Community Name

Resident Information

Resident Name: Al Heiser

Resident Age (Optional): 85

Move-In Date:  April 21, 2012

Pet Information

Type of Pet: Dog, Toy Australian Shepard

Pet Name: Cody

Pet Age:  We think about 5 to 6 years old – just got him at the end of December

Pet Tricks:  Not really

Pet Dislikes: “Strangers” coming over – so he lets Al know if someone knocks at the door!

Favorite Food: Snacks from the dining room

Favorite Toy: A little rubber dumbbell he carries all the time

Bad Habit: Just that he’s always happy and ready to play…until he zonks out to sleep.

Resident-Pet Story: Cody was rescued by a lady near San Antonio…the next day he was going to be euthanized, so we like to call him “Lucky”. I lost my previous dog, Coco, had to put her to sleep in Sept of 2011 after 16 years together. I was looking for a new dog for 3 months, and looking at larger dogs. But when I found Cody, I knew that was my new dog. We’ve grown quite attached to each other and I think he’s happy here.

According to the National Stroke Association 80% of strokes can be prevented.  Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening was just one of the tests provided by Life Line at Garden Way Retirement Communities Annual Health Fair.  Hundreds of smart and savvy seniors registered early for the completely booked screenings that included options for: Stroke/Carotid Artery Screening, Heart Rhythm Screening, Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening, Peripheral Arterial Disease Screening, and an Osteoporosis Risk Assessment.

Garden Way’s Preventative Care Health Fair was much more than a series of life-saving screenings.  Twenty-one wellness practitioners and providers set up booths throughout the community offering education on a wide-variety of wellness services.  Several of the wellness educators were community representatives including Oregon Telecommunications Relay Services an organization that provides free telephones to all Oregon residents with vision or hearing impairments.  There were also a number of certified practitioners in holistic medicine including three massage therapists, a stretching specialist, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor and a nutritional therapist.  Of course no health fair would be complete without the opportunity to purchase natural green products for the home and body.  Garden Way’s local vendors included: Pearson’s Health and Nutrition, Jan Revell representing Xocai – The Healthy Chocolate, Marilyn Rice representing Seacret Skin Care and a green-cleaning product vendor by the name of Feel So Alive.  If you missed out on the health fair and would like a complete list of health fair vendor’s including contact information you may contact Garden Way Retirement Community.

The most popular element of the health and wellness fair was the sixteen hands-on health seminars and fitness classes that took place throughout the day.  Cindy O’ Brien had a jam-packed fitness studio for her Oregon State University course Better Bones and Balance.  Cindy teaches this course weekly at Garden Way and her class has become so popular they are working on creating a larger space for the class which has outgrown it’s second fitness studio. Christiana Hansen who also teaches weekly at Garden Way, taught a yoga for seniors class that was just as popular as Cindy’s course.  Christiana is an expert at adaptive yoga and teaches a progressive class that focuses on restoring balance and mobility.  Of course we cannot forget to mention the Mossbacks walking group. The Mossbacks are a very successful local chapter of the American Volkssport Association an organization known for encouraging fun, fitness and friendship through organized walking events.  Not only did the Mossbacks have a wealth of information on nationwide walking events, they had the most energetic and popular booth at the entire Health and Wellness Fair.

Although an annual health fair is an excellent way to connect with resources that focus on prevention, there is no need to wait until next year to be proactive about your health.  All Sunshine Retirement Living communities have on-site wellness programs that work with these same wellness professionals and partners 365 days a year.  If you would like more information on how you may get involved with a better bones and balance class, connect with a holistic practitioner or learn how you can incorporate natural green products into your home there are year-round opportunities available to you.  Learning more about preventative care wellness practices will not only have you living longer, you will be also be learning how to live better!  For more information contact Denise Park, Wellness Director at Sunshine Retirement Living.

Take Care and Be Well,

Denise Park

Together, they were given a job and they landed in France in 1944. While in France, Bill had a few special moments that he remembers and can chuckle about. First, while in a foxhole in the middle of a battle, Pete received an official looking notice from the US Government. His commander said it was important and he should open it right away! It was a draft notice telling Pete if he did not report to boot camp, they would come and get him. They looked at each other and laughed and said, “please come and get them.’

Bill remembers the day the war was over and he was sleeping in an abandoned house. When he woke, he was surrounded by German soldiers. He thought they had been captured in the middle of the night. What a relief it was when Bill found out the war had ended and they were to disarm the thousands of soldiers who had appeared overnight.

Bill Harper currently resides at Creekside Oaks Retirement Community in Folsom California and Pete Lunardini resides at Quail Lodge Retirement Community in Antioch, California. Both of these communities are managed by Sunshine Retirement Living. Recently, the Activity Director at Quail Lodge decided to schedule an outing to their sister property located about 80 miles away! On this outing Bill and Pete had the opportunity to reunite! The two had lunch at Creekside Oaks and reflected on a friendship of two regular guys that has endured over 68 years!

Pets can offer a sense of love and security. They are often able to put a smile on your face when no one else can. It’s no wonder that we go to great lengths to show them that we love and appreciate them, just as much as they love and appreciate us!

Although the companionship of owning a pet is often more than enough, medical evidence suggests that there are even more significant physiological benefits. The Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine studies how people and animals influence each other’s psychological and physiological state. The research shows people who connect with animals experience decreased blood pressure, reduced anxiety and a general feeling of well being. Similar research has been conducted by Happy Tails, an organization specializing in animal-assisted therapy. Happy Tails reports that connecting to animals through assisted therapy and activity also provides numerous cognitive, physical, social and emotional benefits.

It is undeniable that there is something magical about the unconditional love pets’ offer that cannot be matched. Their presence can offer much more significant physiological benefits than simply brightening up your day. However, those who have pets of their own understand that having someone there to brighten up your day will always be more than enough.

At Sunshine Retirement Living, we believe that pets are a part of the family. For this reason, and the amazing health benefits mentioned above, all of our communities are not only open to having pets, they are ‘Pet Friendly’. Many of our on-site management teams have pets of their own and truly understand what it takes to cater to the needs of pet owners. In addition, our Activity Directors are trained to work with local organizations such as Happy Tails to provide our residents with the therapeutic benefits of animals in the comfort of their own home.

If you are looking to reap some of the countless benefits that animals can offer, or have a pet of your own, attend one of our Monthly Yappy Hour’s! This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a mock-tail while community pets are enjoying chef-prepared dog treats! For more information, contact any of our Fido-Friendly Locations! Woof, Woof!

We all understand the importance of exercise and make time in our day to give our body what it needs to stay healthy. It is just as important to your mental health to schedule time in your day for activity that stimulates the brain.

According to The Harvard Medical School, “Brainy activities stimulate new connections between nerve cells and may even help the brain generate new cells, developing neurological ‘plasticity’ and building up a functional reserve that provides a hedge against future cell loss.” Brainy Activities include anything from reading, playing cards or working on word puzzles to things that require manual dexterity such as painting and crafting.

In addition, you should not just stick to the activities you are most comfortable with. Learning a new skill can be done at any age and will provide your brain with additional stimulation as you encourage it to think in a new direction.

There is no need to limit your time for health and wellness to just attending a fitness class that may happen once or twice a day. Our bodies are meant to move, and movement can be done anyday, at any time, from anywhere.

On a given day, we may find ourselves ‘waiting’ for a number of different reasons. We may be waiting for the doctor, waiting in line at the grocery store, or waiting for the commercials to be over during our favorite television show! These are all opportunities to address our health and wellness needs.

Think of the world as your fitness studio and you will see that there are countless times throughout the day to practice some of the skills you have obtained from an exercise class. Next time you find yourself ‘waiting’ for something, take this as the perfect opportunity to increase range of motion in your body!

Don’t be shy when it comes to your fitness! Start moving today and watch as you inspire those around you to do the same!

The two have their first morning walk around the beautiful Westbrae Court courtyard around 6:00 a.m. and share additional walks together every few hours throughout the day.

Although Papillion’s are known for their intelligence and agility, what Betty enjoys about Precious is the companionship and unconditional love he shows her. They share everything together (even Betty’s popcorn from the community social hour) and look out for each other in that special way that only best friends can. The two share a joyful spirit that is both inspiring and contagious.

Walker Use vs. Walker Abuse

There are many benefits to using a walker; walkers may assist one in recovering from an injury or illness, allow for additional balance and stability, or provide a sense of security. Issues arise when walkers are used incorrectly and they become a crutch as opposed to a support system.

Walker Use

• Walker is properly adjusted
• Individual maintains proper body alignment
• Individual is able to move with light hands on the walker and still engages the stomach and leg muscles when walking

Walker Abuse

• Walker is too high or too low
• Individual begins to ‘hunch over’ or exhibit kyphotic posture (one of the primary causes of back pain, neck pain, migraines and weak hips)
• Individual places a significant amount of their body weight on their walker as opposed to engaging the stomach and leg muscles when walking

Remember: A well adjusted walker is crucial to proper body alignment when walking!

One of the best things about being a part of a ‘Community’ is the opportunity to support and be supported during times of triumph as well as tragedy. No one understands this better than Fran Burrows of Tarrytowne Estates in Houston, TX. Eight years ago and only six months after moving into her community, Fran Burrows identified the need for a women’s support group. What is remarkable about Fran is that she chose to do something about it!

Fran Burrows is the founder of ‘Coffee and Conversation’, a women’s group that not only offers support to women, it actually serves the entire community. Group members write sympathy and get well cards, reach out to new residents and support youth in the greater Houston area.

Each meeting features a guest speaker whose name may be found on the agenda. The agenda also includes a prayer list and a list of new residents. What is happening at Tarrytowne Estates is truly newsworthy! If you see the need for a similar group in your community, be that ‘Wise and Wonderful’ person that says, “I am going to do something about this!”

Thank you Fran Burrows for your service to your community!

Whether your goal is to increase range of motion, improve muscle strength, rehabilitate an injury or limit the use of a walker, the use of fitness bands may assist you in doing any and all of these. As mentioned in a previous article a healthy body with proper range of motion requires the muscles to be balanced. If we over-use a particular set of muscles (in this case the chest, stomach and peck muscles) we under-use the opposite and opposing muscles (the back muscles). The use of a pull center may help re-balance these muscle systems leading to improved range of motion, decreased pain and an overall healthier you! Contact your activity director for more information on the use of fitness bands for wellness.