Spring 2011 • The Village at Brookwood Lifelong Learning The Six Dimensions of Wellness Peg, resident of The Village at Brookwood since 2006. from the Executive Director New Dimensions at The Village S Spring is a time of constant change, renewal and growth, and at The Village at Brookwood, we are taking these things to heart. The cornerstone of our philosophy has always been wellness, and now we are taking that a step further with our focus on the Six Dimensions of Wellness and their incorporation into our residents’ daily lives. The Six Dimensions of Wellness were developed by Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute (NWI). They include: Physical — This is typically the first thing people think of when they think of wellness. Are you exercising, eating a balanced diet, and watching your weight? Intellectual — Are you creatively and mentally challenged? Are you continuing to expand your knowledge and your skills, and working to retain your memory? Spiritual — Do you have a set of beliefs and values that give purpose to your life? Social — Do you have strong relationships with friends, family members and your community? Do you have opportunities to interact with those you care about? Occupational —This is finding enrichment through work or volunteer work. Do you feel like you are a contributing member of society? Do you find your work or volunteer work satisfying? Emotional — Can you recognize your feelings, manage your emotions and cope with stressful events? Achieving emotional wellness allows you to have the resilience to experience life’s ups and downs with enthusiasm and grace. The Village has always focused on multi-dimensional wellness with such things as our Wellness Center, our lecture series with Elon University and our volunteer opportunities throughout the community. Now we are doing even more. In April, our new on-site Wellness Coordinator, Kristy Pardue, was hired. She is adding many new programs/exercise classes, and performing onsite fitness assessments with our residents. We are looking forward to this new dimension to life at The Village. We also welcome two new board members to our Board of Directors this year: Chan Chandler and Robert Sills. Chan Chandler is Vice President for Human Resources for Glen Raven, and he has been very involved in our community, serving on many local boards. Robert Sills retired from Burlington Industries with 40 years of service and currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Burlington Technologies. We are thrilled to have these gentlemen as part of our Board. As always, we invite you to join us for an event here on campus, or plan a visit to learn more about enjoying an active lifestyle that offers a balance of physical, intellectual, spiritual, social, occupational and emotional enrichment, all of which are critical to having good health. Daniel L. Cuthriell Executive Director www.VillageAtBrookwood.org • (800) 282-2053 RE S I D E N T S P O T L I G H T Claire Ernhart Focuses on Lifelong Learning V Village resident Claire Ernhart is not interested in a “rocking chair” retirement. Since she retired in 1997 from her work as a psychology professor and researcher at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, she has devoted much of her time to lifelong learning programs. “I cannot imagine myself not continuing to learn,” Ernhart explains. “It makes life more enjoyable and keeps us alive and alert and part of the world.” Ernhart and her husband Ed Psotta moved to The Village at Brookwood from Sun City Hilton Head, a retirement community near Savannah, Ga. There, she had been very involved with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) affiliated with the University of South Carolina. OLLI offers non-credit courses to adults over age 50. “I was quite active with the program, planning curriculum and teaching psychology, economics and evolution,” she says. Ernhart and Psotta moved to an apartment in The Village in December 2010, where they enjoy The Village’s amenities and activities — particularly the heated, saltwater pool — without having to go outside during bad weather. “We decided it was time to move to a Continuing Care Retirement Community and wanted to come to this area because our son lives in Raleigh and our daughter lives in Burlington,” Ernhart says. “We looked at seven or eight places and chose The Village. We noticed that the residents are happy here and that staff is extremely pleasant and always willing to help.” Ernhart started taking classes through the OLLI program at Duke University, and she is involved in Lifelong Learning programs with The Village and Elon University. “We are planning a one day a week program at Elon University that will start in the fall. This will be a worthwhile resource for all retirees in the community,” she says. “Another excellent resource here is Alamance Community College. I am taking a class on stained glass there.” In her “spare” time, she is planning lectures for The Village’s Lifelong Learning Program, in which residents speak on topics related to their careers or hobbies. Ernhart’s first topic is the increase in income inequality among US citizens since the 1970s. “There is a lot of material about this subject,” she says. “It’s a topic that may be especially of interest to seniors.” Welcome to The Village! Former White House Secretary to President Harry S. Truman, Elizabeth (Betty) Shea Arthur is from Brick, N.J. She is also the author of “Strength of a Woman,” a story of her life that is filled with personal poems and thoughts to her loved ones. Merton Nugent moved from Oxford, N.C. A retired nurse, she enjoys reading, needlework and travel. Longtime Burlington resident Vivian Stutts Stanfield has hobbies that include gardening, traveling, reading and crossword puzzles. Grace Elizabeth Taylor Hodges, formerly of Sanford, has joined several of her Sandhills friends at The Village. She is involved in Rotary, Special Olympics, Kiwanis and a Literary Club, and enjoys gardening and reading. Frederick Conoscenti, a retired therapist and pastoral counselor, moved up from Naples, Fla. He enjoys reading, theatre and concerts. Added Dimensions W What does “wellness” mean to you? For most people, their first thought is “physical health.” But true wellness means so much more … “With our U.S. population aging and the first Baby Boomers turning 65, there is a growing interest in healthy aging,” says Patty Scotten, The Village at Brookwood’s Director of Marketing. “And we know that healthy aging depends on many different factors — not just the absence of illness or disease. Wellness is actually a state of well-being that we attain when we have a balance among six different parts of our lives. And that balance among those six dimensions is our primary focus for residents here at The Village.” The Six Dimensions of Wellness model is a holistic approach to health and wellness that was created in the 1970s by Dr. Bill Hettler, co-founder of the National Wellness Institute. The six dimensions are interdependent and can be adjusted to fit the individual. The Village is using the framework of the six dimensions to focus on the following aspects of wellness. The Village’s Six Pieces of the Puzzle to C Emotional/Social This dimension involves recognition and awareness of your feelings and the degree to which you feel positive and enthusiastic about yourself and about life. “It is important to live in an environment in which you feel able to express your feelings and maintain satisfying relationships with others,” says Ruth Ann Stubblefield, Life Enrichment Coordinator. “A close-knit community with events and activities designed to motivate and encourage connections and engagement is an important aspect of this dimension.” Vocational This dimension recognizes personal satisfaction and enrichment in your life through work, volunteer work or personal contribution. “Our residents contribute their unique gifts, skills and talents in ways that are meaningful and rewarding in our community and the larger Burlington community,” Stubblefield says. “Many residents lead discussions or make presentations on topics related to their careers; for example, just recently a retired physician provided updated information on Advanced Directives.” Nutritional Good nutritional choices and eating habits assist you with maintaining a healthy weight, reducing the risk of disease, and maintaining strength and well-being. The Village dining provides a range of healthy eating options — including fresh fruits and vegetables, and low-fat and low-salt options — prepared by an award-winning chef in casual and fine dining settings. Also, with its close affiliation with Alamance Regional Medical Center, the Wellness Program at The Village has access to interesting speakers on nutrition and health. “A robust wellness program encourages people to maintain their health and increase their years of independence.” - Dan Cuthriell Complete Wellness Intellectual/Cognitive Creative, stimulating mental activities are the key to this dimension. A well person expands his or her knowledge and skills while discovering the potential for sharing his or her gifts with others. “Studies show that engaging in mentally stimulating activities such as book clubs and playing cards or computer games help maintain memory and may reduce cognitive decline,” Stubblefield says. “In addition, we have a relationship with Elon University, and they have invited some of our residents to serve on their planning committee of the Lifelong Learning Program.” Spiritual The spiritual dimension recognizes the search for meaning and purpose and includes the development of an appreciation for the depth and expanse of life and natural forces that exist in the universe, as well as exploration of other cultures and belief systems. Physical This dimension recognizes the need for regular physical activity and encourages learning about diet and nutrition while discouraging unhealthy habits. “Seniors achieve optimal wellness when they are at least getting 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity — such as brisk walking — a day on most days (a total of 2 hours and 30 minutes per week), along with two or more days per week of muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups,” says Kristy Pardue, the new on-site Wellness Coordinator at The Village. “For adults over age 65, regular physical activity is one of the most important things they can do for themselves to prevent many of the health problems that come with age and to keep muscles strong for day-to-day activities and independence.” Scotten says the Six Dimensions act as a framework around which The Village integrates whole-person wellness into the residents’ daily lives, and the on-site Wellness Coordinator is an important piece of that puzzle. “We are so excited to be adding Kristy who will get to know the residents personally and complement our existing Life Enrichment program. It’s a whole new dimension to life here at The Village!” Meet Kristy Pardue Kristy Pardue is the new on-site Wellness Coordinator at The Village at Brookwood. Formerly the owner of Fitness Today in Burlington, she has been a fitness instructor in several other places prior to her new position at The Village. Pardue also works at Edgewood Place, the public comprehensive rehabilitation and skilled nursing care resource located on the corner of The Village campus. “I love working with older adults,” Pardue says. “That was my crowd when I was at the gym.” At The Village, Pardue will be performing on-site fitness assessments, providing personal training and developing new classes and programs for the residents. “We are thrilled to have Kristy on board,” said Dan Cuthriell, Executive Director. “She’ll be bringing a whole new dimension to our community! A robust wellness program encourages people to maintain their health and increase their years of independence.” A ROU N D T HE V I L L A G E Village Residents on the Go! Village residents have enjoyed many evenings at Elon University in recent months. They explored the powerful themes in Jonathan Larson’s revolutionary musical “Rent;” thrilled to the breathtaking artistry of the Russian National Ballet performing Chopiniana, and Romeo and Juliet; and took note of pianist Steven Mayer’s unique repertoire. In March, several residents saw the Walter M. Williams High School Musical Revue and visited the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill’s Paul Green Theatre was the destination for the Tony Award-winning musical “Big River,” adapted from Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Residents had a blast bowling in the Alamance ElderCare fundraising SuperBowl, visiting the Greensboro Coliseum for the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, and exploring the phenomenal “Bodies Revealed” exhibition at Greensboro’s Natural Science Center. When the weather warmed up, they headed to the Triangle to learn about lemurs at the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, and took in the spring colors of WRAL’s Azalea Gardens in Raleigh. Later in April, they traveled to the Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman for a tour of the camp for children with special needs, and visited the Richard Petty Museum. Sharing Our Talents People who live at The Village are multi-talented, as evidenced by the Feb. 14 Valentine’s Talent Show. Highlights included 16 beauties singing old favorites, residents line dancing, and singing performances by Life Enrichment Coordinator Ruth Ann Stubblefield and Executive Director Dan Cuthriell. In March, Dr. Jo Williams served as a hostess in her home for Alamance a la Carte, the fundraiser for the Alamance County Arts Council. Life Enrichment Coordinator Ruth Ann Stubblefield and Village resident Agnes Yount teamed up as chefs for this event. On April 21, Village residents held an exciting Easter Egg hunt for local preschoolers with 300 plastic eggs filled with goodies prepared and hidden by the residents, refreshments, prizes and treat bags with pastel cupcakes. Upcoming Events and Trips … The Village will be decked out in Red, White and Blue for its annual Memorial Day Service on May 30. The service will include a delicious barbecue, patriotic songs and a veteran tribute. In May, Village residents will travel to the Temple Theatre in Sanford to see “Beguiled Again,” a sharp-edged satire about murderesses Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly in the Roaring Twenties. An exciting trip to Western North Carolina, including Nantahala, Cherokee and Asheville, is planned for June. A resort spa, golf, whitewater rafting, casinos, outdoor drama, an arboretum and historical tours are all part of the package! And, in July, a group will travel to Baltimore for an overnight trip to watch the Baltimore Orioles play the Boston Red Sox. HE A L T H N O T E S L If You Suspect a Stroke, Act F.A.S.T. smile. on to s r e p e Learn more about stroke, the third leading cause of death in f the Ask th side o e n o e c s a the United States and a leading cause of long-term disability, during Doe roop? face d May’s National Stroke Awareness Month. o raise rson t e p e h As you age, your risk for stroke increases, doubling for every one Ask t Does . s s m r rd? rm decade a person is alive after age 55. In addition, women experience both a wnwa o d t f i r arm d more strokes than men do every year, and they also have more disability. to person hrase. e But what is a stroke exactly? A stroke is a brain attack that occurs h t ple p Ask when a blood clot blocks an artery or when a blood vessel breaks and sound peech repeat a sim peech s e h t interrupts blood flow to an area of the brain. When this occurs, the brain nge? Does or stra d e r r u sl cells begin to die, which is why getting treatment quickly is so important. y of rve an -1 e s b o In essence, “time is brain.” Stroke should always be treated as an emergency, If you ns, call 9-1 e sig m i because there is a treatment that can be given within the first three hours these y! diatel imme after symptoms start. F A S T It is very important to become aware of the warning signs of stroke and immediately respond by calling 9-1-1. Common stroke symptoms seen in both men and women include: The Village at Brookwood 1860 Brookwood Avenue Burlington, NC 27215-9924 POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE PERMIT NO. 95605 BUSINESS REPLY MAIL The good news to remember during National Stroke Awareness Month is that up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable! There are many things you can do to control your risk factors, such as exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a nutritious diet, as well as controlling blood pressure and cholesterol. And all of these things are much easier to do when you live an active retirement lifestyle at The Village at Brookwood. FIRST CLASS POSTAGE Women, however, may report unique stroke symptoms, such as: • sudden face and limb pain • sudden hiccups • sudden nausea • sudden general weakness • sudden chest pain • sudden shortness of breath • sudden palpitations BURLINGTON, NC • Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg — especially on one side of the body • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination • Sudden severe headache with no known cause 1860 Brookwood Avenue Burlington, NC 27215 Sponsored by Alamance Regional Medical Center You do if your home is in The Village at Brookwood. The Village’s fine dining and casual meals are prepared by award-winning chef Larry Jones, named Chef of the Year by the Triad Chapter of the American Culinary Foundation. But delicious, nutritious dining is just one of the key ingredients to resilient retirement living — you’ll find many more at The Village at Brookwood. Call us today at 800-282-2053 to schedule lunch and a tour. Phone ( ______ )____________________________ Spring 2011 City____________________________________ State_________ Zip____________ Address ______________________________________________________________ Name ________________________________________________________________ Please send information to my friend or family member: E-Mail ___________________________________ Best time to call: ____ a.m. / p.m. Phone ( ______ )____________________________ City____________________________________ State_________ Zip____________ Address ______________________________________________________________ Name ________________________________________________________________ Please add me to your mailing list: Do you eat ike this at home?