The Wilsonville » Life at The Wilsonville

Building New Memories

The Wilsonville — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:00:43 +0000

This Spring/early Summer has been loaded with exciting events that many residents of The Wilsonville will never forget. The watercolor classes, amazing voyages of the passports series and the live music have enriched our lives with art and let us get a taste of world travel without ever having to board a plane.

The Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrations and the wonderful dinners with family and friends let us share incredible food and conversations with the people who are the most important to us and the Rose Festival brought one of the most celebrated and popular events in the area right into our backyard to enjoy first hand.

As we move into the Summer there are already plans for more cultural enrichment, more incredible food, more live entertainment and more time spent with friends and loved ones to help recall old memories and help to create new ones.

Don’t forget about the special dinner for family and friends of Forest Court Residents on Wednesday June 30th at 5:00 and keep your Thursday afternoons clear to attend the 2:00 live music and entertainment which takes place every week in the Great Room.

Be sure to look for information coming soon on The Wilsonville Carnival, which will include a variety of animals, entertaining events and plenty of fun coming in just a few short weeks – this will be yet another unforgettable day of excitement that you will not want to miss.

photo credit: pdxjeff

Simplifying the Transition

The Wilsonville — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:00:59 +0000

Preparing to leave the comfort of your own home, the home that you spent years raising your family in, can be difficult. Many of the wonderful memories and good times shared are stored within the walls of the house that your children grew up in, but this is a decision countless American’s are faced with every single year.

The key to ensuring an easy, happy and healthy transition lies in selecting the right assisted care facility for your (or your loved one’s) individual needs. Any move could cause some disruption, especially if it is from a large spacious house to a small apartment, but that disruption can be minimized if the facility and its staff can make the individual feel at home.

The staff at the Wilsonville provides all of the help that the residents of the assisted living community need, but they do so without compromising any of the residents’ independence. The fully trained staff can capably handle all aspects of physical or medical assistance so you can rest assured that the proper care is there when needed, but residents are encouraged to live as independently as they can.

The main goal of the team at the Wilsonville is to provide an atmosphere as close to home as possible, where residents can feel as happy, safe and comfortable as possible from the moment they move in. A move to a facility that feels cold and clinical can have a very negative effect on residents and take a long time to fully adapt to, which is why the Wilsonville strives to be always warm and inviting so the adaptation period is as short, smooth and seamless as possible.

Dinner Anyone?

The Wilsonville — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:03:19 +0000

Sitting down to an incredible home cooked meal with your family and closest friends is one of life’s simplest and greatest joys. The wonderful food, the memories shared and the sheer joy of just being able to all be together is a feeling well worth remembering. In fact, the only possible downsides to such an evening are all of the work that goes into the preparation and clean up involved.

In order to have a successful dinner, the timing needs to be right, the food needs to be flavorful and perfectly cooked and someone needs to be ready to volunteer to clean the table and wash the dishes (which isn’t very likely). Once a month for Forest Court residents, the Wilsonville takes care of the wonderful food and the messy clean up and leaves you to relish in the pure joy of dinner with family, without all of the worry.

This month the dinner is on June 30th, so save the date and invite your loved ones for a truly memorable evening. Watch for details of the special menu that is sure to please coming soon!

Don’t forget – Friday the 18th is the special Wilsonville Father’s Day barbecue featuring fine food and the incredible sounds of the Rose City Timberliners Barbershop Chorus. Dad’s, this day is for you so come, relax and enjoy the food and entertainment.

photo credit: krossbow

Aging Safely and Independently

The Wilsonville — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 21:06:36 +0000

The environment in which you live can be a big concern when it comes to healthy aging. Staying alone in a community that is on the decline simply for the comfort of familiarity isn’t necessarily the best thing for an elderly person. Living alone isn’t always safe for a person of any age, but seniors who are beginning to have difficulty getting around and remembering things could be at serious risk if they are living completely without assistance.

The perception of the elderly among the general population of younger adults is that they are both physically and mentally more vulnerable, making them the ideal target for criminals who perpetrate both violent crimes and forms of fraud. Seniors are perceived to be easy targets for robberies and telemarketing and sales scams because they can be more easily intimidated or duped. This can lead to issues with fear and a tendency toward seclusion among seniors who are on their own.

Assisted living communities like the Wilsonville often have just about everything a person could need contained within the community – good food, a beauty salon, fun activities, a movie theater, housekeeping services and licensed nurses all within a very peaceful atmosphere. Seniors within an assisted living community don’t have to be in fear of what is awaiting them outside their door – and the removal of that fear can make for a much happier and healthier life.

More Painting and Live Entertainment

The Wilsonville — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:56:57 +0000

Incredible watercolor artist Irilla Swanson will be back at the Wilsonville in a just a few short weeks for the second in her series of amazing watercolor classes. It’s rare that you get to have a single wonderful learning experience from such a very talented teacher, but on June 21st at ten a.m. in the Forest Court Activity Room Irilla will be back to share her knowledge with us all once again.

There is no experience necessary to participate in this wonderful and exciting artistic environment and, just as she did the first time, Irilla will bring everything you need to learn to create your very own watercolor masterpiece. If you thoroughly enjoyed the last class, or deeply regret that you missed the opportunity, be sure to sign up for this one; e-mail Marianne@thewilsonville.com by Friday the 18th to secure your spot for this fun and exciting opportunity.

Speaking of exciting opportunities, if you are looking for an exciting way to beat the heat of the great outdoors this Summer, don’t forget the live entertainment at two p.m. on Thursdays. You’ll never have to worry about what you’ll be doing Thursday afternoons again, because every single Thursday you can join your friends and neighbors for live music and lots of fun in the Wilsonville Great Room.

Keep to Your Schedule to Stay on Track

The Wilsonville — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:23:53 +0000

Sticking to a fitness schedule can make for better, and faster, results from your fitness program. Getting and staying active is beneficial for people of all ages, but the added benefits of mobility and stronger bones make it an even more worthwhile endeavor for seniors. The problem is that too many seniors get side tracked from their fitness routines because of the lack of a solid plan or definable schedule.

Things change for you as you get older, there are less things that you need to be “on time” for – no job, no alarm clock, less regular activities and less meetings with friends means that you aren’t bound to any kind of schedule – and though that may sound like a blessing, it can really turn your world and your health upside down if you aren’t careful.

If you find yourself having difficulty getting out and getting the activity you need on a regular basis, you need to develop a plan, complete with a schedule (preferably written down so you can actually feel and see it and be held accountable if you fail to meet it). Try it and you’ll be surprised at just how effective the simple act of writing down a regular schedule can be in terms of keeping you active in your fitness plan.

It also helps if you are in an independent or assisted living community that has regularly scheduled activities to participate in – or a facility like the Wilsonville that has a physical fitness program that residents can participate in to ensure that they get the activity they need to remain mobile and healthy. A fitness plan can be incredibly beneficial, but the only way it will actually lead to any positive benefits is if you follow it regularly.

photo credit: koalazymonkey

The Only Thing Hotter Than the Weather This June is Going to Be the Activities At the Wilsonville

The Wilsonville — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:16:43 +0000

June kicked off with a parade and the events are only going to get better and better as we get deeper into the Summer.

Summer is a time for taking trips and going on vacation and later this very morning Wilsonville residents will be entertained in the Great Room with an installment in the Passport Series. Today, Dr. Wagner will take the residents on a wonderful journey along with him on his travels to Scotland with incredible slides from his recent trip. Come enjoy the beauty of the Scottish countryside and listen as Dr. Wagner delights with stories from the voyage –anyone who loves travel and enjoys beautiful scenery will thoroughly enjoy this installment of the Passport Series.

We all know that dads love barbeques, so that’s exactly what we’re planning at noon on Friday the 18th as we celebrate Father’s Day at the Wilsonville. Following the great food there will be some truly incredible entertainment – you can come and grab some tasty food with Dad and then sit back and enjoy the melodic tunes belted out by the Rose City Timberliners Barbershop Chorus. And what would Father’s Day be without a special desert, at 2:00 in the Great Room you can sit down with a root beer float and reminisce with Dad about the good old days – the perfect way to end a wonderful day.

photo credit: TheBusyBrain

Adopt a Regular Routine to Get Better Sleep

The Wilsonville — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:39 +0000

Many seniors who live alone fall out of routine habits after retirement and don’t realize that this lack of structure in their daily lives can drastically affect other areas of their life, including their quality of sleep.

The results of studies published in the April 2010 issue of the journal “Sleep” suggest that performing everyday activities like showering, getting dressed and eating at the same time every day can dramatically improve the quality of sleep that a person gets. Subjects who followed normal daily routines not only got better overall quality of sleep, but they also fell asleep faster upon getting into bed and spent more of their time in bed sleeping rather than tossing and turning.

You can’t underestimate the impact that getting ample, high quality sleep will have on your life. With better sleep you have more improved focus, higher energy levels and you are less likely to be moody or short tempered – in short, getting better quality sleep will help to improve your overall quality of life.

That’s a big benefit of living in an independent living or assisted living community that has benefits like a regularly scheduled physical fitness program and regularly scheduled healthy meals. The helpful staff at the Wilsonville can help you to organize your daily life into a regular routine so that your nights can be more restful and full of high quality sleep – ensuring that you are as happy and as healthy as possible.

photo credit: craigmdennis

Tons of Excitement Coming to the Wilsonville

The Wilsonville — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:49:31 +0000

Start off with the fact that this weekend coming up is Memorial Day Weekend, a holiday weekend that is traditionally loaded with cookouts, picnics and wonderful times with family and friends – but which also kicks off the Rose Festival festivities that will last for two full weeks. This is a wonderful time to be in the Portland area and absolutely loaded with incredible events and entertainment, including an amazing fireworks display, the music fest, a golf tournament, the comedy circus, incredible food and parades.

Speaking of parades, on June 1st we’ll be hosting the Spirit of Wilsonville Parade for the staff and residents complete with floral decorations, floats, contests and prizes. This is sure to be one of the best events so far this year, and the most exciting part of all – the actual Princesses from the Rose Festival will be coming by to judge the day’s events and determine the winners.

The Rose Festival, which was honored with the title of Best Festival in the World in 2007, has been an integral part of this area for more than a century, and on June 1st we’ll get to bring a little bit of that history and excitement home to the Wilsonville. So mark your calendar now because at 2:15 on 6/01/2010, the Great Room is the place that you’ll want to be – this is an event that shouldn’t be missed.

photo credit: pdxjeff

Busy Weekend Coming up At the Wilsonville

The Wilsonville — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:57:27 +0000

Sunday May 23rd will be a great day at the Wilsonville for anyone who loves summer plants, annuals and all things natural. A local farm and Master Gardener will be on hand selling and planting plants for the Wilsonville Garden Event.

If you have a vacancy on your patio or in your window box and you’ve got a green thumb, come out Sunday May 23rd between eleven and three to pick from a huge selection of plants available from Bauman Farms and Clackamas County Master Gardeners.

All you need to bring is your love of Summer foliage and some pots or containers and we’ll take care of the planting for you. Get a single potted plant to brighten up your living space or pick enough to build yourself an entire summer container garden – prices are very reasonable and the selection of plants will surely be incredible.

Following the Wilsonville Garden event on Sunday will be some incredible entertainment on Monday. At 10:30 a.m. in the Great Room, residents will have the pleasure of being entertained by a pre-school choir. Music and children are two of the greatest sources of joy and entertainment – combining the two into one event will surely create a morning worth remembering for residents and staff, so be sure not to miss it.

Directions

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

Get Map

Wilsonville Plant Sale

The Wilsonville — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:06:08 +0000

On May 23rd, bring out your pots and containers for the Wilsonville Plant Sale. Between 11:00 and 3:00 Bauman Farms and Clackamas County Master Gardeners will be on site with a wide variety of outdoor and patio plants available for sale – this is something you won’t want to miss.

Directions

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

Get Map

photo credit: stevendepolo

Stimulate Your Mind With Art

The Wilsonville — Wed, 12 May 2010 23:58:16 +0000

The Mother’s Day event at the Wilsonville was a smashing success with over 100 residents and guests in attendance. The concert was incredible and all that attended had a wonderful time listening to Sally Harmon’s beautiful and inspiring songs. If you didn’t make it out for the concert, you missed something special – but don’t despair, we’ve got another very special and very exciting event coming up next week.

Art Class

May 17th, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.

Everyone loves a pretty picture, but few fully realize that they have the imagination and ability to create a beautiful piece of art on their own. On 5/17 at ten o’clock in the Forrest Court activity room, you can release your inner artist with the help of watercolor artist Irilla Swanson who is coming to the Wilsonville to share her knowledge in a classroom setting.

There is no experience necessary to participate in this fantastic class; every experience level from beginner to expert is welcome to join in the fun. Irilla will bring all of the supplies necessary for you to participate in the two hour class; all you have to bring is your creativity and your willingness to learn.

This class is a fantastic opportunity to learn a valuable and entertaining skill that you will be able to use and express yourself with for the foreseeable future. Learning and practicing watercolor art is a great way to keep mentally and physically occupied while at the same time producing a wonderful piece of décor for your own home or a one of a kind gift for a loved one.

This is an opportunity that shouldn’t be missed; reserve your spot by signing up before Friday May fourteenth via e-mail to marianne@thewilsonville.com.

Directions

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

Get Map

photo credit: garryknight

4 Great Ways to Keep Up With Us

The Wilsonville — Tue, 11 May 2010 19:32:11 +0000

The Wilsonville is a community of residents, employees and their families. In all there are many hundreds of people who count themselves part of this group. All of these people are connected to The Wilsonville in very personal ways and are concerned and interested in what goes on here. What better way to address everyone’s need for information than using the great tools available on the internet to help everyone stay up to date?

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. You can use Facebook to keep up with The Wilsonville. All of our blog posts will automatically be announced on our Facebook page. In addition, smaller more up-to-the-minute announcements will appear there. Join the conversation and comment on some of our posts.

Twitter is a rich source of instant information. It is similar to Facebook but a little more streamlined and trimmed down to the essentials. On our twitter feed you’ll see all of the automatic announcements from our blog that our Facebook page has as well as the smaller quick posts that we will put on Facebook. If you’re a twitter user hit us back @thewilsonville.

Our monthly email newsletter may not be as hip as using Facebook or twitter but it works really well. Even if you’re a Facebook or twitter user, joining our email list is a great way to have a nice simple digest of our highlights each month dropped conveniently in your inbox.

Last but not least you can subscribe to our rss feed. This is an automatically delivered synopsis of everything that hits our blog. Just click here to pop our RSS feed into your favorite reader. If you’re not familiar with RSS and/or are looking for a good RSS reader, we recommend Google Reader.

So there you have it… 4 great ways to keep up with the people you care about here at The Wilsonville. All of these great tools are always available as convenient icons located in the “follow us” section at the bottom of our webpages.

Employee of the Year

The Wilsonville — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:33:37 +0000

Angie Landry, Life Enrichment Team Leader, was elected our Employee of the Year. She has worked here for almost 5 years, starting out as a caregiver. Her caring nature led her to Life Enrichment. She mainly works with residents with Alzheimers, serves as team leader and is co-leader of our Alzhemier support group.

The staff member who wins this annual award is voted on by their peers and they elect the winner. There were a number of outstanding candidates, all who have contributed significantly to the betterment of The Wilsonville.
Congratulations Angie on a job well done!

Mother’s Day is Coming – Join Us!

The Wilsonville — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:47:32 +0000

Update May 12th: The Mother’s Day event at the Wilsonville was a smashing success with over 100 residents and guests in attendance. The concert was incredible and all that attended had a wonderful time listening to Sally Harmon’s beautiful and inspiring songs. If you didn’t make it out for the concert, you missed something special – but don’t despair, we’ve got another very special and very exciting event coming up next week.

Original Post: Mother’s day is coming soon. Have you decided what to do for your mother this year on her special day? Don’t forget all the hours she spent taking care of you when you were sick. Remember all the rides to school and brown bag lunches she lovingly put together for you? All the kisses for the ouchies that only a mother can make better? Mom’s are incredible. They are the reason we are all here. Don’t forget this wonderful person this year.

If your mom or grandmother is a senior here are some specific ideas for making her day special.

Join us for our Mother’s Day Celebration with world-class entertainer, Sally Harmon

Friday, May 7th at 3:00 p.m.

Mother’s Day is a time for spending quality time and focusing on sharing something special with the wonderful woman that brought you into this world, and tomorrow you can celebrate this special day the right way with your Mom at the Wilsonville. What a great way to honor your mother. Come enjoy the entertainment, the champagne punch refreshments, and your mother. Many families will be here to honor their mothers as well. Have fun and get to know the community!

Starting at 3:00 on Friday May 7th, you’ll be able to enjoy a mini concert featuring the incredible piano stylings of Sally Harmon accompanied by Frank Gruner playing bass guitar. Sally and Frank have wowed and entertained crowds all over the US, and their special blend of music is guaranteed to get the toes of the residents and the visitors tapping and really get the party going. In addition to the entertainment, there will be champagne punch and assorted snacks for your enjoyment and there will be CDs available for purchase after the event.

There is no dress code for the event, so you can wear your Sunday best if you’d like or you can come casual to enjoy the live music and refreshments in celebration of Mother’s Day.

Contact Info & Directions

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

Get Map

photo credit: The Moog

Harold Wolf shares his gift

The Wilsonville — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:00:25 +0000

Harold Wolf’s beloved 1745 violin is gone now, passed to a granddaughter who shares his passion. But at 88, Wolf still plays, practicing twice a day on another violin.

And twice a year, he shares his gift with others.

On those occasions — Saturday was one — he plays for fellow residents at The Wilsonville, the retirement home where he lives with his wife, Katie. Most of the residents — dealing with aches and pains, walkers and wheelchairs — can’t attend a symphony performance. Some have dementia and don’t leave the center at all.

So Wolf brings the performance to them.

Wolf and his wife moved in two years ago from Lake Oswego, and it didn’t take long for word to spread that Wolf is a musician…

Read the rest of the story and watch related video from The Oregonian.

Additional coverage of this event can be found at The Wilsonville Spokesman.

Oaks Park

The Wilsonville — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 00:05:03 +0000

What could be more fun than a trip to the amusement park? Residents and staff members had a great time at Oaks Park riding the carousel and letting their inner child out. When asked about their trip, residents were all smiles saying “it was a blast, the best time I’ve had in years!”

The Wilsonville Carnival

The Wilsonville — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:00:14 +0000

Cotton candy, ice cream cones, games, clowns and a petting zoo; it just doesn’t get any better! The residents and staff members alike had a blast at our annual carnival on Tuesday. The National Charity League of Lake Oswego was out in full force to assist residents with all the games, from miniature golf to basketball. In addition to enjoying playing the games, the residents were thrilled to pet the llamas and miniature horses roaming the courtyard. The weather cooperated beautifully and great fun was had by all!

Art: Here & Now

The Wilsonville — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:09:52 +0000

You are invited to our “ART: Here & Now” senior art show and wine tasting. Invite a friend or bring a family member and make an evening of it.

This event will feature art created by seniors from around the community including residents right here at The Wilsonville Senior Living Community. Selected complimentary wines from local wineries will be served along with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres.

Look for live music by pianist Stan Lasley and truffles from Bernard’s Chocolates to top off the event.

We’ll see you there….

Time:
Friday, July 24th
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Place:
7600 SW Vlahos Drive
Wilsonville, OR 97070
(877) 735-8547

10th Anniversary Celebration

The Wilsonville — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:35:44 +0000

Please join us at our open house for an afternoon full of great food, fun and fellowship! There will be outstanding musical entertainment provided by Sally Harmon and Frank Gruner, a presentation by a local historian and a raffle for a three-day weekend at the Oregon Coast! Our ice cream parlor will be open, there will be activities for the kids and an opportunity to simply enjoy the party. Everyone is welcome.

Senior Wellness Lecture

The Wilsonville — Wed, 20 May 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Do you want to feel better and have more energy? Then you will want to attend Dr. Bill Wagner’s lecture on senior wellness. You will learn how you can increase your immunity and decrease your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. In addition, Dr. Wagner will give an update on the H1N1 “Swine Flu” and give ways to protect yourself and your family. Please RSVP at Marianne@thewilsonville.com by Tuesday, May 19th for a complimentary lunch following the presentation.

Paddy’s Pub

The Wilsonville — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Those Irish eyes were certainly smiling on Tuesday! It was a sea of green at The Wilsonville and everybody was Irish for the day. Paddy’s Pub was the happening place where residents and family members enjoyed a brew or two and had a ball singing and dancing to those wonderful Irish tunes.

Knit 2gether

The Wilsonville — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The ladies at The Wilsonville have the knitting bug! They gather weekly to work on their latest creations, all the while sharing a laugh or two. For some, knitting is something they have always done. For others, knitting was a craft of their past and are enjoying relearning those stitches.

Mardi Gras

The Wilsonville — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Another festive Fat Tuesday at The Wilsonville! I’m not sure who has the most fun, the residents or the staff. Bright yellow, green and purple were the colors of the day and residents were treated to a savory Cajun meal while enjoying the sounds of great jazz.

Family Fun

The Wilsonville — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Family is what The Wilsonville is all about and everybody joins in on the fun during our weekly ice cream socials. A variety of live entertainment provides so much enjoyment for our residents, their family members and our employees. Ice cream, music and dancing – it just doesn’t get much better!