The notoriety has not gone to Mr. Boyd’s head but he is very happy. He has some memory problems at age 85 and needs insulin for his diabetic condition but this is certainly an uplifting story of how a community can gather together and make something special happen.

Music and encouraging those with conditions like diabetes and cognitive impairment to join in socially with others is a big part of life at The Wilsonville. Just like in Buffalo, visitors to our facility can come and hear our music programs and share them with their family members who call The Wilsonville home.

The Wilsonville is a full service assisted living facility that respects the privacy of our residents but encourages even the most independent to join in with the group. The social interaction that art and music appreciation offers is just one of the many positive experiences our facility can give those who reside with us.

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.

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.

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

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

Come join us Friday October 8th in the Great Room at 3:00 pm for beer, pretzels and live entertainment.  Master accordion player Bob Trojak will bring his incredible talent to the Wilsonville to help us celebrate Oktoberfest the way it was meant to be celebrated – with amazing music, tasty beer and food and non-stop fun.

Friday October 8th also marks a special day for residents of the memory care unit.  At 2:00 we’ll welcome the bunny ladies to the Wilsonville for the first time for a fun and special therapy session.  There will be plenty of friendly, silky soft bunnies to hold and pet.  These bunnies have been specially trained to calmly sit in your lap so that you can relax and enjoy them

Bunny therapy is very fun and soothing and this promises to be a special event that all residents of the memory care unit can participate in and benefit from.

photo credit: Ethan Prater

We kick off October with a shredding day where residents can bring various papers and documents that they would like to be disposed of safely.  On Saturday the 2nd we will have a shredding machine in our parking lot and residents are invited to bring one bag of papers to be shredded.  Recycling or throwing away papers that have personal information on them is never a good idea; this event gives residents a chance to clean out their homes safely.  Contact Jan for complete details on the times of the shredding event.

The crisp cool weather brought on by Fall isn’t going to stop us from getting social here at the Wilsonville.  Every Thursday through October you can still come by the Great Room for a weekly ice cream social with your friends and neighbors and enjoy incredible live music and entertainment.

Our first music therapy class for memory care patients was so popular and so successful that we’re making these sessions regular.  Moving forward, Brian and Mark will be joining us twice a month to provide therapy that is not only beneficial but very entertaining as well.  Keep your eye on the activity board for the exact times and dates of the music therapy and keep checking here for info on more upcoming events.

photo credit: Luz A. Villa

Following the fun and excitement of the live entertainment, you’ll get to completely satisfy your sweet tooth with some delicious hot fudge sundaes.  This will be the perfect way to close out the hot Summer and to fully celebrate and embrace the sheer joy of being a grandparent.

While we’re on the topic of satisfying the sweet tooth and hot fudge sundaes, don’t forget that every Thursday you can come in out of the elements and into The Wilsonville Great Room to enjoy a special treat.  The weekly extravaganza of ice cream and live music won’t stop just because the Summer has drawn to a close, you can still come to the Great Room every Thursday to meet your friends for some ice cream and live music at the ice cream social.

Residents are welcome to reserve a spot on the Wilsonville private bus for a trip to the Grotto on Wednesday September 1st.  The Grotto is an incredible, 62 acre catholic shrine and botanical garden that is world renowned and contains some of the most beautiful views and sights in the entire state of Oregon.  You’ll get to experience the beautiful fir trees, amazing roses, annuals and a variety of other native flowers in the beautifully manicured gardens and along the paths are a number of amazing religious statues and areas where you can sit, relax and simply soak in the incredible environment.

Following the trip to the Portland area’s most scenic and beautiful landmark, the bus will stop for lunch to cap off the amazing day.  This is definitely a trip for anyone who is inspired by nature, inspired by faith and who loves beautifully crafted artwork – if you don’t want to miss this amazing experience, contact Irene or Angie today to make your reservation and secure your spot on the Wilsonville private bus for an outing that you will surely never forget.

photo credit: Darin Barry

There will be more than thirty vendors on hand with incredible offerings that are sure to please, everything from appetizers to soups and entrees to deserts, you’ll be able to sample the best culinary fare that the community has to offer – and for those of you that can’t get enough of what your favorite assisted living facility has to offer, come find our booth at the Wilsonville Fall Food Festival.

A pass for this fantastic evening is only ten dollars and includes all you can eat, amazing live music and entertainment, wine tasting and the chance to win some very cool door prizes.  The event will take place from 4:30-7:30 in the Family Fun Center parking lot and for the adventurous types; you can follow up your wonderful culinary treats by heading into the Family Fun Center at a discounted rate that comes with your pass to the festival.

Anyone looking to ease the pain of the Summer ending too quickly will certainly want to be on hand for all of the amazing culinary treats and all of the fantastic entertainment of the Fall Food Festival.

photo credit: dannyfowler

The Wilsonville friends and family dinner, which is always a special event, may feel a bit more special this month as it will bring back memories of that last Summer fling from the past, in the form of a backyard barbecue.  On August 25th, Forest Court residents will be able to get together with those closest to them as they do every month, but this time it will take place in the great outdoors. 

You’ll get to enjoy great food and great company and you’ll be reminded of the amazing ways that your family managed to close out the Summer season in the past without having to worry about getting everyone together, without the hassle of buying and preparing all of that food or without worrying about who will handle the clean up.  The Wilsonville friends and family dinner is something that Forest Court residents always want to be a part of, but for those of you with special memories of Summers gone by, this is one that you will certainly want to save the date for.

Contact Info & Directions

The Wilsonville
7600 SW Vlahos Dr.
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(877) 735-8547

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photo credit: Robert S. Donovan