Construction firm builds safer spaces

Passions Grow, Passions Bloom: Cultivating Wellness at Willow Valley Communities Among the most popular passions at Willow Valley Communities is gardening. And, Residents here have a wide variety of ways to indulge. Three generous gardens are situated across our sprawling 210-acre campus for Residents to use in a multitude of configurations of their choosing. Willow Valley Communities hardworking Grounds Team tills each garden in the spring and plows them in the fall, making them ready for Residents to dig right in. Whether Residents are experienced pros or novices, gardening is a wonderful way for them to get outside, enjoy nature and each other, and learn new things. Some Residents have been gardening for decades, while others have only started gardening after moving to Willow Valley Communities. In keeping with our Life Lived Forward philosophy, some Willow Valley Communities Residents take their love of gardening to deeper levels. For example, several Residents from across the country have achieved the distinction of Master Gardener. Master Gardeners are certified in their home state, and the program can take six months to a year to complete and includes a minimum of 40 hours of classroom training, a score of 80 percent on the final exam, and 50 hours of volunteer service. In another example, Residents Annabelle Simpson and Susan Kelly worked with the Penn State Extension of the Pennsylvania State University to have one of their gardens certified as an official Pennsylvania Pollinator-Friendly Garden. The stunning garden is well-known for attracting huge numbers of bees, butterflies, insects, and birds, helping our ecosystem to thrive. Residents are also able to partner their gardening skills with their desire to volunteer and give back to the Lancaster community. With the areas rich, fertile soil, and the extra special care and attention the plants receive, Residents often have an abundance of vegetables and donate them regularly. Throughout the growing season, the Solanco Neighborhood Ministries food bank receives a variety of beans, lettuce, kale, peas, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and much more from Willow Valley Communities Resident gardens. Additionally, every fall, a harvest of hundreds of pounds of sweet potatoes and butternut squash goes to the Lancaster County Food Hub, a community resource for free, nutritious food and gently used clothing. Some Residents maintain gardening plots every year just for this purpose.Annabelle Simpson and Susan Kelly Gardening time is couple time for Residents Mike and Susan Ziegler. Sue is an avid gardener, and Mike loves being outdoors supporting her gardening passion at Willow Valley Communities. They both love being together in nature, and Sue is amazed by how magical gardening can be. Its just a miracle when the seeds come up, she says. Resident Pat Mortensen challenges herself every year by growing something completely different. Once she enjoyed a robust harvest of King Tut Purple Peas, a very rare garden pea said to have been taken out of the tomb of King Tut! Resident and Master Gardener Angela Booker-White is originally from Virginia but has lived all over the country. Her interest in gardening grew as she read and learned more about it. In her plot at Spring Run, Angela grows all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and flowers and always tries something new. She has the most success with seeds she purchases from the dollar store! Angela has also learned how gardening can help during challenging times. She is grateful to her garden, as well as to her fellow Willow Valley Communities gardeners, for helping her during the difficult time of her husbands unexpected passing. Gardeners, and she doesnt know exactly who, would come and help by doing extra work around her plot. Residents just came in and helped, Angela says. Weeding, cutting, trimming, harvesting whatever work needed to be done. Thats the way Residents are here at Willow Valley Communities: very supportive. Resident Keith Yoder, who coordinates the Spring Run Garden, is not at all surprised by the variety of gardeners at Willow Valley Communities or by the reasons they enjoy the activity so much. He agrees that gardening is definitely a hobby that enhances well-being. Though hes known this himself for years, he refers to an article put out by CNBC that states how gardening can add years to your life. And life to your years, Keith adds. Gardening gets you into nature. Its good exercise for your body and your mind plus, you get to eat what you grow!

The Willow Valley Communities Day Spa is a destination for wellness and renewal. Its a critical component of the comprehensive Mind, Body, Spirit approach to wellness of Willow Valley Communities. The Day Spa offers many ways to soothe, calm, invigorate, or rejuvenate. A full range of professional services, all performed by our attentive and inviting staff, allows Residents to create their own regimen for personal well-being and beauty. These services include manicures and pedicures, skin care, facials, revitalizing peels, waxing, tanning, microdermabrasion, and body treatments with a wide range of different massage modalities, wraps, and scrubs. The Relaxation Room, with its beautiful waterfall and Himalayan Salt Wall, is a main feature of The Day Spa. It provides a peaceful and well-appointed environment in which to relax and offers a perfect and welcome respite between services. Himalayan salt rich in negative ions and essential nutrients and minerals offers numerous health benefits for our bodies, such as stress reduction, energy increases, and mood boosts at a biochemical level. Day Spa Manager Diamando Wallace says, Self-care is essential. Although manicures and pedicures are a well-deserved treat, they offer so much more to Residents sense of well-being. You can see the boost in a clients self-confidence as they walk out feeling refreshed.  Massages are one of the most popular services requested by Residents, and The Day Spa offers a wide menu of options, including hot stone and aromatherapy. Emily Ransing, Willow Valley Communities Day Spa Massage Therapist, says, Massage is meant to enhance your well-being physically and mentally. I frequently remind my clients that this is their time to focus on themselves to feel healthier. I do all I can to send each client home feeling better than when they arrived. A Willow Valley Communities Resident was asked about her massage as she was leaving The Day Spa one afternoon. She said, After a massage with Emily, your body is so relaxed that you can focus on the things that you often overlook the air is sweeter, the birds are more melodious, the day is brighter. You are better equipped to face the next days, whatever they may bring. As she walked out of the Cultural Center to her car, she added with a smile, Its also a way to take the tension out of your body although theres not much tension at Willow Valley Communities!

Changes in balance, strength, endurance, or recovery after an injury can make everyday movement more difficult. The right mobility equipment may help a person move more safely, conserve energy, participate in community life, and remain more independent at home.Choosing equipment, however, involves more than selecting a product from a photograph.What Mobility Equipment IncludesMobility equipment includes devices that help people walk, transfer, sit, travel, enter buildings, and move between levels of a home. Products may be used temporarily during recovery or as part of a long-term accessibility plan.Common Types of EquipmentMobility products may include: Canes, walkers, and rollators Manual wheelchairs Power wheelchairs Mobility scooters Lift chairs Patient lifts Portable and permanent ramps Stair lifts Vehicle lifts Hospital beds and other home accessibility equipment The safest choice depends on the users size, strength, balance, cognition, living space, transportation, and medical needs.Fit and Home Environment MatterBefore purchasing or renting equipment, measure: Doorways Hallways Turning areas Steps and thresholds Vehicle space Storage and charging areas Bathroom entrances Areas where transfers will occur Consider floor surfaces, bathroom access, thresholds, and whether a caregiver must lift or transport the device.A physical or occupational therapist may recommend features and help determine whether the user can operate the equipment safely. A prescription or clinical documentation may also be required when insurance coverage is requested.Buying, Renting, and Repairing EquipmentRenting may make sense for short-term recovery, visiting relatives, travel, or trying a device before purchase.Used equipment may lower the cost, but its condition, battery, fit, sanitation, and warranty should be checked. Ask who provides setup, training, repairs, and replacement parts.Insurance coverage varies. Confirm whether the supplier participates with the plan, whether prior authorization is required, and which documents must come from a clinician.Mobility Plus BoisePhone: 208-617-5200Mobility Plus Boise offers mobility equipment sales, rentals, service, delivery, and setup from its location at 339 N. Milwaukee Street in Boise. Its official location page lists new and used equipment and identifies short-term and long-term rental options. The availability of sales, rentals, and repairs gives families several ways to address a mobility need.A person recovering from surgery may only require temporary equipment, while someone planning for progressive mobility changes may need a longer-term solution and continued service support.New and Pre-Owned OptionsMobility Plus Boise states that it offers both new and pre-owned mobility products. Used equipment can be a practical option for some customers, but buyers should ask about: Inspection Battery condition Maintenance history Included accessories Return terms Warranty coverage Replacement parts Available repair services For powered equipment, clients should also ask about charging, battery replacement, weight capacity, portability, and safe operation on local terrain.Why Mobility Equipment Matters in BoiseBoise residents may need equipment for home use, appointments, shopping, community events, or travel throughout the Treasure Valley.Seasonal weather, uneven outdoor surfaces, parking distances, and home entrances can all affect which device works best.A local showroom and service provider allow users and caregivers to discuss fit, try available products, plan delivery, and arrange repairs. Local support can be especially important when a wheelchair, scooter, lift, or ramp is used every day.How to Get Started Ask a physician, physical therapist, or occupational therapist what type of device is appropriate. Write down the users height, weight, mobility challenges, transfer ability, and intended activities. Measure doorways, hallways, steps, turning areas, storage space, and the vehicle used for transportation. Contact Mobility Plus Boise at 208-617-5200 to discuss available products, rentals, and service. Ask to compare new, used, purchase, and rental options. Confirm delivery, setup, training, warranty, repair, and return policies. Verify insurance requirements before ordering if coverage will be requested. Reassess the equipment if the users condition, home, or caregiving needs change. Related Seniors Blue Book Categories Home Medical Equipment  Home Modification  Physical Therapy