Activities

June 29, 2020 Update:

We continue to adjust to Covid-19 pandemic with social distancing, masks and activities reduced to small groups and our internal television channel.  Socialization is so important to our seniors and our Life Enrichment team is doing an amazing job helping to reduce feelings of isolation.  See what we have planned for our Independent Living residents in July.

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been forced to cancel all group Activities until further notice.  So what are we doing to ensure that our senior residents don’t feel too isolated while we are sheltering in place? 

For Assisted Living:

• We have been doing one on one activities including Skyping with family members.
• Exercise with Matt from SeniorFit and more. 
• Meal deliveries 3 times per day are always delivered with a friendly face.

For Independent Living:

• We have stepped up our internal television programming to include devotionals from Chaplain Kurt and exercise with Matt.
• Residents who participate in the art class with Trisha have been sharing pictures with the instructor and receiving feedback and instruction over the phone.  Our residents are all so talented but special congratulations goes to Eugene Smith who won the Betty Boop pop contest with his piece called "I Love NY" (bottom center)

• Our sewing group ladies have been kept particularly busy making face coverings for staff and other residents.
• Residents even received a special treat on their door for Easter and enjoyed an impromptu flute concert with Laura Ontiveros.

• Phone calls twice per week from Marketing staff occur just to see how they are doing, if they are feeling well or need any supplies. For some, a joke, scripture or a little friendly chit chat in the process lets them know that someone cares - Like Us on Facebook to see our daily Mary's Merry Medley. 
• Daily meals and deliveries from our Country Store or security staff are visits that now take on more meaning - something our compassionate staff and every-day responders are acutely aware of.

Normally, we have a very robust group activities calendar so we are leaving up our March one so that you can see what things will be like once we return to normal.

March Independent Living Activities Calendar

Senior Living Choir Back in Action 

Music has been linked to reducing seniors’ stress and anxiety, as well as improving mood and memory. Music also draws a crowd. At Fellowship Square Historic Mesa, a revitalized choir program has become one of the most attended activities.

At our Mesa senior living community, we recently revitalized the choir program. It’s a hit, quickly becoming a top attended activity by residents of our independent living campus.

We believe it’s such a popular activity because music is good for the soul. The stress-reducing affects of music benefit residents of our active retirement communities as well as listeners of all ages.

A study from the University of Helsinki shows benefits from music and singing include calming feelings, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and an increase in endorphins. So senior activities like the choir are more than a good time, their good for your health.

The choir at our assisted and independent living campus is unique because we have a lifelong musician who started with us as a volunteer, Sherri Maxson. She partnered with, a longtime resident of Fellowship Square Historic Mesa, Charlene Raikes, to run this activity and program for the residents. Their friendship started because of the choir and now they are building new friendships with others and helping residents make new friends as well.

We applaud the choir for bringing the benefits of music to our senior community residents. Charlene, who has since passed is someone we will always remember. She is featured in the group photo - front row, left side (blue dress).