A Monthly Newsletter for the Families and Friends of
A Message from Executive Director
Alex Valle , February 2019
Cottage Reminders Please bring in all needed incontinency and personal
hygiene supplies for your loved one. Please label.
Please remember to bring in some warmer clothing for your loved ones, sweaters, pants, socks and
any other needed items etc. Please label.
Training
During the month of February all staff are will continue to receive training on the following topics: Residents Rights and Dignity,
Dementia, Communication, when to call 911, Hydration and
Depression.
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Irvine Cottages Memory Care @Irvine Cottages
Dear Irvine Cottages Families and Friends,
Happy Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day!
February is the time of the year when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship, especially on
Valentine’s Day which is celebrated in many ways worldwide and falls on February 14 each year. Showing their
appreciation for the people they love or adore, with special greeting cards, boxes of chocolates, cupcakes and flowers. Our special Irvine Cottages residents will enjoy a special
Valentine’s dinner with their fellow residents in their cottage. They will also receive a special chocolate valentine treat! Irvine Cottages Art Coordinator will be doing Valentine’s
themed crafts and activities during the month of February along with some special volunteers who will deliver
Valentines Cards!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Alex
Friendship can increase a person's sense of belonging and purpose. Having a close friend can boost happiness, reduce stress and can also improve self-confidence and
self-worth. Cottage 3 residents Donna and Shirley enjoy doing many activities together!
Resident spotlight - Shirley and Donna
What is Memories in the Making®?
Memories in the Making®, the signature art program of Alzheimer’s Orange County (ALZOC®), was created to provide a meaningful activity for persons with dementia, while focusing on creative expression as a form of communication. When the disease affects language, art becomes a more suitable form of expression. With the stroke of a paintbrush participants are able to express themselves, often painting memories from long ago or images that represent their hobbies and passions. Currently, classes are offered at adult day centers and memory care communities. However, it can also be a one-on-one activity through an in-home care agency or with loved ones in the comfort of their own home. The benefits of Memories in the Making can include:
• Improved self-esteem
• A productive outlet for emotions
• Increased attention span and focus
• Activation of brain neurons
• An opportunity to socialize, thus
reducing isolation
• Recollection and expression of past memories
• A way to reconnect with
loved ones
Memories in the Making - fun with watercolors!
What is Valentine’s Day? Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of
Saint Valentine, is observed each year on February 14th
Background
The origins of Valentine's Day are not clear but many sources believe that it stems from the story of St Valentine, a Roman
priest who was martyred on or around February 14 in the year 270 CE. How he became the patron saint of lovers
remains a mystery but one theory is that the church used the day of St Valentine’s martyrdom to Christianize the old
Roman Lupercalia, a pagan festival held around the middle of February.
The ancient ceremony included putting girls’ names in a box and letting the boys draw them out. Couples would then be
paired off until the following year. The Christian church substituted saints’ names for girls’ names in hope that the
participant would model his life after the saint whose name he drew. However, it was once again girls’ names that ended
up in the box by the 16th century.
Eventually the custom of sending anonymous cards or messages to those whom one admired became the accepted way of celebrating
Valentine’s Day. There was an increase in interest in Valentine's Day, first in the United States and then in Canada, in the mid-19th century. Early versions of Valentine cards fashioned of
satin and lace and ornamented with flowers, ribbons, and images of cupids or birds appeared in England in the 1880s.
Symbols
Hearts, the colors red and pink, roses, images & statues of cupids, and cupids’ bows and arrows symbolize the feeling of romance and love on Valentine’s Day. Cupid is usually
portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who fall in love are sometimes said to be “struck by
Cupid's arrow”. The day focuses on love, romance, appreciation and friendship.
Happy Birthday to all of our residents who will celebrate birthdays in the month of February. All residents receive a card, a gift and a cake on their
birthday. Please call Gina at (949) 633-1595 for details about birthday parties at the cottages or if you want to plan something for your loved one
on their special day.
February Birthdays
February 4th ~ Patty George
February 7th ~ Joan Lamoreaux
February 8th ~ Florence Liberman
February 11th ~ Charles Colesworthy
February 12th ~ Christine Perry
February 14th ~ Dolores Hahn
February 24th ~ Judy Dott
Irvine Cottages Birthday’s
All of us at Irvine Cottages are grateful for our Irvine Cottages residents and their families. Thank you for this wonderful 5 star review on Caring.com and also on Facebook of Irvine Cottage 10.
Posted by Kathryn RNCM on 01/15/19 Relationship: Other Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
I am a nurse Case Manager who sees one of the patient/residence at this facility. Danny & Narissa are caring, professional well organized caregivers. They know their residence, very attentive to safety and needs of residence, ready to answer all questions or concerns. They report concerns to RN/MD. Facility is clean, warm and inviting. Meals smell of good healthy food. Highly recommend.
Irvine Cottages Valentine’s Day
Sweetheart Dinner February 14tth
5:00 pm Residents will enjoy a romantic
Valentine’s Day Meal Dinner Salad
Lasagna Garlic Bread
Cheesecake for dessert
Let your house manager know ahead of time, if you’d like to join your loved one!
Alejandra Valle LVN,
Executive Director
Michelle Nesbitt
Office Manager &
Administration
Kimberly Walters
Director of Resident & Family
Services
Gertrudes Tizon
General Manager
Dairwil Manapsal
Activities & Memory Games
Patricia O’Neil
Bookkeeper
If you or a family member ever have any concerns about
the care your loved one is receiving, please feel free to
call Alex at 949-533-1136
P.O. Box 3168, Dana Point CA 92629 (949) 533-5938 Fax (949) 443-4297
RCFE #: 306900437, 306000535, 306000655, 306500736, 306001104, 306001887, 306003824, 306004242. 306003826, 306004029, 306004723, 306004724
Irvinecottages.com Please follow us on Facebook: @Irvine cottages
Editors: Michelle Nesbitt
Please ignore our mess as we continue
to paint some of our cottages.
Welcome to the Irvine Cottages family: Sumner and
Bryna who have recently moved into Irvine Cottages. We are very happy to meet
you all.
Concerns
Management Team Benefits of walking! Walking is one of the best exercise for seniors; it’s an
effective way to reduce the risk for chronic conditions
and improve overall health. Some of the benefits of
walking for seniors include:
• Improves heart health. Walking offers numerous
heart health benefits. Getting your heart rate up daily leads to a reduction
in the risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and even
coronary heart disease.
• Lowers blood sugar. After eating, taking a 15-minute walk has been
shown to reduce the after-eating spike in blood sugar some seniors can
experience. Your body is using blood sugar more effectively to
strengthen muscles, and insulin works better, too.
• Reduces pain. Studies have shown that walking helps reduce some pain
due to chronic conditions like arthritis. Some seniors experience lower
back pain, and walking even just three times a week for around 20
minutes can help strengthen abdominal and back muscles to decrease
chronic back pain.
• Promotes social engagement. Walking offers an
easy way for seniors to meet up with others,
whether you join a walking group with friends or
simply engage with neighbors while out on your
daily walk.
Cottage 7 residents Juliana, Maggie, Pinky and Richard enjoy walks daily!
Starting on February 12th, 2019 at 6:00pm and then
every second Tuesday of alternating months,
staff will host Family Meetings at
Mimi’s Café
4030 Barranca Parkway,
Irvine, CA 92604.
We encourage all families to attend if you have any
concerns or suggestions regarding Irvine Cottages
and /or the care of your loved one.
We will listen and work on solving all issues raised.
It is our hope that you will be able to attend.
Please contact Kimberly Walters at
(949) 394-5678 if you have any questions.
IRVINE COTTAGES FAMILY MEETINGS
2019 The 2019
meeting dates will be:
February 12th 6:00pm
April 16th 6:00pm
June 11th 6:00pm
August 13th 6:00pm
October 15th 6:00pm