Mountain Vista Newsletter March2015

Mountain Vista Senior Living Community

In This Issue:

Building the New Mountain Vista New Memory Care Area Opening Soon Caring For A Person With Dementia

Mountain Vista

Senior Living Community Classic Senior Style

Building the New Mountain Vista will certainly go down as one of the busiest, most exciting years since opening our doors to our first residents 50 years ago!

2014

If you have kept up with our newsletter updates, you may recall that Mountain Vista has been undergoing quite a transformation this last year with the construction of a new Rehabilitation Center with 16 new Rehab Suites and an Assisted Living Memory Care offering 22 private resident rooms.

The Rehab Suites at Mountain Vista opened in July and we have been very pleased with the outcomes, thus far. It is a beautiful new part of the community and we have received many compliments to that effect, in addition to compliments on the care provided to rehab residents

Our Assisted Living Memory Care is on target to open in this Spring. Since construction began in May, 2014, the east side of our campus has changed dramatically, including new drainage infrastructure and parking lot reconfigurations. Even more dramatic, is how quickly

the new Assisted Living Memory Care building is taking shape, and this is just since the groundbreaking ceremony that was held on August 23rd, in conjunction with our 50th Anniversary celebration.

And there is more! We reported in Mike Maschka our last newsletter that Mountain Mountain Vista Vista Retirement Community is Administrator now Mountain Vista Senior Living Community. A new logo was also introduced as a part of a “new era� for Mountain Vista.

2014 has, indeed, been a year of transformation, to say the least. It will be remembered as the year that Mountain Vista Senior Living Community prepared itself to meet the ever increasing demand for quality and care and services from a growing senior population. We are humbled and blessed to be able to serve the needs of our seniors and we look forward to doing so for another 50 years! ~Mike Maschka, Administrator

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Secured Memory Care Assisted Living Opening Soon

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ountain Vista is excited to announce the Secured Memory Care Assisted Living will be opening this Spring.

We are in the final stages, all the tile work in the building has been done and they are now beginning to lay the carpet. We have been blessed to have a wonderful designer, Cherie LaFrance, select all of our furnishings and artwork. The place is going to look spectacular.

The new Secured Memory Care Assisted Living area will have 22 spacious private apartments with a total of 14,000 square feet averaging about 300 square feet per apartment. Each apartment will have its own bathroom, shadowbox to put memory items in, two large windows with plenty of natural light and a small refrigerator, just to name a few amenities. The shared space will feature an amazing great room that will be used for dining and daily activities and have a cozy fireplace and access to a beautiful secured courtyard. In addition to the great room we will have a library with a computer for families so they can sit with their loved one and Skype with other family members or friends, and yes, a staff member will be available to help them with computer questions.

New Memory Care Assisted Living

Reviewing the plans

The transformation has been very exciting to see and we are anxious to get this new Secured Memory Care Assisted Living up and running.

Stop by for a tour and more information, or call us at 303-421-4161, or check out our website at www.MountainVista.net ~ Heather Wheat, Community Relations Coordinator

Back side of the New Memory Care Assisted Living

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Dementia and Care Options

very day in the US more and more people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or some form Dementia. The term Dementia is a broad and refers to a category of brain diseases that cause memory loss, and or loss of the ability to think and reason clearly, eventually affecting a person's ability to function on a daily basis.

There are several types of Dementia including; Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular Dementia, Frontotemporal Dementia, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and several others, although Alzheimer’s makes up 60% to 80% of all diagnosed Dementia cases. With each type of Dementia there can be different symptoms, and several share similar symptoms. Some people experience short-term and

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long-term memory loss, wandering, and difficulties managing the activities of daily living such as; bathing, dressing, grooming, and eating.

Some also experience difficulty focusing, communicating and reasoning. While spouses and other family members often work together and manage the care of a loved one, being a caregiver can become a full-time job and very stressful.

To help manage the responsibility of care giving a next step is looking for care options. One option is in-homes care provided by a Home Health Agency. A second option is a Memory Care Community that is staffed by health care professionals and offers 24 hour care & support.

Caring For A Person With Dementia

aring for a loved one with dementia can often be a long, stressful and intensely emotional journey that weighs heavily on the families. At Mountain Vista however, when a new resident moves to the community we cannot help but to become close with the residents and families, and ease the transition to a new living situation. As care givers it is just part of our nature to make everyone feel welcome, comfortable safe and secure.

At Mountain Vista we understand this sometime difficult journey, and despite the challenges, we also find it very rewarding. With each new challenge that arises we find that the bond becomes a little deeper.

For instance, a resident may become more dependent on staff members for assistance, and we find our reward is the ability to become more of a companion and be there for them whenever or whatever the need may be.

As part of our approach to memory care we also encourage residents to remain as independent as possible and continue to live life to its fullest. We want residents and families to know they have the full support of every single one of us at Mountain Vista, from the nurses and CNA’s to the office workers at the front desk, all working toward creating an environment that they can enjoy.

If you have any questions or would like to tour new memory care area please feel to call 303-421-4161.

~ Nicole Gibson, Receptionist

Mountain Vista Over time a person’s condition may change and a higher level of care is needed, the third option, Health Center Memory care. This higher level of care is typically only available in a Skilled Health Care setting such as the Memory Care area within Mountain Vista’s Health Center. In these surrounding residents are constantly monitored in order to keep them safe and help manage advanced medical issues and conditions.

At Mountain Vista we are pleased to announce that we are opening, right next door to our assisted living, a brand new Memory Care Assisted Living.

The new memory care assisted living offers 22 private resident rooms, 24-hour care in a home like setting, a complete meal program and daily activities, provided by trained staff, which will keep residents engaged. This new addition to our

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campus is fully secured and will provide you with the peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe.

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If you would like more information about Mountain Vista Memory care please call 303-421-4161 or visit us on line at MountianVista.net.

Please be aware that some of the symptoms listed above are associated with other medical conditions and does not necessarily mean you have Dementia

~ Heather Wheat, Community Relations Coordinator

Mountain Vista Provides Dementia Support Group

s the facilitator of the Mountain Vista Dementia Family Support Group I would like to invite you, and any members of your family, to our group meetings.

As a part of our mission Mountain Vista offers not only support but education regarding this disease. For meeting details please ask at our reception area.

Alzheimer’s and dementia is not something anyone chooses, unfortunately we must learn to do the best we can through love, support and education. The Mt. Vista Dementia Family Support Group can help you and your family understand the disease, the process and how best to cope. For example, when families decide to move a loved one to memory care community, an issue they often face is guilt, and or grief, due this decision. To ease your concerns we can walk you through our new Assisted Living Memory Care building designed with the best of both worlds.

Offering a home-like setting and yet still providing the safety and security needed. In addition families enjoy peace of mind knowing that a staff member is always close by should assistance ever be necessary. It is this support and interaction that can a truly make a difference and enable residents live to their greatest potential.

I have had a number of people ask me why I chose to work with, and care for those with dementia/Alzheimer. I take pride in telling them, I am fulfilled by caring for this special group of residents. I am rewarded as I see the families of residents change from state of anxiety, and even grief, to that of relief and peace of mind, knowing their loved one is cared for by a loving, energetic staff.

Should you, or someone you know, need assistance caring for a loved one please feel free to call or attend one of our meetings. The meetings typically consist of a short educational program followed by open floor discussion to share experiences with the other families. Frequently the bonds created by participating in our Support Group are special, and the friends made can offer additional understanding and support. No reservations are required, everyone is welcome.

I look forward to meeting you at Mountain Vista Family Support Group. We are currently revising the schedule to meet the needs of family members, please check with receptionist for the new schedule. ~ Dinah Tolini, BSSW, Social Worker

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Dementia and Spiritual Care

arie, not her real name, is one of the residents in the memory care area of Mt. Vista. Marie has a sweet smile and sparkle in her eyes, although occasionally her face turns down and she frowns only looking at her hands lying still in her lap.

Spiritual care is often about listening empathetically to the feelings of others. For a person with dementia these feelings are often expressed not with words, but rather with a look, a tone of voice, a down turned face, or any number of nonverbal clues.

Today, Marie has come to a group for devotions. This is a time of singing, prayer, and interaction with the chaplain. As she joins the group her eyes are downcast. Something has clouded her otherwise sunny disposition. However, when she is greeted with a friendly smile and a positive tone of voice, her manner and disposition begin to change.

Today the interaction helps and she begins to look up from her lap. She lights up even more when she hears that we are going to sing some songs.

Music is a magnificent tool in providing spiritual care for people of all ages and conditions. It is especially

effective when providing spiritual care for people with dementia. Music therapists inform us regarding the positive effects of music on the brain, including the fact that music is stored across the brain and not in one particular area. This means that even though dementia may have reduced brain activity in one area, music may remain recognizable in other parts.

Marie recognizes most of the music she hears during the devotional. For those songs she does not recall Marie is able to clap her hands or tap her foot to the rhythm and the beat. Prayer, especially the “Lord’s Prayer”, can have some of the same effects as music. The Lord’s Prayer is often learned at an early age and frequently associated with music. And today Marie, who has difficulty completing an entire sentence, is able recite the whole prayer flawlessly.

When the prayer ends, she says, “Thank you, thank you.”

For Marie these moments may be fleeting, but for the present time they have been uplifting, meaningful and connected with herself, her faith, and her God.

~ Chaplain Barry Hadley

New Logo Reflects New Era at Mountain Vista

With the transformation of Mountain Vista campus we would like to introduce another improvement, our new logo! We are excited to present the new design here first in our community newsletter. We feel this new logo more accurately captures the essence of the redeveloped campus and the Mountain Vista Senior Living Community of the future!

S E N I O R L I V I N G C O M M U N I T Y

Mountain Vista

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Safe Haven Coming Soon

couple of years ago I was asked by our CEO what our greatest need was, and I did not hesitate to speak up. I told him that we needed a safe secure haven for those affected by early stage dementia. Our assisted living is a great place for elders who do not wander, but as they age they may need somewhere that would also ensure their safety from wandering. The seed was then planted.

Mountain Vista is planning on opening a new Memory Care Assisted Living this spring. It will provide 22 residents with dementia a safe haven. It will become a place of learning and an outreach to families and their loved ones.

Most everyone knows or has some contact with a friend or loved one suffering from some form of dementia.

Here are 10 potential early warning signs:

1. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or leisure.

2. Confused with time or place.

3. Trouble understanding visual images, reading or

judging distance, problems driving.

4. Memory loss that disrupts daily activities such as forgetting appointments.

5. Problem solving and a hard time tracking and paying bills.

6. Problem speaking or writing.

7. Misplacing items and unable to trace steps to find them.

8. Poor judgment when dealing with money or telemarketers.

9. Withdrawing from hobbies or social activities.

10. Changes in mood and personality.

As the resident director of the Assisted Living, the opening of this new area is a personal passion and mission for me. I can’t wait for it to open.

~ Robin Dunbar, LPN Assisted Living Resident Director

Now You Can Support Mountain Vista Senior Living Community Online W

e hope that you have had an opportunity to check out the new Mountain Vista Senior Living Community website and Facebook pages. Today we are excited to announce the third part of our new

expanded online presence, the new Mountain Vista Senior Living Community Foundation web page. You can find the new page under the “Community Information” tab on the main “MountainVista.net” web page. Here you will find information about the many ways you can contribute and become part of our tradition of quality care and service. Please visit us one line and learn how you can donate today.

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.

S E N I O R L I V I N G C O M M U N I T Y

4800 Tabor Street Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-421-4161 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 housing and healthcare since 1930.

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