Our very own Ruth Dennis, our Senior Director of Social Services and Education here at Vista Living Care participated in an interview in #StayHomeInstead Chats, a recurring interview show hosted by Home Instead Senior Care (Santa Fe). 

In her interview, Ruth talks about how art and other creative forms can be an outlet for those living with dementia and their caregivers and references her recent video, 'Art Saves Lives'. Ruth does hosts many art therapy sessions with out elders which include pottery, mural painting, crafting, and much more. In the video referenced, 'Art Saves Lives', Ruth discusses how at her latest art therapy session with a group of elders, she was able to guide them through creating a mural and used this process as a way to help them develop new skills that they may not have thought possible before. She also notes that during this time of COVID-19, the elders can feel the loneliness and stress that comes from not being able to visit with their family members and so she wanted the elders to work on this mural together as a sense of community and connection. 

Ruth goes on to share a story about how art changed an elder's life which was mentioned in her recent book "Mindful Dementia Care". This particular elder had been a corporate lawyer for her whole life and had always been extremely articulate and sharp, but when she developed dementia she began to have difficulty speaking and expressing herself. Ruth and the other caregivers introduced her to drawing and sketching, and she soon fell in love with drawing as a means to express herself and to tell a story. She even started to tell people that she considered herself an artist. This powerful story illustrates how art can become part of a person's identity and really shape their lives.

Ruth's tips for caregivers at home who would like to bring art into their loved one's life are simple: she says all you need to do is simply get the supplies, like sketch books, a nice set of sketching pencils, water colors, etc. and make them accessible in your home. Give your loved one the opportunity to explore these art tools and create from them.

Ruth closes her interview by sharing her description of 'perfect moments' in time that sometimes just happen, but are priceless. She describes how at Sierra Vista a few years ago, they experienced one of these moments when on a cloudy afternoon it had just began to snow and the scent of fresh baked cookies was filling the home as the elders gathered around to draw and listen to music, and the moment just felt perfect.  She talks about how at the three homes, they really try to get these 'perfect moments' to happen organically as much as they can for their elders and their families. 

Our monthly We Cook! Honors Awards are back! Each month we have a food competition between our three homes and award a winner. The judges are asked to rate the meal on:

1. Nutritional Value
2. Appearance
3. Creativity & appeal
4. Do not consider whether they like the particular meal

 
This month we had to expand to 11 different voters!  Hermosa had nice presentation, good meal variety and some really great food.  The Arbors had great presentation and some great food as well.  Of the 11 voters… 5 of them selected Hermosa overall and 6 of them chose Arbors overall. So we are excited to announce that THE ARBORS has retaken the Cup for May!  Congratulations Team Arbors!!! 
 
We suspect June will be the tightest competition yet!!

Our very own Ruth Dennis, Senior Director of Social Services and Education, shares a touching video surrounding the quote "Art Saves Lives". Ruth talks about how this quote has shifted from just a saying, to reality especially in these times of pandemic. She has seen art heal, bring comfort, be an escape, and help elders communicate with each other and their loved ones. 

She stresses that in these times of uncertainty that are filled with fear, grief and loss, there is another story to tell. A story of positivity, hope, and resilience that is taking place all around us as well. Art, music, laughter, good food, and love are keeping our communities and our elders safe. Art, love, and hard work really do save lives!

We Laugh! We Cook! We Dance!
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Each month we award a facility for their exceptional food and nutritional focus. The Arbors' focus on presentation and creativity has shined two months in a row! The February and March We Cook Honors awards go to The Arbors!
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Breaking bread with friends, family, and colleagues is a critical part of the culture at Vista Living Care, deeply rooted from the family of our founders.

In March we celebrated three of our dedicated care partners who make a difference in our homes.
Liliana Jimenez was honored as employee of the month at Sierra Vista in Santa Fe for the month of March. We admire her hard work and dedication to our elders and her constant drive to become a better caregiver and role model. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Dandy Mendez has been nominated for our staff spotlight by her team at Hermosa. Dandy's cheerful and outgoing personality brings happiness and joy to everyone around her. She spends her free time attending classes at Santa Fe Community College where she plans on going to nursing school. We are so proud of her!
Annie Garcia was honored as employee of the month at Sierra Vista for the month of February. She is a wonderful and gracious part of our team with a fun sense of humor and a great work ethic. We admire her patience, loyalty, and compassion for all our elders.

We appreciate these amazing ladies, each and every day!

Here at Vista Living Care, we like to keep our elders engaged and active so that they feel they are part of a family and living as they would be if they were at home. Oftentimes they offer to help us with our daily tasks like sweeping the floor, doing laundry, feeding the animals, and prepping the meals. We love to encourage them to participate in these tasks so they stay active and they thrive from responsibility. We are always touched by the care they take when helping us, and we appreciate it immensely. 

Another thing we make a priority are hands-on activities that stimulate their minds and creativity. The elders love making colorful puzzles, painting, gardening, and much more. We try to incorporate these fun group activities a few times a week so we can get everyone together and get their creative juices flowing. Keeping the mind active is especially important for our elders who have alzheimer's and dementia, and so we have a trained and experienced staff who support the elders and work with them daily. 

Here at Vista Living Care, we laugh! we cook! we dance!

Each month we recognize a facility for exceptional food and nutritional focus by awarding them with the WE COOK! HONORS AWARD. 
The first award of the year goes to The Arbors! The Arbors focus daily on high quality food and presentation and they really shined in January. Congratulations to Michael Manzanares and the whole team at the Arbors for their awesome job.
Breaking bread with friends, family and colleagues is a critical part of the culture at Vista
Living Care deeply rooted from the family of our founders and we are so happy that we can keep these traditions alive.

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.