Village Concepts started the program at their 17 properties to keep residents connected with others during the outbreak
CHEHALIS, Wash. — It's done the old-fashioned way with pen and paper. A pen pal program connecting seniors to children home from school.
"Most of our seniors are already battling depression, so our main goal is to fight that off as quickly as we could." Danie Monaghan is the Director of Operations for Village Concepts, a retirement community that owns 17 different campuses across western and southwestern Washington, including Woodland Village in Chehalis, WA.
With students, like her three kids out of school and seniors sitting around unable to have visitors, they came up with a plan to invite everyone to write their own handwritten letters to the seniors.
"To make sure our seniors still felt connected, but also our kids in the neighborhood still felt connected too." Monaghan said, "I think that it's so important. It's not an e-mail, it's something that's tangible that people can touch and people can see. There's color and there's liveliness. Right now, there's not a lot of that."
Danie's three children Ben, 10, Brighton, 8 and Branson, 5 all wrote their own individual letters.
"Mine was a horse and talking about make sure to open your windows, listen to birds and I hope this thing can blow over soon and we can all get outside," Brighton said.
Branson said his had "A penguin, a person and then a person on it."
Ben drew a picture of a Peterbilt semi-truck and says his message was, "Open your doors and everyone still cares about you."
Ben adds, "I wrote my letter because the seniors can't get out of their rooms and they can't touch their families, so I decided to write my letter to show them that we still care about them even though we can't physically see them."
Danie says they have received 15-20 letters at each of their 17 facilities over the last couple of days. Each with a different message to uplift the spirits of those reading them.
"I love this!" said one of the residents after opening up the letters. Others read the message with a huge smile on their faces.
How did they respond, by writing back creating that personal connection.
Our goal is that when this has settled and the dust has settled, those kids that have made connections, with their local senior community can then finally meet in person.
"Our goal is that when this has settled and the dust has settled, those kids that have made connections, with their local senior community can then finally meet in person."
If you'd like to write your own letter, the address is:
Woodland Village
ATTN: Pen Pals
2100 SW Woodland Circle Chehalis, WA 98532
Monaghan says they will hold the letters for a few days before giving them to the residents to prevent any germs from being transferred.
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string(1394) "[caption id="attachment_12957" align="alignleft" width="400"] From left, David Bricka, Village Concepts program director, Miranda Wilson, Helping Hands Food Bank and Solution Center executive assistant, Nate Vandenburg, food bank volunteer and Village Concepts team member, and Sandra Jensen, Village Concepts executive director, pose for a photo.[/caption]
A check for $2,300 was hand delivered to Miranda Wilson, executive assistant of the Helping Hands Food Bank and Solution Center at the Village Concepts Country Meadow Village Christmas party.
Over the year, staff and residents of the retirement community raised money through the summer barbecue, Holiday Bazaar and Buffet and through proceeds from Kathy's Kloset, a consignment shop for the residents and staff. In addition to the monetary donation, the retirement community has been collecting donation items for the food bank through a basket in the lobby that generates about 500 pounds of donations each year.
"With this donation we will be able to purchase healthy, nutritious food that will feed hundreds of people," Wilson said. "We are so grateful for your generosity."
In the past 10 years, Village Concepts has donated over $24,000 to nonprofit organizations in the area."
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At first blush, from afar, the people posing in Village Concept of Issaquah’s 2020 calendar look like famed movie characters, from Top Gun to Star Wars to Wayne’sWorld. Lean in a little closer, though, and you’ll realize Wayne and Garth don’t look quite like they used to. The hilarity and popularity of Village Concept’s themed calendar is back for a second year, featuring some of the senior residents, who live at the Spiritwood at Pine Lake community, and their families dressed as popular TV and film characters. The $35 calendar raises money in support of the Alzheimer’s Association. Mugs, ornaments, and reusable tote bags also will be available. To purchase the calendar, contact Jennifer Angell at jennifera@villageconcepts.com or by calling 425.313.9100."
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string(2474) "[caption id="attachment_12882" align="aligncenter" width="780"] IT TAKES A VILLAGE: Steve Brown, president of Village Concepts, left, with his son, Stuart, the company’s chief executive officer. Image Credit: Hayley Young[/caption]
Village ConceptsLocation: Auburn
Village Concepts owns and operates some 20 housing and assisted-living facilities across the Puget Sound region and Central Washington that serve more than 1,300 seniors, with a top-flight nursing staff at the core of its care model.
The company was launched in 1975 by Bill Brown and is now led by the second and third generations of the Brown family — with Bill’s son, Steve, serving as president and Steve’s son, Stuart, serving as chief executive officer. Along the way, the company has remained true to its commitment to quality resident care while also keeping up with the times by incorporating new training, education and care programs. It also stays in tune with the needs of its residents through programs like Project Bucket List. The program allows seniors to fulfill lifelong dreams — making it possible for Dorothy Roth, who played in a World War II-era women’s baseball league, to throw out the first pitch at a Seattle Mariners game, for example.
The company promotes open communications and input from all family members, holding true to its credo of “creating a village that feels like family.” Family members are encouraged to work for the company, but they must still apply and qualify for positions. The Brown family’s business philosophy appears to be paying dividends. Village Concepts recorded a 14.4% increase in annual revenue between 2016 and 2018, to $40.8 million, and hired 60 new employees last year — and currently employs around 375.
“Creating supportive environments that foster continuous learning is a central value in the Brown family and is what Village Concepts strives to achieve,” the company says.
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string(4076) "It’s been almost 400 years now since the Mayflower first arrived in Massachusetts, and the lives of those first pilgrims can feel so removed from us now. More than a dozen generations have come to pass, and with that, countless cultural and technological advancements.
But for those sitting down for Thanksgiving to enjoy a much-anticipated feast, it’s possible you have a connection to the first settlers who braved the voyage to America.
[caption id="attachment_60264" align="alignleft" width="294"] Bill and Phil Cushman / The Cushman family[/caption]
Issaquah resident Bill Cushman, who currently lives at Spiritwood at Pine Lake’s Village Concepts retirement center, and his brother, Phil, can tie their lineage 13 generations back to the man who gave the first documented sermon in America.
Their ancestor, Robert Cushman, was a business agent for the Plymouth colony, essentially serving as a financial liaison between investors who funded the trip to the New World and the first settlers. Cushman had intended on traveling with the Mayflower in 1620, but when the crew discovered the smaller ship was leaky, Cushman was forced to stay an additional year in England. He instead arrived at the colony in late 1621, according to the Cushman family, who have retold the story of life with the help of historical texts.
Once he arrived, he realized how dire the conditions were. Many of the pilgrims died on the voyage, and many more perished during the first winter. Cushman was only in America for a short time, but he delivered an impactful sermon entitled, The Sin and Danger of Self-Love, that’s been preserved through history and is thought to have lifted the spirits of the first settlers, encouraging them to dash their selfishness and work together.
Near the end of his lengthy sermon, he said: “Lay away all thought of former things and forget them, and think upon the things that are; look not gapingly one upon other, pleading your goodness, your birth, your life you lived, your means you had and might have had; here you are by God’s providence under difficulties; be thankful to God, it is no worse, and take it in good part that which is, and lift not up yourself because of former privileges…”
It’s believed that prior to his departure back to England, the group enjoyed a feast known as the Harvest Celebration, an English tradition that prefaced Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately for Cushman, he never returned to America. He died in England in 1625, likely from disease. His sermon was printed in England in 1622 and was reprinted in Boston in 1724.
According to a biographical sketch penned in 1846 by John Davis, late judge of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, Cushman “was one of the most distinguished characters among that collection of worthies, who quitted England on account of their religious difficulties…”
Cushman continues to be celebrated for his work with religious freedom. Cushman’s son eventually sailed to New England and, subsequently, some of the Cushmans built a life in modern Issaquah.
Sometimes the world feels so big, but we’re often reminded of how small it can be. Cushman’s sermon and biography can be found here."
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A number of local veterans received the gift of a lifetime Sunday: a chance to ride in the cockpit of a World War II biplane flying out of Renton Municipal Airport.
It’s an experience provided by the nonprofit Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation based in Nevada.
The group operates several fully restored World War II-era biplanes. Thanks to sponsors and donations, it's able to provide these flights, free of charge to seniors and military veterans all across the country.
Flying time normally lasts no more than 10 to 15 minutes, but for these lucky passengers, including Navy veteran, Bill Barber (a resident at Village Concepts of Burien), every second was priceless.
“I like flying I wish I can do more. It's the finances that stop you from doing it,” said Barber.
The particular biplane, Barber and other veterans flew in today was built in 1944 and served as an army training plane before being converted into a crop duster.
Its engine and the outer fabrics have since been fully restored.
The pilots and crews involved in this program are all volunteers.
Pilot Clint Cawley works full time for a commercial airline.
“I grew up flying Stearman similar to this one so it's a lot of fun to give back to veterans, especially seniors. You know it's a really neat experience,” said Cawley.
Since it launched in 2011, Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation has flown nearly 4-thousand flights in 49 states.
For more information on Ageless Aviation, click here."
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string(1526) "[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://villageconcepts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/KCPQ_07-25-2019_TeddyBear_MillRidge.mp4" poster="https://villageconcepts.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/teddy-bear-picnic.jpg"][/video]
A local senior community is buzzing about a barbecue to raise money for teddy bears.
Many police departments have programs providing officers with stuffed animals to give to kids caught up in high-stress police response situations, and Village Concepts of Milton decided to support the effort, with a Teddy Bear Picnic.
Executive Director Jennifer Dennis says the project is especially near to her heart because both of her parents were police officers.
“Growing up I heard stories of my parents responding to calls where a kid might be a little uneasy; so the bears have helped to ease that in different departments.”
Thursday will be Village Concepts’ very first Teddy Bear Picnic, but Dennis says it likely will not be the last.
“So far community members are very excited; they’re so glad to be able to come in and have a nice lunch and raise funds for this cause. I’ve had a few tears in conversations – people are grateful that we’re doing it – and a lot of smiles.”
Everyone is invited to stop by Village Concepts of Milton - Mill Ridge Village at 607 28th Ave from 4:00-7:00 Thursday for a burger or a hot dog. Tickets are $10 each, and all of the money raised will help buy teddy bears for Milton police officers to carry with them."
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[caption id="attachment_12958" align="alignleft" width="265"] Stuart Brown, Village Concepts COO[/caption]
Forty-four years ago, the Brown family of Bellevue realized entering into assisted living didn’t mean an individual had to jettison their social life or relinquish any sense of community in their golden years.
In 1959, Bill Brown opened his original nursing community called Centennial Villas, building a company with over 20 locations on the West Coast. But it wasn’t until 1975 that Brown decided to cultivate the family culture and officially launched Village Concepts.
From its humble beginnings, family-owned Village Concepts has grown to include three generations of the Brown family and it encompasses 19 independent living centers, 14 assisted living centers, seven memory care centers, and five senior apartment complexes across the state.
By keeping the business in the family and nurturing an engaging atmosphere for residents — coupled with utilizing the latest technology — the Brown family ensures its founding premise of “bringing retirement to life” is upheld.
In fact, the Browns believe that running a family business is the key to Village Concept’s success.
“The great thing about running a family business is the level of commitment that comes from everyone involved,” said Stuart Brown, Village Concept’s Chief Operating Officer and grandson of the company’s founder. “Working with family gives us a good support system. We’re here because we love what we do.”
Because the Browns believe in creating villages that feel like a family, each resident is treated like one of the brood with programs such as Village Concepts University and Bucket List Check-Off, aimed at keeping residents engaged and inspired.
The Village Concepts University provides classes to its residents on the topics of physical and emotional health as they prepare for the next stage in their lives. The Bucket List Check-Off program allows residents to fulfill lifelong goals such as riding in a hot air balloon, a bi-plane, or on a Harley-Davidson.
Village Concept’s on-site programming, and certified, licensed staff who need to be available 24 hours per day means that Village Concepts is well equipped to deal with any issues or emergencies that arise. This means the Browns value employees on whom they can rely.
Outside of their work at Village Concepts, the staff is encouraged to take advantage of the company’s benefits and initiatives which provide extra training and courses for those who want to expand their experience beyond company and state requirements.“We’ve got people who’ve worked here for going on thirty years, and in a family-run business, these connections are highly regarded and trusted,” Brown said.
The family-feel of Village Concepts doesn’t stop there: During the snowstorm earlier this year, employees volunteered their time to make sure residents got the best care possible in such dangerous weather conditions. Village Concepts provided mattresses, blankets, toiletries, and food for those employees, and their family members helped with transportation and childcare.
Because of this community ethos, keeping the company in the family is of utmost importance to the Browns. That said, they never force any family members into the business.
“It is up to every generation in the family if they want to work at Village Concepts, there is no pressure on them to join. We invite family to apply, but we encourage all employees to grow within the company,” Brown said.
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string(1166) "Village Concepts of Sedro Woolley’s Resident Care Director Caroline Davis was awarded Assisted Living Nurse of the Year by the Washington Healthcare Association AUBURN, WA - (May 22, 2019) Village Concepts attended the Washington Health Care Association’s Quality Awards Luncheon in Vancouver Washington at the Hilton Hotel. At the awards, Resident Care Director Caroline Davis of Village Concepts of Sedro-Woolley was honored with the Assisted Living Nurse of the Year award for Washington State. The award “recognizes an assisted living nurse who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in their provision of high quality, person-centered care in a service-oriented culture in an assisted living community.”
In attendance with Caroline Davis was Director of Corporate Development Tracy Willis, Corporate Director of Regulatory Compliance Vicki McNealley, and Executive Director of Village Concepts of Sedro-Woolley Sandra Whiton."
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Village Concepts started the program at their 17 properties to keep residents connected with others during the outbreak
CHEHALIS, Wash. — It's done the old-fashioned way with pen and paper. A pen pal program connecting seniors to children home from school.
"Most of our seniors are already battling depression, so our main goal is to fight that off as quickly as we could." Danie Monaghan is the Director of Operations for Village Concepts, a retirement community that owns 17 different campuses across western and southwestern Washington, including Woodland Village in Chehalis, WA.
With students, like her three kids out of school and seniors sitting around unable to have visitors, they came up with a plan to invite everyone to write their own handwritten letters to the seniors.
"To make sure our seniors still felt connected, but also our kids in the neighborhood still felt connected too." Monaghan said, "I think that it's so important. It's not an e-mail, it's something that's tangible that people can touch and people can see. There's color and there's liveliness. Right now, there's not a lot of that."
Danie's three children Ben, 10, Brighton, 8 and Branson, 5 all wrote their own individual letters.
"Mine was a horse and talking about make sure to open your windows, listen to birds and I hope this thing can blow over soon and we can all get outside," Brighton said.
Branson said his had "A penguin, a person and then a person on it."
Ben drew a picture of a Peterbilt semi-truck and says his message was, "Open your doors and everyone still cares about you."
Ben adds, "I wrote my letter because the seniors can't get out of their rooms and they can't touch their families, so I decided to write my letter to show them that we still care about them even though we can't physically see them."
Danie says they have received 15-20 letters at each of their 17 facilities over the last couple of days. Each with a different message to uplift the spirits of those reading them.
"I love this!" said one of the residents after opening up the letters. Others read the message with a huge smile on their faces.
How did they respond, by writing back creating that personal connection.
Our goal is that when this has settled and the dust has settled, those kids that have made connections, with their local senior community can then finally meet in person.
"Our goal is that when this has settled and the dust has settled, those kids that have made connections, with their local senior community can then finally meet in person."
If you'd like to write your own letter, the address is:
Woodland Village
ATTN: Pen Pals
2100 SW Woodland Circle Chehalis, WA 98532
Monaghan says they will hold the letters for a few days before giving them to the residents to prevent any germs from being transferred.