March 2013

Emeritus at South Park

5326 Park RoadCharlotte, NC 28209

Telephone: (704) 553-8700

Daylight Saving Time Begins!March 10

St. Patrick’s Day!March 17

First Day of Spring!March 20

Easter!March 31

Caregiver Support GroupPlease look for our Caregiver

Support Group to start again verysoon. We look forward to

gathering folks together in a caringand laid back environment to

discuss and support one anotherin the journey of caring for a

loved one with dementia.

Letter From theExecutive Director

Can you believe that we arealready in the month of March?

It seems like it was onlyyesterday that we celebrated the

holiday season ... how timeflies! I just hope that with March

comes some warm NorthCarolina weather!

I want to thank all of you foryour warm welcome and goodwishes as I start my time as theED at South Park. I am looking

forward to working with thedepartment heads, staff andfamilies and, of course, our

wonderful residents! As I havetold many of you in personal

conversations, my door is alwaysopen, if there is anything that

you need, please feel free to stopby, call or email me because our

family is committed to yours,

and I want you to have the bestpossible experience at Emeritus!

Over the next few weeks andmonths, you are going to see

some exciting changes! First, youwill see some cosmetic changes,

some updates and an overall‘face-lift’ to the building. Thatwork will start with all of the

common areas, which includethe living rooms, kitchens,dining rooms and hallways

being repainted. Following thatyou will notice new carpet beinginstalled in those same areas. Iam working with our regional

and corporate teams to compilea furniture list which includesnew, updated furniture. That

order, if approved, will becomprised of couches, chairs,flat-screen TVs, dining room

tables and chairs for those sameareas.

Continued on page 3 ...

Educational SeriesMonthly educational seriescoming soon! Join us andprofessionals within the

community for learning andgrowing! Key topics and

speakers to be announcedin March!

Welcome, AndreaFitzgerald!

Andrea has joined our team asthe community relations

director! Andrea moved toCharlotte to attend Johnson &

Wales University where sheobtained her bachelor’s in

hospitality management. Afterserving two years as a catering

director for a local country club,Andrea decided to embrace

another passion of hers, which isworking with the elderly. While

working with a local assistedliving and memory care

community, Andrea obtained amaster’s in gerontology and is

currently working on her PhD inhealthcare administration.

Andrea has two and a half yearsin long-term care, with specific

attention to those withAlzheimer’s and various types

of dementia.We are delighted to add such a

bright and passionate newmember to our family atEmeritus at South Park!

Welcome aboard!

March Into SpringEnjoy a new season of nature’s

renewal!

Employee Recognition

Family Ambassador ProgramEmeritus Senior Livings Family

Values:*I welcome, smile and greeteveryone with whom I have

contact.*I am a good listener and Icommunicate honestly with

others.*I take pride in my appearanceand in the appearance of our

Emeritus home.*I am responsive to resident and

family choices.*I strive to exceed the

expectations of all those withwhom I come in contact.

*I make a difference every day.

• When someone wants tothank an employee,resident or family memberwho has demonstrated OurFamily Values, s/hecompletes the card. Thecard can be completed byand for Emeritusemployees, residents andfamilies. (However, youmay not complete a cardfor yourself.)

• Name of the person who isbeing recognized andthanked

• Date card is beingcompleted

• Check the Family Valuesfor which the person isbeing recognized (check allthat apply).

Living Our Family Values isdesigned to recognize the manyways our Emeritus familymembers fulfill our core valuesevery day. We want to build anenvironment where people areappreciated and immediatelyrecognized for providing thekind of care and experiences thatkeep our Family Values livingand genuine.

Procedure• Pick up the Living Our

Family Values cards fromany manager or concierge.Employees, residents andfamilies are encouraged toparticipate.

• Provide a short descriptionof the specific behaviorthat exemplified our FamilyValues

• Give the card to theexecutive director or theperson’s manager forreview (if the complimentis for an employee).

• Card will be displayed onthe Family Values wall andupdated monthly!

Frank and Fran enjoy a Frosty!

John enjoys “Maintenance Monday withSteve!”

Karen enjoyed one of our Thursdayafternoon bus rides!

Alma enjoyed ice cream on a warmFebruary day!

Community CaresCommittee

March’s Outreach

Our committee of caringresidents decided that they

would like to sponsor childrenfor Easter by partnering with AChild’s Place, Inc. We will beshopping and gathering items

for Easter goodie bags orbaskets. If you would like to get

involved, please contactNichole.

Look forward to pictures of ourCommunity Cares Committeemembers working hard to help

others in next month’snewsletter!

Audrey truly enjoyed our time with somevery special children at PinewoodElementary! Visiting Valentines was ahuge success!

Luther and his grandson exercising withWeston Group!

Letter From the EDContinued ...

Once we begin to see that warmNC weather, Steve, our propertymanagement director, will begin

the process of power washingthe exterior of the building andpatio furniture and staining thewood benches. I think by thesummer of 2013 you will seesome dramatic changes to the

condition of the building!Secondly, and probably moreimportant than the cosmeticchanges, is our search for anurse. We have reviewed

hundreds of resumes,interviewed a dozen nurses andhave not found the right personfor this job. Sure, we can find anurse today, but we are looking

for the right nurse. The rightnurse is one who has

compassion for residents withmemory loss and a passion to

work with those same residents.We are diligently working hard

for find the right person;however, in the interim we dohave a nurse who is overseeingthe resident care department.Lynette Choplin, our regionaldirector of quality services, ismanaging the department.

Emma and the wonderful staffare working hard to continue to

provide our residents withquality care.

Again, I appreciate all the warmwishes that you have bestowedupon me, and I look forward to

working with all of you!

Eric Stromski

Happy March Birthday!

Dorothy KellerMarch 1st

Sara AbernethyMarch 4th

Angeline MillerMarch 8th

Mike ManionMarch 19th

Connie ElliottMarch 28thAsia HabashMarch 29th

Please keep in mind that ourcommunity center is available for

families and friends to gatherprivately for meals, parties, etc.Please inquire about availability

by emailingsouthpark-mcd@emeritus.com or

calling (704) 553-8700.

Boys & Men Biscuit Bunch

We’re excited to announce a newgroup gathering in our

community! The “Boys & MenBiscuit Bunch” will meet the 2nd

Wednesday morning of eachmonth at 8 a.m. Biscuits and

coffee will be provided. If you area boy/man who would like to join

us, please R.S.V.P. by emailingsouthpark-mcd@emeritus.com

or calling(704) 553-8700.