Bickford of Midland

The power of Faith! One aspect of care for our Friends here at Bickford of Midland includes providing religious resources in the Branch. This can allow them to feel spiritually nurtured and connected to the community. I recently had the chance to interview Rev. Wally Mayton, Associate Pastor at Memorial Presbyterian Church here in Midland about ways we can do this. Wally has a pastoral relationship with Bickford by providing quarterly worship services open to all residents. When asked about the spiritual needs of seniors, Wally responded, “Spiritual needs encompass the desire for community among neighbors and the desire for messages of remembrance and assurance through traditional worship rituals familiar to the residents.” Wally describes the benefit of seniors being active in a church community as, “the spirit of service inherent in gathering and in sharing words and music that imply worship and build upon belief systems. Offerings of prayer, religious music, readings, and friendship kindle fulfillment of spiritual needs.” Wally suggests that, “the fulfillment of emotional, physical, and spiritual needs together may foster contentment and attitudes characterized by hope and by gratitude.” These wise words can help our Bickford Family Members be prepared to care for our residents on a higher level and allow our residents like Mary (below) to enjoy the religious services at Bickford. We are very thankful for all the support and partnerships with area churches and religious organizations! If you’d like to join us for church service, hymn singing, Bible study, or communion call 989-835-5300 and we will be happy to arrange it!

Yesterday I was talking with a wonderful lady about what would make her happy in her next home. Her answer reminded me that it is often the things we take for granted that are the most important. She said "I want to be able to keep my apartment at any temperature I want to." At Bickford, you are the king (or queen) of your castle. Rather than have one temperature control for the entire Branch, Bickford was designed so you can set and change the temperature in your home any time. With the weather Michigan has experienced this spring...cold and rainy in the morning and hot and sunny in the afternoon...changing your temperature with the push of a button keeps you comfortable no matter what Mother Nature sends your way.

Fergie the Feline Branch Buddy If canine companions aren’t your thing perhaps you’d fancy a feline friend? Meet Fergie the cat. Fergie spends his days in Mary B’s Neighborhood providing the residents like Bob (below) with companionship and laughter at his kitty antics. He particularly likes bird and squirrel watching from his favorite chair facing a feeder outside. Fergie has called Bickford home for the last couple years, and in that time has grown to love all the attention he receives (as most cats do!). His only hang-up is that he wishes that his fellow Branch Buddy Molly would stay out of his territory!

No matter what your taste in music, there's no denying that any time spent with a good tune is a great investment in your health and well-being. In fact, when you consider the amazing benefits music can provide, it just makes sense that part of our daily routine includes a healthy dose of our favorite songs . Studies have shown music can reduce stress . lower anxiety, and lessen depression. In addition, it can increase mental clarity and allow us to connect to emotions in a unique way. When we participate in music with a group of other people, a wonderful environment for socialization and sharing is created. At Bickford, music is part of our culture and philosophy. Call us at 989-835-5300 for a schedule of our daily music activities and come be part of our melody!

Cappuccino Crazy! What could be better than a steaming cup of your favorite beverage? For many of our Bickford friends, that is a delicious cup of cappuccino. Luckily for them, our Bickford Family Members are experts at making it! The cappuccino is far and away the hot drink of choice at Bickford of Midland. It is preferred above tea, coffee, and even hot chocolate! Residents can enjoy a cappuccino with their meals in the Bread Basket or spend some time relaxing with one for a snack. Stop in any time to join us and we’d be happy to show you what the cappuccino craze is all about!

Our Bickford residents come from diverse backgrounds and rich cultures. We are truly blessed to have a group of people who are so generous in sharing their family, career and life experiences. When we learn each resident’s LifeSong, it allows us to focus on who they are and what makes them happy. What a joy it is to develop distinctly unique activities for each resident to enjoy! Part of Virginia’s LifeSong is that she is a retired teacher who still enjoys spending time with children. Recently, Virginia and her new friend, Kari, spent time together creating rainbows and making us all smile. Thanks for including us in your afternoon ladies!

Regular exercise protects from chronic disease, improves mood and lowers chances of injury. Here is a great picture of our dedicated residents during one of our many exercise classes. Come and stay fit with us anytime at Bickford of Midland! “Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional and mental states.” ~Carol Welch

Bickford Boutique Coming Soon! We understand how it is important for our residents to maintain a sense of independence and autonomy. Allowing seniors to do as much for themselves as possible can enrich happiness and longevity. Unfortunately, going to the store or running errands can be very difficult for folks with limited mobility. We are excited to begin providing that experience for our friends right here in the Bickford of Midland Branch! Soon our residents will have an opportunity to “shop” in our Bickford Boutique. The Bickford Boutique will be stocked with a broad range of items. Our friends will have a chance to shop for everyday needs, satisfy their sweet tooth, or find something entertaining for themselves. Residents will be shopping with Molly Bucks (featuring a portrait of our Branch Buddy Molly). These dollars can be earned during our always popular Bingo sessions or through random acts of kindness witnessed in the Branch. Everyone deserves a chance to treat themselves! We hope this will bring many smiles to our wonderful friends like Peggy as she counts her cash in anticipation of the Bickford Boutique grand opening (pictured below). Stay posted for updates on this exciting new activity at Bickford!

You've Got To Know When To Hold 'Em... Every month, Bickford residents and their families enjoy a theme meal filled with great food, exciting entertainment, and big fun. Our latest theme, Casino Night, became an instant favorite, and it will certainly become an annual event. "Music by Val", our Vegas-style entertainer, and games of chance led by our volunteer casino crew left all of the residents feeling like big winners. Thanks to everyone who attended and made this such a special night!

Did you know??? Bickford Senior Living is partnering with the Global Orphan project to build Assisted Livings in Haiti and India to care for their seniors in partnership with caring for the orphaned children. We just approved doing our first actual project in India for seniors. The Global Orphan has a farm next to an orphanage in India where our first community will be built. It will be developed through a local church partner in India and will be for 8-10 seniors. We are also working on getting a community started in Haiti. Joe Eby just returned last Monday from Haiti and is hopeful to have something up and running down there yet this year. We are just in the infant stages but who knows where it will take us!!

Midland's Best Friend - Molly Companionship. Love. Purpose. There are so many ways that animals connect with their humans and enrich their lives. For some residents, it is the day to day responsibility being a caretaker for an animal who depends upon you. For others, it is the joy of the day to day rituals that are observed in the human/pet relationship. It has been found that activities such as petting animals can lower heart rate and blood pressure, release endorphins, and help people (and seniors in particular) gain a new view of life. The pets lower the stress and anxiety levels of their owners and having an animal can also help to counter depression by giving them renewed enthusiasm for life. At Bickford, we celebrate pets and all they bring to our lives. Our residents enjoy the ability to keep their four legged family with them, and our Bickford Family Members who assist the residents can also help with pet care. In addition, you don't need to actually own a pet to experience the benefits of being an owner. Meet Molly. Molly is a rescue dog recently adopted by Bickford of Midland. Molly loves all of her new friends, and she is adored by residents and visitors alike. She and Dorothy (shown above) are special friends and enjoy quiet "conversations" and spending lots of time together. Molly is available for petting, treats and lunch. Just call 989-835-5300 and one of her humans will be happy to schedule your time with Molly at your convenience.

Magical Music Man in Midland Bickford of Midland resident, Ray Forkel, is a one man band! In fact, Ray has such a large and enthusiastic following among the Bickford residents, he has become a daily entertainer and can be found in our living room surrounded by his “groupies”. To everyone’s delight, Ray not only plays music by ear, he also tells “tall” tales between tunes. He makes everyone smile with his singing and his willingness to play any song requested. Ray is an accomplished musician on both the accordion and the piano, and he tells us he has other instruments that he hasn’t even “unveiled” yet. If you want to find Ray, just follow the laughter and clapping. Ray is truly an example of how we all have a part in enriching happiness. Thanks Ray!

I saw this information on Northwestern Mutual's Facebook page discussing the benefits of long-term care insurance: One year in a nursing home: $90,000. One year at Harvard: $53,000. Does the cost surprise you? Good thing assisted living is a more affordable and homelike alternative to a nursing home.