A Monthly Newsletter for the Families and Friends of

A Message from Executive Director

Alex Valle , February 2019

Cottage Reminders Please bring in all needed incontinency and personal

hygiene supplies for your loved one. Please label.

Please remember to bring in some warmer clothing for your loved ones, sweaters, pants, socks and

any other needed items etc. Please label.

Training

During the month of February all staff are will continue to receive training on the following topics: Residents Rights and Dignity,

Dementia, Communication, when to call 911, Hydration and

Depression.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: Irvine Cottages Memory Care @Irvine Cottages

Dear Irvine Cottages Families and Friends,

Happy Valentine’s Day, also called Saint Valentine’s Day!

February is the time of the year when people show feelings of love, affection and friendship, especially on

Valentine’s Day which is celebrated in many ways worldwide and falls on February 14 each year. Showing their

appreciation for the people they love or adore, with special greeting cards, boxes of chocolates, cupcakes and flowers. Our special Irvine Cottages residents will enjoy a special

Valentine’s dinner with their fellow residents in their cottage. They will also receive a special chocolate valentine treat! Irvine Cottages Art Coordinator will be doing Valentine’s

themed crafts and activities during the month of February along with some special volunteers who will deliver

Valentines Cards!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Alex

Friendship can increase a person's sense of belonging and purpose. Having a close friend can boost happiness, reduce stress and can also improve self-confidence and

self-worth. Cottage 3 residents Donna and Shirley enjoy doing many activities together!

Resident spotlight - Shirley and Donna

What is Memories in the Making®?

Memories in the Making®, the signature art program of Alzheimer’s Orange County (ALZOC®), was created to provide a meaningful activity for persons with dementia, while focusing on creative expression as a form of communication. When the disease affects language, art becomes a more suitable form of expression. With the stroke of a paintbrush participants are able to express themselves, often painting memories from long ago or images that represent their hobbies and passions. Currently, classes are offered at adult day centers and memory care communities. However, it can also be a one-on-one activity through an in-home care agency or with loved ones in the comfort of their own home. The benefits of Memories in the Making can include:

• Improved self-esteem

• A productive outlet for emotions

• Increased attention span and focus

• Activation of brain neurons

• An opportunity to socialize, thus

reducing isolation

• Recollection and expression of past memories

• A way to reconnect with

loved ones

Memories in the Making - fun with watercolors!

What is Valentine’s Day? Saint Valentine's Day, also known as Valentine's Day or the Feast of

Saint Valentine, is observed each year on February 14th

Background

The origins of Valentine's Day are not clear but many sources believe that it stems from the story of St Valentine, a Roman

priest who was martyred on or around February 14 in the year 270 CE. How he became the patron saint of lovers

remains a mystery but one theory is that the church used the day of St Valentine’s martyrdom to Christianize the old

Roman Lupercalia, a pagan festival held around the middle of February.

The ancient ceremony included putting girls’ names in a box and letting the boys draw them out. Couples would then be

paired off until the following year. The Christian church substituted saints’ names for girls’ names in hope that the

participant would model his life after the saint whose name he drew. However, it was once again girls’ names that ended

up in the box by the 16th century.

Eventually the custom of sending anonymous cards or messages to those whom one admired became the accepted way of celebrating

Valentine’s Day. There was an increase in interest in Valentine's Day, first in the United States and then in Canada, in the mid-19th century. Early versions of Valentine cards fashioned of

satin and lace and ornamented with flowers, ribbons, and images of cupids or birds appeared in England in the 1880s.

Symbols

Hearts, the colors red and pink, roses, images & statues of cupids, and cupids’ bows and arrows symbolize the feeling of romance and love on Valentine’s Day. Cupid is usually

portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow. In mythology, he uses his arrow to strike the hearts of people. People who fall in love are sometimes said to be “struck by

Cupid's arrow”. The day focuses on love, romance, appreciation and friendship.

Happy Birthday to all of our residents who will celebrate birthdays in the month of February. All residents receive a card, a gift and a cake on their

birthday. Please call Gina at (949) 633-1595 for details about birthday parties at the cottages or if you want to plan something for your loved one

on their special day.

February Birthdays

February 4th ~ Patty George

February 7th ~ Joan Lamoreaux

February 8th ~ Florence Liberman

February 11th ~ Charles Colesworthy

February 12th ~ Christine Perry

February 14th ~ Dolores Hahn

February 24th ~ Judy Dott

Irvine Cottages Birthday’s

All of us at Irvine Cottages are grateful for our Irvine Cottages residents and their families. Thank you for this wonderful 5 star review on Caring.com and also on Facebook of Irvine Cottage 10.

Posted by Kathryn RNCM on 01/15/19 Relationship: Other Rating: 5 / 5 Stars

I am a nurse Case Manager who sees one of the patient/residence at this facility. Danny & Narissa are caring, professional well organized caregivers. They know their residence, very attentive to safety and needs of residence, ready to answer all questions or concerns. They report concerns to RN/MD. Facility is clean, warm and inviting. Meals smell of good healthy food. Highly recommend.

Irvine Cottages Valentine’s Day

Sweetheart Dinner February 14tth

5:00 pm Residents will enjoy a romantic

Valentine’s Day Meal Dinner Salad

Lasagna Garlic Bread

Cheesecake for dessert

Let your house manager know ahead of time, if you’d like to join your loved one!

Alejandra Valle LVN,

Executive Director

Michelle Nesbitt

Office Manager &

Administration

Kimberly Walters

Director of Resident & Family

Services

Gertrudes Tizon

General Manager

Dairwil Manapsal

Activities & Memory Games

Patricia O’Neil

Bookkeeper

If you or a family member ever have any concerns about

the care your loved one is receiving, please feel free to

call Alex at 949-533-1136

P.O. Box 3168, Dana Point CA 92629 (949) 533-5938 Fax (949) 443-4297

RCFE #: 306900437, 306000535, 306000655, 306500736, 306001104, 306001887, 306003824, 306004242. 306003826, 306004029, 306004723, 306004724

Irvinecottages.com Please follow us on Facebook: @Irvine cottages

Editors: Michelle Nesbitt

Please ignore our mess as we continue

to paint some of our cottages.

Welcome to the Irvine Cottages family: Sumner and

Bryna who have recently moved into Irvine Cottages. We are very happy to meet

you all.

Concerns

Management Team Benefits of walking! Walking is one of the best exercise for seniors; it’s an

effective way to reduce the risk for chronic conditions

and improve overall health. Some of the benefits of

walking for seniors include:

• Improves heart health. Walking offers numerous

heart health benefits. Getting your heart rate up daily leads to a reduction

in the risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and even

coronary heart disease.

• Lowers blood sugar. After eating, taking a 15-minute walk has been

shown to reduce the after-eating spike in blood sugar some seniors can

experience. Your body is using blood sugar more effectively to

strengthen muscles, and insulin works better, too.

• Reduces pain. Studies have shown that walking helps reduce some pain

due to chronic conditions like arthritis. Some seniors experience lower

back pain, and walking even just three times a week for around 20

minutes can help strengthen abdominal and back muscles to decrease

chronic back pain.

• Promotes social engagement. Walking offers an

easy way for seniors to meet up with others,

whether you join a walking group with friends or

simply engage with neighbors while out on your

daily walk.

Cottage 7 residents Juliana, Maggie, Pinky and Richard enjoy walks daily!

Starting on February 12th, 2019 at 6:00pm and then

every second Tuesday of alternating months,

staff will host Family Meetings at

Mimi’s Café

4030 Barranca Parkway,

Irvine, CA 92604.

We encourage all families to attend if you have any

concerns or suggestions regarding Irvine Cottages

and /or the care of your loved one.

We will listen and work on solving all issues raised.

It is our hope that you will be able to attend.

Please contact Kimberly Walters at

(949) 394-5678 if you have any questions.

IRVINE COTTAGES FAMILY MEETINGS

2019 The 2019

meeting dates will be:

February 12th 6:00pm

April 16th 6:00pm

June 11th 6:00pm

August 13th 6:00pm

October 15th 6:00pm