Get the scoop on senior living and happenings at Arete Living! The Scoop is released the first Tuesday of each month by Arete Living, proudly managing Avamere Communities, The Stafford, and Ovation.
Get this month's scoop below!
Featured Message: Reflecting During Assisted Living Week
A message from Sarah Silva, President of Arete Living
I’m thrilled each year to celebrate Assisted Living Week. In honor of this year’s theme “Season of Reflection,” I remember the great impact our teammates have made and continue to make in the lives of our seniors and their families.
Here are just a few of the people who enhance lives at Arete Living.
Our team at The Stafford in Lake Oswego, Oregon organizes fun activities and events for their residents – and often the public too. This summer they’ve been holding their annual Parties on the Patio, popularly attended by residents, families, and friends. These incredible activities caught the attention of the Oregon Health Care Association, who awarded Life Enrichment Director Carey Dienhart with the Enrichment of Life award. We are so honored to have teammates like Carey putting their whole heart and soul into spreading joy in our senior living communities.
I also think of our dedicated leaders. There are so many I want to recognize, but one of our many incredible leaders I remember this week is Debbie Vick, Executive Director of Avamere at Oak Park. She has maintained nearly 100% occupancy and recently earned a deficiency-free state survey. I’m so proud of her leadership and the incredible accomplishments of her and her dedicated team.
Debbie is also a mentor to many fellow executive directors within our organization. She is a true example of our core values, especially “quality that is obvious” and “passion for the quality of people’s lives.”
This week as I reflect, I also think of the fun fishing trips Avamere at Englewood Heights residents enjoy, the high online ratings Avamere at Wenatchee continually upholds, the team camaraderie and events at Avamere at Sherwood, and so much more.
And of course, I think of every one of our teammates in our assisted living communities, including our leaders, caregivers, dietary teams, and every single person who makes their community home for our residents.
Thank you for your passion and commitment. Thank you for living each one of our seven core values. You are truly the backbone of senior living, and we would not be the company we are today without your service.
To our dear residents and family members, thank you for choosing our senior living communities at Avamere, The Stafford, and Ovation. We’re honored to serve you. I often hear from our teams how they consider our residents as their own family – and that’s exactly how it should be. We’re blessed to serve you as part of our extended family.
Happy Assisted Living Week!
Senior Living Scoop
Here’s your senior living knowledge scoop of the month!
How do I plan for rising costs in retirement? Get the answer from a financial advisor in this video!
Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. This is a time to celebrate and honor people of Hispanic heritage for their contributions to America and the world. This year's theme is Prosperity, Power, & Progress.
In honor of this month, get to know a few individuals of Hispanic heritage who have influenced society.
Dr. Elena Rios MD, MSPH, MACP, is the President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association.
She impacts healthcare through several boards and committees, including the Better Medicare Alliance, Centene Health Equity Committee, and many more. Through her career, she has been recognized with prestigious awards like Washingtonian's Top 500 policy influencers in Washington, DC.
Dr. Rios became a doctor because of her desire to increase access to healthcare and health equity in the Hispanic community as a physician.
Severo Ochoa, MD, was a biochemist and enzymologist who won the 1959 Nobel Prize for the synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA). He was the first Hispanic American to earn this prestigious award. For his remarkable impact in science, the asteroid 117435 Severochoa was named in his honor, and he received the US National Medal of Science in 1978.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen holds a career with many firsts: she was the first Latina to serve in the Florida house, the first Latina in the Florida senate; the first Latina to serve in the US House of Representatives, the first Latina and the first Cuban American in Congress, and the first woman to ever be chair of a regular standing committee of the House.
Through her rich career, she has also been an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community and women serving in the military. Ileana announced retirement from her political career in 2017 after 44 years of service.
Cesar Chavez was an American labor leader and civil rights activist. After serving in the Navy, he became involved with the Community Service Organization in California, a civil rights organization for Latinix people. Cesar also co-founded the National Farm Workers Association with Dolores Huerta and led marches to advocate for Latinx civil rights. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994 following his passing.
Learn through the month by following Arete Living on social media.
Deaf Awareness Month
September is Deaf Awareness Month! As part of this observance, September 23 is International Day of Sign Languages.
Learn from our Deaf and DeafBlind senior living community, Avamere at Chestnut Lane, including their experiences and how we can make the world more inclusive for those who are Deaf.
We invite you to watch this video highlight below to learn and celebrate. And take time to learn some ASL this month!
Sarah Silva Earns Jan Thayer Pioneer Award
Sarah Silva, President and co-founder of Arete Living, earned the prestigious Jan Thayer Pioneer Award from the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) and National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL).
Named after the first board chair of NCAL and assisted living owner and operator Jan Thayer, NCAL created this award to recognize individuals who have moved the senior care profession forward, positively affecting the lives of those served and those who serve. Their award recipients demonstrate dedication, leadership, and significant contributions to the senior living profession.
AHCA/NCAL selects one recipient each year for this prestigious award.
“Sarah’s lifelong commitment to improving the profession is demonstrated in everything she has accomplished and continues to focus on,” said LaShuan Bethea, NCAL Executive Director. “She is a mentor for staff, an advocate for residents, and a voice for change that will help move assisted living forward. Her passion for learning and ability to inspire others make her a true leader.”
Sarah was selected for this award for her strong contributions to the profession, being a recognized champion of person-centered care, quality improvement, and improving overall resident and family experience.
“I’m honored to receive the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award,” Sarah stated. “We serve our seniors and teams because we want to make a difference in their lives. I’ve served in senior care my entire career, and I’m humbled and thankful to be recognized for my impact.”
What's Happening in Our Communities
Here's what's happening in our senior living communities!
Avamere at Sherwood hosted their second annual Camp Sherwood!
Our sales directors gathered from across our six states for our annual Sales-a-Palooza!
Ishues Mobile Barbershop gave free haircuts to residents of The Stafford in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Donations went to the Maui Food Bank to support those affected by the devastating fire.
Ovation Heartwood Preserve held a Czech Heritage event! Residents enjoyed coffee and kolaches while listening to the Barry Boyce Polka Band.
Cristal Ruvalcaba, Director of Sales and Outreach with Avamere at Bethany in Oregon, was named Marketing Director of the Month by the Oregon Senior Referral Agency Association!
Avamere at Englewood Heights residents had so much fun at Clear Lake for their second fishing trip of the year!
Pets of Arete Living
Meet Maddie, the Queen of Ovation Sienna Hills!
Don’t let her short stature fool you; she is top dog around here and knows it!
Maddie loves to strut around the campus and roll around in the grass, always accompanied by Mike and Lindy, Ovation Villa residents who have taken on the task of being Maddie's personal servants. However, her favorite activity is to go inside the buildings and say hi to everyone she meets. Even though she is not an official care dog, she gives hugs to all, like the kind of loving ruler she is!
Livia's Parent Corner
Danielle Hayward, Business Office Manager, Avamere at Port Townsend
Patrick (18 months) and Finnley (16.5 months) Hayward have been coming to Avamere since before birth. They are six weeks apart, born to Business Office Manager Danielle Hayward and her wife Lyndsi Hayward.
These guys bring so much joy to all our residents and employees. They are our youngest employees!
What We're Celebrating in September
Here's what we're honoring and celebrating this month. Follow Arete Living on social media to see how we're recognizing these moments!
Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor people of Hispanic heritage for their contributions to America and the world. This year’s theme is Prosperity, Power, and Progress. Follow us on social media to get to know a few of the individuals who have impacted society.
National Assisted Living Week, September 10-16
Honored the second week of September, Assisted Living Week recognizes those who serve our seniors in assisted living communities. The 2023 theme by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living is Season of Reflection.
Take time to reflect on the many ways you or others serve in assisted living. Thank you to our teams for all you do!
More Observances
Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month
Healthy Aging Month
Labor Day, September 4
National Grandparents’ Day, September 10
Patriot Day, September 11
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