Irvine cottages first quarter newsletter...
Transcript of Irvine cottages first quarter newsletter...
EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS BONUS FUND
Irvine Cottages staff send a big thank you to all of the families who
donated to the 2013 Christmas Bonus Fund—our best year ever! We
were overwhelmed by the generosity of all of our wonderful families.
All caregivers received a family appreciation bonus! As always, we
are so grateful to all of our generous families who donated!
ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Irvine Cottages wishes all of our Residents, Families, Friends and staff a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2014.
Irvine cottages
first quarter
newsletter 2014
Our Irvine Cottages Holiday Celebration, hosted by Jacque Dupont
was held at the Mission Viejo Country Club in Mission Viejo.
Entertainment included singing by Toni Imus and Fernando, The
Sunshine Singers and Balloon entertainer Dane Brimer.
We would like to send out a special thank you to all of our
wonderful volunteers: Aileen Sherman, Linda Abbit, Michelle
Nesbitt, Carla Turney, Jack Turney, Grace Turney, Cathy
Beaumont and all staff who attended for their help with the residents.
A special thank you to Jacque’s husband Marc Carlson who was
Santa Claus. Santa visited with every resident and gave them all
their Christmas Gift. Our residents loved the morning coffee, and
breakfast goodies, delicious pasta and salad for lunch and Desserts
from the Dessert table. Table centerpieces were also raffled off and
the lucky guests were able to take them home.
Thank you to all of our residents and staff, special friends and
family members who joined us as well.
Mark's music will continue to present the fabulous tunes of yesterday. There will be
a special emphasis on Holiday themes. For Valentine's day there will be songs like
"The Way You Look Tonight". For Easter, there will be songs like "Easter Parade".
"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" will be a favorite for St. Paddy's Day. Songs like
"April Love" will be performed for the beginning of spring.
Music and Singing with Lauren Lugo
As love is in the air, your loved ones at the Irvine Cottages have been singing along
to classic jazzy blues, show tunes, and loves songs from artists, Nat King Cole and
Ella Fitzgerald. We have been participating in games guessing Hollywood's hidden
trivia, based on the history lives of Fred Astaire, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman &
many more! For the month of February in art, we have been inspired by not only the
festive red, pink, and purple heart decor in the cottages but by painting or sketching
the simple things in life, where many enjoyed painting their pets! May you all have
wonderful last months of winter, and we look to spring forward in more activities
very soon.
Activities and Music with Mark Neria
Spiritual Time with Nicole Madro, Chaplain
Arts & Crafts with Esther Cruz-Porter
Nicole has been leading our residents in prayer with readings from the Gospel of
Matthew, and with the Rosary. We recently had a blessing of the homes at the
Mission Viejo cottages. Blessings at the Irvine cottages are coming soon! Most
importantly, know that you are in our prayers – many of our residents, when asked
“Who would you like to pray for?”, say “family” every week!
Please welcome Esther Cruz-Porter to the Irvine Cottages Family! Her
regular activities started in January at Irvine Cottages. Each week Esther
goes to all 11 cottages and provides wholesome, interesting and fun activities.
She plays the guitar and keyboard and provides sing a-longs with the
residents. On Valentines Day she provided sugar free cupcakes and Sparkling
Apple Cider to some of our residents. Each month there will be an Arts &
Crafts theme, last month they made some heart decors which were used to
decorate their cottage. This month in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, they will
make St. Patrick bead necklaces. She will also focus on Mind Boggling Games,
State & Capital Trivia and all other word games. The residents always look
forward to all these fun activities and also Esther’s visits.
Arts & Crafts with Amairani Valle
I have been going to all the cottages and assisting the residents with painting,
playing bingo, doing Valentine’s Day crafts and taking some of them for walks. I
have also been able to have some conversations with the residents. I look forward to
continue to work with our residents at all the cottages. I am planning to take the
Memories In The Making art program through the Alzheimer's Association in May.
I'm grateful to be apart of Irvine Cottages.
Welcome to the Irvine Cottages Family Amairani!
Irvine Cottages staff have received the following training so far this year:
January:
Home Food Safety and Preparation
Understanding dementia
February:
Infection Control
Additional Home Food Safety and
Preparation
Fall Prevention
Nutrition
Elder Abuse
End of Life care
Training Updates
In the upcoming months, staff will
receive training on the following topics:
Memory Loss
Medications at the End of Life
POLST
Safe Transfers
Coping with Loss
Beauty Care
Alzheimer’s dementia training
Irvine Cottage staff are receiving training from dietician Lisa Gibson.
We are excited to learn about nutrition training and to prepare
exciting new healthy meals.
Lisa is a registered dietitian with her Master’s degree in Clinical
Nutrition and has been working in the field of nutrition for over 20
years. In 2004-05, she served as the President of the California
Dietetic Association, a professional group of 6,000 members. In 2009,
she received the Delores Nyhus Award from the California Dietetic
Association honoring her for her contributions to the field of dietetics.
The majority of her career has been devoted to nutrition for seniors. Currently, she is a
consultant for Age Well Senior Services and oversees the nutrition programs at 12
senior centers and Meals on Wheels programs. In addition, she has a private practice
and provides nutrition counseling to clients with heart disease, diabetes and eating
disorders.
The aspect of her job she enjoys the most is nutrition education. She has given
numerous presentations to a variety of groups on the subject of Fad Diets, Healthy
Weight Loss and Body Image. She has worked with LA Times writer, Jeannine Stein on
their Pantry Raids news articles. For these stories, Lisa will go into a family’s home
and go through their food pantries and offer advice to improve their diets.
It is always interesting!!
Nutrition Education Training with Lisa Gibson, MS, RD
January Staff Birthday’s
January 2nd ~ Elinore Lagman
January 6th ~ Victor Badilla
January 21st ~ Rowena Manalo
January Birthday’s
January 2nd ~ Georgia “Ann” Mellem
January 5th ~ Malvina Moldovan
January 25th ~ Buck Ying Lee
February Birthday’s
February 6th ~ Catherine McQuade
February 7th ~ Nancy Clark
February 7th ~ Helen Mury
February 14th ~ Renie Del Curto
February 17th ~ Persis Harrison
February 23rd ~ Fern Gertsen
March Birthday’s
March 13th ~ Betty Ann Hansen
March 13th ~ Carrie Winters
March 18th ~ Agnes Anderson
March 18th ~ Janet Higa
March 29th ~ Mary Troutt
Irvine Cottages Birthday’s Celebrating our residents birthdays is very important to us.
Every resident will receive a special gift, birthday cake, balloon and card.
Please call Gina Marzan (949) 633-1595 if you’d like to visit.
Staff Birthday’s Happy Birthday to all of hard working staff who have birthdays in
January, February and March. Did you know that all full time
staff who have worked for Irvine Cottages for over a year receive
a cash birthday bonus.
Happy Birthday!
February Staff Birthday’s
February 4th ~ Daisy Salupen
February 12th ~ Eryl Caliging
February 26th ~ Alex Constantino
March Staff Birthday’s
March 12th ~ Antonio Rendon
March 12th ~ Israellevi Paraso
March 24th ~ Gloria Ludaes
We’re on the web
www.irvinecottages.com
Irvine Cottages has hired a new Harpist - Caroline Cambell who will visit all 11
cottages.
Harp Therapy is a form of therapy offered to someone in a medical or private
setting. A harp therapist offers the recipient comfort, release of emotions and
relaxation, wherever that recipient may be, in a chair, in bed or on a gurney, in a
hospital room, in a hallway, or in a waiting area. The recipient need do nothing
but relax into the gentle sounds of the little therapy harp. To experience it is to
understand why so many people love it and immediately respond to it.
What is it about a harp that makes it the ideal instrument for healing? One of
the earliest instruments made and played by humans, the harp at once evokes
thoughts of days of old, the bible, angels, bliss, even heaven. The sight of the
instrument usually takes the recipient of harp therapy immediately. Fairly
immediate too is the recipients response to the sound of the instrument’s exposed
strings, which vibrate freely as they offer deeply penetrating soothing and
comfort. Patients have commented that the sound of the harp played at the
bedside feels like a massage for the soul.
Providing live therapeutic harp music in a healthcare facility promotes a healing
environment infused with warmth, calmness, comfort and caring. This care
service can offer benefits to patients, family and staff.
Benefits to patients:
decreases anxiety, agitation
and depression
Reduces awareness of pain
Promotes relaxation and sleep
Invites a cathartic release of emotions
and fears
Brings joy, pleasure and beauty
Creates a distraction from boredom
Encourages a feeling of being special
Instills a sense of well-being and hope
Harp Therapy with Caroline Campbell, HCHT
Benefits to Family and Staff
Reduces worry and tension
Provides comfort and pleas-
ure
Offers a positive, shared
experience with residents
Creates a serene work
environment
Reduces work-related stress
Provides nurturing and care
to caregivers
Raises staff morale
Congratulations to all homes that participated in our
Halloween Contests. Cash Prizes were given for:
Spookiest Costumes:
1st - Cottage 2
2nd - Cottage 10
3rd - Cottage 3
Spookiest Decorated Cottages
1st - Cottage 10
2nd - Cottage 4
3rd - Cottage 3
Runner Up - Cottage 6
A special award was given to Cottage 5 for the most
participation of residents handing out candy to
Trick - or - Treater’s!
Congratulations to everyone who participated!
Cottage Nursery’s
Your Cottage may
have a new
addition….
A new Baby!
We designed Nursery
Corners at a few
cottages whose
residents we feel
would benefit from
interacting with
a baby. JoAnn Speigelman
Cottage 1
Irvine Cottages hopes all of their residents and
families had a love filled &
Happy Valentines Day!
Some of our residents painted valentines
themed Art which was framed and hung on the
walls in their cottage and some homes did
Valentines Day Crafts. Residents received a
special Valentines Day mug filled with treats
and enjoyed a delicious dessert!
Daily Exercise
Caregivers are encouraged to exercise their residents every day between the
times of 10 and 11 am. We try to engage all residents who are able, in some
arm and leg movement, stretching, range of motion exercises
and also ball toss.
Also, we encourage dancing and walks with staff around the neighborhood.
Thank you to the House Managers for the daily exercise.
Celebrating Resident’s
Birthday’s
Monthly Care Plans
We want to say thank you to all of our house managers for all of their hard
work on the care plans. We are in the process of eliminating hand written
care plans and some of our house managers are now typing them. If you are
not receiving your loved ones care plan, please let us know.
Leave Michelle a voicemail or text message at (949) 463-5075 or send her an
email at [email protected]
Games, Games, Games... All staff are encouraged required to play Games
and sing Karaoke every day! We also hope that
all staff will get 100% participation of all the
residents in their cottage. Each home has
Magnetic Lap Bingo games and these are a
huge favorite and residents like to play for
candy prizes. Some cottages have
Nintendo Wii consoles and staff also love to
play. We also encourage our residents to listen
to their favorite music on the IPAD or IPOD’s
Congratulations….
Cottage 9 for receiving 100% on their last
State Survey. Thank you for taking such
good care of your residents and the cottage.
Cottage One Nail Art
The ladies at Irvine Cottage 1 love
getting their nails done and are
proud to show them off to all visitors!
Thank you to cottage 1 staff,
especially Eyl for taking the time to
pamper our special ladies.
Employee Of The Month - January 2014 Josephine Vegas~ Irvine Cottage 8
Josephine “Josie” Vegas works at Irvine Cottage 8 in Irvine. Josie was born in
Buguias, Benguet in the Philippines and grew up In Baguio City. Her parents
were farmers and she has 3 brothers and 4 sisters. She is was married to Vicente
D. Vegas Jr. While in the Philippines she worked as a farmer and a
business woman.
She enjoys Action & Adventure movies as well as Comedies. She loves listening
to Christian songs, golden oldies and lists some of her favorite singers as Elvis
Presley, Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars. Her favorite restaurants include
Korean BBQ and Filipino restaurants where she enjoys Chop Suey, vegetables,
Lechon and Korean BBQ. Josie likes to read the Bible and Pride and Prejudice is
one of her favorite books. She loves to visit Las Vegas, Florida and downtown LA
and if she could travel anywhere she would choose London, United Kingdom and
all of the United States of America. Josie is grateful for her good health, her
friends & family and also her job opportunity.
She is friendly, hardworking, humble, energetic, passionate and has a good smile.
She also wants to enjoy life to the fullest and travel around the world. Josie says
that people are surprised when they find out her age, that she is a college
graduate, that she has a 20 year old daughter who is a college student back in the
Philippines and also that she works hard in order to provide for her.
Thank you Josephine for your continuous hard work and outstanding care
to our residents!
Employee Of The Month - February 2014 Gloria Ludaes ~ Irvine Cottages
Gloria “Glo” Calado Ludaes works at Cottages 3 and 9. She was born in
Mankayan Benguet in the Phillipines. She grew up with her 3 brothers and 3
sisters and her parents who were farmers. She is married to Esmael Ludaes who
also works at Irvine Cottages and together they have 4 children. Her other jobs
have included being a business woman, teaching and farming. She enjoys country
music but doesn't have a favorite singer. She really likes to eat at Philipino res-
taurants and Asian Buffets. She likes to visit places around the world and if she
could travel anywhere, she would like to go to the places in the world she hasn't
travelled to yet. Her family makes her happy and she is grateful for her job at
Irvine Cottages. Gloria is humble, lovable, friendly, respectful and loves to serve
her family.
Thank you Gloria for your continuous hard work and outstanding care
to our residents!
In Memorium Please pray for our residents who are ill, and/or on hospice.
Also for the following residents who have passed away over the last few months
and their families.
Thank you to their caregivers and families for giving them loving and dignified care.
Merna Gound - Irvine Cottage 3
Donna Tabb - Irvine Cottage 4
Thelma Haase - Irvine Cottage 2
Nicholas Liguori - Irvine Cottage 6
Audrey McCall - Irvine Cottage 6
Edna Bell - Irvine Cottage 1
Employee Of The Month - March 2014 Esmael Ludaes~ Irvine Cottages
Esmael Dayaeon Ludaes works at Irvine Cottages 3 and 9. He was born and grew
up in Buguias Benguet in the Philippines with his siblings and his parents who
were farmers. He is married to Gloria who is also a caregiver at Irvine Cottages.
He lists one of his previous jobs as being a truck driver. He enjoys watching
Action movies and listening to Country music. He likes to go to Buffet
restaurants and enjoys eating soup. He likes to visit the zoo and if he could travel
anywhere in the world, he would like to visit Canada.
Esmael says that his family makes him happy and he is grateful for his job at
Irvine Cottages along with his compassion and patience. He is driven, humble,
respectful, loveable and friendly.
Thank you Esmael for your continuous hard work and outstanding care
to our residents!
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CONTESTS AT THE COTTAGES
Best Irish Meal Best Decorated Cottage
Along with our Cooking Contest, at the same time we will also judge
the cottage on their Irish décor as well. Who will vote?
Residents. Gina and Alex will pick up a few residents and take
them to judge the food and décor. Do you have ideas for some
quick and easy recipes….let us know and we will do the shopping.
Cash Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and third prize winners.
Good Luck everyone!
Referrals...The highest compliment our families can give us is the referral of
your friends and families. Give us a referral that places and we will give you a
complimentary $500 discount on your next monthly statement.
Thank you for your trust.
Outings Update Residents love going on outings with Gina. During the month of December some
of our residents went to Laguna Hills mall and enjoyed the Christmas
decorations. They also enjoyed seeing Santa and his elves and also shopping
during the Christmas Holiday. Residents also liked driving around their local
neighborhoods to see the beautifully decorated homes especially to look at the
lights. Residents also had fun going to the Christmas Party where we had 90%
resident and staff attendance. Gina continues to take resident’s on drives to local
parks and to visit residents in other homes. They like to go out to lunch - their
preferences include Del Taco, In & Out Burger, and Starbucks. Residents also
like to accompany Gina on errands which include going to CVS, Costco and even
many other stores. Thank you Gina.
If you have any suggestions for fun outings, please let us know.
Irvine Cottages wishes all of their residents and
families A Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17th
Residents will enjoy Corned Beef and Cabbage
and Dessert!
Patio Time…
Cottage 10 residents enjoying the lovely spring
weather on their patio.
Movie time at the
Cottages A couple of times a week homes have
Movie Time. Popcorn and snacks are
served and a different movie is shown.
Residents love old movies. Let us
know if you have any suggestions or
old DVD movies that you’d like to
donate. Gina will also be planning
more outings to Cottage 9 to watch
movies in the home theatre room.
Garage
Organization
Thank you to Cathy
Beaumont who is
working hard clearing
out all of our cottage
garages. She will be
gradually working at
each cottage and will be
organizing them as well.
Thanks Cathy!