TIVOLI!!!!

Please stop by our campus on Sunday September 20 from 10:00AM-4:00PM for our annual Tivoli Festival. Food, music, dancing and market place. Bring the whole family it is going to be an incredible day and we have been working very hard in preparation.

Well it's good to be back

I have not posted in over a month! So sorry for that! I have been so busy. First I went to Des Moines, Iowa for Sales Training for new Marketing Directors. It was fantastic. Life Care Services is an incredible company and their commitment to training is impressive. (I grew up in Iowa so it was cool to be back home!) I also have been busy working on two new sales. Two apartments have been reserved and the remodel is underway. These apartments are going to be spectacular and the new residents moving in are wonderful and will make great additions to our community. I can't wait to plan the welcome reception!

Roskilde

We are busy planning! We are so fortunate to be hosting the Roskilde Cathederal Boy's Choir! They are one of the leading Boy's Choirs in Denmark. This is going to be an incredible event with a BBQ after the performance. Our RSVP list is GROWING!!!

Summer in Central San Rafael

Yesterday, I had an appointment with two ladies who live in Tam Valley where it is cold, foggy, and misty most of the summer! They could not believe how sunny and HOT it was here ! Only a few miles away in the same county and such different climates. We are in Beautiful Sunny Central San Rafael, California. It does not get any better than this. Life is AWESOME here!

Canine Volunteers!

Today we are having a celebration of our Canine Volunteers! These are very special animals and we treasure them. Our appreciation for the comfort and joy they bring our community is endless. They are friendly and knowing and we are happy they stop by. This celebration is going to be awesome!

A Special Luncheon

We had a donor appreciation luncheon the other day. The table was so beautiful set with our custom Royal Copenhagen china. The china was gifted to Aldersly by a Donor and Board member almost 30 years ago. The distinctive blue china is our signature!

Feast of the Ladybugs!

We had a garden party in our rose garden the other day and it was fantastic. We released hundreds of ladybugs! It was awesome to see them flying around and sitting on our roses. Some even landed on the guests and they felt really special. It was an incredible day.

Just wanted to show you....

Right outside my door. This flower is so beautiful and such a vibrant color of red! Our garden paths are lined with interesteing and individual flowers.

How many miles to Denmark?

In case you ever wondered....It is 7,174 miles to Denmark from Aldersly's front door. I love the monument at the front of our campus. It is a constant reminder of our founding on the principal of care for the elderly with respect and dignity.

Summer is here!

This sweet bird bath is right outside my office. Everyday there are birds splashing around and chirping. Hummingbirds are hovering. Butterfly's are dancing through the flowers. Summer is a wonderful season. I am eager to see what our gardens look like as summer progresses.

Happy Fathers Day!

Tomorrow will be another great noon meal in our beautiful Dining Room! I saw the menu for this great occasion. To all our Residents and Fathers. Have a Great Day!

So Pretty

The color of these flowers!! I was walking the gardens and this display on the table looked so pretty. All the colors of the rainbow are represented in our gardens. This morning I was on a tour and we had an eight year old little girl. She was giggly and sweet and commented on every butterfly and every different flower. Smart kid!

New residents moving in!

We have a new resident moving in next week. Her apartment has been totally remodeled and upgraded and it is beautiful! She is so excited to start a new life and we are thrilled to have her here. We are beginning to renovate and upgrade an apartment that has just become available and already we have a deposit and reservation down! It should be ready by September 1. And we have another new resident. These are exciting events and the whole community of residents and staff are thrilled!

The 7 healthy foods you are not eating but should!! Read all about it here:
http://tinyurl.com/krnhj8

We are all neighbors

So many of our residents have pets. They adore them. They are great conversation starters when they walk them in our neighborhood. Yesterday I received a call from one of our neighbors. She said she had met a delightful resident and her dog while they were both having an evening walk about. She had the name of a good dog groomer to share and could I please pass it on! I said sure and thanks for calling. She said of course we are all neighbors here! That's right. We are all neighbors.

So many interesting things....

Outside our Health and Rehabilitation Center is a true mailbox from Denmark. All over our campus are beautiful and unique items to remind us of our founding and heritage. I wonder if we have the key?!

Look at this!

I was walking through the rose garden this morning and had to stop. This rose was so beautiful and the smell!!! So fragrant so exquisite and so Aldersly. Meticulously maintained and loved. I am always so thankful and appreciative of the beauty. Our rose garden is a work of genius. Our Gardener has been here for over 25 years.

Meet Maddie

Maddie spends her days in our beautiful Assisted Living building where her mom is our Director of Health Care Services. She is an awesome member of our team. She welcomes everyone! She sounds tough as she lets us all know that she is the one really in charge. But she is really just a sweetie. She is often found visiting residents in their apartments. Everybody loves Maddie. Just look at that face!

Boris the Cat

Have I told you about our cat? Boris lives in our Health Care Center. He is LOVED by everyone. Staff, residents, neighbors! Boris belonged to one of our neighbors but spent many a day and night here on our campus. About 10 years ago our neighbors moved to San Anselmo, about 8 miles away. They took Boris with them, and wouldn't you know it! Boris walked back to Aldersly! This is all city traffic walking! We called the owners to let them know. It was clear that Boris had chosen Aldersly as his home. He roams our campus and visits everyone. But our Health Care Center is his home and he does have a favorite resident there. We love Boris and I am thrilled to introduce him to you. Stop by and maybe he will join us on a tour!!

Putting it all together

It is the start of a new week here at Aldersly and the fun is just beginning. Boy are we making plans for the summer. The events and activities are going to be incredible and I know you will not want to miss them! Stop back for updates......

Friday's Post!

Who doesn't love Fridays? The week is almost over and the weekend is just about to begin.....I have noticed that our residents love Fridays too. Even though they are retired. Just this morning I was talking to one of our residents and he is taking friends out to lunch today. He said Friday is his favorite day to go out for lunch. It must be something. Friday's are great days! Always puts a smile on my face. Enjoy the day!

"Waited too long"

I talk to people on the phone every day. My job and my passion is to educate seniors on their retirement. "I'm not ready yet" is something I hear over and over again. What is it that they are not ready for? I wonder. If it is a crisis they are waiting for to signal to them that they are ready it is too late. A Continuing Care Retirement Community like Aldersly is one where you move in and live your own life in your own apartment. Independent!

Full circle

This morning I had a call from a past President of the Board of Directors for Aldersly! What an exciting call that was for me. He said he built many of our amazing apartments. He was also very happy to hear that we still proudly displayed pictures of past and current presidents. Our heritage and history is proudly displayed! 88 Years of history is something to be very proud of.

Plan for your future

Aldersly will provide a fulfilling senior living lifestyle for you! don't wait until you need us. Unfortunately we all know someone who waited too long and once you have a health challenge, you no longer qualify to make a reservation! Don't wait for a crisis. Call me, I have solutions for today's active seniors. Even in this economy!

It's June Already!

The year is flying by and here it is June! Taking a look at our activities calendar for the month and I see incredible adventures and classes. I am very excited about the poetry reading on June 17th! Dr. Joan Baranow, Dominican Professor will be sharing with us her work "Living Apart". We are so fortunate! This event is not to be missed.

Dedicated

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Bean.

You have got to see this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nesW38XEC1k

Take a few moments to watch! We are on youtube. We are very excited about the blog, our youtube video's , facebook and twitter. Aldersly is on the Web 2.0. Just like our residents, we are constantly looking towards the future. Aldersly is so cool.

Making Plans

Today is our first planning meeting for Tivoli! A traditional Danish festival featuring food and desserts, a raffle, live music, dancing, arts and crafts, family activities, and more! this will be my first Tivoli and I can't wait. September 20th! Mark your calendars.

Today's Activities

10:00 AM Tai Chi
10:50 AM Strength Training
2:00 PM Art Class
3:30 PM Music Appreciation

Exercise, art and music. Our calendar is full of interesting classes and groups. Keeping mentally and physically fit is a challenge we can help you with!

From the Danish Word Alder

Meaning "Respected Elder of the Community" Aldersly, where and Alder resides. Our heritage is fantastic! Beautiful Central San Rafael has grown up around us. 88 years on this beautiful hillside acreage campus and still our values are the same. Respect. Dignity. Compassion. Caring. That is just the way it is.

Peace of Mind

We are committed to the well being of our residents. Peace of mind is an important part of that! Our community has excellent security and we are focused on the safety of our residents and staff. Here at Aldersly, we strive to exceed the expectations of all our residents. It is what we do.

Spring Days

We are well into spring here in beautiful Marin County. Plans are being made for summer festivals and incredible events like the Roskilde Cathedral Boy's Choir performance. Details are in our Spring newsletter. You can read it here http://aldersly.com/news/spring09.PDF

no worries, no what ifs

Our residents are not worried about the future. They have put a plan in place that will guarantee their future care no matter what happens. They now have the ability to live their active lifestyle with "no worries, no what ifs". Imagine not having to spend your retirement worrying about your future health care. Imagine not having to worry about what if I get sick and who will be taking care of me. Imagine putting all of that behind you and getting on with your life. Your retirement years can be awesome! Let Aldersly show you how.

A Welcome Sign

The front archway is so beautiful against a blue sky! We are very proud of our heritage and how we were founded 88 years ago. Aldersly strives to promote a congenial, physically and intellectually stimulating environment. Respecting and caring for people in their retirement in a courteous and considerate manner is our commitment and our values.

The Rose Garden

Our famous gardens are headlined by our rose garden. The colors, the scent of the air, the beauty. Most people seeing them for the first time have no words to say except "Oh my!" Thanks again to Suzanne Bean for her terrific picture.

Artists in the Rose Garden

Art in the Garden was a huge success and the Marin Watercolor Society were amazing! Truly talented individuals all. Here they are drawn to our rose garden to paint. They looked fantastic and everyone was happy they were here. Come again soon!

Residents Artwork Showcased!

We proudly displayed our Residents artwork! Photo courtesy of Lisa Davis.

An Artist in our Gardens

On Saturday we had an incredible event here! We invited the Marin Watercolor Society to come and paint in our gardens. We also showcased the wonderful art work of our residents. Our chef prepared delicious sweets and a wonderful fruit basket that looked like a work of art! Ice tea and lemonade, a welcome refreshment as the temperature soared! This picture is courtesy of Suzanne Bean. More to come......

Safety First

Yesterday we conducted a disaster drill. Training is vital to the security of our residents. I saw dedicated professionals from all areas of our community working together. This type of commitment is one of our greatest strengths. Flawless and organized, we know what to do and what is expected of us. This makes all of us safe. We are prepared.

Look at that smile!

One of our residents just got back from a cruise! When I saw him in the lobby today he was grinning from ear to ear. He said it was a great vacation. He looked fantastic and rested. Retirement should be exciting with new adventures. If you are able to put a plan in place that will allow you the freedom and peace of mind to explore new challenges without the worry of "what will happen if I get sick?" you should! Our residents are able to have that freedom.

Village Living

Aldersly is set in beautiful Central San Rafael. Within walking distance there are shops and markets, art galleries and vintage clothing shops. There are places to go! Coffee shops and pubs and the restaurants! There is an energy here. As in all villages there are also churches and libraries the university is here. WE have anything and everything at our fingertips. It is amazing to be here where all the energy, action and excitement is.

A Special Weekend at Aldersly

With Mothers Day tomorrow many of our residents are off visiting families or making plans for their families to visit Aldersly. Our fabulous Chef has an amazing menu for residents and guests tomorrow. I was just in our Dining Room where I am stunned to find it look even more beautiful than usual. Mothers Day is VERY important and no detail too small to make all Mothers feel so very special. This is what we do here. Our residents and their families are our family.

Something about Fridays

As I walked onto our campus this morning I noticed one of our residents washing her car. She was getting ready for the weekend. At any age Fridays symbolize the start of something great. I always have a great feeling Friday morning knowing that another fantastic weekend here in beautiful Northern California is just a few hours away. Our residents feel that way too as they plan and prepare for their weekend activities. TGIF!

A sky so blue

Today is the first day in almost a week that we have a blue sky and sunshine! Looking at Mt Tamalpais from our Dining Room with the sun shining on the summet and blue sky behind it is such a sight! The view is awesome. Everybody comments on how beautiful our Dinning Room is and what fantastic sweeping views. Blue Sky, Mt Tam, and Sunshine. What a combination.

All in a Day

Everyday something is going on here at Aldersly! Art lectures and classes, Tai Chi and Yoga are favorites among our residents. Taking a class at the nearby Dominican University is also a favorite way to continue with new challenges.

Yesterdays Cinco De Mayo Party was a blast! The dining room was a Mexican fiesta and I know everyone enjoyed the incredible food. I sure did.

Art in the Garden

We are busy planning for an incredible event. Art in The Garden! Marin Watercolor Society will be here May 16 in our amazing gardens with their easels. Yesterday I was passing out our invitations to the surrounding community to meander our lovely garden paths and watch Marin artists as they work on-site. Our gardens are famous here in Marin and people love any opportunity to walk through them. Have I mentioned the roses?

A rose in the rain

We had a rainy weekend here. It's Monday morning and still overcast and misty. Our roses are magnificient as you can see!

Saturday afternoon in the rain.

Here it is a rainy Saturday in Marin County, California. Our gardens are so beautiful the rain will only enhance their beauty. Our residents are just finishing lunch and are waiting for this afternoon's performance. A medley of Show Tunes! Hendrix Hall is going to be packed. What a way to spend the afternoon.