object(WP_Query)#3090 (53) { ["query"]=> array(5) { ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["posts_per_page"]=> int(9) ["paged"]=> int(7) ["orderby"]=> string(4) "date" ["order"]=> string(4) "DESC" } ["query_vars"]=> array(66) { ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["posts_per_page"]=> int(9) ["paged"]=> int(7) ["orderby"]=> string(4) "date" ["order"]=> string(4) "DESC" ["error"]=> string(0) "" ["m"]=> string(0) "" ["p"]=> int(0) ["post_parent"]=> string(0) "" ["subpost"]=> string(0) "" ["subpost_id"]=> string(0) "" ["attachment"]=> string(0) "" ["attachment_id"]=> int(0) ["name"]=> string(0) "" ["pagename"]=> string(0) "" ["page_id"]=> int(0) ["second"]=> string(0) "" ["minute"]=> string(0) "" ["hour"]=> string(0) "" ["day"]=> int(0) ["monthnum"]=> int(0) ["year"]=> int(0) ["w"]=> int(0) ["category_name"]=> string(0) "" ["tag"]=> string(0) "" ["cat"]=> string(0) "" ["tag_id"]=> string(0) "" ["author"]=> string(0) "" ["author_name"]=> string(0) "" ["feed"]=> string(0) "" ["tb"]=> string(0) "" ["meta_key"]=> string(0) "" ["meta_value"]=> string(0) "" ["preview"]=> string(0) "" ["s"]=> string(0) "" ["sentence"]=> string(0) "" ["title"]=> string(0) "" ["fields"]=> string(0) "" ["menu_order"]=> string(0) "" ["embed"]=> string(0) "" ["category__in"]=> array(0) { } ["category__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["category__and"]=> array(0) { } ["post__in"]=> array(0) { } ["post__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["post_name__in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag__in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag__and"]=> array(0) { } ["tag_slug__in"]=> array(0) { } ["tag_slug__and"]=> array(0) { } ["post_parent__in"]=> array(0) { } ["post_parent__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["author__in"]=> array(0) { } ["author__not_in"]=> array(0) { } ["search_columns"]=> array(0) { } ["ignore_sticky_posts"]=> bool(false) ["suppress_filters"]=> bool(false) ["cache_results"]=> bool(true) ["update_post_term_cache"]=> bool(true) ["update_menu_item_cache"]=> bool(false) ["lazy_load_term_meta"]=> bool(true) ["update_post_meta_cache"]=> bool(true) ["nopaging"]=> bool(false) ["comments_per_page"]=> string(2) "50" ["no_found_rows"]=> bool(false) } ["tax_query"]=> object(WP_Tax_Query)#3049 (6) { ["queries"]=> array(0) { } ["relation"]=> string(3) "AND" ["table_aliases":protected]=> array(0) { } ["queried_terms"]=> array(0) { } ["primary_table"]=> string(19) "wp_yxwczhor9q_posts" ["primary_id_column"]=> string(2) "ID" } ["meta_query"]=> object(WP_Meta_Query)#3050 (9) { ["queries"]=> array(0) { } ["relation"]=> NULL ["meta_table"]=> NULL ["meta_id_column"]=> NULL ["primary_table"]=> NULL ["primary_id_column"]=> NULL ["table_aliases":protected]=> array(0) { } ["clauses":protected]=> array(0) { } ["has_or_relation":protected]=> bool(false) } ["date_query"]=> bool(false) ["request"]=> string(329) " SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS wp_yxwczhor9q_posts.ID FROM wp_yxwczhor9q_posts WHERE 1=1 AND ((wp_yxwczhor9q_posts.post_type = 'post' AND (wp_yxwczhor9q_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR wp_yxwczhor9q_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled'))) ORDER BY wp_yxwczhor9q_posts.post_date DESC LIMIT 54, 9 " ["posts"]=> array(9) { [0]=> object(WP_Post)#3192 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(10080) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 12:52:19" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 19:52:19" ["post_content"]=> string(3749) " [caption id="attachment_10081" align="alignright" width="400"] Juanita Oney plays Marilyn Monroe for the calendar photo shoot. Courtesy of Jennifer Angell[/caption]

So far, seniors from the Spiritwood at Pine Lake Assisted Living home have raised more than $1,500.

The Spiritwood at Pine Lake Assisted Living home has raised more than $1,500 in their most successful fundraiser yet, with all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Association. Jennifer Angell, marketing director at Spiritwood organized a Hollywood-themed calendar inviting local seniors to dress as historic celebrities and characters. Three boxes of calendars sold out within four days and Angell is currently ordering more boxes. “I thought it would be something that would get [seniors] involved,” Angell said. “My boss said, ‘Jennifer, this is the best project we’ve ever done.’ It’s been really good.” Angell handles the costuming and photos herself, and has involved numerous resident seniors at Spiritwood. “When asked by Jennifer to be a part of the calendar, I didn’t want to be bothered,” said Jack Guptil, 83, who was in the “Blues Brothers” photo shoot. “But when I saw how much fun people were having being someone else, I said that’s me. Elwood from the Blues Bros.” Spiritwood seniors have also posed as Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe and re-enacted the chocolate conveyor belt scene from “I love Lucy.” The calendar project is one of many that Angell has worked on over the past year she’s been at Spiritwood. “I’m just trying to think out of the box and do different things,” Angell said. “I want to earn as much money as I can for the Alzheimer’s Association… plus it’s fun for the seniors. I don’t want them being bored.” According to Angell, she gets free reign in organizing fundraising projects and enjoys being able to get creative. “Being able to do things that normally at a corporate level you’re not able to do… that’s priceless, right?” Angell said. “The number one thing is that all of this is for an amazing cause, and I’m just glad we were able to earn that money for Alzheimer’s Association — that’s the bottom line.” One of her favorite recent fundraising projects was a dating game night she set up as a fun event for Spiritwood seniors. Several officers and firefighters from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Issaquah police and Seattle Fire Department played eligible bachelors and took turns asking the local seniors, who played bachelorettes, various questions before picking their favorite one to join them at a special dinner table at the living home that night. Each of Angell’s projects is nonprofit, and the fundraising is the main focus, along with helping local seniors have some fun. “Next I’m doing a s’mores night,” Angell said with a laugh. “Everyone’s doing table-top s’mores and telling ghost stories… It’s something the families enjoy as well as the residents.” Angell plans to continue organizing these fun fundraisers for local seniors, and anyone interested in purchasing a calendar can contact her at 425-313-9100 or jennifera@villageconcepts.com. “The [residents] are absolutely loving it,” Angell said. “We all have a great big hoot out of it… I could give all my time to this place every single day. I just enjoy helping — they’re like my family.” " ["post_title"]=> string(61) "Local seniors sell themed calendars for Alzheimer’s charity" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(58) "local-seniors-sell-themed-calendars-for-alzheimers-charity" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 12:52:19" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 19:52:19" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(44) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=10080" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [1]=> object(WP_Post)#3197 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(10054) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-10-01 16:06:04" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-10-01 23:06:04" ["post_content"]=> string(2939) " [caption id="attachment_10055" align="aligncenter" width="543"] The building will have 115 senior units, some overlooking Fairwood Golf & Country Club.[/caption] Active seniors may want to check out Village Concepts' new community: It's on 3 acres adjacent to the 9th hole at Fairwood Golf & Country Club in Renton. Village Concepts and partners Marathon Development and Rush Development Co. broke ground on the $36 million project last week. Village Concepts of Fairwood is off 140th Avenue Southeast. Stuart Brown, COO for Village Concepts, said they expect many seniors living there will be in independent units because of the country club and its 18-hole golf course, swimming pools and dining room. The site is also near a library, grocery and other retail. Residents will get discounted membership to the club, but the complex will also have a wellness center, activity center and salon. Brown said about 20 percent of the 115 units will be occupied by people needing assisted care and another 20 percent by people who need memory care. Units will range from 300 to over 900 square feet, with rents between $2,900 and $6,000, depending on location and services. The units will be in a single building of about 107,500 square feet. The project is expected to open in early 2020, and be operated by Village Concepts, which is an owner along with Marathon and Rush. Rush Commercial, the construction arm of Rush Companies, is the general contractor. Rush Development is also an arm of Gig Harbor-based Rush Companies. Wattenbarger Architects of Bellevue is the designer. Other team members are: Yu & Trochalakis, structural engineer; CEKO, civil engineer; Abossein Engineering, MEP engineer; Richard Ward Associates, landscape architect; Smith and Greene, kitchen designer; Earth Solutions NW, geotechnical engineer; and Technical Resources Consultants, specifications and technical resources. King County records indicate Fairwood Assisted Living LLC bought the site last year for $2.74 million. “We were excited when we found out (Fairwood) Golf & Country Club was interested in selling this piece of property,” Brown wrote in an email. “It's a great location in Renton and very central to all of our other buildings here in the Northwest.” Family-owned Village Concepts operates 17 senior communities across Western Washington. Club general manager Anthony Paino said proceeds from the sale will be used to upgrade the golf cart fleet, add a new driving range cover, buy furniture, improve back-of-house operations and upgrade the HVAC. Paino said the chipping/putting practice area may be expanded, and banquet and dining facilities may get an upgrade. The club, which opened in 1967, is not considering any other property sales at this time. " ["post_title"]=> string(61) "Senior community will overlook 9th hole at Fairwood golf club" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(61) "senior-community-will-overlook-9th-hole-at-fairwood-golf-club" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-10-01 16:06:04" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-10-01 23:06:04" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(44) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=10054" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [2]=> object(WP_Post)#3205 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9876) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-09-11 11:18:10" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-09-11 18:18:10" ["post_content"]=> string(4580) "

Residents of Village Concepts of Burien – El Dorado West Retirement Community attended a presentation about cannabis at Evergreen Market in South Renton

Several residents of Village Concepts of Burien – El Dorado West gathered at Evergreen Market in South Renton for an educational seminar about the health benefits of cannabis. Evergreen Market looks vastly different from what most people would expect a pot store to look like, it has huge windows, colorful displays, and an open floor where employees wait to answer questions. In the back is a conference room where they host educational seminars to break the stigma around cannabis and who the typical cannabis user is. Educators Wacheke and Elan gave a presentation covering the various uses of cannabis, from topicals to tinctures, edibles and vaping, and the difference between CBD, THC, and CBN. El Dorado West resident Denise listened with rapt attention, asking detailed questions about how cannabis could help her inflammation, and what she should use for intestinal health. She also asked why medical professionals weren’t working with Evergreen, if cannabis has so many quality of life benefits and was told that the government’s labeling of cannabis as a schedule one drug prevents this sort of collaboration and further research on its uses. Denise wanted to know more about certain roots and herbs being used with CBD and THC to help digestion, but research was very limited on this due to strict research laws put in place by the government. Connie, a resident of El Dorado West and veteran of these education trips, nodded along. She uses cannabis-based products for their health benefits and commented that these education seminars were especially important for seniors. “My generation needs to be educated about [cannabis],” she said, pointing out that her generation believes so much of the “stigma” around cannabis use. After the educational seminar, they went out to the shop to browse. El Dorado West resident Darlene, sporting a green cardigan with marijuana leaves, spent additional time with another educator asking about various products and their uses. Everyone went home with a bag full of cannabis products to use for ailments ranging from sleep trouble to inflammation.  When asked if they enjoyed their visit, Connie quickly responded, “I’ll be back!” Village Concepts, a third generation, family-owned business, hosts many of these trips with their other retirement communities. They believe in providing their seniors with experiences like this to keep their residents always learning and growing, to improve quality of life and enhance a sense of community that feels like family.   About Village Concepts: Founded in 1975, Village Concepts owns and operates residential and assisted living communities throughout Washington State and provides property management and consulting services for owners of assisted living communities. Village Concepts is a third-generation family-owned business, drawing upon 40 years of experience and a proud tradition of providing personalized care to more than 1,400 residents in 17 senior living communities throughout Puget Sound, the Olympic Peninsula and Central Washington. Each community encourages residents to “create a village that feels like family” by providing personalized care, fostering new relationships and encouraging independence. A leader in the senior living industry, Village Concepts sets itself apart with individually tailored care plans, on-site programming, certified and licensed staff on-hand 24 hours per day. For more information, visit www.villageconcepts.com. " ["post_title"]=> string(52) "Seniors learn about the health benefits of marijuana" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(52) "seniors-learn-about-the-health-benefits-of-marijuana" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-09-11 11:18:10" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-09-11 18:18:10" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9876" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [3]=> object(WP_Post)#3198 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9853) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-08-27 14:06:01" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-27 21:06:01" ["post_content"]=> string(4067) " [caption id="attachment_9854" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Roger Fenton, left, gets ready to take off from the Auburn Municipal Airpot in a 1942 Boeing Stearman military trainer plane piloted by Darryl Fisher. COURTESY PHOTO, Kevin R. Knox[/caption] Foundation honors elderly military veterans with flights in an historic, open-cockpit, two-seater biplane Invited to soar the sunny skies in a open-cockpit, vintage biplane last Friday, Steve Dyke and several Auburn-area seniors jumped at the chance. For Dyke, who has spent a lifetime in aviation, foremost as an air traffic controller, the front-seat view of the Green River Valley from 1,000 feet above the ground took him back to his days in the Air Force and Air National Guard. “Absolutely wonderful,” said the 76-year-old man, who grew up in the Midwest before embarking on a long and rewarding career that embraced the wonders of flight. “It was very comforting, knowing I had the power there, which a lot of these planes don’t have. “I’m always leery about abrupt changes,” said Dyke, having lunch after his nostalgic flight from the Auburn Municipal Airport, “but this particular aircraft had the weight, it had the power and the stability to handle just about anything. It was very comfortable, very nice. Wonderful airplane, wonderful flight.” All courtesy of Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring seniors and United States military veterans in long-term care facilities. Since its launch in 2011, the Reno, Nev.,-based foundation has flown more than 3,000 “dream flights” throughout the country. The foundation, composed of volunteers who donate their time and talents, relies on donors to cover the cost of flights, which are offered at no charge to seniors and U.S. military veterans in retirement communities. At the controls of the 1942 Boeing Stearman military trainer plane was Darryl Fisher, who established the foundation and works in the senior-living industry. Fisher, who grew up in a family deep-dyed in aviation tradition, listened to passengers’ stories before helping them climb into the biplane. Tightly strapped into the cockpit, some goggled, and each wearing a head-set, guests enjoyed a 15- to 20-minute flight through Auburn skies. Fisher also signed commemorative hats and took photos with the grateful, grinning seniors afterward. “Our foundation’s mission is to give back to those who have given,” Fisher said. The flight was part of Village Concepts’ Project Bucket List. Guest passengers represented Village Concepts Retirement Communities of Auburn and Enumclaw. For Roger Fenton, of Auburn, it had been a long time since he sat in such a two-seater. Fenton, who served in the military, began flying small planes when he was 13, growing up in Minnesota and Wisconsin. “I enjoyed it,” Fenton said. “It’s just a noisy military trainer (used to train World War II pilots).” Don Ollivier, 80, of Auburn, was a control tower operator in the Army before fulfilling a 30-year career as a mechanic and plumber for Boeing. He had flown and worked on many airplanes, big and small, but nothing quite like the vintage ’42 Spearman. “It was fantastic,” he said of the flight. “It’s just a different feeling than what I’ve known before.” Enumclaw’s Bette Guenther, 82, has ridden in a hot-air balloon, but she never imagined taking flight in an historic biplane. “No, it wasn’t (on my bucket list), but it ended up being on it,” she said. “It was absolutely wonderful.” Flying in such a plane had been one of 90-yearold Bob Stygar’s unrealized boyhood dreams. “I never had a chance to do it,” said the Enumclaw man. “It was great, a lot different than anything I’ve flown … the wind blowing in your face. “I’d like to do it again.” " ["post_title"]=> string(17) "Seniors take wing" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(17) "seniors-take-wing" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-08-27 14:06:01" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-27 21:06:01" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9853" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [4]=> object(WP_Post)#3194 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9849) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-08-22 11:10:30" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-22 18:10:30" ["post_content"]=> string(3575) "

Discussion at the Evergreen Market on Monday covers how cannabis derivatives can relieve aches and pains

" ["post_title"]=> string(27) "Seniors peruse pot for pain" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(27) "seniors-peruse-pot-for-pain" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-08-22 11:10:30" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-22 18:10:30" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9849" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [5]=> object(WP_Post)#3268 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9840) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-08-02 14:32:33" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-02 21:32:33" ["post_content"]=> string(3263) " PORT ANGELES, Wash. -- It was a long lifetime ago, and he drove an Indian motorcycle with his wife on the back and his two little girls in the sidecar. The girl on the right, the one with the curly hair, loved it. And she never, ever forgot it. At the Park View Villas Senior Living Home in Port Aangeles, Elgin Skewes eats lunch with her friends. And maybe if you look hard enough you can see that she was the little girl with the curls. The man with the Indian was her dad. Elgin is 104 years old. She's seen enough of life that she doesn't have time for small talk. We asked her if she was looking forward to her birthday. "Heavens no...why would I be looking forward to that?" she said. We asked about her favorite part of the day. "Going to bed," Elgin said. But if you ask about motorcycles, she lights up. "I was raised on one. I was on a motorcycle before cars. And then they got a car when I was eight, and I swore I'd never ride in a car. Just motorcycles. I changed my mind," Elgin said. The last time she road on a bike? "Oh, when I was about eight," she said. That was 96 years ago. For the lucky ones, long after the flesh wearies of life, the soul thirsts for more. "I was sitting up there with her and I had asked her, 'What do you want to do now? Want to go on a Harley Ride?' and she said, 'Oh, you can do that?' and I said yes, I can have 15 bikes out here and give you a ride. She said, 'Oh, let's do it!' And that's where it began," said Diana Crawford, a member of the Hooligans Bike Club. Her name is Elgin. She is 104 yrs old. She was born to be wild. And, she just joined The Hooligans motorcycle gang. Need I say more? So Crawford made some calls, and on a quiet Saturday as the residents rested, the Hooligans made their presence felt at the Park View Villas. And out came Elgin. She wanted noise, and noise she got. It was then that this stoic, tough old bird started to cry. A big guy approached and took a knee. There were formalities to be taken care of...Elgin received her "Harley Mama" patch, her new road name. Elgin was outfitted in leather chaps and a jacket. She was fearless. Her new brother hoisted her up and dropped her onto the Harley, like a queen being placed onto a litter. It was obvious to all of the Hooligans: Elgin Skewes hadn't seen enough. She hadn't done enough. Not even after 104 years. The engines roared and off they went...and the ladies left behind at the Park View Villas looked on in wonder. They traveled in a pack and Elgin felt the wind in her face and the vibration of the Harley...and she soaked it in...they way one does when you've missed something for the better part of a hundred years. Later on, back in her room watching TV, thinking back to her ride with the Hooligans...the lady known now as "Harley Mama" said the most extraordinary thing. "I've got to figure what to do next? What can you suggest besides running with the bulls?" Elgin said. Elgin Skewes. 104 years old. Still thirsty. " ["post_title"]=> string(82) "Eric's Heroes: At 104 years old, meet the newest member of the Hooligans bike club" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(79) "erics-heroes-at-104-years-old-meet-the-newest-member-of-the-hooligans-bike-club" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-08-02 14:32:33" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-02 21:32:33" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9840" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [6]=> object(WP_Post)#3269 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9836) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-08-01 11:35:48" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-01 18:35:48" ["post_content"]=> string(2725) "

Residents at Spiritwood at Pine Lake receive hydration station.

Village Concepts, a third generation family owned business, is proud to help seniors live their best lives in retirement and assisted living communities throughout Washington State. As temperatures rise across the state, senior citizens in particular are at risk for dehydration. Michelle Strazis, Executive Director of Spiritwood at Pine Lake retirement community in Issaquah, advocates for seniors and staff to stay safe during the hot months and keep themselves hydrated. Strazis knows the importance of acting mindfully in the heat, especially when it comes to the wellness of their senior population. By strategically placing a “Hydration Station” in the bistro and memory care areas, residents and staff will be reminded to be proactive in combatting growing temperatures this summer. “The hydration stations are so important to our community staying safe during these hot months, ” Strazis said in a press release. “We’re making sure everyone can enjoy the sunshine without worrying.” According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 40% of heat-related fatalities in the U.S. were among people over 65 and dehydration is one of the 10 most frequent diagnoses responsible for hospitalization. Spiritwood at Pine Lake is committed to providing comprehensive information and education to ensure that seniors are protected through this heat wave. The suggestion below by the CDC should be practiced and taken into consideration among all households, especially with a senior citizen:

• Drink fluids throughout the day to keep the body balanced, including 8 oz. of fluid following medication.
• Take it easy. Seniors need to be reminded to not overexert themselves, especially in high temperatures.
• Know the warning signs of heat-related illness. When a senior shows signs of dizziness, nausea, headaches, rapid heartbeat, chest pain, fainting and/or breathing problems, you should seek medical help immediately.
• Stay indoors during the hottest part of the day – Avoid direct sunlight between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. during high temperatures. Staying indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned environment or near a fan, will help keep the body cool.
• Make phone calls. If you can’t check on a senior in person, call periodically throughout the day and offer them verbal reminders to stay cool and hydrated.

Village Concepts manages 17 communities, and aims to keep its residents and staff well informed and safe during the hottest times of the year. Spiritwood at Pine Lake knows a simple fan or Hydration Station can make all the difference. " ["post_title"]=> string(53) "Village Concepts urges safe practices among heat wave" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(53) "village-concepts-urges-safe-practices-among-heat-wave" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-08-01 11:35:48" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-08-01 18:35:48" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9836" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [7]=> object(WP_Post)#3270 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9809) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-07-16 16:06:15" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-07-16 23:06:15" ["post_content"]=> string(4008) " [caption id="attachment_9810" align="alignleft" width="400"] DIANA CRAWFORD Elgin Skewes, a 104-year-old resident of Village Concepts of Port Angeles, got her wish to ride with a motorcycle gang recently when 25 members of the Hooligans took her out for the day.[/caption] Elgin Skewes, a former Boeing worker, is 104 years old, but this spunky senior is quick to tell you that she is 104 and a half. And she was most recently named matriarch of a Harley-Davidson club called the Hooligans in the Port Angeles area. Here’s how that happened: Talk about a business going the extra mile. Skewes, who recently rode in a hot air balloon with her caretaker, Diana Crawford, through a “bucket list” program at the Village Concepts of Port Angeles where she lives, was asked what else she might want to do after that airborne trip. Skewes immediately said she had always wanted to ride with a motorcycle gang and hear and feel the thunder of the engines and the speed on the road. As a child, Skewes rode in the sidecar of a Henderson motorcycle in the 1920s. It was her family’s main mode of transportation, as her father wrote motorcycle reviews at the time. Crawford, a member of the Harley Hooligans, got the thumbs up from other club members to grant Skewes’ wish. Seven of them visited Skewes early in June, giving her a special patch and T-shirt, and scheduling June 30 for the gang ride. Meanwhile, Village Concepts bought her a Harley jacket and helmet, and someone from the club loaned her leather chaps. At 2:30 p.m. on the appointed day, some 17 Harleys with about 25 riders roared into the turn-around at the building where Skewes lives. “They pulled up in formation,” said Village Concepts of Port Angeles Communications Director Elizabeth Pratt, “circling around her. Before they put their kickstands down, they revved their engines so hard the building shook. Everyone came out: cooks, residents, staff.” Five club members surrounded the petite Skewes, carefully lifting her into position on the seat of the bike, behind Crawford’s boyfriend, Wayne Brokaw, who would be her driver. With Skewes’ daughter’s blessing, they all roared off. Chase cars led the way and rounded up the rear to clear intersections and keep the pack of riders together. The gang drove all the way out to Ediz Hook and up and down the road that extends through the middle of that well-known 3.5-mile-long sand spit. They did not go the 15 mph speed limit, as Skewes kept urging her driver to go faster in the pack. “I want to go my age,” she yelled to him. The gang never admitted to her that they only got up to about 95 mph, according to Pratt. And at the end of the exhilarating adventure after going the long way home with people waving along the way, Skewes did not want to get off the bike. Now she sports a brand new club patch on her wheelchair, and a new nickname — “Hooligan Mama” — as the new matriarch of the Harley Hooligans. What’s next for Skewes? “She’s heard of hang-gliders that you can attach to a wheelchair, (that enable the wheelchair) to land smoothly on its wheels after the flight,” said Pratt. “It looks like she wants to fly. We don’t know anyone with a hang-glider ... yet.” The moral of the story applies as much to business as it does to personal life: “There isn’t enough time. You have to do everything you can and keep doing it,” said Skewes. Village Concepts, a three-generation senior care company based in Auburn, has facilities in Bellevue, Renton, Issaquah, Bothell, Burien, Gig Harbor, Chehalis, Moses Lake, Enumclaw, Oak Harbor, Sedro Wooley, Hoquiam, Milton, Auburn, Marysville, Covington and Des Moines as well as the one in Port Angeles, where Skewes is one of the facility’s most adventurous residents. " ["post_title"]=> string(46) "104-year-old Harley Hooligan takes a wild ride" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(46) "104-year-old-harley-hooligan-takes-a-wild-ride" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-07-16 16:06:15" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-07-16 23:06:15" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9809" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } [8]=> object(WP_Post)#3271 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(9794) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-07-03 10:41:09" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-07-03 17:41:09" ["post_content"]=> string(502) " PORT ANGELES — Elgin Skewes, age 104, gets a “bucket list” ride on the back of Wayne Brokaw’s Harley-Davidson motorcycle in Port Angeles on Saturday. Seventeen Harley “Hooligans” on motorcycles escorted Skewes on her ride from her residence at Park View Villas out to Ediz Hook. " ["post_title"]=> string(56) "Motorcycle ride checked off 104-year-old’s bucket list" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(53) "motorcycle-ride-checked-off-104-year-olds-bucket-list" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-07-03 10:41:09" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-07-03 17:41:09" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(43) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=9794" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } } ["post_count"]=> int(9) ["current_post"]=> int(-1) ["before_loop"]=> bool(true) ["in_the_loop"]=> bool(false) ["post"]=> object(WP_Post)#3192 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(10080) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "2" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 12:52:19" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 19:52:19" ["post_content"]=> string(3749) " [caption id="attachment_10081" align="alignright" width="400"] Juanita Oney plays Marilyn Monroe for the calendar photo shoot. Courtesy of Jennifer Angell[/caption]

So far, seniors from the Spiritwood at Pine Lake Assisted Living home have raised more than $1,500.

The Spiritwood at Pine Lake Assisted Living home has raised more than $1,500 in their most successful fundraiser yet, with all proceeds going to Alzheimer’s Association. Jennifer Angell, marketing director at Spiritwood organized a Hollywood-themed calendar inviting local seniors to dress as historic celebrities and characters. Three boxes of calendars sold out within four days and Angell is currently ordering more boxes. “I thought it would be something that would get [seniors] involved,” Angell said. “My boss said, ‘Jennifer, this is the best project we’ve ever done.’ It’s been really good.” Angell handles the costuming and photos herself, and has involved numerous resident seniors at Spiritwood. “When asked by Jennifer to be a part of the calendar, I didn’t want to be bothered,” said Jack Guptil, 83, who was in the “Blues Brothers” photo shoot. “But when I saw how much fun people were having being someone else, I said that’s me. Elwood from the Blues Bros.” Spiritwood seniors have also posed as Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood, Marilyn Monroe and re-enacted the chocolate conveyor belt scene from “I love Lucy.” The calendar project is one of many that Angell has worked on over the past year she’s been at Spiritwood. “I’m just trying to think out of the box and do different things,” Angell said. “I want to earn as much money as I can for the Alzheimer’s Association… plus it’s fun for the seniors. I don’t want them being bored.” According to Angell, she gets free reign in organizing fundraising projects and enjoys being able to get creative. “Being able to do things that normally at a corporate level you’re not able to do… that’s priceless, right?” Angell said. “The number one thing is that all of this is for an amazing cause, and I’m just glad we were able to earn that money for Alzheimer’s Association — that’s the bottom line.” One of her favorite recent fundraising projects was a dating game night she set up as a fun event for Spiritwood seniors. Several officers and firefighters from Eastside Fire & Rescue, Issaquah police and Seattle Fire Department played eligible bachelors and took turns asking the local seniors, who played bachelorettes, various questions before picking their favorite one to join them at a special dinner table at the living home that night. Each of Angell’s projects is nonprofit, and the fundraising is the main focus, along with helping local seniors have some fun. “Next I’m doing a s’mores night,” Angell said with a laugh. “Everyone’s doing table-top s’mores and telling ghost stories… It’s something the families enjoy as well as the residents.” Angell plans to continue organizing these fun fundraisers for local seniors, and anyone interested in purchasing a calendar can contact her at 425-313-9100 or jennifera@villageconcepts.com. “The [residents] are absolutely loving it,” Angell said. “We all have a great big hoot out of it… I could give all my time to this place every single day. I just enjoy helping — they’re like my family.” " ["post_title"]=> string(61) "Local seniors sell themed calendars for Alzheimer’s charity" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(7) " " ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["ping_status"]=> string(6) "closed" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(58) "local-seniors-sell-themed-calendars-for-alzheimers-charity" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 12:52:19" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2018-10-29 19:52:19" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(44) "https://villageconcept.wpengine.com/?p=10080" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } ["comment_count"]=> int(0) ["current_comment"]=> int(-1) ["found_posts"]=> int(177) ["max_num_pages"]=> float(20) ["max_num_comment_pages"]=> int(0) ["is_single"]=> bool(false) ["is_preview"]=> bool(false) ["is_page"]=> bool(false) ["is_archive"]=> bool(false) ["is_date"]=> bool(false) ["is_year"]=> bool(false) ["is_month"]=> bool(false) ["is_day"]=> bool(false) ["is_time"]=> bool(false) ["is_author"]=> bool(false) ["is_category"]=> bool(false) ["is_tag"]=> bool(false) ["is_tax"]=> bool(false) ["is_search"]=> bool(false) ["is_feed"]=> bool(false) ["is_comment_feed"]=> bool(false) ["is_trackback"]=> bool(false) ["is_home"]=> bool(true) ["is_privacy_policy"]=> bool(false) ["is_404"]=> bool(false) ["is_embed"]=> bool(false) ["is_paged"]=> bool(true) ["is_admin"]=> bool(false) ["is_attachment"]=> bool(false) ["is_singular"]=> bool(false) ["is_robots"]=> bool(false) ["is_favicon"]=> bool(false) ["is_posts_page"]=> bool(false) ["is_post_type_archive"]=> bool(false) ["query_vars_hash":"WP_Query":private]=> string(32) "e7d64802f2949de866f5176035c08b79" ["query_vars_changed":"WP_Query":private]=> bool(false) ["thumbnails_cached"]=> bool(false) ["allow_query_attachment_by_filename":protected]=> bool(false) ["stopwords":"WP_Query":private]=> NULL ["compat_fields":"WP_Query":private]=> array(2) { [0]=> string(15) "query_vars_hash" [1]=> string(18) "query_vars_changed" } ["compat_methods":"WP_Query":private]=> array(2) { [0]=> string(16) "init_query_flags" [1]=> string(15) "parse_tax_query" } }