at Westpark Village

at Westpark Village
April 2014
www.westparksenior.com
Executive Director
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be
happy, practice compassion.” — The Dalai Lama
Have a beautiful April.
— Tina
Life Enrichment Department Message
Spring is here and after our long winter of snow and cold, we look
forward to the beauty of nature coming alive. It’s a great time of year to get
outdoors for walking, fresh air and putting on the putting greens.
April is National Volunteer Month and we give a big “thank you” to all our
Westpark volunteers. We have many volunteers and we appreciate your
willingness to help. You make a big difference!
We will be having a Spring Indoor Picnic on Tuesday, April 8. This event
will be held 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the dining room. Please join us for a
delicious picnic lunch.
Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 20. We wish everyone a very Happy
Easter! Hopefully, all the early spring flowers are in bloom by Easter.
On the first and third Tuesdays of each month, “Living With Loss” support
group is held in the Chapel in the lower level at 1:30 p.m. There is no
fee to attend this support group and it is led by qualified facilitators. We
encourage everyone to attend who would like to share and receive support
with any kind of loss.
On the third Wednesday of each month, a Men’s Breakfast is held at
8:30 a.m. in the Four Seasons Dining Room. Join your neighbors and enjoy
good food and conversation.
If you are interested in joining Wii Bowling, please contact the Life
Enrichment Dept. There are spots available. Wii Bowling can be played
standing or sitting down. Those playing are having fun and getting in
some exercise.
April is National Humor Month. Add a little humor into your daily routine,
seek out good comedy and always be ready to see the lighter side of life.
Consider joining us at the exercise programs offered throughout the week.
If you have any questions concerning these programs, please contact the
Life Enrichment Dept.
Please continue saving your used greeting cards for John L. Drop them off
at our office in the LL or at the front desk.
Changes can occur during the month to the calendar. Please check the
activity sheets in the lobby and the laundry rooms on the second and third
floors for any updates or changes that are made. We will do our best to
keep you informed.
Thought for the Day: “Greet each day with your eyes open to beauty, your
mind open to change and your heart open to love.” — Anonymous
Our Talk.
Our Walk.
Every Day!
Our Service Approach
Step 2 – Fulfillment and
Anticipation of Resident
and Guest Desires
During Platinum Service
training, we learned that
customer loyalty is achieved
when an organization focuses on
providing personalized service
to its customers. This is the
heart of our Service Approach
to residents and guests.
Some techniques we use to
meet residents’ unique and
personal requirements include
engaging and adjusting to their
pace, fulfilling expected and
expressed wishes, anticipating
any unexpressed wishes, and
asking if any other assistance is
desired. We are able to deliver
this service by being proactive,
using the resident or guest’s
name, and remembering their
preferences. Our goal is to go
over and above the “ordinary”
service that might be expected.
“To give real service you
must add something
which cannot be bought
or measured with money,
and that is sincerity and
integrity.” —Douglas Adams
Resident Spotlight: Margaret W. (Betty)
Betty was born in Lewistown, Mont., to parents Wilmer and Margaret H. She was
raised south of Moore, which is west of Lewistown, on a ranch. Betty attended her
grade school years at Trout Creek School and then high school in Moore where she
graduated.
After graduation, Betty attended Rocky Mountain College where she graduated
with a BA in Home Economics with minors in music and art. She received credits
towards her teaching degree from Rocky Mountain, Bozeman, Missoula and
Havre. While taking courses at Bozeman, Betty sewed a wool coat which she later
entered into the Make It Yourself With Wool Contest in Billings. She received the
first place award which entered her in the state competition where she took third
place. It was a fun experience for her.
Upon graduation, Betty taught school in Lockwood for three years and then moved
to Huntley Project where she taught for 23 years. When remembering her years as
a teacher she said, “I loved the students no matter how enthusiastic they were!” She enjoyed working with
and helping students. Seeing them learn and develop was exciting and having them later return after many
years and thank her for helping them is very gratifying.
Following her retirement from teaching, she became an employee at Westpark. She worked at the front desk
for three years and then became the Activity Director for many years. When deciding to cut back a little, she
became an activity associate. After 23 years of being a very valuable, loving and trusted employee, she retired
at age 77.
On a beautiful June day, Betty and Jack W. were married. They had four children: one son and three
daughters. There are nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Betty is blessed with a very loving,
caring family.
Betty has enjoyed traveling. She took a month and drove her dad and stepmother to Alaska. It was a
wonderful trip for all of them with many great memories. She has visited Canada, Colorado, Washington,
Wyoming, Idaho, traveled the state of Montana and taken tours through the Billings Senior Center. Her
daughter and son-in-law have a cabin in the beautiful mountains of Murray, Idaho, where family gettogethers are held.
Betty has been very active in Faith Chapel Church. She has been a leader in Bible Study at Faith Chapel and
also at Westpark when in the activity department. Betty attended the Walk to Emmaus Retreat and was part
of a follow-up group for many years.
Since moving to Westpark, she enjoys art class, the Fit Exercise classes, walking outdoors, Wii Bowling and
she also belongs to a team that meets on Monday mornings at Fireside Lanes. Betty has enjoyed scrapbooking
and arts and crafts. She has put together many albums for Westpark and is getting involved in the project
again. Betty is vice-chairman of the Resident Council. Music has always been a part of her life and she attends
the Alberta Bair Theatre and also entertainments and parties at Westpark.
Betty likes and enjoys people. She thinks everyone deserves a chance and should be allowed to be who they
are. She was very comfortable at Westpark as an employee and now as a resident. Betty is very satisfied and
happy with her life and hopes to keep busy at Westpark.
Thank you, Betty, for sharing your story with all of us.
Food and Beverage/Dining Services
April Calendar Events
April 4: Wellness Talk @ 10:30, LL
April 8: Indoor Picnic BBQ 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 8: Making Sandwiches for the Mission, LL
April 15: Pancake Mania @ 8:30, Whispering Pines
Dining Room
April 15: Ladies’ Tea @ 2 p.m., LL
April 16: Gentlemen’s Breakfast @ 8:30 a.m. in 4
Seasons Dining Room (back)
April 20: Easter Brunch 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in 4
Seasons Dining Room
April 21: Teacher’s Luncheon @ noon in 4 Seasons
Dining Room
April 25: Resident Food Committee Meeting @ noon
in Generations Room
Water ... Is it really important?
Water is an important nutrient, essential for life.
Although people have not generally regarded it
as a nutrient, it is. It accounts for 1/2 to 3/4 of the
body’s weight — and serves as a building material,
a solvent and a regulator of body temperature. It
carries nutrients to cells, it carries wastes away and
has to be there for digestion.
Fact: Did you know scientists believe that water
spends about 10 days in the atmosphere and travels
from 3,000 to 6,000 miles before returning to earth
as rain or snow?
We Listen to Our Residents!
Each month between 8:30 and 10 a.m. you can come
down to the Whispering Pines dining room and
have your favorite flavor pancake, scrambled eggs
and fruit for $3.50. Our regular breakfasts are $5, so
it’s a bargain. Besides that, you can visit with other
residents and have a healthy start to your day.
Starting April 1, we will be changing our evening
seatings to two separate meal times. This change
comes as a suggestion from many of our residents
in efforts to improve our service to the residents.
The first seating will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the
Whispering Pines dining room. This has not
changed. However, the second seating will be
starting at 5:30 p.m. in the 4 Seasons dining room.
We ask that all residents relax in the lobby area
until we open the dining room doors at 5:30 p.m.
for seating. Any residents who want to dine before
5:30 p.m. are asked to attend the 4:30 seating in the
Whispering Pines dining room. We believe you will
have a better dining experience with the wait staff
attending to your needs in a more efficient manner.
April at Westpark Village
In Loving Memory
March Giveaway Winners
Ray W.: Cinnamon rolls
Loris T.: Bread
Ruth J.: Cookies
What is “Pancake Mania”?
April will bring some warm weather and good
times at Westpark.
Open your doors and let the sunshine in to your
lives and come join us in some fun activities.
Life Enrichment Department
Kathy, Paulette, Jantzen, Shelana and Mike
Kathy M.
New Residents
Pansy H.
Mary H.
Marjorie B.
Shirley and John S.
Carole H.
Ruth Y.
Renee Y.
Resident Birthdays
Nursing/Health Care
Spring is coming! Spring is a great time to start increasing your activity after the winter and
begin getting ready for summer. If you have been fairly sedentary for the winter, you should
start out slowly. Walking around the building once and gradually increasing to twice after a
couple days is a great way to get back into an active routine. As you gradually increase your
activity level, you may also enjoy some of the exercises classes Westpark Village offers (see Life
Enrichment Calendar). These are a great way to build stamina, strengthen your core, improve
your balance and help prevent falls. This is also a great alternative for the rainy days of spring!
Happy Easter to you and your family
Hilda A., 3rd
Sue M., 3rd
Jean D., 6th
Jerre P., 6th
Jerrine “Jeri” H., 7th
Marjorie T., 8th
Earl K., 11th
Eida H., 16th
Betty W., 16th
Beverly S., 24th
Helen B., 27th
Elizabeth (Betty) N.,
29th
Lucy B., 29th
2351 Solomon Avenue
Billings, MT 59102
406-652-4886
A PlAtinum Service®
community mAnAged By
the goodmAn grouP.
www.thegoodmangroup.com
Staff
Executive Director
Tina Vauthier
Director of Nursing
Lisa Leikam
Life Enrichment Director
Kathy Shannon
Food and Beverage Director
Nancy Merkel
Director of Marketing
Megan Brinton
Resident Care Coordinator
Ashley Lundvall
Resident Chauffeur
Mike Feralio
Business Office Director
Bonnie Bushard
Maintenance Director
Les Scammon
Resident Services Director
Lynette Rudio
Community Outreach Director
Melissa Scianna
Looking Ahead to Spring!
We have set a snow date for our Purse, Scarf and Jewelry
Sale fundraiser for Honor Flight, since so many of you
missed it due to the blizzard! We will have a one-day
sale at Westpark Village on Friday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. We have lots of wonderful items to show you.
Please come to our Wellness Talk, “Innovations to Help
You Sleep,” on April 4 at 10:30 a.m. Join us for breakfast as
you enjoy the talk! As always, the public is invited to join
our support groups and classes: Living with Loss Support
Group meets every first and third Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in
the lower level Chapel. The Alzheimer’s Family Support
Group meets every first and third Wednesday at 2 p.m. in
the 2nd floor library. Dance for Parkinson’s is a free dance
class for those with all levels of Parkinson’s that meets
every Thursday at 2 p.m. in the lower level.
Spring is a great time to move! Please call Megan at
652-4886 to make arrangements!