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 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!

What wonderful surprises Vista Hermosa has received from our supportive families! They sent a care package filled with homemade masks with filters, and a lovely basket with yummy treats. We appreciate all the love and support from our families!

Vista Living Care has been always been focused on helping the community, and they continue to help in any way that they can. With the recent pandemic, it has been extremely hard for elders within the community to go grocery shopping and get the essentials that they need. The team discussed ways that they could potentially help and deliver groceries to these elders, and the two Santa Fe homes (Hermosa & Sierra Vista) took the lead. The executive directors of the two homes got in touch with Dora Terrazas who runs the Española Senior Center and she shared a list of 20 homebound elders who could benefit from the groceries. The two homes then reached out to the food distributor Cisco and they were able to provide the food and supplies. 

The homes put the grocery bags together with the help of their resident elders. The elders were so proud and excited to know that they were involved in helping others in the community. The grocery bags included essentials like bread, rice, beans, oatmeal, macaroni, hotcereal, and much more. Once the groceries were prepared, they were delivered to the Española Senior Center where Terrazas then delivered them to the elders in the community. 

This experience was extremely rewarding and brought joy to the entire family at Vista! 

The April We Cook! Honors Award goes to Vista Hermosa! 

Vista Hermosa stole the trophy from the Arbors, ending their three month winning streak. Vista Hermosa stole the show this month with their variety, presentation, and flare. Not only did they make delicious food, they also prepared homemade drinks and smoothies!

On the menu were many tasty treats like:
Chilaquiles, eggs, garlic bread, smoothies, red spaghettini, corn beef, fresh fruit, watermelon agua fresca, hot fudge cake, and much more! 

Watch out for next month's winner, because it's going to be tough competition and it's anyone's game!

The Vista Living Care team in Santa Fe partnered with local restaurant, Pecos Trail Cafe, to donate meals to the homeless population of St. Elizabeth's Shelter. A delivery of 40 enchilada dinners were delivered to the shelter!

In an effort to support local business who are struggling during this time, Vista Living Care has decided to continue their quarterly volunteer service by not only donating meals to the community, but by also purchasing the meals from locally owned restaurants who may need the business in these hard times.

It is embedded deep in the roots of Vista Living Care to stay involved in the community and support others as much as possible. One of their favorite ways to show their support is through sharing meals and breaking bread!

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. 

Ruth Dennis and Yolanda Rodriguez from Vista Hermosa made a special trip to Sweeny Elementary in Santa Fe to read to the students. It was a fun experience for everyone involved and Ruth and Yolanda can't wait to do it again! 

The elders at Vista Hermosa had a great time creating collages from newspapers and magazines. The caregivers and staff helped the elders bring their creativity to life! It was a wonderful afternoon filled with coloring, collaboration, and collages. Our elders love to do hands-on activities so we try to incorporate them into our days as much as possible.

​Vista Hermosa by VLC Santa Fe, is proud to announce NAHCA scholarship winners: Yolanda Rodriguez, CNA/Administrator in Training; along with Laura Aleman de Morales CNA Administrative Assistant of the 2019 Annual CNA fest in Little Rock Arkansas.   They were nominated by Velma Arellano, Dir. of Operations, and were required to write a 500 word essay about what caregiving means to them, as part of the required criteria. These two outstanding employees have been with Vista Living for 10 years combined and were joined by 222 CNA’s and other professionals from around the United States and from here in New Mexico, who all began their successful careers as CNAs.  The mission of the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA) is to elevate the professional standing and performance of caregivers through recognition, advocacy, education and empowerment while building a strong alliance with health care providers to maximize success and quality patient care. Avery special thank you to Tracy Atler of the New Mexico Health Care Association (NMHCA) for her guidance during the nomination process. Congratulations girls!

These three lovely ladies, Carol Valdez from Sierra Vista, Yolanda Rodriguez and Ruth Dennis from Vista Hermosa, just attended a workshop on fall prevention, We always make sure that safety is a priority at all three of our homes, and are constantly having our awesome staff stay current on the best practices. To see more of what these ladies learned about in their workshop, click on the photo above!

At our three homes we love to get everyone involved when preparing meals. Our Elders enjoy having responsibility and being part of the process of planning and prepping our home cooked meals. Our Elders, caregivers, and even our Executive Directors get involved in putting love and care into the food that they serve. The open feel of the kitchen is welcoming and inviting, and gives everyone a sense of being at home in their own kitchen. The delicious smells of food fill the air each day and it truly feels like a loving home.

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.

Vista Hermosa & Sierra Vista aren't only homes to our elders, but also home to many unique pets! Along with our turtles, chickens, and birds, we are also home to a few rambunctious goats and a very sweet dog. These pets bring lots of joy and excitement to each home and give the elders a sense of responsibility as they care for the pets each day.

Vista Hermosa celebrated the Holidays with respect for Santa Fe’s ancient Christian traditions including a live Nativity.  Yolanda our Director in training, brought her sons; Ivan and Ernesto who portrayed St. Joseph and one of the three kings or wise men.  Estefani our lovely caregiver’s children played Mary and a second king, while Laura’s son Joshua was the third king.  Bonfires lit the way as many invited guests gathered.  Our friend and neighbor Connie, a native of Picuris Pueblo, shared stories of growing up at Picuris with bonfires on Christmas Eve and was enamored that we would have roaring bonfires.  Our elders, their families and our wonderful Vista Hermosa friends and neighbors ate delicious traditional foods, listened to live music, danced and shared the special friendship of Christmas, Winter Solstice, Kwanza, and Hanukkah! Our beautiful antique menorah was lit each night for Hanukah, followed by delicious latkes.

It is the time of year to count the angels we all have in our lives and remember how much kindness there is out there.  It is a true blessing to be surrounded by the ladies in this picture.  The caregivers at Vista Hermosa are a special group of hardworking, creative, intelligent and exceptionally loving women.  Each one of them brings something special to the work they do every day. It can be too easy to see the darkness in this world and too easy to forget to be grateful for the angels in our midst. Our caregivers, elders, families and friends all give light and life to our small part of this world. Thank you. Muchas gracias.  Much love and many prayers to every one of you.

Alfred celebrated his 94 years young birthday with pizza, family, friends and dancing.  Alfred is always there to share a smile, dance to good music and make everyone feel welcome.  His daughters Dani and Tracy both inherited his warm personality and generous spirit, surprising our Vista Hermosa elders with pizzas and cake.  This was served with Hermosa’s homemade horchata.  Happy 94th Birthday, Alfred!

Vista Hermosa elders worked on beautiful handmade cards that were mailed to their children this past week. Irene, Lucy M and Lucy Romero, Joan and Virginia all created cards with handmade paper, drawings and origami paper. These cards are a creative way to express love, appreciation and connection. The process of picking color, texture and pattern becomes a conversation.
Our elders are also helping take this idea on the road for the Hospice Education Day on November 10th .

Vista hermosa will be sponsoring an open art workshop focused on cardmaking as communication and meditative journaling. We are thankful to Ambercare Hospice and coming Home connections for inviting us to bring our creative space to the day long education, comfort and support of our Santa Fe
community.

We welcome All our trick or treaters, children and grandchildren to visit Vista Hermosa on Halloween at 3:45pm after school to trick or treat.
Candy, Drinks and snacks will be served to all; Princesses, ghouls, superheroes and Goblins.

Please come in costume!

Vista Living will be taking over the air waves on August 4th 2018 at 2:30 pm. Yolanda Arrey, MSW and Ruth Dennis MA were interviewed for the first in a series of discussions on aging, Alzheimer’s and healthy living. Our host is Jewel Cabeza de Vaca, producer of the Healthy Woman at KSFR 101.1 FM Santa Fe Public Radio.

In this initial show we discussed a wide range of issues related to Alzheimer’s and how to care for yourself while caring for someone you love. We will follow with discussions on specific topics that all of us who are young-at-heart face.

Vista Hermosa will keep you posted!

Vista Hermosa’s beautiful apricot tree is simply loaded with delicious apricots.  On Tuesday, Laura, our elders and caregivers harvested two large baskets of fruit.  Elders and caregivers then spent all afternoon in Vista Hermosa’s kitchen making jam and apricot cake from scratch.  The smell from the kitchen is simply irresistible.  The cake was delicioso in Robert’s words and all our Vista Hermosa family ate very well.

We harvested at just the right time.  Our much-anticipated kitchen remodeling adventure started promptly at 8 am last Wednesday.

Father’s Day is a time to remember how much all the men in our lives matter.  Our elders Robert Sandoval, Ron Coss and Alfred Lutz celebrated Father’s Day at Hermosa with flowers, homemade desserts and the loving company of family and friends.  These amazing guys make all our lives at Vista Hermosa better.  Robert brings music, candy, faith and family to our home.  Ron shares wonderful dining room table discussions and the addition of his big, beautiful family to our home.  Alfred is always there with a joke, a dance and an amazing smile to make the day bright.  We are also honored by the memory of all the men who we have had the honor of caring for.  Thank you.  And on this Father’s Day we can’t forget the skill, intelligence and support offered by Luke, Gary, Allen and our amazing volunteer Craig. Thank you.  You are all special.  Vista Hermosa also honors the gifts of all the husbands, brothers, sons and grandsons who make life better for all of us.