21536 S. Wolf Road | Mokena, IL 60448 | (815) 669-4278 | ClarendaleofMokena.com

December2017

InsIde thIs Issue

• Heartfelt Connections

• Birthdays

• Shopping Trips

• How to Stay Socially Engaged as You Age

• Upcoming Events

• Support Group

• Memorable Moments

• Star of the Month

• Shuttle About Town

• Ambassador Packages

• Featured Recipe

heartfelt ConneCtIons

During the month of October our Leadership team, our lead supervisors and managers attended a magnificent training called Heartfelt Connections. This 16 hour course was taught by our corporate Sr. Regional Director of Care Services, Barbara Bedenbaugh. I wanted to share with you what Heartfelt Connections is and why it is important to our community. “Heartfelt Connections Memory Care Program affirms life, and views aging as a natural process. It provides a continuum of care to dementia residents and their families, enabling the residents to achieve the highest quality of life and the highest level of functioning, while always maintaining their dignity.” Memory problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are not simply forgetfulness and they are not normal to aging. A person with dementia loses the ability to think, remember, and reason. Dementia often brings about changes in personality, mood, and behavior. The progression of Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias leads to the inability to independently manage daily life. Why is this important to us?

In partnership as a dedicated team we promise our residents and families that we will:

Throughout the year we have dedicated much of our time to hiring the “right” staff for our community. We take pride in hiring staff that is caring, compassionate, and devoted to giving our residents the care they deserve. These staff members then go through hours of dementia training taught by many of our leaders. Heartfelt Connections is not just a “required” training for our staff, it is a way of living. We institute basic concepts of keeping things simple, person-centered engagement, and failure free environments. We focus on our communication and activities which help make our residents’ days more meaningful, purposeful and pleasurable.

Clarendale of Mokena has a wonderful group of residents who we are proud to serve. If you have more questions about our Heartfelt Connections Program feel free to contact myself or our Executive Director, Bobbi Kelley.

Julie Mangiaracina, Director of Life Enrichment

• Embrace excellence

• Exceed expectations

• Engage in the practice of ‘Person-Centered Care’

• Ensure each resident’s life is enriched every day

happy BIrthday6 - Ben K.

6 - Marilyn B.

7 - Carolyn B.

12 - Betty H.

13 - Betty F.

17 - Norma K.

17 - Dorothea G.

19 - John B.

26 - Robert B.We would like to

wish all residents, families and staff a wonderful birthday!

shoppIng trIpsEvery TuesdayMeijer Promenadeat 1:30p.mDecember 5Jewel OscoDecember 12MarianosDecember 19WalmartDecember 26Meijer

tImes• 9, 10 & 11 a.m.

Please sign up at the front desk.2

how to stay soCIally engaged as you age

Could Facebook hold the key to healthy aging? Maybe! Experts say that staying active and social can enhance your life as you get older and help stave off conditions such as dementia and depression.

Looking for that ever-elusive fountain of youth? Look no further. There are many things you can do to stay vital and healthy as you get older — such as exercising regularly and eating a healthful diet — but experts now believe that one of the best ways to age gracefully is to engage in a little social networking, both online and off.

The Benefits of Staying EngagedAs you get older, normal changes

in your brain can make it more difficult for you to learn new information or remember things. In people who have dementia, this intellectual impairment becomes so

severe that it interferes with their lives. Sometimes cognitive decline cannot be avoided, but in other cases, keeping your mind stimulated or interacting with your peers may help ward off dementia and depression, another common senior health concern.

One recent study from the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center in Chicago found that highly social seniors had a 70 percent lower rate of cognitive decline than their less social peers. Another study by researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham discovered that Internet use was associated with a 30 percent decrease in depressive symptoms.

Tips for Staying Socially Engaged as You AgeThere are plenty of ways to stay socially connected and intellectually

stimulated:

• Nurture your social network. Make an effort to maintain your close personal relationships with family members, friends, church members, neighbors, and other important people in your life. Even if they’re not close by, you can still keep in touch by e-mail or Facebook. According to

By Krisha McCoy | Medically Reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

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upComIng eventsWednesday, December 6t 6 - p.m. Family Christmas Party Enjoy appetizers, cocktails, cookie decorating, hot chocolate bar, and live entertainmentThursday, December 7 9 a.m. - noon Christmas Extravaganza Vendor Show Featuring local artists, crafters, and vendors. One-stop-shop for all of your Christmas shopping!Christmas Bus Light Tour 6:30 p.m. December 4 Memory Care December 11 Assisted Living December 19 Independent Living

support groupFriday, December 1 1:30 p.m. Belvidere Room Hope For the Holidays Vitas presentation with Chaplain Ron & Wayne

data from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, the 74-plus demographic is the fastest-growing group across Web-based social networks. Use of sites like Facebook and Twitter among Internet users 65 and older grew 100 percent between 2009 and 2010, from 13 percent to 26 percent. Many assisted living centers have even begun offering technology classes to get seniors online and in the social-networking loop.

• Play “mind” games. Regularly doing crossword puzzles and playing chess and other intellectually stimulating games keeps your mind active and, if you play with others, helps you stay socially connected to your peers. Scientists believe that both your body and your mind follow the principle “use it or lose it.” So think of these games as fun ways to exercise your brain.

• Join a club. Contact your local senior center and ask around to see if there are any clubs in your area you would be interested in becoming a part of. Attending regular book club, garden club, or art club meetings is a great way to meet new people and establish rewarding relationships with people who have similar interests.

• Go back to work. Many people experience stress after they retire, feeling they have lost part of their identity. If you are longing to work again, consider taking a part-time job, which can help keep your mind stimulated and give you a sense of greater contribution. Encore.org and the Work Search program offer assistance to older people who want to get back into the workforce.

• Volunteer in your community. If you want to have a feeling of purpose or contribute to a greater cause, find a way to volunteer in your community. You can find out more about volunteer opportunities through organizations like Senior Corps, a government-run organization that connects seniors with local and national organizations in need of volunteers. Recent studies show that older individuals who volunteer have a reduced risk of death compared to their counterparts who do not.

• Offer family assistance. If you have grandchildren or other young family members you would like to see more of, offer to babysit regularly. Chasing around after children is a great way to keep you physically active and improve your sense of well-being.

It’s not uncommon for older people to become socially and intellectually withdrawn. But if you make an effort to stay engaged as you get older, you will find more joy and satisfaction in life — and there is a good chance you will stay healthier as you age

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memoraBle momentsHalloween-Bill Cook, famous magician performed at our annual Halloween Party this year. We held a

pumpkin decorating contest along with a best costume contest. The residents had a blast with all the fun activities Life Enrichment planned for the week.

Oktoberfest- The residents drank beer and snacked on German appetizers as the enjoyed the musical performance of the Gilhoolys! Mr. Gilhooly is always a crowd pleaser as he dances and takes pictures with all the residents!

Generational Hat activity- Our Life Enrichment Coordinator, Tari S. is a collector of different themed hats. She brought them in for everyone to try on and each hat had a story to tell. The residents definitely had a blast posing for the pictures.

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star of the month

Alejandro H. is our Star of the Month. Alejandro a.k.a. Alex is our Business Office Manager and has been with Clarendale of Mokena since February of 2016. Alex was born at Little Company of Mary in 1987. He grew up on the South Side of Chicago on 58th and Trumble. He has one sister named Lisett who is currently a PRN nurse here at Clarendale. Alex’s mother, Anabelle, has worked at Little Company of Mary hospital in the mail room since he was little. His father, Alejandro worked as a Tailor. He worked for a company until Alex was 8 years old until the company shut their doors. He then began working out of

their basement and started his own company which he has been running for 20+ years. Alex’s father came to the United States from Mexico when he was 18 years old in the trunk of a car. His mother emigrated her when she was in High School.

Alex met his wife Blanca at a night club when he was 23 years old and she was 28. “She looked up, and I decided to go talk to her.” He then proposed to her at the age of 25 in front of her entire family in her father’s church. They have two young boys, Alejandro, age 3, and Santiago, age 1.

Alex has been working in senior living for 7 years. He has a degree in Business Administration and Finance from Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. He states that he “fell into Senior Living.” Right out of college he applied for a job at a community in Arlington Heights and has loved it ever since. He likes working with seniors because he enjoys helping them and hearing their stories and learning from them.

For fun, Alex enjoys spending time with his family and going on dinner dates with his wife. He especially loves taking large extended family vacations to Mexico. During the week you can usually find Alex exercising at the gym. An interesting fact about him; he used to weigh almost 300 lbs. His doctor told him he was pre-diabetic. He realized he needed and wanted to make a change. He began exercising and dieting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The secret, he says, is binging on the weekends and self-control during the week!

We are lucky to have Alex apart of our team here at Clarendale of Mokena. Feel free to stop by the office and learn more about him, he loves talking to the staff and residents and getting to know them.

Alejandro H.

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shuttle aBout town

Catherine Spelling of Editorialtoday.com shares that the history of Christmas lights is intricately tied to the dawn of the modern era, when houses began to be supplied with electricity.

As you are likely aware, Thomas Edison invented the first functioning light bulb back in 1879. A few years later, in 1882, an associate of his first employed the use of lights on his Christmas tree. Edward Johnson was the first to electrically light his family Christmas tree in his New York home. His home was located in one of the first sections of the city to be wired for electricity.

A visiting reporter from Detroit reported the following in “The Detroit Post and Tribune”: “Last evening I walked over beyond Fifth Avenue and called at the residence of Edward H. Johnson, vice-president of Edison’s electric company. There, at the rear of the beautiful parlors, was a large Christmas tree presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect. It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box. There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red and blue. As the tree turned, the colors alternated, with all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution. The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white, blue, white, red, blue-all evening.”

Christmas lights have come a long way since then but I’m sure we can still find some traditional lights. Join us to find those Christmas lights!

As before we will be leaving at 6:30 PM every scheduled night and return after 1-1 ½ hour.

Merry Christmas!

Jimmy Johns, Transportation Ambassador

lost & found

Our Lost and Found Box is located at the Concierge Desk. Missing hats, gloves, glasses, and many more items need to find their homes. Please stop by the concierge desk and see if anything belongs to you.

amBassador paCkages

Assisted Living

December 13 at 9 a.m. White Fence Farm (show and lunch) RSVP by December 12

December22 at 11 a.m. Balagios Lunch Outing RSVP by December 21

Independent Living

December 13 at 9 a.m. White Fence Farm (show and lunch) RSVP by December 12

December 27 at 11 a.m. Balagios Lunch Outing RSVP by December 26

Memory Care

December 6 at 9:45 a.m. Vintage Caramel Apples RSVP by December 5

December 20 at 11 a.m. Double Yolk Lunch Outing RSVP by December 19

Memory Care December 4

Assisted Living December 11

Independent Living December 18

Executive Director Bobbi Kelley

Director of Life Enrichment Julie Mangiaracina

Director of Community Relations Kathryn Dietrich

Director of Sales and Marketing Bridget Fogarty

Director of Health Services Eunice Massie Kandi Pekelder

Director of Culinary Service Christina Halas

Business Office Manager Alex Heredia

Director of Plant Operations Rick Dewitt

management dIreCtory

ChrIstmas wreath CookIesfrom dinneratthezoo.com

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)

• 30 large marshmallows

• 6 teaspoons drops of green gel food coloring or 1 and 1/4 liquid green food coloring

• 1/2 teaspoon

vanilla extract

• 5 cups cornflakes

• 1 bottle of red hot candies or 1/2 cup red candy coated chocolates such as mini M&M’s

• cooking spray

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Place the marshmallows and butter in a large bowl. Microwave in 30 second increments until melted.

Add the green food coloring and vanilla; stir until the marshmallow mixture is smooth.

Add the cornflakes to the bowl and gently stir to coat the cereal evenly with the marshmallow mixture.

Pack the mixture into a greased 1/4 cup measuring cup and turn out onto the sheet pan. Use your fingers to make a hole in the middle to form a wreath shape and decorate with red candies. It’s easiest to form the wreath holes if your fingers are damp or coated in cooking spray.

Cool completely until firm and serve.