Spring 2013 • The Village at Brookwood

Expanded Dining Options at

The Village

Unlocking The Artist

Within

Facebook: Good for

Your Brain

Barbara Schmidt, resident of The Village since 2010,

during class in the art studio.

F r o m T h e e x e c u T i V e D i r e c T o r

Why Not Now?

Daniel L. cuthriellexecutive Director

As i gave a recent tour of The Village at Brookwood to several couples who were planning for the next phase of retirement, i got to thinking about the famous quote from British author rose Tremain:

“Life is not a dress rehearsal.” This simple quote means that the time is now to find your passion and create the life you’ve always wanted. it came to mind because the individuals who were considering The Village at Brookwood were not ready to make the move just yet. The reasons had nothing to do with the housing market or the economy (both of which have significantly improved). They did not seem to think they needed to come to The Village while they were healthy; instead, they were planning for several years out. While planning ahead is extremely important, it begs the question: Why not move to a retirement community now while you are young enough and healthy enough to experience and enjoy everything it has to offer? if you wait to make the move after your health starts declining, it’s like coming in late to the big production and missing out on the opening act! here are just a few reasons to go ahead and make the move to a continuing care retirement community (ccrc) now.

• It’salmostlikebeingbackatcollege(withmuchbetterfood!). We hear this over and over from our residents who are out there meeting new friends, socializing, joining clubs and participating in the many activities.

• Youhavethefreedomtofindyourpassionandseekoutthethingsyouwanttodoratherthanthethingsyouhavetodo.You don’t have to cook meals, mow grass and pull weeds, or take care of household repairs. instead, you have the time to travel and dine at exciting places, learn more about flower arranging, or take a class at elon university in a subject you have always wanted to explore.

• You’llliveahappier,healthierlife. Studies have shown that seniors who live in ccrcs are more satisfied with daily lives and are more likely to be happier and healthier than their contemporaries who remain in their own homes.

So remember, life is not a dress rehearsal. The economy is stable and the housing market is recovering, so make the decision while you are still young and healthy enough to live independently — and then enjoy the full performance!

Cel

ebrating 10 Yea�

(800) 282-2053www.VillageAtBrookwood.org

Welcome!We look forward to getting to know our newest residents at The Village: • George Garlick – elon, N.c. • Andy and Carol Alemany –

Sanford, N.c. • Mary Ann Inabnit – Burlington,

N.c.

T

r e S i D e N T P r o F i L e

The Village is full of interesting residents, many of whom have worked in high-profile positions across a wide variety of fields. one of those residents, elizabeth Shea “Betty” Arthur — former White house Secretary, author, early feminist and member of the “Greatest Generation” — was recently featured in the Burlington Times-News. Arthur was the personal secretary to Dr. John r. Steelman, the Assistant to the President (now known as the chief of Staff) during the administration of harry S. Truman, from 1948 to 1953. The native of Newport, r.i., and her husband John had moved to Washington, D.c., so that John could go to college at George Washington university on the G.i. Bill. During her time at the White house, Arthur worked with speechwriter una Franklin carter and was witness to many historical events, including Truman’s reconstruction of the residence and the attempted shooting of the president by Puerto rican nationalists. She left in 1953 after an encounter with the incoming chief of Staff Sherman Adams. “When the new (eisenhower) administration came in, i was waiting outside the oval office for a call to get my new assignment,” Arthur explains. “A gentleman approached me, and i accidentally hit him on the chin when i was taking a sip of water. And when i apologized, he said, ‘oh, someone from my neck of the country, i’m from Vermont.’ And i said ‘i’m from rhode island,’ and he said, ‘Well, we’re going to get this place straightened out now that we got rid of the haberdasher.’” The derisive term directed toward the outgoing president didn’t sit well at all with Arthur. “i just simply adored and admired harry Truman — he was the best. And i’m irish and lost my

temper and raised my voice to Sherman Adams.” her temper did not cost her the job, but she knew it was time to move on. Arthur resigned, and with Dr. Steelman’s help she became an Administrative Assistant for the central intelligence Agency. eventually, she also worked for the u.S. Navy and the u.S. Army. Arthur and her husband John had five children and a foster daughter. She did spend time as a stay-at-home mother, and at times she was the main breadwinner of her family. “i became the Federal Women’s Program manager, which was to help women in government, and it was a very satisfying position,” she says. “i took advantage of the program and went back to college in my 50s and studied journalism, and i ended up being the editor of two papers before i retired.” Arthur is the author of “The Strength of a Woman,” a series of short stories and poetry that span 80 years. She retired in 1984 to take care of her husband, who died in 2003. “my mother taught us to be leaders when we were young,” says Arthur. “Am i a feminist? You bet!” She is also a survivor — she has battled a pancreatic tumor and survived an operation to remove it in 1999, as well as 13 subsequent operations to repair the damage done by the first. in 2011, she moved to The Village. “my children talked me into coming down here to be near my oldest son and his wife,” she explains. “i feel like the most fortunate woman in all the world being here at The Village at Brookwood.”

Betty Arthur reflects on a memorable Life

In 1952, Arthur was working in the White House and was asked to be in a photo of the Rose Garden showing tulips from Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. “It ran in the Washington Post,” she said, and, through the wire service, in newspapers everywhere. The photo is the cover of her book, “The Strength of a Woman.”

articipating in art programs has long been

shown to have many positive benefits. From

helping to reduce stress, fear and anxiety to

increasing socialization, and improving cognition and

muscle memory, creating art is therapeutic for everyone

from the beginner to the seasoned artist turning out

masterpieces.

“At The Village at Brookwood, we have folks who

have been artists for many years and want to continue

their craft, and we have folks who are trying a hand

at art for the very first time,” says Kent Kirchin, Life

enrichment coordinator. “Because of increased interest

in art classes and the different skill levels, we are now

offering art classes at two different times and with two

different instructors.”

The two art classes primarily deal with acrylic and

oil techniques for painting.

on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m.,

Village residents can learn

and enhance their artistic

talent with marty harrison,

a professional working

artist who owns marty’s

Art Supply and custom

Framing in Burlington.

Known for his love of the

surf and the sand, marty’s

most recent paintings in

his Sea Coast Collection

were inspired by the

sights and smells along

the North carolina

coast.

marty is quick

to point out that

more than art

happens at the

classes, which are

appropriately called

marty’s Paint &

Party. “There’s a

real social aspect

to our time together, and we have a lot of fun,” marty

explains. “There’s a wealth of knowledge at The Village

at Brookwood, and i think i enjoy learning from them as

much as they learn from me.”

charlie upchurch, a member of The Village’s dining

staff who is affectionately known as charlie the Bartender,

is teaching painting classes on monday afternoons that

are geared more toward beginning artists. “Whether an

individual has never held a brush or wants to improve

their painting

skills, i present

step-by-step

instructions

in order to

create a

painting

to be

proud of,”

upchurch

says.

Unlocking the Artists WithinThe Village at Brookwood

Expands Art Program

Art & CollectiblesOn Display in order to

highlight residents’

various talents

and interests —

The Village at

Brookwood now has

a lobby showcase near

the main entrance of The Village Square.

The display is changed every six weeks

to highlight a different resident’s talents,

collectibles, hobbies or points of interest.

The first Lobby Showcase

featured resident Joe Flath’s

duck carvings (shown here).

originally from Dallas, Texas,

Flath’s lifelong hobby was

inspired by a wood-carving

exhibit of dinosaurs at the 1933

World’s Fair.

The second showcase was chuck

and ethel Soladay’s collection of “metal

Figural Napkin rings” acquired on their

various travels over the years

with their family. The first figural

style napkin ring was

purchased during a

family adventure to

New orleans

for the

Soladays and

their two children heather and Jeff.

“community and neighbors are such

an integral part to life here at The Village,”

says Kent Kirchin, Life enrichment

coordinator. “each of these showcases

tells a story, sparks conversation and helps

us get to know the resident highlighted

even better

than we

did

before.”

“First and foremost is enjoyment of the art process and being

encouraged to create beautiful paintings.”

upchurch’s class teaches the fundamentals of:

• composition, the layout and overall design of a painting

• Procedure, the order in which the sections of a subject should

be painted

• color, which colors to use and how to mix paint to achieve

desired colors

• Brush techniques, choosing the right brushes and learning a

variety of brush strokes

• Layering, adding paint over paint to achieve depth and

dimension in your work

The painting sessions with either instructor are very casual,

and residents can sign up or just show up. “The classes are not

dependent on the participant attending each session,” Kirchin

explains. “instead, an individual can pick up from where they

left off during the last class.” The cost of art classes is just $15

per session.

currently, the art classes average around six to eight

participants in each session, and the interest in painting, as well

as other artistic pursuits is only expected to increase.

“We have so many talented artists living here at The Village,

and we discover new talents among our residents all the time,”

Kirchin says. “We are always exploring new possibilities and

invite those who have a particular passion to lead classes and

workshops, and share their gifts with others who may benefit.”

Far left: Betsy Brann works on an acrylic landscape.Above left: Mike McKee uses watered down acrylics to create a watercolor-like appearance for his iris painting (featured top left).Below left: Helen Mencke sketches a bluebird before starting to paint.

celebrating 10 Years! exciting plans are underway to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Village at Brookwood, which opened its doors on July 21, 2003. The resident/staff committee has been formed and has met several times and is working on:

• A seven-day caribbean Princess cruise along the eastern Seaboard to canada and New england. residents,

families and guests are invited. Some of the highlights include Boston, Bar harbor and St. John for the Bay of Fundy.

• A 10th Anniversary Gala • A staff appreciation luncheon in which residents will serve the staff• A program on the history of The Village at Brookwood• Theme dinners and socials

Don’t miss out on the anniversary fun! call (800) 282-2053 to schedule a tour and learn more about The Village.

In January The Village hosted the 2013 Quilt Exhibit, sponsored by the Alamance

Piecemakers Quilting Guild. The event included displays and workshops (above),

with more than 280 people attending.

A r o u N D T h e V i L L A G e

Charity Johannson of Elon University teaches “Turn, Turn, Turn” stretching techniques to a well-attended Spring Wellness Seminar.

Students from Turrentine Middle School, which is a short walk from The Village,

interviewed residents over lunch as a part of their “Generational

Interviews” project (above).

ElonUniversityNamesResidenceHallafterWilliamsThe elon university Board of Trustees recently honored Jo Watts Williams, a resident of The Village, by naming one of the new residence halls in The oaks residential community after her. Williams was an instructor in the Departments of education and Psychology before being named Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Director of the Learning resource center. She went on to serve with distinction for 16 years as Vice President for Development and Special Assistant to the President. Williams was named Distinguished Alumna of the Year in 1995 and received the elon medallion for service to the university in 1998.

Students from The Elon School, a local private high school, delivered cards and treats to residents for Valentine’s Day.

Cel

ebrating 10 Yea�

D

BuSiNeSS rePLY mAiLFirST cLASS PoSTAGe PermiT No. 95605 BurLiNGToN, Nc

PoSTAGe WiLL Be PAiD BY ADDreSSee

The Village at Brookwood1860 Brookwood Avenue

Burlington, Nc 27215-9924

Log onto Facebook to Boost Brain Powerh e A L T h N o T e S

Did you know the fastest-growing demographic on Facebook is seniors? it’s a good thing because the social networking site is not only a way to keep up with the grandkids, but it actually offers many positive benefits, including improved cognitive function. A recent study led by a graduate student at the university of Arizona investigated whether teaching seniors to use Facebook could help them improve cognitive performance and feel more socially connected. The researcher facilitated Facebook training for 14 adults older than 65 who had either never used the site or used it less than once a month. The participants became Facebook friends only with those in their training group. They were asked to post on the site at least once a day. A second group of 14 seniors was taught to use an online diary site called Penzu.com. entries are kept private with no social sharing. They were asked to make at least one entry every day of no more than three to five sentences (similar to a Facebook post). A third group of 14 was told they were on a waiting list for Facebook training, which they never actually completed. The study participants ranged in age from 68 to 91, with an average age of 79. The participants completed a series of questionnaires and neuropsychological tests measuring such things as levels of loneliness, social support and cognitive abilities. They completed the assessments again at the end of the study eight weeks later. interestingly, those who had learned to use Facebook performed about 25 percent better at the end of the study than they did at the start of the study on tasks designed to measure their mental updating abilities. The other groups saw no significant change in performance. The research suggests that learning how to use Facebook is a way to build cognitive reserve, which helps protect against age-related cognitive decline.

Did you realize you can find The Village at Brookwood on Facebook? If you have a profile, just use the Search bar at the top of the page and type in The Village at Brookwood.

1860 Brookwood AvenueBurlington, Nc 27215

Sponsored by Alamance Regional

Medical Center

Please contact me about the following: Scheduling a visit to The Village with a complimentary lunch

Friends Advantage Program (waiting list)

Send me a free brochure about The Village at Brookwood.

Name _______________________________________________________________

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City____________________________________ State_________ Zip___________

Phone ( _____ )______________________ Best time to call: _________ a.m. / p.m.

E-Mail ____________________________________________________ Spring 2013

Now Featuring a Delicious Addition to our Dining options! The Village is now offering new dining options for residents with Lifecare

or Fee-for-Service contracts, allowing residents to add or reduce their number of

monthly meals. The new dining options are good for lunch or dinner, and residents

may choose to eat at the edith Street café or Lakeside Dining. All meals are both

delicious and healthy, prepared by The Village’s award-winning chef and staff.

“We want to ensure that residents of The Village have the flexibility they

desire with their dining options,” says chip Schmid, Sales Associate. “We are

excited to be able to

accommodate their

needs.”

For more details

on the new dining

options or to

schedule a tour and

complimentary lunch,

contact The Village at

(800) 282-2053.