fall 2010 • the village at Brookwood

Bobbi & Bud, residents of The Village at Brookwood since 2005.

Library Committee:Lending, Learning &

Expanding Minds

In The Village ShoppeThis Holiday

f r o m t h e e x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r

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thankful for the thorns and rosesSome people are always grumbling that roses have thorns;I am thankful that thorns have roses.

i am not sure where that quote comes from, but i find it very apropos during the holidays. it reminds us that when we are looking at the world with a negative frame of mind, what we really need to do is flip the situation over to shine a much more positive light. it’s time to be a little less Scrooge and a little more tiny tim. for example, when we experience a moment in which we can’t retrieve someone’s name or the word we are looking for, we may feel frustrated, or even despondent, at the aging process. But let’s flip it around. Yes, as we age our brains slow down. But is that necessarily a bad thing? No! A recent study at the university of california, San Diego, found that the brain slowdown is the source of senior wisdom. Seniors brains are less dopamine-dependent, making them less impulsive and controlled by emotion. Because we are less reliant on immediate gratification, we can take time to more carefully consider actions and make wiser decisions. Additionally, prior research has found that seniors have the ability to learn new skills. called “neuroplasticity,” it is the ability to generate neurons and synapses, and it continues throughout an individual’s life. even if you have damage to one part of the brain, the brain has an amazing ability to regenerate lost function.

So, we know two things:• there is a lot of truth to the old adage: “With age comes wisdom.”• there is no truth at all to the old adage: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

that’s your knockout rose at the end of the thorn. Lifecare retirement communities such as the village at Brookwood are wonderful places for finding people who are thankful that the thorns have roses. our community members are living among friends, sharing experiences and enjoying opportunities that increase their “neuroplasticity” through lifelong learning, cultural excursions, exercise classes, travel, volunteer work and more. And, even more importantly, while changes in health care and medicare continue to churn, our residents know that because they have chosen to live in a Lifecare community, they will always have the important access to the valuable health care services they need — now and in the future. With that kind of security and peace-of-mind, it’s no wonder our residents are having a blast living here at the village. Let the youngsters grumble about the roses having thorns — they aren’t having nearly as much fun!

Daniel L. cuthriellexecutive Director

Welcome toThe Village! John and Marjorie Idol moved to the village at Brookwood from their home in hillsborough, N.c. in mid-october.

We are also pleased to welcome our new marketing Director Patty Scotten, who began work on october 11. Patty most recently served as marketing Director for Glenaire, a Presbyterian retirement community in cary, and was previously the marketing Director for twin Lakes community, here in Alamance county.

www.villageAtBrookwood.org(800) 282-2053

c A m P u S S P o t L i G h t

Safe travels this Season With people out shopping and traveling to see family members and friends, there are many more cars and people on the road. here are a few timely tips for staying safe.

• Haveaqualifiedmechaniccheckyourcar’svitals— brakes, battery, fluid levels, tire pressure, light bulbs and any parts that need regular maintenance, particularly if you are going on a long trip.

• Keepemergencyequipmentin the car. A first-aid kit, flashlight, blankets, drinking water and snacks, along with flares, jumper cables and an ice scraper will come in handy if there’s a sudden White christmas.

• Allowplentyoftimeforthedrive.if you know it takes 10 minutes to get there, leave yourself 20 or more. And if you are going on a long trip, take an extra day for driving in order to avoid traffic jams.

• Drivecarefullyandpatiently. Be forgiving if someone demonstrates reckless driving.

• Don’tleavevaluablesinthecar. Put items in the trunk, particularly brightly wrapped packages.

• Avoiddistractions. changing the radio station, talking on the phone or eating a hamburger can all be distracting and cause an accident.

convenient holiday Shopping at the village Shoppe As the holidays approach, residents find they don’t have to get out in the hustle and bustle to purchase gifts for family and friends. the village Shoppe, located in the village Square, is a convenient venue offering an array of merchandise at very good prices. “We have a christmas open house every year on a Sunday afternoon,” says Bobbi crampton, the village resident in charge of the Shoppe. “We serve cheese and cider and display gift items and christmas decorations.” this year’s open house will be on Sunday, December 5. the village Shoppe is run by and raises money for the residents’ Association at the village. “We raise funds to further the non-profit purposes of the association, as well as its committee projects,” crampton explains. the association is involved in bringing the community together for social events and funding projects such as the new shuffleboard court and other initiatives to continue to improve residents’ lives at the the village. the Shoppe is completely run by volunteers and offers merchandise

ranging from $2 notions to $25 musical animals. there are scarves, wallets, purses, costume jewelry, watches, music boxes, hand towels and more. “All of our prices are under $30,” crampton explains. “We continue to search for new or unusual items to add to our inventory.” there are items on consignment in the Shoppe that are slightly higher priced and would make beautiful holiday gifts for a special someone. village resident hank

ogden displays his handcrafted wooden puzzles, games, jewelry boxes, footstools and more on the shelves. So before you rush out into the traffic and crowds to search for the perfect gift, stop by the village Shoppe. You might find exactly what you’re looking for.

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the weather outside is defi nitely getting chilly, and what better time of year is there to get comfortable with a good book? And for residents at the village at Brookwood, there are plenty of good books to go around! the village has three libraries managed by the Library committee, a part of the residents’ Association. the main Library, located on the second fl oor of village Square, is fi lled with hard cover books and novels. the

Satellite Library, located on the third fl oor of village Landing, is equally as popular and fi lled with paperback books. And the video Library is housed in the club room. All of the libraries are managed by a 20-member Library committee, which is co-chaired by Betsy Baldwin (at left, standing) and helen mencke (seated). “i personally love to work in the Library,” says Baldwin, a former educational art consultant who moved to the village with her husband in the fall of 2004. “the committee members are assigned to work, so each person rotates and works a week. the responsibility isn’t heavy at all.” of course, that isn’t to say that the Library committee wouldn’t welcome more members to participate. “We want more people to be involved!” says mencke, who has worked in an elementary school library.

Lending and Learning there is no lack of good books in the village’s Library. “As residents move into the village, they often donate books and videos,” Baldwin explains. “We average 15 to 20 books a month — sometimes we can receive as many as 50! We have a lot of residents who belong to mail order book-of-the-month clubs.” residents who have simplifi ed their lives and downsized after retiring often donate to the library, allowing them continued access to their favorite books without the need for storage space in their homes. the Library committee organizes and shelves books. When they run out of space or have too many copies of the same novel, they box up those they can’t use and donate them to friends of the Alamance county Public Libraries, which also donates back to the village. “they recently donated about 60 books on tape,” mencke says. And volunteers don’t have to worry about learning the Dewey Decimal System. “We try to keep it as simple as possible,” laughs Baldwin. “the committee developed guidelines for checking out books. each book has a card in it, so we usually know where it is if they sign the card and leave the card here. And they can keep the book for two weeks. ” Approximately 50 to 60 books are borrowed by residents and staff each month. the Library committee meets on the fi rst tuesday

village residents cozy up with Good Books

Would You Like to Honor a Loved One?You can buy a special book and donate it to the library in memory or in honor of a friend or family member. the book will have a plaque on the inside cover and will always remain in the village at Brookwood Library.

of every month, dispensing of the regular business in about 30 minutes and then moving on to something more fun — Book club. “our Book club differs from others where the members choose one book to read and discuss as a group,” Baldwin explains. “instead, everyone chooses a book, reads it and reports on the book. this gives us an idea of what we might like to read.” the club is designed so that members can learn more about what books they would enjoy — and learn more about other village residents. “the book club helps to pull together some common interests that the readers have — mysteries, biographies, etc.” says ruth Ann Stubblefi eld, Life enrichment coordinator. “it’s a good way to learn about new books if they’re sitting around the table giving a short review of each one, and it also tells a lot about the person.” Book club members also write reviews of books and movies for the residents’ newsletter each month.

Special Programsthe Library committee is encouraging those who are visually impaired to participate in the Library by adding more large print books and books on tape. “We are reaching out by appealing to the needs of those who can’t see as well,” Baldwin explains. in addition, the committee started a “read and Listen” group on Wednesday afternoons at 2 p.m. “this

What Are Some Book Club Favorites?Popular authors at the village include Danielle Steele, Nora roberts, Barbara taylor Bradford and John Grisham. recent favorite books include “the help” by Kathryn Stockett and “the Glass castle: A memoir” by Jeannette Walls. in addition, the Library has recently acquired copies of the herman Wouk novels from the 1970s about World War ii — “the Winds of War” and “War and remembrance” — which are proving to be very popular the second time around.

Alamance Reads 2011Alamance reads is a special civic event organized by friends of the Alamance county Public Libraries to encourage reading and signifi cant conversation among Alamance county citizens by gathering people around a common book and common experience. this year’s book selection, “the Pleasure Was mine” by N.c. author tommy hays, is a book about three generations of marshbanks men and how their lives are impacted by their wife/mother/grandmother’s Alzheimer’s disease. visit www.Alamancereads.com for more information.

f e At u r e

group is for people who are visually impaired or for those who just enjoy sitting and listening to a good book,” Baldwin explains. currently, fi ve residents have volunteered to do the reading. “Anyone who enjoys reading aloud is invited to volunteer, and all village residents are invited to sit and listen,” mencke says. “Presently, they are reading a charming book — ‘the Ladies of covington Send their Love’ by Joan medlicott.” the Library committee has also agreed to host a book discussion and reception in connection with the county-wide reading initiative “Alamance reads,” spon-sored by friends of the Library. the book chosen for 2011 is “the Pleasure Was mine” by tommy hays, and the Library committee will be selling the books for $5. “this is the fi rst year that we have participated in Alamance reads to this extent and offered to bring people to the village,” Baldwin says. “We’re in the planning stages for a program on tuesday, January 4, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Gathering Place.”

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A r o u N D t h e v i L L A G e

village residents on the Go

in August, village residents set sail for Bermuda after boarding royal caribbean’s

“enchantment of the Seas” in Baltimore, md. During the trip, they enjoyed many

spectacular sunsets, delicious dinners, sightseeing and shopping along front Street

in Bermuda, and a tour of “millionaire’s row,” one of Bermuda’s most exclusive

neighborhoods.

in September, some village residents traveled north for a seven-night Best of

michigan tour. they stayed at the Grand hotel on mackinac island, learned about

automotive history, and sampled Bavarian fun and Amish life along the way.

And in october, a group enjoyed the colorful fall foliage on a day trip to the

Blue ridge mountains and Glendale Springs. they visited St. mary’s and holy trinity

churches to see the frescoes painted by American artist Ben Long. Afterward, the group

enjoyed family-style country dining during lunch at the landmark Shatley Springs inn.

Right: Gathering before dinner on Captain’s Night: Enid Weitz, Helen Mencke, Ruth Anne Stubblefi eld, Bill Grant, Diane and Tom Bennett, and Paul Weitzon the cruise ship,Enchantment of the Seas.

volunteer Appreciationon october 8, residents of the village at Brookwood gathered for the annual

volunteer Appreciation Brunch. During 2009-2010, 66 residents recorded a total of

6,133 volunteer hours at the village. in addition, 32 volunteers reported 2,228 hours

of community service in Alamance county.

Special recognition was given to Bobbi crampton and mary Jo holt (left) for their

leadership in running the village Shoppe. “Both of these energetic women have been

instrumental in accepting leadership positions for various resident committees,” says

ruth Ann Stubblefi eld, Life enrichment coordinator at the village. “And both, in their

own quiet ways, have initiated innovative opportunities to benefi t the community.”

Below: Horse-drawn carriages transport guests at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Ben Long’s fresco, “Mystery of Faith,” at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in West Jefferson, N.C.

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November is American Diabetes month participants receive a comprehensive diabetes evaluation, attend educational classes and receive individual counseling. the program covers the following topics: what is diabetes, who is at risk, benefi ts of diet and exercise, use and safety of medications, insulin administration, carbohydrate counting, and an introduction to insulin pumps. the insulin pump program provides an introduction to pump therapy and the pumps available, and an assessment of patient needs. for more information about any of Alamance regional’s diabetes programs, call the LifeStyle center at (336) 538-8100.

If you have questions about risk factors for

diabetes or how to reduce your risk, visit

Jessica Wright, RN, the on-site health clinic

nurse at The Village at Brookwood.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects nearly 24 million children and adults in the united States, with another 57 million Americans considered to have prediabetes, meaning they are at risk for developing the most common form of diabetes: type 2. in type 2 diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin. insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use the glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications, such as heart disease or nerve damage. there are risk factors for type 2 diabetes — some of which you can change, such as being inactive or smoking, and some that you can’t, such as age.

Risk factors include:✔ Beingoverweight— excess weight has been shown to

contribute to the development of diabetes.✔ Physicalinactivity— you need at least 30 minutes of

exercise each day, and an hour would be even better. Losing weight and exercise can sometimes completely control diabetes symptoms.

✔ High blood glucose (sugar)✔ History of diabetes during pregnancy — gestational

diabetes✔ High blood pressure✔ Unhealthy cholesterol✔ Smoking — it’s associated with the development of

diabetes and a host of other diseases. ✔ Unhealthy eating — avoid trans fats, foods made with

sugar, foods made with bleached white fl our and other refi ned carbohydrates. eat more fi ber, found in raw fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and oatmeal.

✔ Age,race,genderandfamilyhistory

Alamance regional medical center, sponsor of the village at Brookwood, offers diabetes programs that are recognized by the American Diabetes Association for excellence in diabetes education. certifi ed Diabetes educators work closely with the patient’s doctor to offer the best care and information. in the Diabetes intensive Self-management program,

1860 Brookwood AvenueBurlington, Nc 27215

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Sponsored by Alamance Regional

Medical Center

Fall 2010

Alamance Piecemakers Quilt Guild on Display from January 24-29, the Alamance Piecemakers Quilt Guild will come together to share their skills and the joy of quilting at the village at Brookwood. the guild will have an exhibit of quilts and quilted items, some of which may be purchased, and participate in quilting programs throughout the week. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on January 26 and 29, you are invited to participate in quilting workshops run by Alamance community college instructors Lillian ellison and Stephanie Stempert. for more information, contact ruth Ann Stubblefi eld at (336) 570-8400.

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