Continued on page 2

The residents of Bellflower Oak Street Manor and Bellflower Friendship Manor are tapping into their inner artist, thanks

to their own volunteer spirit.Every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the communities’ residents

and their neighbors in Bellflower, Calif., get together for the common goal of creating art. From quilting to painting, participants embrace the oppor-tunity to express themselves.

But that opportunity was in jeopardy when cuts in funding by the city of Bellflower last year left the program without an instructor. Thanks to some determined residents, however, the classes continue.

Art Experiences EngageResidents and Neighbors

VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2012

Page 3 Bill and Linda Fellows discover Rosewood.

Page 4 Kallander to guide Aging Services.

Page 5 ABHOW implements new opinion survey.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories

Bellflower resident Sylvia White enjoys expressing her creative side.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JUNE 2012 2

Bellflower Administrator David Gregory reports that residents Richard Jaros and Miriam Nelson have helped keep the classes going by volunteering as unof-ficial instructors. In addition, the teacher who led the class prior to the budget cuts returns once a month on a volunteer basis.

It’s been a rewarding outcome for all involved.

“It gives them a chance to develop some new skills and to create some beauty,” Gregory says.

Gregory adds that the residents have taken the wheel of the eight-person art class by providing their own supplies, including canvases and paints.

In April, the art class organized an exhibition and sale at the Neighborhood Christian Fellowship, located across the street from the community.

“It was a nice sale,” says Jaros, who has been paint-ing for almost 20 years. “I think we are going to have another one soon.”

Art Experiences Engage Residents and Neighbors Continued from cover

Perhaps as soon as this December, Jaros says, with plans for 10 percent of the sale proceeds to go to the Bellflower Resident Council for community trips and organized events.

Gregory and Jaros say they hope to acquire grant fund-ing to eventually employ an art teacher. For now, though, the volunteers are happy to help for the sake of art.

“It keeps us busy here, and out of trouble,” Jaros laughs. “It’s fun, relaxing.”

Gregory says that in June the mayor of Bellflower, along with other city officials, plan to visit the Bellflower communities and inform the residents about city spending.

“It’s good that we have a connection with the city,” Gregory says.

Perhaps that connection will lead to more opportuni-ties for classes at the Bellflower communities, giving resi-dents and neighbors even greater access to their creativity.

Class participants include residents and neighbors of the Bellflower Oak Street Manor and Bellflower Friendship Manor communities.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JUNE 2012 3

Couple Enjoys Every Moment at RosewoodBill and Linda

Fellows have a shared philosophy that helps them enjoy retirement. They intend to age vibrantly.

Bill, 73, and Linda, 64, love to exercise, work on projects, travel, socialize and take yoga classes. So when they started looking for a continuing care retire-ment community (CCRC) they knew it would take a special place to meet all their needs. Having lived in Bakersfield, Calif., for the past seven years, they also wanted to stay local.

“I’m the main caregiver for my mother, who is 87,” says Linda. “And though she’s in pretty good health, it’s been an eye-opener. We started thinking about what we wanted for our later years.”

Bill, a retired engineer with Honeywell’s aerospace division, and Linda, who worked in human resources for AT&T, are accustomed to staying busy. Finding a suitable community proved to be a challenge.

“When we started our search, we discovered pretty quickly there’s not a lot out there,” says Bill.

They wanted a place that would adapt with them through-out the aging process, one with a wide range of activities, a convenient location in Bakersfield and well-appointed apartments. They found all that and more at Rosewood Retirement Community, an ABHOW CCRC.

“Rosewood has a lot of options,” says Bill. “You can do in-apartment care, you can bring your own care-giver, they have assisted living and skilled nursing. They’re also building an Alzheimer’s center. So as we age and our needs change, we’ll be able to remain here and still get the care we need. But, it also has a wide variety of activities for us now.”

Rosewood features a walking club, an exercise room, a pool and a full roster of classes that offer plenty of activities for both of them. Since arriving in May, Bill has already taken advantage of the community wood-working shop.

“Moving from our home with a garage and shop, we thought he’d have to give that up,” says Linda. “We were pleased to find out that wasn’t the case.”

Bill and Linda Fellows haven’t slowed down since their move to Rosewood in May.

WISE MOVE

Continued on page 6

ENJOY A SEASON OF SAVINGS

Eight ABHOW continuing care retirement communities are offering

special move-in incentives.Learn more at abhow.com/wise-move

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JUNE 2012 4

Continued on page 6

Kallander to Advocate for California Seniors“Think of a particular resident who

is special to you,” said Kay Kallander, ABHOW senior vice president.

“Think of their face, their situation. The seniors in our communities, organizations and programs are de-pending on us. This is a time of uncertainty for them, as it is for all of us. We have no choice but to be their voice.”

Kallander was addressing members of Aging Services of California, who in May gathered in Palm Springs, Calif., for the advo-cacy association’s annual confer-ence. The group represents more than 400 nonprofit providers who together serve more than 100,000 older Californians through af-fordable housing, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, skilled nursing, as well as home- and community-based care.

Active with Aging Services for more than 25 years, Kallander was installed on May 8 as the associa-tion’s new board chair. During her first speech to members of Aging Services in that role, she identified two issues she plans to prioritize during her two-year term.

Number one is the financial pressure on senior services.

“Most cities, our state of California and even our country are facing difficult times,” she said. “How do we live within our means while keeping the promises

Kallander

we have made to our seniors? What supportive ser-vices will remain and which will simply disappear? Who will decide?”

Effective advocacy for California’s seniors requires strong bonds among state-level groups and the na-tional organization LeadingAge, Kallander noted.

“This is a time where linkages and partnerships are especially important, and we look forward to working

with our friends and colleagues from LeadingAge and other state associations around the country,” she said.

Her second priority as chair will be to train emerging leaders for the senior living profession in California.

Mentoring has long been a passion for Kallander. She helped launch — and for five years served as a coach in — the yearlong, na-tionwide leadership development program now called LeadingAge Academy. That experience inspired her to develop similar programs on

the state- and companywide levels. Currently, she co-facilitates both Aging Services’ EMERGE program and ABHOW’s own initiative, Leadership ABHOW.

“Kay has committed countless hours to developing our EMERGE program, which allows us to ‘grow our own’ leaders for the future,” says Joanne Handy, Aging Services of California’s president and CEO. “Her in-novative approach and dedication to the students has

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JUNE 2012 5

ABHOW Rolls Out New Resident Survey Even when people say you’re do-

ing a great job, it’s a good idea to ask how to do even better.

That’s the purpose of ABHOW’s Resident Opinion Survey, which offers residents of ABHOW continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) an opportunity to tell the company what it’s doing well and ways it can improve.

“We know there’s always room for improvement, and sometimes we have our own ideas on where that might be,” says Jeff Glaze, senior vice president and chief operations manager for CCRCs. “But when we go to our residents to get their ideas on where we need to focus, it takes the guesswork out of deciding where we need to improve our services for, and our relationships with, residents.”

After an interlude of about one and a half years since the last survey, July marks the beginning of the

next survey. A new survey firm, My InnerView, will help ABHOW gather feedback efficiently and cover a longer period of time than previous years.

“The key change is that we’ll be doing surveys throughout the year” says Glaze. “In July we’ll survey ev-eryone, and that will set a new baseline. We don’t want to create survey fatigue for our residents, so we’ll pro-vide a six-month break, and in January 2013 we’ll start surveying a quarter of the residents every three months.”

The ongoing surveys will provide community ex-ecutive directors ongoing feedback on the initiatives they’re undertaking in response to the previous survey. It will also allow them to change course, if necessary, to improve the services they’re delivering to residents.

One additional change will ensure that short-term rehabilitation residents who pass through The Village, ABHOW’s health care centers, are surveyed, directly or through family members or other caregivers.

“Unless they were in The Village during our two-week survey windows in the past, we didn’t hear from them,” Glaze says.

My InnerView customizes its surveys based on whether the residents, their families or their caregivers are the ones responding.

“I think it’s important when someone is completing a survey as a third party that it’s directed to them, rather than asking them to try to put themselves in the resi-dent’s shoes,” Glaze says.

My InnerView will also offer the option of responding to the survey either on paper

Continued on page 6

Ongoing resident surveys will provide ABHOW with feedback on company initiatives, including health and wellness.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JUNE 2012 6

Couple Enjoys Every Moment at Rosewood Continued from page 3

ABHOW Rolls Out New Resident Survey Continued from page 5

Kallander to Advocate for California Seniors Continued from page 4

The two can walk from their apartment to go shopping and dining, among other things. And what isn’t within walking distance is easily accessible through a variety of transportation options provided by Rosewood.

Most importantly, they say, is the sense of community they feel in their new home.

“Everyone is so friendly,” says Linda. “The administration has really welcomed us by making custom modifications to our apart-ment and providing a welcome committee. We’ve enjoyed meet-ing our neighbors in the dining area and getting to know them.”

Adds Bill, “We’re just really impressed with Rosewood. We know that everyone is looking for something different, but we’d encourage anyone to take a look at it and see for themselves.”

made a real difference in the professional growth of many and will create a legacy that enhances the reach and reputation of our association.”

That service earned Kallander another distinction on May 8. Before naming her chair of the board, Aging

or online. Glaze points out that online re-sponses will reach executive directors faster.

He adds that the expansion and re-finement of ABHOW’s MyChoice din-ing program over the past two years is an example of how previous survey results led to change, specifically more dining options for residents.

“Based on previous surveys, one area we made a deliberate effort to improve was the dining services area, so I’m really eager to see the responses from the changes we put into place there,” he says.

Services gave her its Award of Honor for years of service in local, state and national efforts on behalf of seniors as well as steering EMERGE. Then the association threw her a 1960s-themed party where attendees broke out their headbands and tie-dyed shirts.

“We danced to the Beatles all night,” she says.

Kallander sees the work that she and other ABHOW leaders do with Aging Services of California as another way of serving those who live in ABHOW communities.

“Working with senior advocacy organiza-tions lets ABHOW be acutely aware of what’s happen-ing on the state and national levels,” she says. “We’re very much abreast of the issues affecting seniors, and we have the opportunity to influence how those issues are addressed. That benefits every one of our residents.”

Kallander receives the Award of Honor from Joanne Handy, the president and CEO of Aging Services of California.

ABHOW WordsSharing Our Stories JUNE 2012 7

ABHOW, National and State Websites: ABHOW: abhow.com LeadingAge: leadingage.org Leading Age Arizona: agingservicesofaz.orgAging Services of California: aging.orgAging Services of Washington: agingwa.org

“American Baptist Homes of the West, as an expression of Christian mission, seeks to enhance the independence, well-being

and security of older people through the provision of housing, health care and supportive services.”

Published by the Strategic Planning and Communications Department Kay Kallander, Senior Vice President e-mail kkallander@abhow.com

6120 Stoneridge Mall Rd., 3rd Floor, Pleasanton, CA 94588 phone: 1-925-924-7150 toll-free: 1-800-222-2469 fax: 1-925-924-7232

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Correction: An article in the May 2012 edition of ABHOW Words about The Terraces of Los Gatos’ Groundbreaking Gala and Auction misstated the square footage of The Grove, as well as the amount The Terraces has committed to raising. The size is 22,000 square feet, not 2,200 square feet — and the amount is $500,000, not $1 million.

Music Rings Out Again at Las VentanasThe residents of Las Ventanas, an

ABHOW community in Las Vegas, are serious about their music.

So, it was a sad day when the piano that had been loaned to them went back to its family. Missing the strains of Mozart, Chopin and the occasional doo-wop, the residents decided to do something: They went about raising money for a new piano.

Led by Piano Chairman Lois Ann Larson, donors got their names on a plaque — the Chopin Key Society for $1 or more, the Mozart Baby Grande Society for $300 to $500, and the Beethoven Grande Society for more than $1,000. In all, more than $22,000 was raised.

The residents researched pianos by going to local mu-sic stores, searching the Internet and asking family mem-bers, ultimately choosing a beautiful Yamaha Baby Grand.

Las Ventanas charter resident Bob Rush plays the community’s new baby grand piano.

“It was a true group effort,” says Patty Allsbrook, lifestyle director at Las Ventanas. “Everyone learned so much about the various player pianos and came together to get the one they wanted.”

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2012 edition of Legacy, the ABHOW Foundation’s quarterly newsletter.