Many people know how important pets can be within a family dynamic. The relationships formed with animals provides a wealth of benefits, particularly with the seniors who may have very little friends and family to rely on. If you are considering pet ownership, take a look at the following benefits for seniors.Better Physical HealthWhether it's walking a dog, cleaning the litter box, playing fetch or feeding and watering, owning and caring for a pet requires a degree of physical activity.

Walking is one of the most senior-friendly forms of exercise there is. Not only is it a low-impact type of exercise that's ideal for nearly any fitness level, but it also helps you avoid a sedentary lifestyle and can be done regardless of where you are. If you have decided to add a fitness regimen to your daily routine, consider the following benefits of walking.Improved CirculationWalking gets the blood flowing and strengthens the heart, which can result in lower blood pressure and a reduce...

Whether you're alone in your apartment at Autumn View Gardens or out with friends and family, playing games is a fun way to pass the time and enjoy visits.People of all ages can find joy in games, and for seniors, games are an important part of a healthy lifestyle.1. Increased Memory and FocusAs you age, your memory and focus can begin to degrade due to the aging process, but some of these effects can be prevented by consistently using your brain. Playing games is an enjoyable way to achieve...

Whether you’ve been in the hospital for a planned or emergency procedure, there are a few things to keep in mind as you await the discharge orders from your physician. Consider the following list of preparations to help you continue the road to a smooth recovery.Understand Your Discharge PlanThe hospital discharge process often happens quickly, so it can be challenging to get the information you need. To avoid any confusion, ask for a written discharge plan a few days before you leave the ...

As National Lawn and Garden Month, April is a great time to showcase the easy ways seniors can enjoy gardening in an assisted living community. Gardening is an enriching activity that lets both groups and individuals experience the wonder of God's creation. Even if seniors only have access to a window or balcony, there are plenty of choices they can make when it comes to the type of gardening they'd like to engage in.Window GardenIt's common to see houseplants and herbs nestled around a sunny wi...

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; Song of Songs 2:11-12 KJVSpring officially begins on March 20th at 4:58 p.m. CDT this year, and we are already enjoying more minutes of sunlight each day in Creve Coeur. Cardinals are singing cheerfully at the crack of dawn, and many birds are starting to pair off and build nests in anticipation of the coming warm wea...

February is coming up, and it's National Hot Breakfast Month. At Autumn View Gardens, we're celebrating with this post all about the benefits of breakfast and some tips on quick and easy breakfasts that don't require a stove (some are even hot!).You can always get a delicious hot morning meal in the restaurant-style dining room or whip up eggs and waffles for family in the country kitchen. But if you like to keep it low-key in the mornings, an electric kettle or microwave is all you ...

Santa isn't the only one making a list and checking it twice this time of year. Seniors gearing up for a grand 2019 may be getting their assisted living apartments organized or writing lists of resolutions. Whether you're a list maker, note taker or just like to look at the big picture and handle the details on the fly, getting ready for the new year can be fun and exciting at any age.Here are some tips for residents of Autumn View Gardens who want to get a head start on 2019.1.

As winter approaches the Creve Coeur area, it's a great time to be thinking about cozy clothes and accessories that are great for combating colder temperatures. Socks are a favorite accessory among seniors at the Autumn View Gardens community for keeping feet warm and snug during chilly nights and days. Here are some great sock choices to keep you warm this winter.

Some Bible verses are popular and known in part because they appear on household decor, shirts and jewelry. You may even see these verses, such as John 3:16 and Joshua 1:9, around the assisted living community in Creve Coeur. But the Bible is full of great verses and wisdom that are worth diving into.

For many across the nation, September marks a turning of the pages. For kids of all ages, the month is synonymous with back-to-school season. Young grandkids may start showing you drawings and art creations from their time at school while older teens may be talking about football games and the approach of homecoming.

Maintaining health and wellness isn't just a critical step as you age — it's something that's very possible with the right mindset and support. Even if you face a chronic disease, you can take action to keep your mind and body as healthy as possible.

Decisions regarding the future, such as choosing where to live and dealing with health issues, can seem overwhelming and even frightening at times. However, by addressing concerns one by one, seniors can break down complex problems into manageable questions and begin to find answers.

Staying hydrated over the hot summer months is very important, but the thought of drinking nothing but water may fizzle your beverage sizzle. This summer, consider some yummy alternatives for staying hydrated while not overloading on sugar or caffeine. No matter your preferred tastes — teas, lemonades, fruit juices or flavored waters — you’re sure to find your next favorite drink from these eight beverage ideas to cool you off this summer.

At Autumn View Gardens in Creve Coeur, we know it's natural to struggle emotionally and spiritually at times. Daily aches and pains can worsen with changes in the weather, and bouts of loneliness can happen when loved ones miss visits due to overwhelming schedules.

Managing your medication on a daily and weekly basis can be a daunting task, particularly if you take several prescription or over-the-counter meds. Missed doses or accidental overdoses can lead to serious medical consequences, but these six tips for managing your medication can help ensure you’re taking exactly what you need, when you need it.

An assisted living community should support its residents in all aspects of living while also keeping everyone safe. Here are four ways the staff and community at Autumn View Gardens meets these goals.1. Daily Support of Compassionate StaffTrained team members are available 24 hours every day at Autumn View Gardens in Creve Coeur, so residents always have peace of mind that someone will come when they call for assistance.As part of a mission-based organization, the staff are also service-minded ...

We’re excited to host a special networking event, Have Your Cake and Eat It Too, right here at Autumn View Gardens Creve Coeur on Friday, February 16th, from 5:30-6:30PM. In addition to enjoying some sweet treats (which everyone deserves in the middle of winter), visitors will have the chance to meet and mingle with our senior care professionals, including our Executive Director Becky Pennick and our Health Services Director, Catherine Archie, LPN.We hope you’ll join us and find out ...

CREVE COEUR TEAM SHINES THROUGH WITH THOUGHTFUL AND SKILLFUL ALZHEIMER’S CARE.This story is about Sharon B. More accurately, it’s about the impact that Autumn View Gardens and our staff had on her life, even though she was with us for just a short time.Before and after Sharon was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she and her family experienced a challenging care journey. There was rehab.

Home is where the heart is, yet as so many of us who love a good meal know, the quickest way to the heart can be through the stomach—or taste buds. Our culinary services team is dedicated to nourishing our residents, body and soul, with tasty, heart-healthy meals. To celebrate, we’re hosting a special “Caring is a Work of Heart” culinary event, and invite you to join us for a delicious meal and to learn about the benefits our residents receive from our nutritional st...

Our very own Renae Green, Shift Leader, is making a notable impact on the lives of our residents, while inspiring other staff to do the same! She is one of the many Autumn View Gardens care givers training in Teepa Snow's POSITIVE APPROACH™ - a progressive therapy for helping seniors and their families recognize and manage the early signs of memory change. Autumn View Gardens has been blessed with Renae’s servitude for over 15 years! Her calm demeanor and focus on customer ...

At Autumn View Gardens, we work hard to provide an active lifestyle for our residents and at our communities in Ellisville and Creve Coeur, Missouri, we took “active” to a whole new level with our first annual multigenerational kickball game.On a Friday afternoon last month, a crowd of team members, their families and residents assembled at nearby Vago Park for an enjoyable afternoon game.“The two communities are only about 20 minutes apart,” said Ashley Wheeler, executiv...

At Autumn View Gardens, we are partnering with One Legacy® to bring Legacy Sharing Story Therapy Workshops to our community. Legacy Sharing workshops are designed for caregivers, families or anyone who is interested in family history, genealogy or storytelling. The Legacy Sharing activities include a combination of memory sharing, storytelling, brainstorming games and writing.

There is so much advice out there for people as they age — supplements, diets, exercise plans, anti-aging therapies! You might be interested to know that there are recommendations grounded in science that can help you live not just longer but also a healthier and happier life.   Do what moves you — not only will movement help you live longer, but it reduces your risk for heart disease, helps you get a healthy night’s sleep, decreases depression and pain, better bone strength, and fewer...

Karie Schwark, Executive Director of Grand Villa Assisted Living, was selected to the Presidential Advisory Group by Bethesda Senior Living Communities. Schwark received this honor recently while attending the BSLC director’s conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bethesda’s core values are based on a SERVANT principles.

In April 2015, Grand Villa, an assisted living community of Bethesda Senior Living located in Grand Junction, Colorado, presented a total of $5000 to two companies in their local neighborhood to help support and expand their services. Giving back to the community is one way Grand Villa is living true to Bethesda’s core value of servanthood.

$2500 was given to Hope of the Grand Valley, a community provider focused on fostering and encouraging independence and self-sufficiency for low-income families. The company has said it will use the money to further develop programs such as budget coaching and interview and resumé preparation.

An additional $2500 was given to Hilltops Latimer House, a company dedicated to offering counseling, advocacy and shelter for adults and children who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The money donated here will be used to further explore counseling services.

Dani Wright, Marketing Director at Grand Villa explains, “We don’t want to reap the rewards and glorify ourselves, it’s about giving back. It’s not just about taking and taking; it’s about giving.”

Bethesda Senior Living Communities (BSLC) operates 19 non-profit communities in six states. BSLC’s mission is to serve seniors by enriching their physical, emotional and spiritual health in a nurturing environment. Each of the Bethesda Assisted Living Communities gives a benevolent donation to their respective community each year.

If you would like more information about Grand Villa, please call (970) 241-9706.

View all Bethesda locations nationwide.

Our President, Larry Smith, was recently featured in an article in the Colorado Real Estate Journal. Read the article where he discusses crucial technology updates he’s committed to making for Bethesda Senior Living Communities.

“It’s not about cutting cost per square foot or reducing nonrevenue-generating space. It’s about creating exactly enough flexible space to support a program that meets the desires of residents and families.”