The Arbors had a wonderful celebration for all the elders and their families! 

There was tons of beautifully prepared food and hand-crafted desserts that filled the hearts and stomachs of all the guests. The lunch was accompanied by music and entertainment provided by the awesome Jazz Trio that helped make the lunch extra special. Thank you to all the friends and family who came and spent Thanksgiving lunch with us, it meant so much to each of the elders.

Also, we would like to show our appreciation to all of our staff, caregivers, and team for all their hard work and preparation for this amazing holiday celebration. You guys are the best!

Our awesome chef, Micheal Manzanares, from the Arbors just participated in the annual Men Who Cook fundraiser! Michael is a regular at this annual fund raising event helps support the programs at Mesilla Valley Hospice. It includes auction items, entertainment, and plenty of dishes to sample. The event was held at Las Cruces Convention Center on Saturday, Aug. 10 from 6 pm to 10 p.m. as some of the area’s most talented community leaders, business people, local celebrities, and supporters showcased their culinary skills. Great job Michael! 

Here are the Arbors we are celebrating International Left Handers Day. International Left Handers Day on August 13th recognizes everyone who has mastered using their left hand in a right-handed world. We take our hats off to you – left-handed! We are celebrating it with some creative art.

Cheerful day at The Arbors! We celebrated National Rootbeer Float day with some great music and a little dancing.

Happy Birthday Bertha!! 
We recently celebrated our sweet Elder Bertha's birthday at the Arbors. Bertha has put a smile on many faces and is very kind and funny. We wish her all the health and happiness in the world!

The Arbors home in Las Cruces, NM got a surprise visit from special guests! The Mayfield Marching Band came to visit the elders at the Arbors. These sweet kids brought our elders so much joy and happiness. 

The Las Cruces area Agency on Aging and Long Term Services Ombusdman Division has exceptional volunteers who visit homes to be available to elders, their families, and yes even staff.  The Arbors has been assigned Mr. William “Bill” Patterson.  The State Ombudsman Program is a Resident’s Right’s advocacy agency.  We have welcomed  Bill to our home for more than 5 years. We are so thankful for the time he spends with us!

The Arbors hosted our families for a question and answer seminar with RX Innovations Pharmacist Kevin Collier. Kevin was available to discuss several topics regarding elders medication. Co-pays, refunds, elder's right to choose their pharmacy, and State Mandated quarterly consulting to name a few.  We are pleased to Welcome RX Innovations and their services to our lovely home!

Join us at our monthly Alzheimer's Learning Circle where you will find support and education for individuals who have loved ones with memory issues or other dementias. Our facilitators are experienced, compassionate and are certified dementia practitioners. The learning circle is open to the public and welcomes everyone.

Please join us monthly at:

• Santa Fe - Sierra Vista location on the 3rd Thursday at noon at 402 East Rodeo Road, in the front office. For more information, call 505-986-9696
• Las Cruces - The Arbors location on the 4th Wednesday at 3pm at 3731 Del Rey Boulevard, in the courtyard. For more information, call 575-382-5200

Wow, 20 years already! Vista Living Care just celebrated twenty years of providing excellent, loving care for their elders.
The staff, elders, children of caregivers, friends, and family came together to celebrate the release of Mindful Dementia Care, a book written by our very own Ruth Dennis.  The party was held in the beautiful outdoor area of Vista Hermosa, one of our two homes in Santa Fe, New Mexico. We had many special guests in attendance including Luke Nachtrab, the owner of Vista Living Care, and his sweet family. Luke's two daughters can be seen in the photos dancing with some of our elders, and his son hitting a pinata. In addition to comments on their 20 year history and Mindful Dementia Care, Luke thanked the care partners for their loving work sharing that "you are the heartbeat of the company". Also, Martha performed her very special award winning song "Fade Away", written about her mother-in-law Sylvia who lives in our Sierra Vista home. 
The party was filled with love, laughter, live music, and even a pinata filled with candy! 
Everyone enjoyed homemade appetizers that were prepared and planned by our lovely caregivers, staff, and Executive Directors. 
Ruth Dennis read a moving passage from her book. To get your own copy of Mindful Dementia Care, click the button below.

The annual ugly Christmas sweater party is a favorite at the Arbors!

We also celebrated Ms. Lonnie’s 92nd Birthday this month. She was very surprised and so happy with her flowers and cake.

We just celebrated Dr. Raymond Willem’s 82nd birthday with  a beautiful cake made by his wife.

At Vista Living Care we celebrate life and pride ourselves in making each and every one of our elders feel special.

The “craft ladies” of the Arbors of Del Rey began coming approximately one year ago.  These ladies have or had a loved one at the Arbors and spend their Friday mornings with coffee and donuts, incorporating a seasonal craft which brings much excitement and enjoyment to each Elder and family member.  The group originally started with only about three ladies, and presently there are at least ten attending – most of them are family members.

The Arbors lights up with happiness, laughter, music and real entertainment with each piece of art created by the Elder.  The art work is displayed in the dining room, hallways and living area for visitors and family to marvel at. It is an event that is looked forward to each and every week by all of us here at the Arbors.
 
This beautiful piece of art created by our Elders, family members, and staff is currently being framed and will on exhibit on our art wall at the Arbors.

This group of singers have started coming to the Arbors quite frequently and FREE of charge to us!

Music is something that is so enjoyable to our Elders and staff. Their performances include popular music from many genres expanding eight decades of Life, Love, Friendship and Happiness. Popular music from pop/rock, jazz/swing, gospel, country, and Broadway and film.

Their performances are some upbeat foot-stomping, toe-tapping, hand-clapping songs, some beautiful ballads, and some fun and funky chart-topping Pop hits too.

We are so delighted to have found this group at a senior expo, and even more thrilled they perform right here at the Arbors and bring so much merriment to our Elders. This group of singers also perform through out the Las Cruces community and have an upcoming musical at the Atkinson Recital Hall on the campus of New Mexico State University.

The New Mexico State University Department of Special Education of Communication Disorders Masters of Speech Pathology student’s practicum hours are concentrated at the Arbors Dementia community in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  They participate twice per week, the entire semester encompassing the whole school year.

For the most part, eight to ten students participate per session for a period of at least two hours, engaging every single one of our Elders. The schedule for each day begins with the Pledge of Allegiance, impeccably recited by every Elder, students and staff. An amazing experience of memory windows from our Elders is observed by everyone.

After the opening of the sessions, the Elders work with orientation – date, time and season. Moving into simple ROM/Stretching exercises, songs, language activity, arts and crafts and sensory activities.  These multiple techniques are so important to the quality of life of our Elders by connecting both sides of the brain.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be introduced to the “Real Cowboy” famous country and western singer and songwriter, who has traveled the world and entertained the masses with his incredible passionate guitar and voice.

Mr. Tom Morris attends all function in our beautiful city of Las Cruces, New Mexico and takes his music entertainment to multiple venues. We here at the Arbors are so grateful to have found this local gem who brings the beauty of music to our Elders who sign and tap their feet right along with him.