It is with a truly bittersweet sentiment that I bid the residents and staff at Welsey Woods a fond farewell. I have enjoyed every moment of the two years I have served as Marketing Director here, and I will sorely miss all the friendly and loving hearts at Wesley Woods. My husband, son and I are relocating back to California to live closer to family. Thank you for a wonderful, fulfilling two years together! I wish you all the best!

With love and admiration,

Adrienne

Frances Goodson and Dick Zechiel

Frances Goodson, twelve year resident of Wesley Woods of Newnan, was recently honored by Aging Services of Georgia at their annual Awards Banquet at the Dolce Atlanta-Peachtree Conference Center in Peachtree City. Frances received the Volunteer of Year Award in recognition of her longstanding volunteer contributions to Wesley Woods of Newnan Peachtree City. Frances served on the initial planning committee for Wesley Woods and was involved in all the decisions leading up to the actual construction of the building, and later was instrumental in assisting with the furnishing and decorating of the interior.

 Once Wesley Woods opened in 1998 Frances moved in as one of the original group of residents. Frances has remained very active on the Decorating Committee, the Culinary Committee, and the Plant Oversight Committee. Perhaps Frances’ most ambitious project was the establishment of the on-site Gift Shop, the Wedgewood Boutique. The Boutique, which features unique clothing, decorative items and accessories, is operated entirely by volunteers, and all proceeds have been used for the beautification and improvement of Wesley Woods.

Our well known and well loved Miss Amma Park has managed to avoid computers and technology as much as possible during her 104 years. However, in recently updating our Wesley Woods Facebook account, I came across an online conversation about what a wonderful person Miss Amma Park is!

She is a retired teacher from Coweta County who is known by almost everyone that grew up in this area. She still wears a skirt every day, and was driving until age 102! She is funny, sweet, kind and smart and we whole-heartily agree with all the compliments bestowed upon by her by our Facebook friends!

Lenten Luncheon Express Wesley Woods of Newnan residents are off to The Cornerstone United Methodist Church for their Lenten program. This is the third in a series of the Ecumenical Lenten Luncheon Series being offered each Wednesday during Lent by local churches. The first two services were held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and St. George Catholic Church. Next week will be held at Central Baptist Church followed by Newnan First United Methodist Church, Newnan Presbyterian and First Baptist Church. The program consists of a short service with scripture readings and hymns. Clergy from each of these churches attend each week. The services are followed by a delicious lunch served in the Parish Hall.

A sewing class is being offered at Wesley Woods Newnan by the Cindy Roberson who owns 34 Madison, a sewing boutique in downtown Newnan. The group meets on Mondays at 10AM in the TV Club Room. Cindy and some of the ladies that work with her bring several sewing machines to Wesley Woods and assist residents with their sewing projects.  There are also some ongoing projects in which the residents can participate.  Last week they worked on making ‘artist sleeves’ for the art classes being offered at Wesley Woods.  These sleeves help protect residents’ clothing from paint spills.  Another project in the works is to make bibs for the residents in Skilled Nursing.  Both of these projects are made from men’s dress shirts purchased at One Roof.  Many more projects are planned including ‘busy pillows’ for the residents of Memory Care.

The staff at Wesley Woods is raving about the exciting training we have been fortunate enough to have on site this week.  Alice Truluck, a national culture change educator and mentor, conducted two day-long sessions for employees on the values and principles of culture change for health care.

Culture change, also known as “person-centered” care, is a national movement whose goal is to fundamentally change the way senior living care operates.  The term is used to describe the transformation from current institutional models of long-term care to more resident-centered models of care, where the community emphasizes the individual’s needs and desires.

Many senior living organizations mimic hospital-like settings, where residents are known by their problems or conditions and forced to comply with structured routines that may not preserve their individuality or freedom of choice.  Because residents cannot control their daily activities or schedules, many suffer from a loss of dignity and self-respect that in turn affects their quality of life.   

Culture change advocates a home-based approach, focused on building close relationships between residents and staff members, while creating an environment where seniors can engage in life and live according to their own personal preferences.  Improving quality of life is paramount to the culture change movement as is making residents feel at home in their settings while providing quality health care.

As the president and primary instructor of Advanced Solutions Consulting, Alice Truluck is dedicated to turning long-term and assisted-living care into “true homes” for residents.  She is highly devoted to not only educating, but assisting communities in fully reconstructing their current models of care in order to preserve the dignity of each resident.  

With over 25 years of management experience in public health administration, Truluck believes that in order for culture change to work, senior living communities have to do more than just implement new methods; they have to completely restructure the way they care for seniors.

The response to the Senior University Computer 101 course was overwhelming! A dozen of our residents began classes this week at the University of West Georgia-Newnan Campus. They were all very excited to have an opportunity to enhance their computer skills or, in some cases, begin to use their computers. We hope that UWG-Newnan will host this class again soon. Some of our residents were disappointed that they were unable to take part due to the limited class size.

Doyle Smith and Chet Long

“Chief TenBeers” came to Wesley Woods for a visit and to spread Mardi Gras cheer to our residents before heading to New Orleans for the parade.

While we always hope that the people we meet who are seeking a retirement community will choose Wesley Woods, we also understand that there many factors to consider. Our philosophy is that the fit needs to be right, and if we are not the right fit, we want to be a resource for our community in finding solutions for the people we serve.

A well-designed setting won’t feel like “home” unless it has the right atmosphere. Spend time with the staff and, if possible, other residents to get a “feel” for a place. Some communities foster a casual, friendly environment while others encourage a more elegant and formal tone. Finally, you can get a strong sense of a community’s philosophy by reviewing its programs and service offerings. The key: Make sure a community offers a set of services that supports the lifestyle you envision.

While financial considerations are important in choosing a retirement community, other factors are just as important. Whether you plan on making a move now or within a few years, it pays to weigh the factors described above. After all, where you choose to live can play a pivotal role in helping you lead the life you want to live.

Envision the life you want to lead

Many older adults recognize that moving to a retirement community can significantly improve their quality of life. Still, selecting just the right community can be a struggle. Cost is a critical factor, of course, but there’s much more to consider before you can make a sound choice.

Experience the setting

While it may not be an easy decision, taking time to weigh a few key factors can help you find a retirement community that works best for you.

Go beyond bricks and mortar

What will the next decade bring in your life? Take time to create a vision for your future. More than ever before, retirees are determined to take on new pursuits, expand their social network and broaden their range of interests. Think about how you’d like to spend a typical day or a typical week. How will a particular community support you with clearly defined programs, resources and social opportunities?

Thinking ahead, making a choice

Communities vary greatly in their physical qualities: accessible outdoor space, common areas, dining rooms and amenities. Think about what surroundings make you happy and will support your chosen lifestyle. Do you enjoy the hustle and bustle of an urban setting, or a more tranquil setting with views and vistas?

This week the Wesley Woods campus was filled with models, cameras and lighting as we completed two days of photoshoots for new lifestyle photos to use in our advertisements. The models were our very own residents, and they did a fantastic job of just being themselves for the camera. Thanks to all of our great participants, and for anyone that would like to be in future photoshoots, please let us know! Are you ready for your close-up?