EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS BONUS FUND

Irvine Cottages staff send a big thank you to all of the families who

donated to the 2013 Christmas Bonus Fund—our best year ever! We

were overwhelmed by the generosity of all of our wonderful families.

All caregivers received a family appreciation bonus! As always, we

are so grateful to all of our generous families who donated!

ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUNCHEON

Irvine Cottages wishes all of our Residents, Families, Friends and staff a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2014.

Irvine cottages

first quarter

newsletter 2014

Our Irvine Cottages Holiday Celebration, hosted by Jacque Dupont

was held at the Mission Viejo Country Club in Mission Viejo.

Entertainment included singing by Toni Imus and Fernando, The

Sunshine Singers and Balloon entertainer Dane Brimer.

We would like to send out a special thank you to all of our

wonderful volunteers: Aileen Sherman, Linda Abbit, Michelle

Nesbitt, Carla Turney, Jack Turney, Grace Turney, Cathy

Beaumont and all staff who attended for their help with the residents.

A special thank you to Jacque’s husband Marc Carlson who was

Santa Claus. Santa visited with every resident and gave them all

their Christmas Gift. Our residents loved the morning coffee, and

breakfast goodies, delicious pasta and salad for lunch and Desserts

from the Dessert table. Table centerpieces were also raffled off and

the lucky guests were able to take them home.

Thank you to all of our residents and staff, special friends and

family members who joined us as well.

Mark's music will continue to present the fabulous tunes of yesterday. There will be

a special emphasis on Holiday themes. For Valentine's day there will be songs like

"The Way You Look Tonight". For Easter, there will be songs like "Easter Parade".

"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" will be a favorite for St. Paddy's Day. Songs like

"April Love" will be performed for the beginning of spring.

Music and Singing with Lauren Lugo

As love is in the air, your loved ones at the Irvine Cottages have been singing along

to classic jazzy blues, show tunes, and loves songs from artists, Nat King Cole and

Ella Fitzgerald. We have been participating in games guessing Hollywood's hidden

trivia, based on the history lives of Fred Astaire, Bette Davis, Ingrid Bergman &

many more! For the month of February in art, we have been inspired by not only the

festive red, pink, and purple heart decor in the cottages but by painting or sketching

the simple things in life, where many enjoyed painting their pets! May you all have

wonderful last months of winter, and we look to spring forward in more activities

very soon.

Activities and Music with Mark Neria

Spiritual Time with Nicole Madro, Chaplain

Arts & Crafts with Esther Cruz-Porter

Nicole has been leading our residents in prayer with readings from the Gospel of

Matthew, and with the Rosary. We recently had a blessing of the homes at the

Mission Viejo cottages. Blessings at the Irvine cottages are coming soon! Most

importantly, know that you are in our prayers – many of our residents, when asked

“Who would you like to pray for?”, say “family” every week!

Please welcome Esther Cruz-Porter to the Irvine Cottages Family! Her

regular activities started in January at Irvine Cottages. Each week Esther

goes to all 11 cottages and provides wholesome, interesting and fun activities.

She plays the guitar and keyboard and provides sing a-longs with the

residents. On Valentines Day she provided sugar free cupcakes and Sparkling

Apple Cider to some of our residents. Each month there will be an Arts &

Crafts theme, last month they made some heart decors which were used to

decorate their cottage. This month in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, they will

make St. Patrick bead necklaces. She will also focus on Mind Boggling Games,

State & Capital Trivia and all other word games. The residents always look

forward to all these fun activities and also Esther’s visits.

Arts & Crafts with Amairani Valle

I have been going to all the cottages and assisting the residents with painting,

playing bingo, doing Valentine’s Day crafts and taking some of them for walks. I

have also been able to have some conversations with the residents. I look forward to

continue to work with our residents at all the cottages. I am planning to take the

Memories In The Making art program through the Alzheimer's Association in May.

I'm grateful to be apart of Irvine Cottages.

Welcome to the Irvine Cottages Family Amairani!

Irvine Cottages staff have received the following training so far this year:

January:

Home Food Safety and Preparation

Understanding dementia

February:

Infection Control

Additional Home Food Safety and

Preparation

Fall Prevention

Nutrition

Elder Abuse

End of Life care

Training Updates

In the upcoming months, staff will

receive training on the following topics:

Memory Loss

Medications at the End of Life

POLST

Safe Transfers

Coping with Loss

Beauty Care

Alzheimer’s dementia training

Irvine Cottage staff are receiving training from dietician Lisa Gibson.

We are excited to learn about nutrition training and to prepare

exciting new healthy meals.

Lisa is a registered dietitian with her Master’s degree in Clinical

Nutrition and has been working in the field of nutrition for over 20

years. In 2004-05, she served as the President of the California

Dietetic Association, a professional group of 6,000 members. In 2009,

she received the Delores Nyhus Award from the California Dietetic

Association honoring her for her contributions to the field of dietetics.

The majority of her career has been devoted to nutrition for seniors. Currently, she is a

consultant for Age Well Senior Services and oversees the nutrition programs at 12

senior centers and Meals on Wheels programs. In addition, she has a private practice

and provides nutrition counseling to clients with heart disease, diabetes and eating

disorders.

The aspect of her job she enjoys the most is nutrition education. She has given

numerous presentations to a variety of groups on the subject of Fad Diets, Healthy

Weight Loss and Body Image. She has worked with LA Times writer, Jeannine Stein on

their Pantry Raids news articles. For these stories, Lisa will go into a family’s home

and go through their food pantries and offer advice to improve their diets.

It is always interesting!!

Nutrition Education Training with Lisa Gibson, MS, RD

January Staff Birthday’s

January 2nd ~ Elinore Lagman

January 6th ~ Victor Badilla

January 21st ~ Rowena Manalo

January Birthday’s

January 2nd ~ Georgia “Ann” Mellem

January 5th ~ Malvina Moldovan

January 25th ~ Buck Ying Lee

February Birthday’s

February 6th ~ Catherine McQuade

February 7th ~ Nancy Clark

February 7th ~ Helen Mury

February 14th ~ Renie Del Curto

February 17th ~ Persis Harrison

February 23rd ~ Fern Gertsen

March Birthday’s

March 13th ~ Betty Ann Hansen

March 13th ~ Carrie Winters

March 18th ~ Agnes Anderson

March 18th ~ Janet Higa

March 29th ~ Mary Troutt

Irvine Cottages Birthday’s Celebrating our residents birthdays is very important to us.

Every resident will receive a special gift, birthday cake, balloon and card.

Please call Gina Marzan (949) 633-1595 if you’d like to visit.

Staff Birthday’s Happy Birthday to all of hard working staff who have birthdays in

January, February and March. Did you know that all full time

staff who have worked for Irvine Cottages for over a year receive

a cash birthday bonus.

Happy Birthday!

February Staff Birthday’s

February 4th ~ Daisy Salupen

February 12th ~ Eryl Caliging

February 26th ~ Alex Constantino

March Staff Birthday’s

March 12th ~ Antonio Rendon

March 12th ~ Israellevi Paraso

March 24th ~ Gloria Ludaes

We’re on the web

www.irvinecottages.com

Irvine Cottages has hired a new Harpist - Caroline Cambell who will visit all 11

cottages.

Harp Therapy is a form of therapy offered to someone in a medical or private

setting. A harp therapist offers the recipient comfort, release of emotions and

relaxation, wherever that recipient may be, in a chair, in bed or on a gurney, in a

hospital room, in a hallway, or in a waiting area. The recipient need do nothing

but relax into the gentle sounds of the little therapy harp. To experience it is to

understand why so many people love it and immediately respond to it.

What is it about a harp that makes it the ideal instrument for healing? One of

the earliest instruments made and played by humans, the harp at once evokes

thoughts of days of old, the bible, angels, bliss, even heaven. The sight of the

instrument usually takes the recipient of harp therapy immediately. Fairly

immediate too is the recipients response to the sound of the instrument’s exposed

strings, which vibrate freely as they offer deeply penetrating soothing and

comfort. Patients have commented that the sound of the harp played at the

bedside feels like a massage for the soul.

Providing live therapeutic harp music in a healthcare facility promotes a healing

environment infused with warmth, calmness, comfort and caring. This care

service can offer benefits to patients, family and staff.

Benefits to patients:

decreases anxiety, agitation

and depression

Reduces awareness of pain

Promotes relaxation and sleep

Invites a cathartic release of emotions

and fears

Brings joy, pleasure and beauty

Creates a distraction from boredom

Encourages a feeling of being special

Instills a sense of well-being and hope

Harp Therapy with Caroline Campbell, HCHT

Benefits to Family and Staff

Reduces worry and tension

Provides comfort and pleas-

ure

Offers a positive, shared

experience with residents

Creates a serene work

environment

Reduces work-related stress

Provides nurturing and care

to caregivers

Raises staff morale

Congratulations to all homes that participated in our

Halloween Contests. Cash Prizes were given for:

Spookiest Costumes:

1st - Cottage 2

2nd - Cottage 10

3rd - Cottage 3

Spookiest Decorated Cottages

1st - Cottage 10

2nd - Cottage 4

3rd - Cottage 3

Runner Up - Cottage 6

A special award was given to Cottage 5 for the most

participation of residents handing out candy to

Trick - or - Treater’s!

Congratulations to everyone who participated!

Cottage Nursery’s

Your Cottage may

have a new

addition….

A new Baby!

We designed Nursery

Corners at a few

cottages whose

residents we feel

would benefit from

interacting with

a baby. JoAnn Speigelman

Cottage 1

Irvine Cottages hopes all of their residents and

families had a love filled &

Happy Valentines Day!

Some of our residents painted valentines

themed Art which was framed and hung on the

walls in their cottage and some homes did

Valentines Day Crafts. Residents received a

special Valentines Day mug filled with treats

and enjoyed a delicious dessert!

Daily Exercise

Caregivers are encouraged to exercise their residents every day between the

times of 10 and 11 am. We try to engage all residents who are able, in some

arm and leg movement, stretching, range of motion exercises

and also ball toss.

Also, we encourage dancing and walks with staff around the neighborhood.

Thank you to the House Managers for the daily exercise.

Celebrating Resident’s

Birthday’s

Monthly Care Plans

We want to say thank you to all of our house managers for all of their hard

work on the care plans. We are in the process of eliminating hand written

care plans and some of our house managers are now typing them. If you are

not receiving your loved ones care plan, please let us know.

Leave Michelle a voicemail or text message at (949) 463-5075 or send her an

email at michelle.nesbitt@irvinecottages.com

Games, Games, Games... All staff are encouraged required to play Games

and sing Karaoke every day! We also hope that

all staff will get 100% participation of all the

residents in their cottage. Each home has

Magnetic Lap Bingo games and these are a

huge favorite and residents like to play for

candy prizes. Some cottages have

Nintendo Wii consoles and staff also love to

play. We also encourage our residents to listen

to their favorite music on the IPAD or IPOD’s

Congratulations….

Cottage 9 for receiving 100% on their last

State Survey. Thank you for taking such

good care of your residents and the cottage.

Cottage One Nail Art

The ladies at Irvine Cottage 1 love

getting their nails done and are

proud to show them off to all visitors!

Thank you to cottage 1 staff,

especially Eyl for taking the time to

pamper our special ladies.

Employee Of The Month - January 2014 Josephine Vegas~ Irvine Cottage 8

Josephine “Josie” Vegas works at Irvine Cottage 8 in Irvine. Josie was born in

Buguias, Benguet in the Philippines and grew up In Baguio City. Her parents

were farmers and she has 3 brothers and 4 sisters. She is was married to Vicente

D. Vegas Jr. While in the Philippines she worked as a farmer and a

business woman.

She enjoys Action & Adventure movies as well as Comedies. She loves listening

to Christian songs, golden oldies and lists some of her favorite singers as Elvis

Presley, Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars. Her favorite restaurants include

Korean BBQ and Filipino restaurants where she enjoys Chop Suey, vegetables,

Lechon and Korean BBQ. Josie likes to read the Bible and Pride and Prejudice is

one of her favorite books. She loves to visit Las Vegas, Florida and downtown LA

and if she could travel anywhere she would choose London, United Kingdom and

all of the United States of America. Josie is grateful for her good health, her

friends & family and also her job opportunity.

She is friendly, hardworking, humble, energetic, passionate and has a good smile.

She also wants to enjoy life to the fullest and travel around the world. Josie says

that people are surprised when they find out her age, that she is a college

graduate, that she has a 20 year old daughter who is a college student back in the

Philippines and also that she works hard in order to provide for her.

Thank you Josephine for your continuous hard work and outstanding care

to our residents!

Employee Of The Month - February 2014 Gloria Ludaes ~ Irvine Cottages

Gloria “Glo” Calado Ludaes works at Cottages 3 and 9. She was born in

Mankayan Benguet in the Phillipines. She grew up with her 3 brothers and 3

sisters and her parents who were farmers. She is married to Esmael Ludaes who

also works at Irvine Cottages and together they have 4 children. Her other jobs

have included being a business woman, teaching and farming. She enjoys country

music but doesn't have a favorite singer. She really likes to eat at Philipino res-

taurants and Asian Buffets. She likes to visit places around the world and if she

could travel anywhere, she would like to go to the places in the world she hasn't

travelled to yet. Her family makes her happy and she is grateful for her job at

Irvine Cottages. Gloria is humble, lovable, friendly, respectful and loves to serve

her family.

Thank you Gloria for your continuous hard work and outstanding care

to our residents!

In Memorium Please pray for our residents who are ill, and/or on hospice.

Also for the following residents who have passed away over the last few months

and their families.

Thank you to their caregivers and families for giving them loving and dignified care.

Merna Gound - Irvine Cottage 3

Donna Tabb - Irvine Cottage 4

Thelma Haase - Irvine Cottage 2

Nicholas Liguori - Irvine Cottage 6

Audrey McCall - Irvine Cottage 6

Edna Bell - Irvine Cottage 1

Employee Of The Month - March 2014 Esmael Ludaes~ Irvine Cottages

Esmael Dayaeon Ludaes works at Irvine Cottages 3 and 9. He was born and grew

up in Buguias Benguet in the Philippines with his siblings and his parents who

were farmers. He is married to Gloria who is also a caregiver at Irvine Cottages.

He lists one of his previous jobs as being a truck driver. He enjoys watching

Action movies and listening to Country music. He likes to go to Buffet

restaurants and enjoys eating soup. He likes to visit the zoo and if he could travel

anywhere in the world, he would like to visit Canada.

Esmael says that his family makes him happy and he is grateful for his job at

Irvine Cottages along with his compassion and patience. He is driven, humble,

respectful, loveable and friendly.

Thank you Esmael for your continuous hard work and outstanding care

to our residents!

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CONTESTS AT THE COTTAGES

Best Irish Meal Best Decorated Cottage

Along with our Cooking Contest, at the same time we will also judge

the cottage on their Irish décor as well. Who will vote?

Residents. Gina and Alex will pick up a few residents and take

them to judge the food and décor. Do you have ideas for some

quick and easy recipes….let us know and we will do the shopping.

Cash Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and third prize winners.

Good Luck everyone!

Referrals...The highest compliment our families can give us is the referral of

your friends and families. Give us a referral that places and we will give you a

complimentary $500 discount on your next monthly statement.

Thank you for your trust.

Outings Update Residents love going on outings with Gina. During the month of December some

of our residents went to Laguna Hills mall and enjoyed the Christmas

decorations. They also enjoyed seeing Santa and his elves and also shopping

during the Christmas Holiday. Residents also liked driving around their local

neighborhoods to see the beautifully decorated homes especially to look at the

lights. Residents also had fun going to the Christmas Party where we had 90%

resident and staff attendance. Gina continues to take resident’s on drives to local

parks and to visit residents in other homes. They like to go out to lunch - their

preferences include Del Taco, In & Out Burger, and Starbucks. Residents also

like to accompany Gina on errands which include going to CVS, Costco and even

many other stores. Thank you Gina.

If you have any suggestions for fun outings, please let us know.

Irvine Cottages wishes all of their residents and

families A Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

March 17th

Residents will enjoy Corned Beef and Cabbage

and Dessert!

Patio Time…

Cottage 10 residents enjoying the lovely spring

weather on their patio.

Movie time at the

Cottages A couple of times a week homes have

Movie Time. Popcorn and snacks are

served and a different movie is shown.

Residents love old movies. Let us

know if you have any suggestions or

old DVD movies that you’d like to

donate. Gina will also be planning

more outings to Cottage 9 to watch

movies in the home theatre room.

Garage

Organization

Thank you to Cathy

Beaumont who is

working hard clearing

out all of our cottage

garages. She will be

gradually working at

each cottage and will be

organizing them as well.

Thanks Cathy!