Nov 26, 2018 | Activities, Assisted Living, Body, Good Moods, Grace Ridge Blog Posts, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Holidays, Lifestyle, Mind, Mood, News, Tips & Info
🔊 Listen to This Blog. Make anniversary dinner reservations. Check. Schedule dentist appointment. Check. Shop for Christmas presents. Check. Book flight to NYC. Check. Get oil changed in car. Check. Buy tickets to CoMMA show. Check. Thanks to Grace Ridge’s new concierge program, these services – and so many more – are available to residents with just one phone call. Residents focus on enjoying retirement. We’ll handle the rest. “When you’re retired, you don’t want to deal with frustrating errands and spend all your time waiting on hold to make appointments – you want to relax and have fun,” said Evelyn Beaver, life enrichment director. “That’s why we’ve developed this concierge program – to enhance our residents’ lives,” she said. “By eliminating the day-to-day worries and other stressful responsibilities, they can focus on living vibrantly.” From bill paying to bucket list adventures Concierge services are divided into six primary offerings to help residents manage their daily schedules, activities and tasks: personal, home, shopping and errands, entertainment and leisure, travel and technical. Personal services include making salon and spa reservations, providing respite for family members, pet sitting, housekeeping and companionship. Home services include meal preparation, ironing, assistance with organization projects and house sitting. Personal shopping and errand services include private transportation, grocery shopping, purchasing gifts and prescription pick-up. Travel services include airport transportation, packing assistance, and hotel, rental car and flight arrangements. Technical services include smartphone and computer support and helping residents set up the LifeShare mobile app. Entertainment and leisure services include making dining reservations, acquiring sporting and event tickets and helping residents make their bucket list dreams come true....
Nov 20, 2018 | Body, Good Moods, Grace Ridge Blog Posts, Health & Fitness, Healthcare, Lifestyle, Mind, Mood, News, Tips & Info
🔊 Listen to This Blog. “Just because you age, it doesn’t mean you have to be sick,” said Dr. Golnosh Sharafsaleh. “Healthy aging and preventative care are crucial in maintaining independence and promoting the best quality of life that a person can have.” As director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program at Carolinas HealthCare System Blue Ridge, Dr. Sharafsaleh is dedicated to transforming the delivery of health care for older adults. The geriatric medicine and preventative care specialist shared her expertise on health promotion and preservation during a presentation on Nov. 13 at Grace Ridge Retirement Community. Dr. Sharafsaleh discussed health issues that affect older adults and ways to age gracefully and live a longer and healthier retirement. Topics included: chronic disease, depression, preventative care, immunizations and screenings, vision and hearing loss, nutrition, dietary supplements, falls and physical activity. Watch now: Nestled in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, Grace Ridge is a Life Plan Community spanning 52 pastoral acres in Morganton, NC. Come for a visit and find out why our community repeatedly garners awards, high rankings and superior satisfaction ratings as one of the best retirement communities in North...
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...
Aug 28, 2018 | Activities, Good Moods, Lifestyle, Mind, News
🔊 Listen to This Blog. In this guest blog, Grace Ridge resident Bob Erwin reviews “The Age of Eisenhower: America and the World in the 1950s” by William Hitchcock. The “original and penetrating new book about President Dwight D. Eisenhower” is a New York Times bestseller. My son usually gives me a history or biography for Father’s Day and other events. This book is history and biography at its finest. It is a portrait of a skilled leader who, despite his conservative inclinations, found a middle path through the bitter partisanship of his era. At home, he reaffirmed the central elements of the New Deal, fought the demagoguery of Sen. Joe McCarthy, and began the interstate highway system. The Democrats controlled Congress during much of Ike’s eight years in office, but he was able to work with Democrats due to his popularity with the people. He kept a close eye on federal spending. Due to Ike’s success and World War II, he was known and respected by leaders around the world. Ike ended the war in Korea and kept us out of future wars. He avoided a new quagmire in Vietnam. He charted a significant expansion of America’s missile technology and deployed covert operations around the world to confront communism. He realized that a strong defense for America was the best way for peace. As he left office, he cautioned Americans to remain alert to the military-industrial complex that could threaten their liberties. Ike was the most popular full-term president since World War II. His popularity with the people averaged 65 percent during his eight years as president. John...
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...
