Holly Creek - Christian Living Communities

The clock was in my grandfather's home, shares Holly Creek resident Dan Parker. We lived in the big old second floor of a farmhouse, and it was downstairs in my grandparents living room. When we moved, it was still in their home only about a mile away. If you woke up in the middle of the night, you would always know what time it was because you could hear it hit the hour all throughout the house.The clock Parker is referring to is actually the one immortalized in the song My Grandfathers Clock sung in so many elementary school classrooms over past century and a half:My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelfSo, it stood ninety years on the floorIt was taller by half than the old man himselfThough it weighed not a pennyweight moreIt was bought on the morn of the day that he was bornAnd was always his treasure and prideBut it stopped, short never to go againWhen the old man diedThe renowned songwriter Henry Clay Work wrote the lyrics in 1876, dating the clock itself to the early 1790s. As it happens, Works wife is Parkers great, great aunt, and the clock has become an important family heirloom part of the family lore. The song was popular not only in American schoolhouses but also around the world. In 2000, Japanese pop artist Ken Hirai traveled to visit the clock himself where it was still stationed at Parkers grandparents place.I remember my family gathering around the table and singing the song to him, and then he sang it back to them in Japanese, Parker shared.Hirai was so taken with the clock that he completed a new rendition of the My Grandfather Clock, and he wasn't the only one His new recording sold 40,000 copies in less than a year. The song was so popular that Hirai came back with a 40-member TV crew to capture a live performance of the song that was streamed from the Parkers farm all the way to Japan.While Dan Parker was in line to steward the clock next (it is given to the oldest son of each generation), he elected to let the duty pass to his nephew in Granby, Massachusetts instead when he decided to move out West to Colorado. The clock has always been in that same town all the time since 1938. It's been in the family for around 7 or 8 generations, Parker explained. To bring it from a humid environment into this one would be nearly impossible.This is not to say that the clock doesn't have a knack for survival. In the 1970s it outlived a strange incident involving a tired driver and a late-night car crash into the side of the family home. The car hit the outside of the room where the clock was sitting, and while missing the clockworks, the collision launched the clocks pendulum through the wall over the heads of Parkers grandparents and into the houses outside wall. Thankfully, a cabinet maker was able to put the pieces of the clock back together in time for the 50thanniversary of Parkers parents.Today the clock tick-tocks on in Massachusetts, a token not only of life's brevity, but also of its interconnectedness and legacy, handed down over the generations.

Home is where the heart is This is one of my favorite sayings that my mom and grandmother both had mounted in their kitchens. Home is where we raise our children, find our solace after a tough day, make our holiday memories, and secure our future. Home is everything to us.When it comes to moving to senior living, older adults must give up their homes anddownsizeto apartment living. It is quite an emotional journey, often coming with much reluctance and grief.In additional to thelogistical detailsnecessary to make a move, here are five thoughts to consider in order to ease the emotional burden:USE YOUR TIME WISELYWhile living in and enjoying your primary home, set up a schedule to downsize your belongings and memorabilia, well before an expected move. Start with a single drawer or closet shelf, so that the emotions can be segmented in smaller moments of time and effort. Set up rewards for yourself when you accomplish each little goal.ENGAGE YOUR FAMILYReminiscing about the past is so important for older adults to celebrate their accomplishments and share their values and beliefs with younger family members. Asking children and grandchildren to join the downsizing process can be an enjoyable multi-generational activity and an opportunity to share important memories. Make it into a fun afternoon to see what treasures will be discovered or how many trash bags you can fill.DOCUMENT YOUR EXPERIENCEMany people find journaling a cathartic experience. Perhaps downsizing brings up negative emotions. Take time to journal about these emotions and what is most difficult in the current moment. Ask yourself what you need to know, gain, or release so that you can move forward with the downsizing process.ENVISION THE POSSIBILITIESWhile any change will disrupt someones natural daily schedule and rhythm, begin to envision the positives about a smaller apartment with less responsibility,a lifestyle with more amenitiesand support, new friendships and relationships, and the opportunity for new learnings and experiences. Creating a positive vision will often help provide the momentum needed to complete the task at hand.CREATE RITUALWhile many find enjoyment in their numerous sets of china, family photos mounted on the walls, and favorite pieces of jewelry, create a ritual to pass them down to family members or donate to families in need. Many people will often re-purpose cherished items to fit a smaller space, such as creating collages, quilts and collections from their most precious items. Perhaps writing a story about the items will help others understand their value and meaning.Although grieving a move can be a difficult process, avoiding the grieving experience often creates unnecessary chaos and confusing if a crisis should happen without being prepared. Home is where the heart is, for sure, but there is also an age-old saying, bloom where you are planted. Older adults have been through so many changes in their lives and are much more resilient than expected. Moving to senior living is yet another stage of life, and one to be celebrated for a long life well lived.

We are thrilled to share that several CLC-Cappella communities have been honored by U.S. News & World Report with their inaugural Best Senior Living awards. The following communities were recognized:Holly CreekBest Independent Living and Best Assisted LivingClermont ParkBest Independent Living and Best Assisted LivingCappella of Pueblo WestBest Assisted LivingSomeren GlenBest Assisted LivingU.S. News awards the designation of Best Senior Living only to those communities that satisfy U.S. Newss objective statistical assessment of each senior living communitys performance from consumer satisfaction surveys administered between March 2021 and February 2022. These assessments reflect the viewpoints of more than 200,000 current residents and family members of residents living in thousands of senior living communities across the country.Best Senior Living ratings are based on U.S. Newss in-depth analysis of consumer-satisfaction data taken from the resident and family surveys organizations conducted with Activated Insights. U.S. News separately evaluated each location in independent living, assisted living and memory care. In each category, approximately 30 percent of participating locations achieved the distinction of being recognized among the Best.Until now, families have had limited information when comparing providers of independent living, assisted living, memory care or continuing care, said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. The Best Senior Living ratings fill this informational gap with comprehensive and transparent data to help older consumers and their families identify high-quality senior living communities that meet their needs and preferences.The common theme among residents is that CLC communities provide outstanding levels of care and support. Personal connections with residents, families and team members are essential as positive relationships can help reduce the social isolation and loneliness that can harm the health of older adults.We enjoy the intellectual stimulation of living with such an intelligent group of peopleuniversity professors, successful businesspeople, scientists, geologists, etc., says one resident at CLC community Holly Creek.A delicious dining experience, a robust activities calendar, and a friendly team can improve quality of life for residents. One resident shares that the food is excellent, and they do good activities with the clients. The staff is very friendly. I always feel welcome.Christian Living Communities recognizes that an incredible amount of care, focus and hard work goes into meeting the requirements of these prestigious awards. We appreciate the dedication of our team members and the strength, care and encouragement they provide to those they serve.

Recently, our residents participated in a live virtual event called Super Cooking with Chef Nathan.This past year 39 new people have joined our Holly Creek community. They all started out in the same place wondering what this new lifestyle would be like. What they found is they met new people, expanded their social life, tapped into educational and cultural programs and events (yes, even in 2020). They also have enjoyed chef prepared meals regularly and had a variety of folks to dine with.

Written by: Jim Kok, Executive Director of Chaplain Services at Holly CreekIn my over three decades of involvement with long-term care/senior living, and the last 27 years as Chaplain, it has been a joy to participate in a culture change that has brought greater focus on services and care for the whole person. Especially important, I believe, has been the emphasis on the importance of spirituality as a component of successful aging and successful living.What are the advantages of including spirituality and spiritual services in our communities? Its more than weekly worship services or regular programming, as important as those may be. It is also about believing that we all have a continuing need to find purpose and deeper meaning in our lives. The Chaplains in our communities are skilled in listening for those needs and providing encouragement and support to residents, their families and care partners as they walk through the many changes, transitions and crises that are part of being a human being.Because we have a strong faith heritage and a Christian mission, in our communities you will find Christian worship on Sundays and programs such as Bible Studies and Chapels during the week. You'll also find spiritual programming that encourages people to engage with the world around them, from educational sessions to conversation groups exploring the deeper meaning behind the daily news. You'll find small groups meeting together for prayer or meditation, and service projects that give opportunities to share and to give back to the greater community by building toy cars, packing shoeboxes for Christmas or knitting blankets, baby clothes and prayer shawls. All of these are ways that we encourage each person's quest for meaning and purpose.Over the years, visitors and prospective residents have asked if moving into a Christian Living community means that they need to profess a Christian faith or a certain brand of Christianity. And often they wonder if they dont profess or believe certain things, will there be pressure to change? Once they experience our communities, they quickly realize that we take seriously our mission to reflect Christian love, respect and compassion to everyone, to each individual, regardless of where they come from or what they believe. What they find is a caring and supportive community that understands we all have something to give and contribute to the world around us.One of my favorite quotes comes from Penelope Wilcock, we call ourselves human beings, but we could also maybe think of ourselves as human becoming's, a will be as much as an is. Our strong focus on spirituality is fundamental to this process of continued growth, of believing that we are indeed human becoming's, people of value who can make a difference every day of our lives.

What if you could live in a community that is designed to support your active lifestyle, overall health, and well-being with resources right at your fingertips? What if you could say goodbye to shoveling snow in the winter, mowing the lawn in the summer, and home maintenance chores all year long? This can all be yours when you make the choice to live in an active senior living community. And dont believe the myths it can be one of the most liberating and exciting times in life, especially now with all the current options available.Unlike in our parents time, today there are vibrant independent living options that actually enhance your lifestyle with resort-like amenities, resources, and a community of like-minded people. Its a far cry from when nursing homes were the only option for older adults who wanted a maintenance-free lifestyle with assistance if needed.A new era of community living became prevalent for older adults in the early 1960s when the demand for more options for older adults started shifting. Now communities from coast to coast offer amenities and opportunities that maintain active lifestyles and social engagements that make these communities appealing to many older adults.Debunking the Myths About Active Senior Living CommunitiesThinking of senior living communities in the same breath as nursing homes is so last century and couldnt be further from reality. Lets debunk a few of the myths about retirement communities:Myth #1: Does moving to a retirement community mean I will lose independence?Fact: Depending on the community, many have different styles of living from completely independent to more support levels if needed. Todays retirement communities are designed to create independent living options in order to meet the needs of this generations active lifestyle. Holly Creek offers options of stand-alone cottages and individual apartments where you are free to live as you wish and participate in events, dining and other social engagements when and if you choose.Myth #2: Is retirement living boring?Fact: Almost all senior living communities offer a variety of events that you can choose to participate in. In some cases, the residents create the calendar and events and in others, staff put together activities based on residents interests. When you dont have to spend time and energy on home maintenance chores, you can fully enjoy current interests and perhaps gain new hobbies while meeting new friends. In fact, moving to senior living is one of the best ways to help older adults prevent boredom and avoid social isolation. Holly Creek has so many opportunities, it might be a challenge to fit in all the activities you like, from enjoying the indoor/outdoor pool or fitness center to visiting the theater and art gallery to taking part in exercise classes.Myth #3: Is retirement living for people too old to live on their own?Fact: Older adults are increasingly embracing the idea of living in active senior living communities. According to USA Today, more than 600,000 older Americans like the idea of getting settled in a community and staying there if their care needs change. While there is no magic age to transition to a senior living community, there are some benefits to making the move while you are able to enjoy the amenities and activities offered in a retirement community. In addition, moving sooner will allow you to maintain living independently, but get adjusted to the community environment and be in the company of others.

This year, more than 25 percent of people ages 65 and older will experience a fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many of these falls will result in a broken hip or potentially life-threatening injury. After suffering a fall, an understandable fear of falling again may result in decreased physical activity, weaker muscles and poor balance, making future incidents more likely. Most experts agree that exercise is key to fall prevention in older adults.Falls can be the result of normal age-related changes, including poor eyesight or poor hearing. Illnesses and other conditions may also have an impact on strength and balance. As people age, their reaction time is slower, so when a trip occurs, they often dont react quickly enough to prevent a fall. The CDC cites exercise as a way to keep legs stronger and to decrease the chances of falling.Preventing Falls at HomeMany older Americans are injured when they fall at home. These falls are often due to hazards in the home that are easily fixed but sometimes overlooked. The CDC offers a home safety checklist that includes the following recommendations:Make sure rooms offer a clear path for walking and that no furniture needs to be moved around.Use rug pads beneath rugs to keep them in place.Pick up objects that are on the floor that dont belong, such as magazines, papers, or shoes.Keep wires and cords tucked away so they are not a tripping risk.Keep steps free of clutter. Make sure stairs are in good repair with a solid stair rail.Ensure there is good lighting in hallways and other areas.Use a rubber mat to avoid slips in the bathtub. Have grab bars available near the tub and toilet.Exercises for Balance and FlexibilityExercise is a proven way to prevent falls because it strengthens the muscles that keep us upright and also improves our balance. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any exercise program to make sure it is safe.For the greatest benefit, experts recommend a mixture of the following exercise types:Aerobic Walking, bicycling, or climbing stairs can help strengthen the muscles of your legs and lower body.Flexibility and balance Try tai chi to improve muscle strength while increasing balance. This ancient Chinese practice consists of slow, gentle movements many older adults appreciate, and has been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of falls. Yoga is another low-impact way to improve coordination and flexibility.Stretching muscles and joints helps to keep them flexible and improves balance.Resistance and strength training Using hand weights, elastic bands, or a weight machine can help build both upper and lower body strength.Other exercises, including simple sit-to-stand exercises and balancing practice, are also crucial for fall prevention. Here are some examples:Heel raises While standing up straight behind a chair, position feet hip-width apart, lift up on the toes, hold, then lower the heels to the floor. Repeat 10 times.Side leg lifts While standing up straight behind a chair, hold the chair back with both hands, lifting the right leg straight out to the side about 6 inches off the floor. Hold, then return to the starting position. Repeat up to 10 times on each side.Standing heel lifts Standing up straight behind a chair, hold the chair back with both hands, extending your right leg behind you with toes touching the floor. Bend the right knee up, trying to touch your right buttock with your heel. Hold, then slowly lower the leg. Repeat up to 10 times on each side.

Holly Creek residents and staff rally together during pandemicMany people would summarize 2020 in three words one tough year. But despite the difficulties much of us have faced, gratefulness abounds around how Arapahoe County residents have grown in their support of one another. As we approach Thanksgiving and the holidays, Holly Creek Life Plan Community in Centennial took the pulse of residents and company leaders to discover what they are thankful for, and discovered that a spirit of selflessness, collaboration and gratitude flourishes inside and outside community walls.When asked what she was thankful for, resident Jeanne Wilde shared gratitude first and foremost for the community staff and how theyve kept her and her neighbors happy, healthy and entertained.I listen to HCRK radio (Holly Creeks in-house radio station) on Channel 22, which also broadcasts exercise classes, movies and learning sessions including how to better use Zoom, Jeanne explained, and added, Its a resource for keeping us engaged with content created through collaboration between resident and staff.Cottage residents Fred and Kathy Degiorgio are thankful both for staff support and opportunities to keep socializing at Holly Creek. They are new kids on the block, having moved just three months ago to aHolly Creek cottage home the single-family residential homes around the main community building. Since that time, the couple has become instrumental in encouraging community within their new Holly Creek neighborhood.According to Kathy, cottage residents have moved the party outdoors, specifically into their driveways, in order to stay connected.Driveway concerts held outdoors in the Holly Creek neighborhoodWeather permitting, we have wine Wednesdays, she explained, which feature small, live trios playing jazz or chamber music. We always rotate driveways, wear masks and stay socially distanced.To help with the cooking, Kathy often orders out for lunches and dinners to be delivered from Holly Creeks gourmet restaurant, the Centennials, across the street. Great service, great food and great attitude, Fred added.For Dennis Baldwin, thankfulness began when he and his wife joined the community. I moved here in May 2015 with my wife, who had dementia, he explained.The Baldwins specifically chose Holly Creek because it provides different neighborhoods/levels of care under the same roof. This enabled Dennis to continue living in the independent wing of the community (where he still lives today), only a couple hundred feet away from his wifes apartment in the communitys memory care neighborhood. When his wife eventually needed hospice, Holly Creek staff also arranged for this care to be provided on-site.Physically and emotionally they provided excellent care to my wife and I, Dennis added. They met every expectation I had.The theme of community collaboration resonates with Dennis as well.It has been a pleasure to watch the residents and team members rally around one another and find community in new ways during this extraordinary time, he shared. Im grateful for our residents who can share a lifetime of wisdom and experience and staff who provide opportunity to find joy in daily life.Christian Living Communities board chairman Gregory Terry expressed similar gratitude for this essential collaboration and particularly for the dedication of the team he is privileged to support. I am incredibly thankful for the heroic efforts of our Associates at all levels of the organization. They have demonstrated amazing courage and compassion during this pandemic as they serve our residents.Many things had to be adjusted as a result of COVID-19, and Holly Creeks Chaplain Jim Kok added that he is thankful for how his team members adhere to the rules and regulations to everyone in our community safe while still find ways to keep community spirits high.They find amazingly creative ways to keep everyone engaged from virtual singalongs, to games and contests that keep the excitement in our communities, Jim added.Christian Living Communities Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Angela Green-Urbaczewski shared, Holly Creeks team went above and beyond with every aspect of living in our new normal, from delivering meals to both residents and prospective residents who were locked down, to organizing socially distanced happy hours on our outdoor courtyard.Angela also shared special thanks to residents for, Hosting the communitys in-house radio station HCRK to provide listeners with great music, community updates and talk-radio programming that keeps listeners engaged and informed.Jeanne Wilde summed it up simply by concluding, Were in this together, and weve grown stronger as a community despite these most challenging times.

ProfitSword Partners with Christian Living Communities & Cappella Living Solutions to Provide Data Management Technology for Senior Living Business IntelligenceSenior living organization set to implement ProfitSage at all community locations for enhanced operational and organizational efficiency and to spur additional company growth. ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (March 31, 2020) - ProfitSword, a premier developer of business intelligence and data integration software for the senior living industry, has entered into an agreement with Christian Living Communities & Cappella Living Solutions to implement ProfitSage, an advanced forecasting and budgeting platform capable of providing instant access to all performance-related data throughout an organization in real time. As a rapidly expanding operator of not-for-profit senior living communities under its Christian Living Communities brand along with for profit locations under the Cappella Living Solutions name, the senior living organization is set to implement ProfitSage at all 24 of its locations in addition to two that are currently under development. Providing all company employees with access to ProfitSage will streamline the strategic business planning process and maximize the ability to identify additional growth opportunities. Due to the organization's large portfolio and with its ongoing expansion that added to the complexities of running a successful business, the Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions leadership team recognized the crucial value that access to real-time performance data can provide in ensuring sustained growth. With the implementation of ProfitSage, employees throughout the organization will be equipped with a single source dashboard where all performance-related data is automatically collected and presented. Employees can therefore save countless hours otherwise lost to manually gathering information while being confident that the data they are analyzing represents an accurate depiction of the current business environment. Seamlessly able to integrate with an array of disparate data-generating systems, ProfitSage will be able to provide Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions with effortless and instant access to a multitude of metrics that includes occupancy levels, expenses as well as labor time and attendance."Many operators within the senior living market have traditionally run their businesses by looking in the rearview mirror to analyze historical trends, yet operating as a large company with a goal to continue growing means that we cannot afford to use such an approach as it essentially blinds you to future opportunities and upcoming changes within the industry," says Camille Burke, Chief Operating Officer at Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions. "When considering the implementation of ProfitSage, we were immediately impressed with the solution's ease-of-use and its ability to drill down deep into specific data segments that can demonstrate where our organization is heading, not just where it has been. We look forward to providing each of our employees with the exact information that they need precisely when they need it, allowing them to quickly make informed decisions so as to maximize our business planning efficiency as well as catering to the changing needs of our residents."ProfitSage's automated reporting abilities will ensure seamless access to real time performance data for all employees at Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions. This feature provides each staff member with an ability to receive up-to-date information in the form of customizable reports that can be automatically delivered to a user's email or dashboard. Such reports can provide up-to-date metrics on a specific data segment, department, community location or an entire portfolio."We are honored to have been selected by Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions to provide them with an ability to eliminate data silos by implementing ProfitSage, ensuring that any performance data is readily available the moment that it is needed in order to devise the best possible business strategy," states Paul Bennie, Director of Business Development at ProfitSword. "Strategic planning and the ability to anticipate upcoming opportunities or risks is critical to maintaining a successful operation and ensuring that company growth continues no matter what market a business serves. Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions has been able to achieve an impressive expansion with its operations around the country, and we are thrilled to now have an opportunity to provide them with the latest that business intelligence technology has to offer in order to drive their growth, revenues and efficiency even further."