The Fieldstone Feed

At Fieldstone, we love being able to learn about and celebrate the lives of our residents, and we are currently celebrating Bill and Paula’s 53^rd Wedding Anniversary!

This month Fieldstone is proud to highlight Sue Jones in our Employee Spotlight. Sue, also known as "Susie Newmie," is the Campus Ambassador of Fieldstone Memory Care Yakima and Fieldstone OrchardWest. Sue is originally from Seattle, Washington where she lived for 56 years. She enjoyed living there, but she did not enjoy the traffic and weather. Sue has seven incredible children, five girls, and two boys, with 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. All of her daughters are happily married and currently live within two hours of Yakima. Four of her oldest granddaughters have graduated from college; the fifth granddaughter just made Sue a great-grandmother, and the rest of the grandchildren are babies or in school. 

Editors Note: This article was originally posted in February 2017 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and you should be celebrating love for everyone. February is the month for love! While we hope you spread love and joy all year long, we know February holds an extra special place in all of our hearts. While you are showering your significant other or your kids with Valentine’s goodies, don’t forget the seniors in your life.

This month, Fieldstone OrchardWest would like to introduce you to one of our volunteers, Loxi Engebretson. Loxi was born in South Dakota but spent most of her childhood in Kentucky and Nebraska before moving with her family to Puyallup, Washington, in 1971. In 1991, she moved to Yakima where she bought a lighting company. Following that, Loxi went on to be a receptionist and courier for Memorial Physicians before retiring in 2011.

Preparing, serving, and enjoying food at the table is sacred in many cultures around the world. Additionally, the more we grow in our understanding of what constitutes a healthy meal, the more we desire recipes that are tasty and full of flavor. As we spend quality time with our loved ones in the kitchen, we want to celebrate the good times together as we create new memories and honor family traditions. Our moms, whether or not they follow the precise directions that the recipe calls for, know how to mix together essential ingredients that make our mouths water and our hearts smile.

Independent living communities come in many shapes and sizes, and go by several different names such as active adult communities, 55+ or 62+ communities, senior living communities, and retirement communities. Whatever the name, the primary goal of these communities is to provide aging adults with the opportunity to remain independent, while receiving the social and health benefits of communal living. As you are considering what senior living option is right for you, consider the following benefits of living in an independent living community like Fieldstone Grandridge and Fieldstone OrchardWest.

Ida is one of our newest residents living here at Fieldstone Memory Care Issaquah! She was born in Widnau, Switzerland and was one of 8 children. Out of her seven siblings, Ida, her sister Rosee (whom she claims is the family favorite) and Paulie are the only ones remaining. She and all of her siblings were raised on a dairy farm.

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month, which was started by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. At that time, there were fewer than 2 million Americans living with the disease, now that number has soared to 5.4 million. 

Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are increasing worldwide. In fact, every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease. Because the number of people living with dementia are growing at a rapid pace, the need for specialized care has also increased.

Managing a parent's finances is a reality many children will face. In fact, about 22 million people age 60 or older have selected someone to make financial decisions on their behalf. Because the shift can happen suddenly, due to illness, an emergency, or a decrease in cognitive abilities – it is best to be as prepared and organized as possible before an emergency occurs. Knowing what to do when the time arises will mitigate stress and help ensure investments are protected.