11980 Highway 142 N • Oxford, GA 30054 • (770) 786-4688

MERRYVALEA Premier Assisted Living

Community

September 2016SUPPORT GROUPSSANDWICH GENERATION SUPPORT GROUP

1st Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.Mystic Grill Restaurant

1116 Clark St. SW, Covington, GA 30014...

LEWY BODY DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP2nd Tuesday of each month at10 a.m. in the Merryvale Library

...ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE SUPPORT GROUP

Peer Support Group3rd Thursday of each month at7 p.m. in the Merryvale Library

VETERANS’ BREAKFASTMERRYVALE VETERANS’ BREAKFAST CLUBWILL RESUME meeting September 2nd andthereafter on the first Friday of the month.

-------------Join your fellow Veterans for this special time

of food and fellowship!Merryvale Bistro from 8:30AM-9:30AM.

Gena’s CornerWe have been experiencing one of the hottest

summers in recent years and I for one am ready for acrisp fall morning and a lightweight sweater!

Meanwhile our September planning has us poisedfor the following: Sunday, September 11 isGrandparent’s Day which begins National AssistedLiving week, the 11th- 16th. “Staying Connected” is thetheme, celebrating the many ways generations throughthe years keep in touch. A special Grandparent’s socialis planned that Sunday afternoon from 2-4 PM. Ourhope is that many of the grandchildren, “greats andgreat-greats” will join us for a fun afternoon withactivities and photo opportunities. These times offellowship are gifts that need to be enjoyed. Details willfollow but please mark your calendars now!

On Wednesday, November 2, we are planning our20th anniversary celebration. Looking back over twodecades, we will be celebrating the journey and thepeople and partners that have contributed to ourgrowth, success and sustainability. We are proud of thestrong positive reputation that we enjoy. All of thathappens due to an intentionality to consistently staythe course through changing times. We will begin thatday hosting the Newton County Chamber ofCommerce Coffee Call for our business community.Midday we will be hosting a drop-in for ourprofessional community and in the afternoon, will hosta Merryvale family reception. We hope you’ll join us.

It has been my privilege to lead this Merryvale teamand organization over these 20 years. As I told someonerecently, twenty years is a significant portion of one’slife. My portion and cup has and continues to run over.

Merryvale Artists’Showcase

Since August was AmericanArtist Appreciation Month, weshowcased our resident artists!So many of our residents are

talented in various ways, and weloved seeing and sharing their

incredible artwork.

This is just a small sampling ofour Merryvale talent!

SpotlightResident

As a boy in Gorgas, Alabama,Bud Northcutt roamed theoutdoors from daylight till dark,eating from the fruit treesinstead of going home. For Bud,the adventure had just begun!

As part of the Army Corps ofEngineers Bud served inVietnam. He was part of CENTO(Central Treaty Organization) inTurkey, where he met manydignitaries from around theworld. Bud went to school withColin Powell, and also metJimmy Stewart! Bud’s hatcollection on his wall speaks ofmany of his amazingadventures.

Bud’s best friend, Phoebe, hasmade friends quickly, and weare blessed to have them both aspart of our Merryvale family.

About

Out &

We love our community, andappreciate all those who serveand sacrifice for us every day.We hopped on our bus, andtook cookies and cards to police,sheriff and fire department firstresponders. It was great fun!

M nth

esidentof the

R

Ms. Betty Haney

Ms. Betty was born and raisedin Hazelhurst, GA. She wasmarried to John Jr. for 54 yearsand they have three children,Cindy, John III, and David, aswell as eleven grand- and great-grandchildren.

In addition to singing in asouthern gospel quartet andteaching Sunday school for fortyyears, she and her husband builtand operated the Ranger Kitchenrestaurant in Conyers forthirteen years.

Some of Ms. Betty’s favoriteoutings were trips to the beach,the mountains, and Six Flags.

Rose Lane RoundupOur residents enjoyed Hawaii

week with a themed lunch, aspecial concert from TomLaMattina, a Tiki photo booth,shaved ice treats from Sno Biz,and a fun luau. We even cheeredour staff on in an exciting hulahoop contest!

12 Ways to Create anEmpowering Dementia

Environment1. Develop Purposeful

Behaviors: These will help todiminish frustration andboredom.

2. Speak Face to Face: Beingon the left side helps to activatethe social right brain.

3. Gain Attention Using Fewand Common Words: Waitpatiently for responses, asprocessing can be slow.

4. Make Conspicuous WhatYou Want Him to Notice:Camouflage what you want himto avoid.

5.Keep Items in Plain Viewfor Positive Responses to aTask: Procedural memory laststhe longest.

6. Do Not Argue: This willonly increase agitation andfrustration.

7. Validate their Emotion:“You sound afraid. How canI help?’

8. Enter Her Reality: It is heronly sense of reality now.

9. Orient During Tasks andConversation: “Mary, it’s 8 am.Time for Breakfast.”

10. Simplify: Make it possibleto do things in small steps.

11. Be Proactive inDiminishing NegativeBehaviors: Avoid triggers. Theseare often due to frustration orconfusion.

12. Offer Choices: Give nomore than two choices. Itempowers!

-Beverly Moore

www.illustratus.com

Merryvale Assisted Living11980 Hwy 142 NOxford, GA 30054(770) 786-4688www.merryvaleal.com