garden, but these can be identified and handled and when the sun returns tomorrow, be ready to get back at it.

Only by working together will we see what needs to be done, develop the plans to get there and in the end achieve our goals.

As you take this new outlook to heart, look toward the future,

Mary Sawyer-Winters, Mountain Vista Community Administrator

A Big Thank You to Mountain Vista Volunteers

Volunteerism is defined as, “the policy or practice of volunteering one's time or talents for charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities, especially in one's community.”

In honor of this year’s National Volunteer Week, April 10th – 16th, Mountain Vista would like to recognize and thank all the individuals that have committed themselves to making a difference at Mountain Vista. We are very fortunate to have a devoted activity staff and wonderful volunteer team that provide the residents with a variety of scheduled daily activities that include, exercise, trivia, movies, table games, and much more.

In addition to the scheduled activities, we are very lucky to have volunteers that further enhance the lives of the residents by providing additional services such as pet therapy, worship services, communion, rosary services, running our general store and participating in our Guardian Angel Program. With the help of these dedicated volunteers resident continue to thrive, maintain active social calendars and keep life interesting. In fact one group of residents likes to take one more step, and help produce hats and bags that are bedazzle and for sale in the general store.

Volunteers at Mountain Vista do not only come outside the community, many residents have a history volunteering throughout their lives and want to continue to give back. As a result residents help deliver the mail to fellow community members, assist PAGE :: 3

Judy Bernstein (left), Mountain Vista Volunteer Coordinator, visits with Bonnie Ford (right), a Mountain Vista volunteer, and her sweet dog Fergie before they show off Fergie's outfit during pet therapy visits.

with office paperwork and even help folding laundry. In this way Mountain Vista is truly a community. We encourage those who can, and have the desire to, contribute as much as they wish, to make a difference and support the community lifestyle. By cultivating this culture everyone; residents, volunteers and staff members alike, feel a sense of pride, purpose and value that is essential to a fulfilling life.

We want to say thank you to all of our volunteers. The generous donation of your time, talent and

inspiration is immeasurable not only to the residents, but to the staff and families as well. You help create Mountain Vista and your continued dedication is deeply appreciated.

Mountain Vista has a variety of volunteer opportunities to fit anyone’s interests or time commitment. If you would like more information about volunteer opportunities, please feel free to contact Judy Bernstein at (303) 421-4161 or by email at jbernstein@abhomes.org.

MountainVista.net

Mountain Vista & ABHM expand memory care in response to

A GROWING DEMAND As people live longer, healthier lives, their needs for healthcare and wellness services change.

Studies have shown that the older a person gets, the greater their risk for developing memory issues such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. The reality is that one in eight people age 65+ has Alzheimer’s disease and almost half of seniors 85 and older have been diagnosed with some degree of memory impairment. As the population of seniors increases dramatically every year, so does the demand for memory care services. Senior living communities all over the country are creating new memory care facilities to keep up with demand.

Researchers hope to discover an easy and accurate way to detect

Alzheimer's before symptoms begin. Experts believe that biomarkers (short for "biological markers") offer one of the most promising paths. A biomarker is something that can be measured to accurately and reliably indicate the presence of disease.

Several potential biomarkers are being studied for their ability to indicate early stages of Alzheimer's disease. However, a great deal of additional research needs to be done to validate the use of biomarkers as they are proposed in the new Alzheimer’s criteria and guidelines. These studies are likely to take years or more to fully complete. As more is learned about Alzheimer’s disease, that new knowledge will be incorporated into the diagnostic criteria and guidelines as they continue to evolve.

At American Baptist Homes of the Midwest (ABHM), parent company to Mountain Vista, we’ve developed new services to accommodate the growing need for memory care. In fact, four ABHM communities have opened new memory care centers within the last 18 months.

Here in Wheat Ridge, CO, Mountain Vista recently unveiled a brand new building dedicated exclusively for assisted living memory care, with 22 private memory care suites and an expanded program of support services. [For more details about the new Mountain Vista Memory care program please see the story on the following page].

Nearby, in downtown Denver, The Community at Franklin Park converted the top floor into a comprehensive memory care center. Trail Ridge in Sioux Falls, South Dakota also expanded its existing assisted living services to include 22 private apartments in a new dedicated memory care wing. Wisconsin’s Tudor Oaks and Minnesota’s Thorne Crest have both undergone similar expansions, offering new memory care centers and services.

Mountain Vista and ABHM memory care programs are based on our commitment to caring for the whole person and address each of the six dimensions of wellness. Families can be assured their loved one is safe and living to their greatest potential as a resident of Mountain Vista’s memory care center.

SPRING :: 2016

Visit The NEW Mountain Vista Memory Care Center

Resident room at Mountain Vista Memory Care

designed for this unique group At Mountain Vista we are acutely of seniors. Thoughtful layout is aware of the growing need for complimented by subtle colors memory care and have comand textures specially selected pleted a brand new Memory for those dealing Care Center. To betwith memory loss. ter serve residents “Moving my mom “Our 22 new private and families, our to memory care was suites, along with the new memory care easier than we beautiful new comcenter offers the latthought,” one fammon areas, create a est in design to enily member shared. wonderful sense of sure residents a safe “We are so relieved home and commuand comfortable enbecause she is so nity for the residents vironment. happy and having and families,” states To meet the needs fun again.”

Mary Sawyer-Winof each resident, personalized care plans and speters, Mountain cialized activity programs are deVista Adminisveloped by our specially trained trator.

“With staff. Programs consist of a wellour recently reness component based on the developed “whole person” concept and admemory care dress the emotional, spiritual, socenter, resicial and physical needs. dents and families have peace Residents are sure to enjoy the of mind knowindividual apartments that are ing their loved both appealing and specifically

one is living to their greatest potential in a safe and comfortable setting.”

Mountain Vista’s memory care center also offers a large enclosed outdoor patio and garden area to encourage and support a sense of freedom.

We encourage you to learn more about our memory care center by visiting our web site taking a fly-thru video tour, or call and schedule a visit today, 303-4214161.

Dining room at Mountain Vista Memory Care PAGE :: 5

MountainVista.net

The Six Dimensions of Wellness in Action Whole person wellness is one of the core principles of the Mountain Vista and ABHM’s mission, “to create healthy Christian communities that empower older adults. We provide choices for housing, services, and technology that enrich body, mind, and spirit.”

One way our mission is carried out is through the Six Dimensional Model of wellness developed by the National Institute of Wellness. The categories of social, vocational, spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional wellness help guide many of the decisions we make regarding the services, opportunities, and atmosphere that enable our residents to reach their optimal state of wellness.

At Mountain Vista, we actively renew our commitment to wellness with programs and activities designed to promote the six dimensions throughout daily life.

Social

Mountain Vista encourages residents to stay socially connected both in and out of the community. Family-friendly campuses make it easy to maintain family bonds, while community events such as holiday parties and day trips foster strong social ties amongst residents in the community.

Vocational

Personal fulfillment can be found by continuing to engage in

SPRING :: 2016

learning, work, and volunteering throughout one’s lifetime.

Mountain Vista residents have plenty of opportunities to showcase talents and learn new skills.

Steve Martinez, Mountain Vista’s Activities Director states, “residents attend education seminars and presentations hosted here at the Community. Topics range from financial and historical to gardening, canning and crafting demonstrations, where residents are often involved in the presentation.”

Spiritual

In 2011, ABHM set out to cultivate a more robust Spiritual Services program for residents.

All ABHM communities adopted the Association of Professional Chaplains’ Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains in Long-Term Care, which gave us a template for establishing consistent programs in each community. Today, ABHM has chaplains at every community, and we continue to expand and improve our spiritual programs.

Physical

ABHM V.P. of Quality and Program Development Tim O’Brien states, “Being physically active gives us independence, confidence, and allows us to do the things we enjoy.” To help residents feel their best, ABHM encourages residents to remain as active and physically fit as possible and offers wellness activities in every community.

T.J. Shirely, Mountain Vista Wellness Director states, “we offer residents wellness activities at all levels of care. These activities can have a very enormous impact, particular for those in the health care center.”

Mental

Continuing to engage and chal-

lenge our mind with creative and intellectual pursuits as we age is vital to our wellbeing, helping to cultivate self-fulfillment and satisfaction. Mountain Vista residents enjoy visits to community art galleries, participating in book clubs and crafting activities and gathering for musical and educational events.

Emotional

For some people, aging can come with a variety of intense emotional and lifestyle changes that may cause stress. It’s important to have a compassionate support system in order to maintain emotional health and stability during challenging periods.

Mountain Vista staff, social workers, chaplain, and fellow residents all come together to create a supportive community that offers the freedom, comfort, and security that sustain us through life’s emotional moments.

In promoting the six dimensions of wellness at Mountain Vista, we hope that our residents recognize the interconnectedness of wellness within the community. By living out the full potential of each dimension in their own lives, residents contribute to an environment and social network that supports wellness for the entire community.

Take a fly-thru video tour of Mountain Vista at

Mountain Vista Employee Spotlight:

Peggy Manweiler We’d like to introduce you to Peggy Manweiler, Mountain Vista Community Relations Coordinator. Peggy has been with Mountain Vista for 31 years and began working here while still in high school. She’s worn many hats over the years, including nurse’s aide and dietary aide. She eventually found her way to the Admissions and Marketing department, where she has remained for the past 17 years.

As Community Relations Coordinator, Peggy’s role in Admissions and Marketing is very important. She’s the first person residents and families encounter on their senior living journey and the one to walk them through the whole admission process, from touring to finalizing paperwork. One of Mountain Vista’s most respected and valued employees, Peggy’s passion for helping seniors and families shows in her day-today work.

“With Mountain Vista being a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) we’re able to help seniors age in place on one campus and give them that continuity of care where they feel safe and comfortable because of the familiarity that the community provides,” stated Peggy when describing the most fulfilling part of her job.

Peggy also cherishes the fact that Mountain Vista is a faith-based organization that not only caters to one’s physical or medical needs, but embraces each resident spiritually as a whole—mind, body, and soul.

A day in Peggy’s shoes is always very busy. She is either showing families our beautiful community, gathering and filling out the necessary paperwork needed for admission, on the phone with an insurance company, helping the hospitals with their referrals, or helping a family decide which level of care is the most appropriate for their loved one.

Peggy’s passion and commitment to the community is without a doubt invaluable to Mountain Vista.

When Peggy isn’t helping and sharing her knowledge with others, she enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, gardening with her husband Scott, and spoiling her two precious corgis, Layla and Sophie.

www.MountainVista.net PAGE :: 7

MountainVista.net

4800 Tabor Street Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 www.MountainVista.net

Mountain Vista Senior Living Community is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.

AT MOUNTAIN VISTA

Mountain Vista is a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living community. Our mission is to create healthy Christian communities that empower older adults. We provide choices for housing, services, and technology that enrich body, mind and spirit.

Discover our Assisted Living and NEW Memory Care ■ 22 New Private Memory Care Suites ■ Specialized Memory Programs ■ New Courtyards ■ Comfortable, Open Setting for Residents & Family Senior Living Community Take a video tour at

www.MountainVista.net

4800 Tabor Street, Wheat Ridge, CO. 80033

303-421-4161

www.MountainVista.net