Nov 7, 2018 | Activities, Body, Events, Good Moods, Grace Ridge Blog Posts, Lifestyle, Mind, Mood
🔊 Listen to This Blog. Guest blog by Mountain Views newsletter staff. It all started with “A Night in Paris.” A few residents were interested in the theme so they donned berets, red shirts, dark pants and went to the living room to see what this was all about. Well, it was fun. Lots of folks there were enjoying themselves and the question that buzzed around was, “When will we have another gathering like this again?” Shortly thereafter, there was news that there would be a “Salute to the 50s.” Now this time, more thought went into the costuming that turned out to be true 50s. There were poodle skirts, white tee shirts with rolled sleeves, loafers, white socks showing under rolled jean cuffs, and maybe a pair of black and white saddle shoes. Some of us were newly married then and sprouting a family as attested to by Carol Scudder who won the “Best Dressed” prize. The fun moved over into the main dining room where, with the right 50s music, some diners enjoyed dancing over by the fireplace. The good mood from this event remained and flowed over into the next week. The servers knew of the upcoming “Hootenanny” and the secret was out that it would be in two weeks. Hurry! Scurry! We have to be ready for that! Everyone knew it was Hootenanny Day from 7:30 a.m. until the last note was played and the last tasty pieces of pulled pork, barbequed chicken and corn breaded catfish were eaten. This time the whole party, with staff included, were in the Ervin Room dressed in jeans,...
Sep 20, 2018 | Activities, Body, Events, Good Moods, Grace Ridge Blog Posts, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Lifestyle, Mind, Mood, News, Residents
🔊 Listen to This Blog. September marks the beginning of fall, but it’s also a time to focus on healthy aging. Explore the wonders of wellness and learn how you can build healthier habits for an active lifestyle at Grace Ridge’s Live Longer, Grow Stronger Senior Wellness Fair, Oct. 4. “This is a continued celebration of September’s Healthy Aging Month and our 4th year of bringing together community specialists in happiness and health,” said Kelli Huggins, wellness director. “Helping our residents build healthier habits to thrive and stay active remains our top priority and hosting this fair helps us meet that goal.” She added, “It’s also a chance for Grace Ridge to give back to the community by providing Morganton and Burke County seniors a chance to explore techniques, strategies and tips for aging well. The event is a one-stop shop for health, happiness and wellness needs.” Wellness Fair Highlights Flu shots. Don’t forget to bring your Medicare Part B card, medical insurance card or other form of payment. Complimentary health screenings and assessments for balance, spine and sleep apnea. Medication education booth, where you can learn about medication-medication and medication-food interactions. Nutritional information and healthy samples from the culinary team. Physician Presenters Dr. William Bell from EmergeOrtho specializes in treating adult orthopedic problems from the shoulder to the hand. Dr. Catherine Galida specializes in osteopathic manual therapy and acupuncture. Dr. Steven L. Smith from Hickory Chiropractic Clinic specializes in chiropractic care with an emphasis on wellness. Allison Thompson, PT, specializes in treating women who are having problems with pelvic floor health. The Live Longer, Grow Stronger Senior Wellness...
Mar 28, 2018 | Events, Healthcare, Mind, News
🔊 Listen to This Blog. March marks new beginnings, longer days and the start of spring, but it’s also a time to highlight the prevalence of brain injuries and cognitive impairment and the resources available for people who are coping with mental decline. Brain Injury Awareness Month The Brain Injury Association of America leads the nation in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month. This year’s “Change Your Mind” campaign aims to de-stigmatize brain injuries through education and outreach, empower those who have survived brain injury and their caregivers, and promote the many types of support that are available to people living with a brain injury. Western North Carolina Healthy Brain Initiative Several local and regional care partners have been working together to make a difference in the lives of patients and families who are struggling to cope with the journey of memory loss and brain function decline. Together, they formed the Western North Carolina Healthy Brain Initiative to educate the community on brain wellness and provide information on community resources for healthy aging. Funded through the Blue Ridge HealthCare Foundation, the committee is made up of family caregivers and care partners from Grace Ridge Retirement Community, Burke Senior Center, Catawba Regional Hospice, Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, ADAPT (Alzheimer Dementia Adult Professional Team), Supportive Solutions and Blue Ridge Community Action. Caregiver Emergency Packet (CEP) Most recently, the committee created caregiver emergency packets that will serve as a visual cue for emergency personnel to let them know a resident has a cognitive impairment. The packet will operate like the Do Not Resuscitate or Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment forms used...
Dec 14, 2017 | Activities, Events, Good Moods, Grace Ridge Blog Posts, News, Residents, Western NC
🔊 Listen to This Blog. Dr. Jean Ervin’s vision of establishing a retirement community in Morganton began in 1978, but her labor of love didn’t become a reality until nearly a decade later. Since opening its doors in October 1987, close to 800 people from all over the world – from artists and educators to military leaders and executives – have called Grace Ridge home. Honoring a Milestone with Light and Goodness Throughout 2017, we celebrated 30 years of Good Moods, Good Times and Good Life at Grace Ridge, culminating with an anniversary party on Oct. 13 that honored residents, staff and friends – past and present. Traditionally, pearls are used to help commemorate a 30-year anniversary. Our Life Enrichment and party planning team kicked that idea up a few notches with a white-themed party that combined fun, reminiscence and elegance. Donning their white attire, more than 100 guests walked into an Ervin Community Room that had been transformed into a sea of white – linens, flowers, pumpkins, hanging tissue pom-poms, table settings, chair covers and party favors. “Tonight, we not only celebrate 30 years of a building or a community, we celebrate the people who have lived at Grace Ridge and those who serve here and have been inspired by our senior friends,” said Executive Director Brenda Yost. Master of Ceremonies Jerry Davis kept the nostalgia and laughs flowing throughout the evening while proudly wearing a pair of white shorts that dated back to his college days. The Burke County Chamber of Commerce president said he was honored to introduce a “small slice of the deep wealth of...
Jul 20, 2017 | Events, News
🔊 Listen to This Blog. The Good Moods program at Grace Ridge promotes overall well-being by addressing the many aspects of wellness, including the emotional, spiritual, vocational, social and intellectual. Recently, two events at Grace Ridge exemplified the commitment to healthy aging and focus on mind, body and emotions. Creative Age Senior Art Exhibit In June, Grace Ridge hosted the third annual Creative Age Senior Art Exhibit in honor of the 30th anniversary of the community. The special exhibit featured 45 works of art — from sculptured to watercolor, mixed media, crafts, photography and more — created by 25 artists over the age of 60 throughout Western North Carolina. Artists who exhibited included both professionals and nonprofessionals. All works of art in the exhibition were displayed on the first floor of the community, and visitors were provided with a numbered map indicating locations of the various pieces. After visitors viewed the exhibit, they could go to the Grand Lobby to vote for their favorites for the People’s Choice award. Following the exhibit, the ballots were counted and exhibit attendees voted Glory of Autumn (counted cross-stitch) as their favorite submission. Grace Ridge resident and prolific cross-stitcher Connie Wilkie claimed the honor. The exhibit was free and open to the public each day between June 8 and 21. On June 7, a private reception for VIPs and artists included introductions and a program. A number of the works of art were for sale; items could be purchased during the exhibit, but were left on display for the duration of the event. This unique art exhibit was just one example of the...
May 2, 2017 | Events, Grace Ridge Blog Posts, Mind
🔊 Listen to This Blog. Are you living vibrantly as you age? Many Americans now view aging as a new phase of life that provides a wealth of opportunities for learning and engaging. May is Older Americans Month, and more than ever, seniors are enjoying new experiences, finding a voice in their communities and focusing on their independence. As part of this important month, Grace Ridge is participating in a community partnership to bring an enlightening educational event back to Burke County for a second year. “The Beauty of Music & Memory” features Teepa Snow, a nationally known educator in the field of dementia, and Ron Gregory, founder of Alzheimer’s Music Connect. If you’re interested in finding out more about memory care or dementia, you’ll want to attend this free symposium sponsored by Grace Ridge, Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, the Western Piedmont Council of Governments Area Agency on Aging and other organizations. Family caregivers, health care providers and members of the public are expected to attend the event, which delves into the connection between the mind and music. About the Presenters Teepa Snow is a registered and licensed occupational therapist as well as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association. As a leading dementia educator, her philosophy reflects her education, work history and personal experience with caregiving. With more than three decades in occupational therapy, Snow developed her Positive Approach® to Care that professionals and families around the world now use in providing care to individuals with dementia. The techniques and strategies integrated into the Positive Approach® to Care reflect the latest information about brain functionality and...
