According to researchers the benefits of music go beyond those seen during organized therapy sessions as well. Playing an instrument, singing or simply listening to music can all provide relief from stress, anxiety and pain as well. Regular exposure to music and creating music can also help improve mood and improve quality of life. Just having the opportunity to be around music on a regular basis can make a profound difference in a person’s life.

This is why music is a fixture here at The Wilsonville. Many of our regular events, like our weekly ice cream socials, contain incredible live music that helps get patients moving, singing along and just generally feeling better. We understand that music is a powerful tool that can help alleviate symptoms associated with cognitive impairment, depression and a number of physical ailments.

The most suitable and effective forms of therapy aren’t always the most traditional. In some cases an alternative form of treatment like music or animal therapy can have just as big of an impact on a patient’s quality of life as a more traditional therapy. We make every effort to utilize a wide array of therapies for our residents in order to make the biggest possible difference in quality of life.

Living with and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be physically and mentally taxing.    On a recent poll nearly two thirds of US caregivers reported high levels of stress associated with the task of providing Alzheimer’s care and more than thirty percent reported feelings of depression.

It helps to be able to talk to people who’ve gone through the very same experiences that you are trying to tackle and who can provide some advice and support.  This is precisely why we hold a monthly Alzheimer’s Support Group here at the Wilsonville.

On the first Wednesday of every month our Wilsonville Alzheimer’s Support Group meets at 6:30 in the Vlahos Theater.  You can share your thoughts, participate in conversations and get the advice and support that you need to help make coping with your family’s difficult situation just a little bit easier.  If you’ve got a friend, relative or loved one who is suffering with Alzheimer’s and want to be able to discuss your situation with experienced individuals join us at the Wilsonville on April 6th at 6:30.

Researchers at the University of Osaka in Japan enlisted nearly eighty people between the ages of 40 and 74 in order to study the effects that music and laughter may have on blood pressure.  The participants were separated into three groups. 

The first group participated in sessions where they sang and listened to music and all were urged to listen to music while away from the group as well.  The second group participated in regular laughter yoga sessions much like the session with Laura Lou right here at the Wilsonville.  The third group served as a comparison group and the participants did not take part in any special music or laughter sessions.

After three months of observation researchers noted a substantial decrease in the blood pressure among both the group that enjoyed music and the one that participated in laughter yoga.  If similar results can be achieved in wider scale and more long term studies music and laughter therapy could become a fun, exhilarating and medication free way to help manage blood pressure.

While fifty degrees is far from balmy, it does give hope that we are all but through with sub freezing temperatures and heavy snow fall for the foreseeable future.  As the temperatures outside begin to warm up, what better way is there to spend your time than surrounded by friends and live music while you cool down with a frosty treat at our ice cream social.

Every Thursday at the Wilsonville you can head down to the Great room at two o’clock to join your friends, neighbors and Wilsonville staff members to enjoy a special treat and live entertainment.  If you’ve been passing up on the ice cream socials lately because the weather outside was just too cold for a frosty treat, there is still time in March to join in on the fun.  We’ve got four more amazing ice cream socials this month loaded with fun, friends and delicious ice cream.  Now that the weather is finally starting to break after a long winter, you’ve got no excuse to miss out on all the fun.

In addition to our regular ice cream socials, we’ve got more special events moving forward into the spring season.  Keep your eyes on the activity board and keep checking here on the blog for the latest updates as they become available.

On Wednesday January 19th, local law enforcement expert Dianne Childs came to the Wilsonville to teach us the ins and outs of preventing identity theft.  She told us about the common dangers associated with this malicious crime and the steps that needed to take to protect yourself and keep criminals from accessing your personal data for their financial gain.

If you’ve ever been a victim of identity theft or known someone who has been, you know just how much damage it can cause and what an astronomical hassle it is to rectify.  Even if you think you are taking all of the necessary precautions to prevent criminals from getting hold of vital information, Dianne  told us there are things that you could be overlooking.  This seminar and others like it are an absolute must for anyone who is interested in learning the necessary steps for avoiding becoming a victim of identity theft.  We have several seminars similar to this each year so watch the blog for the next one if you missed it this time.

Regulars to our ice cream socials have most likely had the pleasure of seeing Stan Lasley perform; those of you that haven’t are missing something truly special.  Stan is not only a supremely talented piano player he also has a passion for connecting with the audience.

Stan is accustomed to playing for seniors and Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and he understands the therapeutic power that music can have.  Stan Lasley continues to impress, entertain and engage the residents every single time he visits the Wilsonville and this upcoming ice cream social will likely be no exception.

Here’s a brief video that showcases Stan’s musical talent and his unparalleled ability to entertain.

In addition to astounding list of entertainers scheduled for our upcoming ice cream socials, we’ve also got a very special seminar coming up in the next few weeks.  Keep checking the blog for complete details on an educational event that will help teach residents and staff the information they need to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft.

This is only the first of what will hopefully be twice monthly music therapy sessions running through 2011.  We’ve seen first hand the benefit that well conducted music therapy sessions can have on memory care patients and we are excited to be able to continue on with two very adept and talented group therapy leaders.

We’ll also have the pleasure of seeing Betty Farley here at the Wilsonville early in the New Year.  Betty will be joining us at two o’clock on January 12th for some entertaining and educational discussion on music and culture.  Though the exact topics for Betty’s visit have yet to be determined, one thing is always certain when she pay us a visit – residents will be both entertained and informed by the presentation.

We’ve got a number of exciting guests already booked for January’s ice cream socials as well as educational events and another community shredding event at the end of the month.  Check our blog and the activity board regularly so you don’t miss out on any of the excitement as we get moving into a very busy 2011.

Music is a powerful tool that has been implemented by doctors and therapists to help treat patients with Parkinson’s disease, certain cancers and a host of other medical conditions.  We at the Wilsonville consider ourselves very lucky to have very talented and qualified musical therapists administering regular therapy sessions to residents of our memory care unit.

The music therapy sessions led by Mark and Brian Parker are specifically designed to promote improved cognitive function in the residents in the Wilsonville memory care unit.  With the potential power of these sessions, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Hampton’s residents ultimately reaping many more positive benefits than just improved memory though.

Mark and Brian provide powerful, entertaining and engaging sessions that seem to create the best possible atmosphere for improvements to memory and to overall health.  The popularity of the music therapy sessions doesn’t just stem from their ability to produce the desired reactions and results, it stems from the fact that they are able to do so in a way that is incredibly enjoyable.

Moving into the New Year, we hope to be able to continue on with music therapy sessions two times per month.  Interested residents can check here on the blog or the activity board to get exact times and dates for future sessions.

We’re kicking the New Year off in style with a very special lunch trip.  This friend’s luncheon will have Wilsonville residents hitting the road by way of bus to enjoy a wonderful meal and an afternoon on the town.  We’re planning on making this a regular event that will take place every other Wednesday starting on Wednesday January 5th.  If you love great food and great company, clear your calendar because this is something that you will not want to miss.

Thursday January 6th marks the return of our regularly scheduled ice cream socials.  Join us in the Great Room at two o’clock for live entertainment provided by the one and only Monte Watters.  Monte plays the piano in a wide variety of styles including swing, pop, country and easy listening so there will literally be something for everyone at this ice cream social.

The events mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg; make sure to check the blog and activity board regularly to keep up on all of the special events that we’ve got planned as we move into 2011.

We are less than a week away from an exciting Christmas bash here at the Wilsonville.  Make sure to clear your calendar for the afternoon of Wednesday December 22nd, because we’ll have some very special holiday guests and tasty holiday treats for all Wilsonville residents.

Join us at two o’clock in the Great room to see jolly old St. Nick himself along with Mrs. Claus and elves.  We’ll be taking pictures, enjoying delicious cookies and punch and participating in some good, old fashioned holiday fun.  This is certainly going to be an event that no Wilsonville resident will want to miss.

Though we certainly don’t want to look past the upcoming Christmas festivities, Christmas partying isn’t the only thing on the agenda.  We’ve also been working hard on a very special New Year’s celebration for residents as well.  The exact time and date of the early New Year’s celebration has yet to be determined, but we’ll have details on the activity board or right here on the blog as they become available.

After learning a little more about music with Betty, we’ve got a special day scheduled for you to enjoy some amazing, live music.  Make sure your calendar is clear on Saturday 12/18, because we’ve got two incredible live events here at the Wilsonville for you to enjoy.

We start the day’s festivities at 10:00 a.m. with Donna Kagan’s Stafford Primary School Choir.  Donna is an award winning music educator who has put together an incredible group of singers that regularly compete in competitions all over Oregon.  There is no doubt that this will be an unforgettable performance, do not miss it.

Following the amazing voices of Donna’s competition choir will be another very talented bunch of entertainers.  At 1:30 p.m. we’ve got the West Linn Community Chorus coming in to sing.  This is a group of about thirty amazing singers that will put on a show guaranteed to be full of toe tapping holiday cheer.

Stay tuned to the blog over the next few days to get updates on upcoming events – including the Wilsonville Christmas Party!

We don’t waste a single minute before jumping into another incredible holiday treat as the Dickens carolers will be with us on Friday evening.  This very talented group of singers will be in the Great Room between 7:00 – 7:45 to entertain us with even more holiday cheer.  The carolers will also be back at the Wilsonville on Sunday the 5th to entertain residents of the memory care unit.

The Saturday morning entertainment may not be holiday themed, but it will certainly spark the interest of many a resident and staff member.  Make sure you’re at the Vlahos Theater on time to grab a good seat for the Civil War game between Oregon and Oregon State.  The game will be shown on the theater’s big screen from 9:00 to noon.  This is one of the oldest in state rivalry games in the entire nation and though the University of Oregon is coming into the game as a big favorite it will still be a great game to watch.

We close out the busy weekend with another special holiday treat on Monday.  Come out to the Great Room at 10:45 on the 6th to see students from the Valley Christian Pre-school sing a variety of holiday songs.

Enjoy your very busy weekend and make sure to check back with us frequently as this is just the beginning of a very fun filled holiday season.

photo credit: Jeremy McWilliams

There really is no better way to get ready to trim the tree and wrap presents than by listening to special songs from the holiday season.  On Friday December 3rd, residents and staff of the Wilsonville will have that surefire way to get in the holiday spirit as Dickens Carolers will be coming by to provide live entertainment.  The exact time has not yet been determined, so keep checking the activity board for details as this is a holiday event that no one will want to miss.

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On Monday December 8th we’ll be taking all residents who are interested on a special trip to the Northwest Senior Theater in Alpenrose Dairy to take in a play.  Alpenrose has been a family owned fixture in Oregon for almost a century and they provide the community with a wide variety of exciting things to do on and around their enormous facility.  A bus to and from the dairy will be provided, check the activity board and right here on the blog in the coming days for the exact meeting time and location.

photo credit: Joe Lewis

• Forest Court residents will enjoy a special family Thanksgiving dinner on Friday 11/19. 
• Hamptons’ memory care residents will enjoy a special Thanksgiving lunch with their families at noon on Sunday 11/21.
• Vlahos Court residents will share a special Thanksgiving dinner with their families at 5:00 on Sunday 11/21.

The holidays are a time to share memories and spend time with those closest to you, surrounded by love and delicious home cooked food.  These very special meals will feature all of your favorite Thanksgiving foods, but you’ll get the benefit of enjoying them without any of the hassle of preparation or worry about who’s going to be responsible for cleaning up. 

Looking just past all of the Thanksgiving celebrating that will happen at the Wilsonville this weekend; we’ve got another very special event.  Come out to the Cedar Room on Tuesday 11/23 and join us for a very special Moments in Music with Betty Farley between 2:00 and 3:00. 

The Moments in Music events are always very entertaining and absolutely guaranteed to get your toes tapping, which just might help to burn off some of those extra calories from that Thanksgiving meal.  Mark your calendars because this is an afternoon that you will not want to miss.

photo credit: tuchodi

Mark your calendars for next Monday November 29th to see some accordion magic from the nimble fingers of professional musician Phil Hall.  Phil will be joining us to entertain residents in the Great Room starting at two o’clock.  Don’t be late, this is an event that music lovers will surely not want to miss a single minute of – and for those of you that didn’t quite get your fill of delicious deserts at the Thanksgiving feasts, there will be plenty of ice cream available at this event as well.

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Residents who are interested in sitting in on or participating in bible study are free to join in on Thursday mornings at ten a.m. in the conference room.  The group, led by Dennis Bissel, is open to all residents and non-denominational and meets every week at the same time.

We’ve had a tremendous amount of fun and plenty of holiday activities so far here at the Wilsonville and the holiday season has just barely begun.  Moving on into December, we’ve already got plenty of exciting events and activities planned so keep checking the activity board and right here on the blog to stay up to date and informed.

photo credit: sergio_leenen

Tuesday afternoon will bring Wilsonville favorite Lyle Chaffee for a special event.  Lyle is always a hit at our weekly ice cream socials, but due to changes in our regular monthly schedule he’ll be bringing his keyboard by to entertain us a little earlier in the week.  Just as every time Lyle comes to play this fun filled event is guaranteed to get your toes tapping so make sure you don’t miss out.

While we’re on the topic of our ice cream social, it’s important to note that we’ve got a change there as well.  Instead of Thursday at two in the Great Room, this week’s ice cream social will be on Wednesday 11/17 and will feature Stan Lasley on the piano.  Stan is incredibly entertaining and this afternoon promises to be the perfect way to get you into the holiday spirit.

If you love great food and amazing entertainment, the Wilsonville is certainly the place to be as we move even closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas.  With each week that passes, we’ve got more activities, more fun and more entertainment so be sure to check the activity board and blog regularly for the latest information.

photo credit: St0rmz

On Friday 11/19 Forest Court residents will enjoy a special family Thanksgiving dinner that will include turkey, potatoes and all the fixings as well as delicious pies for dessert.  This fantastic meal will surely serve as an adequate replacement for our regular Wilsonville family and friends’ dinner.

Memory care residents will be in for a special Thanksgiving treat as the holiday approaches as well.  We’ll be holding a special lunch for Hamptons’ residents and their families at 12:00 on Sunday 11/21 that will include all of the tasty and traditional fare that makes Thanksgiving such a wonderful experience.

Last, but certainly not least, Vlahos Court residents will also get in on the Thanksgiving action.  At 5:00 on Sunday 11/21 we’ll be holding a very special Thanksgiving dinner for all assisted living residents and their families.  The menu will be reminiscent of your favorite Thanksgiving meals of the past and will feature Turkey (of course) along with all of your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes.

A number of regularly scheduled events either have been or will be adjusted due to the upcoming holidays.  Be sure to keep your eyes on the activity board and right here on the blog so you don’t miss a thing.

photo credit: John Morgan

We’ll kick off our Veteran’s Day celebration at the Wilsonville on Thursday November 11th at 2:15 in the Great Room.  Donna Kagan will be joining us along with some highly spirited kids who are part of the youth chorus at one of our local middle schools.  The live entertainment will include a number of patriotic songs for your enjoyment and all veterans will be presented with a very special memento.

Following right on the heels of this special event will be another patriotic extravaganza.  Join us again in the Great Room on Friday November 12th for a very special evening of World War II era music and dancing.  A DJ will be on hand from 6:30 until 8:00 spinning your favorite sounds from the early forties, so be sure to don your favorite red, white and blue ensemble and dancing shoes for this night of fun.

If you are a regular at the ice cream socials that take place on Thursdays at the Wilsonville, odds are you’ve had the pleasure of hearing Lyle Chaffee play music.  Lyle is a very talented keyboard player that makes appearances at our regular Thursday functions, but due to the holiday schedule he’ll be joining us for a special event on Tuesday 11/16 this month.  If you’ve become a fan of Kyle or if you just love amazing keyboard playing, this is a day you won’t want to miss.

photo credit: dbking

Live entertainment will be provided from two until five and there will also be a wonderful selection of wines available for sampling.  The incredible art work on display from community artists will also be up for sale.  That means that you might be able to walk home from this event with a stunning new piece of décor for your home in addition to feeling socially enriched.  Don’t miss out on this chance to expand your artistic horizons and to support your friends and neighbors inside and outside of the Wilsonville.

Next week we’ve got some very nice events planned in honor of Veteran’s Day and as the weeks progress into the holiday season there are a number of exciting things on the social calendar.  Some of the days and dates of regular events will have to be adjusted to accommodate the holidays, so be sure to keep your eyes here on the blog and the event calendar so you don’t miss out on anything.

Music therapy will be in session again twice this month for memory care residents.  Exact dates have not yet been set, but Angie should have the information soon.  Each session thus far has been very successful and we’re thrilled to be able to continue on with these fun, exciting, entertaining and highly beneficial events for our memory care residents.

For those of you that never miss one of our weekly ice cream socials at the Wilsonville, we do have a slight change of plans because of the holiday this month.  Rather than Thursday November 18th, we’ll be having a special ice cream social on Wednesday November 17th.  This very special ice cream social will feature live entertainment from the incredible piano player Stan Lasley.  Stan is a very talented pianist and this is an ice cream social that most certainly should not be missed.

photo credit: Kevin Dooley

Mark your calendars for April 2nd and head out to the Wilsonville parking lot once again to have documents, letters and other materials with your pertinent information on it disposed of properly.  There is no specific time set just yet, but as the date gets closer you can keep your eyes on the activity board, check right here on our blog or reach out to Jan for details as they become available.

It’s always best to be safe when it comes to getting rid of something that has personal information on it.  If you missed our last shredding event or if you’ve still got some paperwork around that needs to be destroyed, this is an event that you won’t want to miss.

Also be sure to check the activity board for upcoming dates and times of music therapy classes.  Brian and Mark will be with us twice a month to provide memory care residents a form of therapy that is fun, exciting and very effective.  These sessions are very popular among the residents that have had the opportunity to participate and they would be very beneficial for all memory care patients to attend.

photo credit: Rob Marquardt

Inactivity and loneliness can breed depression and depression can be a very serious concern among seniors, who have the highest suicide rate of any age group.  Having friends around, getting regular activity and having regularly scheduled activities to participate in are great ways to stay happy and social and to stave off the boredom.

Many assisted living facilities, like the Wilsonville, have fun and exciting events on a regular basis to provide entertainment for the residents.  In addition to parties, gatherings and classes, the Wilsonville also offers a group exercise program that is age appropriate to help seniors of all fitness levels get the activity they need to stay physically healthy.  Residents of the Wilsonville also benefit from the beautifully maintained and ample grounds which provide the perfect atmosphere for regular walks to get activity in between social events and exercise classes.

It’s tough to be sure that an elderly loved one who lives at home is getting the right amount of activity unless you are with them all of the time.  At an assisted living facility, there are more things for the residents to do so getting sufficient activity and socialization is rarely a concern.

photo credit: woodley wonderworks

There is never a shortage of fun things to do here at the Wilsonville, but it isn’t everyday that we set aside time to sample some of life’s finer things like a wonderful wine or incredible artwork.  If you have been looking for an activity that will cater to your inner artist or if you’ve been searching for a place to test your skills as a wine connoisseur, the Great Room is the place to be on October 30th.

Complete details, including time have not yet been finalized for this very special event.  If this sounds like something that you’d be interested in attending make sure to contact Jan for the latest information as it is available.

While we’re on the topic of some of the finer things in life, remember to keep your calendar clear for the weekly ice cream social.  The temperatures outside may be dipping, but that will certainly not stop us from enjoying an ice cream treat and some live entertainment every Thursday in the Great Room at two.

photo credit: Paul Aloe

Instead of having all of your loved ones over to the Wilsonville for dinner, we’ve decided that October’s very special meal will be a Sunday brunch.  You can expect the food to be just as wonderful as usual, but a brunch might provide an even better opportunity for visiting with your loved ones.  The fact that our special meal will be happening earlier in the day may give friends and loved ones more of a chance to not only make it out for the occasion but to stay a little longer as well.

You simply can’t beat spending time and sharing memories with those closest to you over a good meal.  Be sure to mark Sunday October 24th on your calendar and to call in by Wednesday the 20th to reserve your spot for the friends and family brunch.

Don’t forget that every Thursday in October is another chance to spend time with your friends and neighbors at the ice cream social.  Come out to the Great Room Thursdays at two o’clock to enjoy tasty treats, live entertainment and plenty of fun with friends.

photo credit: Annie Mole

 This Wilsonville special event will feature plenty of country western music from your favorites like Hank Williams as well as plenty of country western hospitality.  If you’re a cowboy at heart or if you’ve just got a love for music that is sure to get your toes tapping, this is an event that you do not want to miss.

Remember that every Thursday here at the Wilsonville is another chance to join in on the fun of an old fashioned ice cream social.  You’ve still got a few more chances left in October to join your friends and neighbors in the Great Room for ice cream, conversation and live entertainment.

Just because the temperatures outside are starting to get cool, it doesn’t mean that the action here at the Wilsonville will be slowing down.  As we move into the second half of October we’ve got plenty of great events scheduled, from a wonderful wine tasting to a very special brunch and more. 

Keep checking back here and keep your eyes on the activity board to make sure that you’ve got the most up to date information so don’t miss out on any of the excitement.

photo credit: anyjazz65