While the primary dictionary definition of ritual is "a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed in a prescribed order," ritual actually has a solid place in secular life. Chances are that you perform little rituals throughout your day without even realizing it. Consider the actions you take when getting ready to leave your assisted living apartment or brushing your teeth before bed.

Selecting the best holiday gift for friends and family can be both exciting and daunting. Whether you love to hand-make gifts every year and need some fresh ideas to try or you're looking for something unique to give to loved ones who have everything, here are a few ideas for meaningful gifts you can start making now for Christmas. They can be made right in your assisted living apartment, but you can also spread out in common areas with your supplies and invite others to join you.SleepwearOne of...

The cool weather, colorful foliage and misty mornings make autumn a favorite time of year for many people. With so many traditions associated with the season, even those who tend to prefer spring or summer will find plenty to do in the coming weeks. To give you some ideas to start planning your own outings and events, here are some outdoor fall activities to help you enjoy the changing season.Visit Local FarmsFall is synonymous with harvest time, and apple season is in full swing in Missouri dur...

September is National Self-Improvement Month, and for seniors living in assisted living communities, this is a good time to learn a new skill or discover a fun and interesting hobby. Learning a new skill helps older adults keep their minds sharp and may help improve cognitive function when the activity is mentally demanding, like photography. Consider the following five skills that are quick and easy to pick up.WritingTo be a writer, you simply need to write.

Many seniors have the preconceived notion that vaccinations are only for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of adults become seriously ill each year and are hospitalized due to preventable diseases, some of which are deadly. To safeguard against a serious illness or infection, make sure you are fully vaccinated.

Tea can be a healthful habit to start (or continue) for many seniors. But before you put the kettle on and enjoy cuppas and conversations with friends at Autumn View Gardens in Ellisville, make sure you understand what tea is and why it may bring a positive impact to your day.What Is Tea?Tea refers to an infusion of the Camellia sinensis plant. The flowers or leaves of the plant are steeped in water, and the resulting beverage is tea.

In order to keep our wits sharp, we need stimulation and challenge. This doesn't mean we have to complete endless brain twisters and memorization exercises. While solving puzzles and committing Bible verses or poetry to memory are great ways to improve your mental health, they aren't the only ways to keep your mind engaged.

There are many reasons why seniors should take up gardening as a hobby this spring. Growing a few vegetables or herbs, for example, lets seniors combine something they love with physical activity.By keeping the soil in their garden or containers healthy, seniors can ensure any produce they harvest and eat will be a nutritious addition to their diet. They can also extend the harvest season through the use of succession planting and careful planning.

At Autumn View Gardens, we know our homes are an extension of our personalities and lifestyles, and we encourage residents to put their own unique touch on their living spaces.April is National Decorating Month, and to help residents new and old celebrate and enjoy their surroundings, here are seven fun decor ideas for senior living apartments.1. Alphabet LettersVinyl letters that can be removed and reused make a fun accent for focal walls. By selecting a neutral color and font, seniors can matc...

While the assisted living community at Autumn View Gardens offers plenty to do in any season, we know that some seniors may be looking to travel with family while the grandkids are out of school. Whether your family is planning a vacation together and wants you to come along or you're considering visiting children or grandchildren during the warmer months, here are some planning and travel tips that can help you enjoy your adventure even more.Plan Travel Routes to Meet Your NeedsWhile cost i...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, residents of Autumn View Gardens may be wondering how to celebrate this season. Whether you are sharing your space with a romantic partner, seeing a potential significant other or just want to spend some time with friends or family you care about, we've got some fun ideas for Valentine's Day. These activities would also be great ways to fill an afternoon or evening any time you want to enjoy the company of others.1.

Wrapping presents can, at times, feel like an art form. Stores and volunteers can provide assistance with professional wrapping jobs, and the internet is filled with tutorials that explain the process step by step for those who wish to wrap gifts personally.But for seniors with arthritis who struggle to achieve crisp corners and layered bows even on their best days, this joyful task can quickly turn into a hassle when pain and stiffness are factored in. To alleviate some of the stress, here are ...

The Advent season is right around the corner, and communities are already starting to sport Christmas decor. While for many this season is a celebratory time spent with friends and family over tables teeming with delicious food or around a fully decked Christmas tree, remember to make time for the quieter elements of the holidays as December approaches. 

November is Banana Pudding Lovers Month, which we think is a great time to delve into the history and details of this favorite dessert item. Check out some fun facts about banana pudding, and then try a couple of delicious recipes you can enjoy in your assisted living apartment or whip up in the bistro for a family gathering at Autumn View Gardens.

The end of summer means back-to-school time for grandchildren, nieces and nephews, which may have you wondering if there's some way you could enrich your own life through education. It's vital to keep your mind active as you age, and the best way to do that is through continuing education. Here are some of the benefits of pursuing new subjects as a senior and how to get started.

Little wooden chairs at short round tables. Hand-carved crucifixes on the wall. Old timey hymns playing on a turntable. Can’t you just picture being back in your childhood Sunday School room? Let’s take a break from the present and revisit the churches of your youth with these five scripture stories that are sure to bring back memories of Sunday School past.

It's never too late or too early in life to get legal and financial affairs in order, and if you don't yet have an advance directive, you may want to consider if you think this form is the right step for you.

Independence is important to most people, but as seniors age, they may begin to struggle with common tasks. Independence can become a key component in overall health and happiness.

At Autumn View Gardens, we work to make every resident feel comfortable and independent, but we also know that making a major change at any point in life can be stressful. Our staff is available to make your transition to an assisted living community in Ellisville, MO, as peaceful — and even joyful — as possible.Check out the three comforting Scripture verses below, which you can hold in your heart during your transition, as well as some ways our staff strive to put these principles into action ...

We’re excited to host a special networking event, Have Your Cake and Eat It Too, right here at Autumn View Gardens Ellisville on Wednesday, February 21st, from 4:30-6:00PM. In addition to enjoying some sweet treats (which everyone deserves in the middle of winter), visitors will have the chance to meet and mingle with our senior care professionals, including our Executive Director Tim Nye and our Health Services Director, Wendy Bornfeld.We hope you’ll join us and find out more about ...

The team at Autumn View Gardens Assisted Living is honored to announce our community has been recognized with a top-rated 2018 “Best of Senior Living” award from SeniorAdvisor.com. SeniorAdvisor.com is the leading consumer ratings and reviews site for senior living communities and home care providers across the U.S. and Canada.

As part of our community grant program, Autumn View Gardens recently donated $2,500 to the “Friends at Metro West” program through the Metro West Fire Protection District. The organization will use the money to help educate area seniors and youth in local schools on fire training and safety.“As a nonprofit organization, our mission is one of service,” said Tim Nye, Executive Director of Autumn View Gardens. “Our Metro West Fire Protection District makes such a positive contribution to our area.

Our community was fortunate to get a new bus for senior outings this year, but our old bus was still serviceable. Because we’re always looking for service opportunities, we’re excited to report Autumn View Gardens was able to donate the bus to a good home.Jason Maylee, manager of our landscaping company, attends a small church, Connection Worship Center in Pevely, MO. Jason and his Pastor James Leach were on a mission to have better outreach for their members.

Home is where the heart is, yet as so many of us who love a good meal know, the quickest way to the heart can be through the stomach—or taste buds. Our culinary services team is dedicated to nourishing our residents, body and soul, with tasty, heart-healthy meals. To celebrate, we’re hosting a special “Caring is a Work of Heart” culinary event, and invite you to join us for a delicious meal and to learn about the benefits our residents receive from our nutritional strategy. Mark your calend...

Our very own Pam Swihart, Health Services Director, is making a notable impact on the lives of our residents, while inspiring other staff to do the same! She is one of the many Autumn View Gardens care givers training in Teepa Snow's POSITIVE APPROACH™ - a progressive therapy for helping seniors and their families recognize and manage the early signs of memory change. As Health Services Director at Autumn View Garden Assisted Living, Pam Swihart, RN is intent on empowering the nursing...

At Autumn View Gardens, we work hard to provide an active lifestyle for our residents and at our communities in Ellisville and Creve Coeur, Missouri, we took “active” to a whole new level with our first annual multigenerational kickball game.On a Friday afternoon last month, a crowd of team members, their families and residents assembled at nearby Vago Park for an enjoyable afternoon game.“The two communities are only about 20 minutes apart,” said Ashley Wheeler, executiv...

We are pleased to share the critically acclaimed documentary Voices of Grief on Wednesday, April 27 at 4:00 p.m. The film, a Britt Penrod Audience Award Winner and Roy W. Dean Film Grant Finalist, offers a fresh perspective on how to honor, transform and integrate grief.

There is so much advice out there for people as they age — supplements, diets, exercise plans, anti-aging therapies! You might be interested to know that there are recommendations grounded in science that can help you live not just longer but also a healthier and happier life.   Do what moves you — not only will movement help you live longer, but it reduces your risk for heart disease, helps you get a healthy night’s sleep, decreases depression and pain, better bone strength, and fewer...

Karie Schwark, Executive Director of Grand Villa Assisted Living, was selected to the Presidential Advisory Group by Bethesda Senior Living Communities. Schwark received this honor recently while attending the BSLC director’s conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Bethesda’s core values are based on a SERVANT principles.

In April 2015, Grand Villa, an assisted living community of Bethesda Senior Living located in Grand Junction, Colorado, presented a total of $5000 to two companies in their local neighborhood to help support and expand their services. Giving back to the community is one way Grand Villa is living true to Bethesda’s core value of servanthood.

$2500 was given to Hope of the Grand Valley, a community provider focused on fostering and encouraging independence and self-sufficiency for low-income families. The company has said it will use the money to further develop programs such as budget coaching and interview and resumé preparation.

An additional $2500 was given to Hilltops Latimer House, a company dedicated to offering counseling, advocacy and shelter for adults and children who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The money donated here will be used to further explore counseling services.

Dani Wright, Marketing Director at Grand Villa explains, “We don’t want to reap the rewards and glorify ourselves, it’s about giving back. It’s not just about taking and taking; it’s about giving.”

Bethesda Senior Living Communities (BSLC) operates 19 non-profit communities in six states. BSLC’s mission is to serve seniors by enriching their physical, emotional and spiritual health in a nurturing environment. Each of the Bethesda Assisted Living Communities gives a benevolent donation to their respective community each year.

If you would like more information about Grand Villa, please call (970) 241-9706.

View all Bethesda locations nationwide.

Our President, Larry Smith, was recently featured in an article in the Colorado Real Estate Journal. Read the article where he discusses crucial technology updates he’s committed to making for Bethesda Senior Living Communities.

“It’s not about cutting cost per square foot or reducing nonrevenue-generating space. It’s about creating exactly enough flexible space to support a program that meets the desires of residents and families.”