23 minute read
WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES' STRONG TRADITION OF WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
STRONG TRADITION OF WELLNESS & WELL-BEING
As a leader in extraordinary senior living lifestyle choices, Willow Valley Communities has an almost 40-year history of providing outstanding options for our Residents’ personal wellness journeys. Residents enjoy almost limitless possibilities to enhance their sense of wellness and well-being with innovative programming, world-class entertainment, inspiring classes, and engaging activities.
At Willow Valley Communities, we understand that being in a healthy state of wellness means that the many dimensions of the whole person work in unison: mental, emotional, social, environmental, spiritual, and occupational, along with the physical. Our Renaissance programming provides Residents a multitude of options to be engaged in all these dimensions; we call it Mind, Body, and Spirit.
In the year 2000, Willow Valley Communities designed and constructed our innovative 80,000-square-foot Cultural Center as a hub of Resident wellness engagement. The award-winning Cultural Center (across the street from the newly constructed SouthPointe community) houses a 500-seat performing arts theater, art gallery and art studio, Day Spa, Fitness and Aquatics Center, and much more.
The education rooms at the Cultural Center host the thoughtprovoking classes of The Socrates Café and other Life of the Mind programs, with a wide variety of intriguing discussions taking place. The Vitality Café, located on the lower Vitality level of the Cultural Center, is a culinary gathering space offering nutritious meals and snacks perfect for after a workout, swim, art class, or soothing Day Spa treatment.
And although Willow Valley Communities recognizes that physical fitness is not the only dimension of wellness, we were among the first senior living communities to offer truly innovative weight training and fitness programs for those over 55. Pam Schorr, Willow Valley Communities’ Wellness Manager, along with her team of professional fitness trainers, leads these programs with the mindset that everyone can get stronger.
Pam recalls the research presented many years ago by renowned fitness research director Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, at a Willow Valley Communities Health and Fitness Expo. Dr. Westcott is a strength training consultant for numerous national organizations, and an author and editorial advisor of many fitness publications. As the expo keynote speaker, in his address, he explained to Residents of Willow Valley Communities and their guests the astounding age-reversal effects of resistance exercise.
Pam enthusiastically concurs. “The Willow Valley Communities Fitness Center, with our state-of-the-art equipment and programming, along with the expertise of our team of fitness professionals, can train any athlete at any age to any level,” she says. “We even have a fitness center at our supportive living communities.”
At Willow Valley Communities, our philosophy is that the wellness journey is ageless and involves the whole person. Since 1984, we’ve provided opportunities for seniors to engage in their cherished passions — whether they’re rediscovering those from the past or exploring new ones for the future.
On the following pages, you’ll meet just some of the Residents embarking on their personal wellness journeys every day, in their own ways. At Willow Valley Communities, they have countless opportunities to do so.
Climbing the Mole Hill is the publication of the Writers Group.
Willow Valley Communities' Dog Parks are social hubs for furry friends, as well as their humans! Dinner at Local Table is always a gourmet treat.
Dale and Christine Orth help during Willow Valley Communities' Sneakers for School event.
Day Spa Manager Diamando Wallace and Massage Therapist Emily Ransing The Himalayan Salt Wall in The Relaxation Room at The Day Spa
PAMPERING FOR SELF-CARE & WELLNESS
The Willow Valley Communities Day Spa is a destination for wellness and renewal. It’s a critical component of the comprehensive Mind, Body, Spirit approach to wellness of Willow Valley Communities.
The Day Spa offers many ways to soothe, calm, invigorate, or rejuvenate. A full range of professional services, all performed by our attentive and inviting staff, allows Residents to create their own regimen for personal well-being and beauty. These services include: manicures and pedicures, skin care, facials, revitalizing peels, waxing, tanning, microdermabrasion, and body treatments with a wide range of different massage modalities, wraps, and scrubs.
The Relaxation Room, with its beautiful waterfall and Himalayan Salt Wall, is a main feature of The Day Spa. It provides a peaceful and well-appointed environment in which to relax, and offers a perfect and welcome respite between services. Himalayan salt — rich in negative ions and essential nutrients and minerals — offers numerous health benefits for our bodies, such as stress reduction, energy increases, and mood boosts at a biochemical level. well-deserved treat, they offer so much more to Residents’ sense of well-being. You can see the boost in a client’s self-confidence as they walk out feeling refreshed.”
Massages are one of the most popular services requested by Residents, and The Day Spa offers a wide menu of options, including hot stone and aromatherapy. Emily Ransing, Willow Valley Communities’ Day Spa Massage Therapist, says, “Massage is meant to enhance your well-being physically and mentally. I frequently remind my clients that this is their time to focus on themselves to feel healthier. I do all I can to send each client home feeling better than when they arrived.”
A Willow Valley Communities Resident was asked about her massage as she was leaving The Day Spa one afternoon. She said, “After a massage with Emily, your body is so relaxed that you can focus on the things that you often overlook — the air is sweeter, the birds are more melodious, the day is brighter. You are better equipped to face the next days, whatever they may bring.”
As she walked out of the Cultural Center to her car, she added with a smile, “It’s also a way to take the tension out of your body — although there’s not much tension at Willow Valley Communities!”
Writing has always been a peaceful way to release one’s emotions and to organize thoughts and decisions. But did you know writing can also add to your well-being? Writing expressively can improve cardiovascular health by lowering your heart rate and improving the heart’s response to stress. Writing about positive experiences can lift your mood, too. Journaling before bed about what you’re thankful for results in longer, better sleep, according to an Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being study.
And when you share your writing with others, you promote social interactions and connections, thus reducing loneliness. The Willow Valley Writers Group probably knows this better than anyone. The only qualification to be a member is to enjoy writing. Resident Lynne Heins, president of the group, says, “My goal has always been to make the ordinary passionate writer feel empowered to be in this collaborative group.”
Resident Carol Reeves concurs. She joined the Willow Valley Writers Group seven years ago. “I wasn’t an author, I didn’t keep a journal, but I was looking for new interests and new friends in our new community. I found both.”
Members write fiction and nonfiction, including stories, poetry, memoirs, and more. They are amateur, professional, or aspiring authors who come together as a group to share their writing or ask for help and suggestions to improve it. Some members enjoy offering (kind) critiques from their wealth of experience, while others come simply to listen. The group also produces Climbing the Mole Hill, a collection of their writings published annually and distributed to each Willow Valley Communities Resident. Resident Jean Mitchell, the editor of Climbing the Mole Hill, says, “Writing is in my DNA. I’ve enjoyed it from as far back as I can remember.” In high school, Jean wrote a weekly column for the county’s newspaper and later became an editor as a profession. “To me,” she reflects, “writing is both a soothing balm and an escape into imagination.”
Resident Kay Collier, another Writers Group member, adds, “Writing to me is an everyday, almost every hour involvement. I always have a pad and paper beside me: in the car, on my night table, in the kitchen. I often get a thought for a poem or story at odd moments: in the middle of the night, in a dream, or while sitting at a stoplight, cooking, or gardening.”
Resident Don Helin is the planning chairman for the group. He says that writing is something he can do anytime, and because of that, he’s never bored. “Writing has given me a wonderful gift,” he says, “the gift of staying busy, doing what I like, and creating something for others to enjoy.”
TURNING THE PAGE ON WELL-BEING
Numerous studies show how reading can benefit our well-being. It exercises our brains to help improve concentration and memory, reduce stress, teach us about others’ perspectives, and increase our empathy. Reading can also take us to faraway lands and times without ever leaving our chairs.
And if you are part of one of the many social book clubs at Willow Valley Communities, you also get to gather regularly with friends and have thoughtful discussions about characters, themes, style, and plot lines.
Resident Trish Macvaugh facilitates the Next Chapter Book Club at Willow Valley Communities. “Reading has been my passion since I was a little girl curled up next to my grandmother as she wrapped me in Longfellow’s Hiawatha. It was no surprise, then, that I pursued a doctorate in English and taught literature for 48 years, and when I moved to Willow Valley Communities, working in our library and organizing a book club was a natural.”
The group meets monthly, with Trish and members Carole Calhoun, Carol Sandt, Carole Repici, Bettyann Hall, Judi Schiff, Jo Burnett, Sandy Saul, and Candace O’Donnell all taking turns choosing a book and leading the discussion. Subjects and genres may vary extensively, but when the group gets together, there is always laughter and smiles throughout the lively discussions.
Other members of the group agree with Trish that reading enhances their well-being. Bettyann Hall says that reading “takes me out of myself and my own circumstances and immerses me in the lives of the characters in the book. Identifying with those characters, empathizing with their problems, and sharing in their hopes and dreams broadens my perspective and enriches my life.”
Carole Repici agrees. “Throughout my life, reading has been a wonderful escape. Reading a book can always take me miles and/or millennia away. I don’t know how I would live without books,” she adds thoughtfully. “I’m so very grateful for the library and the book club right here at Willow Valley Communities.”
Trish sums up how truly beneficial reading has been for her well-being, as well as for that of the rest of the group. “It has been a joy sharing and discussing good books with other book lovers who have become cherished friends. Even during a pandemic, I could travel the world and meet fascinating people. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that reading has kept me sane.”
Carole Repici, Resident
Resident Ann Ratcliffe moved to Willow Valley Communities in 2017 after a fulfilling, but intensely busy 32-year career as an English teacher of “at-risk” high school students. She loved teaching — but it could be stressful. Ann learned that after particularly long days, walks in nature helped her release tension and rejuvenate her spirit.
When Ann first walked the 210 acres comprising the Lakes and Manor Campuses here, she was delighted to discover so many beautifully landscaped rolling paths where she could continue to savor nature. She has also come to love Lancaster County Central Park, just a five-minute drive away. “The park offers me such treasures as the Garden of Five Senses, beautiful Mill Creek, Muhlenberg Meadow with its profusion of wildflowers, the Conestoga River, and miles of well-tended trails.”
Ann has rediscovered her passion for photography too, inspired by the Willow Valley Communities Camera Club and its monthly “challenges” to explore avenues she might have otherwise bypassed. She now takes her camera everywhere. “I love to wander through the gardens at Willow Valley Communities and walk along the edge of the wetlands. There are scores of native plants, many ponds, and beauty in all four seasons.” Ann often follows the bridge near the Spring Run community, over the stream and into the quiet woodlands. “To photograph nature, to focus on all that surrounds me, is deeply therapeutic,” she says quietly. “I have learned to slow down so that I don’t miss anything this life has to offer. I have learned not only to look, but to see.”
Ann’s stunning photographs can often be seen on Willow Valley Communities’ Facebook page, and she’s happy to share them. “I have learned to patiently wait until the flitting monarch finally settles on a milkweed leaf, to patiently wait as the blue heron stealthily approaches his prey and finally spears his dinner. These moments are precious, and to capture them in photographs gives me untold pleasure.”
Reflecting on her almost daily walks through the lovely grounds of Willow Valley Communities, Ann adds, “I am so thankful that I have the time to absorb this beautiful life, and I hope to continue nurturing the sense of wonder I had as a child — and still have.”
There’s probably nothing better for our well-being than being with friends — people who understand us, respect us, and yes, get us. Sharing memories and laughs over a drink or a meal is a wonderful gift for our spirit, but did you know it’s good for our physical well-being too?
We all know that finding friends to connect with, to spend time with, and to just be with enhances our lives. Emotionally, we feel good being with people and sharing our thoughts, hopes, and dreams. We share both good times and bad. Sometimes when we talk with our friends, we aren’t looking for advice or even a solution to our problems. Just having friends listen to us is all we need to feel better.
Physically, it’s been proven that friendship can extend life expectancy and lower the chance of heart disease. Being with friends ignites the part of the brain that makes us feel good, which makes us want to keep hanging out with them. So in a way, having friends makes us healthier. Friends are important. And when we find good ones, sometimes neither time nor space can sever our bonds.
Over 30 years ago in New Hope, PA, Susan Kenkelen worked for a real estate agency, and Barbara Czepukaitis was her manager. The two women became close. Another woman, Sue O’Neill, along with her husband, Dan, purchased a home through that real estate firm. Sue joined the two, and soon it was a trio of fast friends. Their bonds were further cemented when Vince Czepukaitis became the O’Neills’ financial advisor and Susan Kenkelen’s daughter babysat for the O’Neills’ children. Along with their husbands, the group enjoyed many fun times together.
However, as is often the case, years went by, life went on, and the friends lost touch with each other. Fast-forward to 2017, and the Czepukaitises moved to Willow Valley Communities’ Vistas community. They were thrilled to learn that, since 2016, the Kenkelens had been Residents of the Villas in Providence Park. Astonishingly, the O’Neills also moved to The Vistas.
The three started up right where they had left off. Barbara, Susan, and Sue now get together regularly, and it’s always a fun time. Over a meal or drinks, they share memories and laughs, sometimes just the three of them and sometimes along with their husbands. They’ve enjoyed events at Willow Valley Communities, trips, and also dinners out at favorite restaurants in Lancaster City.
At Willow Valley Communities, with 2,600 Residents and over 100 different clubs, groups, and classes, along with world-class entertainment and programming, there are plenty of opportunities to meet new friends who share your interests. But it’s also fun to reconnect with friends from the past. Barbara, Sue, and Susan have many memories to share with each other and a wealth of experiences that still await them.
“Willow Valley Communities brought us back together again, and we are so very grateful,” Barbara says. “We’re not going to waste a moment!”
Stephanie Sodak
GOOD FOOD EQUALS GOOD FEELINGS
It’s no secret that eating good, nutritious food helps maintain our physical health. But a healthy diet doesn’t just help us feel better physically; it can benefit our mental health and emotional well-being as well.
Simply stated: What greater joy is there than to gather around a table full of good friends, family, and food?
Willow Valley Communities’ Manager of Nutrition and Culinary Services, Stephanie Sodak, says that there are psychological, social, and biological benefits of eating meals with other people. “It gives us a sense of regularity in our lives, a chance to reflect on the day and feel connected. Also, sitting at a table, talking and listening, slows us down, helps with digestion, and helps us to not overeat.”
Stephanie also believes that a meal shared with loved ones can be made even better by choosing a well-balanced diet full of vegetables and nutrients. Research shows a link between what we eat and how we feel — and not just physically. “Our diet can affect our brain,” she says. “Some foods can actually help us feel better.” She recommends a Mediterranean-style diet that includes a lot of vegetables, seafood, fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil, and whole grains, which can reduce the symptoms of depression. “This can improve your sense of well-being and your mood.”
Willow Valley Communities offers 12 different culinary venues to satisfy every palate, from casual coffee shops and wine bars to full-service gourmet restaurants. Stephanie works with all of the chefs of Willow Valley Communities as they plan their menus, assessing them for overall nutritional balance — and, of course, taste.
Stephanie is passionate about helping Willow Valley Communities Residents learn about how what they eat affects their sense of well-being, both physically and psychologically. “Food can have a significant impact on our quality of life and can help us to maintain good health, both physically and emotionally. As a registered dietitian, I think it is very important to make informed decisions about what we eat.”
GIVING BACK TO LANCASTER: THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING
In addition to her role as Willow Valley Communities’ Manager of Resident Services, Cori Steiner is also chair of the Community Outreach Committee. This committee, made up of Willow Valley Communities Team Members, coordinates three giving events annually: Sneakers for School, Cornhole for a Cause, and the Holiday Gift-Giving Project. The committee’s work helps thousands of children through several Lancaster-area organizations, making a real difference in their lives.
But as much as their work helps others, Cori also sees how much the act of giving enhances the well-being of those helping. “For our Residents, being part of engaging the community gives a sense of belonging. Our Residents come from all walks of life, and being involved in the Lancaster area and being part of its future makes a lasting impact on those they serve as well as themselves. Although the Residents are the ones giving, they often thank us for the opportunity to help shape the future of the next generation.” The Community Outreach Committee started in 1998, and their first project was purchasing Christmas gifts for foster and protective-service children in Lancaster County. That effort grew, and today the annual Holiday Gift-Giving Project Party is a wonderful celebration for children and their families, providing them with hundreds of practical gifts. Other annual events soon followed: Sneakers for School provides hundreds of pairs of new sneakers and socks to children for their first day of school, and Cornhole for a Cause raises money to help high school seniors take their next steps toward long-term success after graduation.
Willow Valley Communities Residents and Team Members work together closely for these events — collecting, wrapping, shopping, and serving — to make each one a meaningful success for all. Willow Valley Communities clubs and organizations help, too, by donating their time and talents with special projects. Cori says that because Willow Valley Communities Residents come from a wide variety of
Cori Steiner
Cori Steiner, Manager of Resident Services
backgrounds and geographical regions across the country, the committee benefits from a varied wealth of experience and ideas.
Resident Carol Giersch is a retired teacher and school administrator who currently volunteers as a Student Mentor for the School District of Lancaster (SDoL). She loved being a teacher and always relished in the challenge of using her creativity to build a program where one did not exist. “Starting off with ‘Wait — there’s another way to teach that’ just fills my soul with joy,” she states. Carol agrees that her sense of well-being is enhanced through volunteering. “There’s no better feeling,” she says, “to truly know that God placed me here for a reason.”
Carol adds that there are many people at Willow Valley Communities who have worked as mentors with Lancaster students. When virtual learning was the norm, some Willow Valley Communities Residents, such as Lynn Andrews, Cheryl Reid, Tom Connelly, and Tom and Cathy Newell, joined her in continuing to mentor SDoL children. All Willow Valley Communities mentors have had rich, full careers and wish to share their talents with others, especially with younger generations.
Cori is grateful for all the support she receives from Willow Valley Communities Residents and Team Members — but she’s really not surprised. “This is our culture at Willow Valley Communities,” she explains. “We serve and we help any way we can.”
L–R: Chaplains Scott Johnston, Lakes Campus; John Kelly, Lakeside; Edward Runkle, Supportive Living; and Ken Phillips, Manor Campus
SPIRITUALITY: A TOUCHSTONE OF WELL-BEING
Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, Willow Valley Communities has understood the importance of spirituality to overall health and well-being. A team of chaplains is here to enhance and support the spiritual well-being of Residents, Residents’ families, and Team Members throughout our community. Chaplains are available to all Residents regardless of their faith tradition.
Willow Valley Communities’ Chaplains — Edward Runkle, Supportive Living Chaplain; Scott Johnston, Lakes Campus Chaplain; John Kelly, Lakeside Chaplain; and Ken Phillips, Manor Campus Chaplain — all agree that taking care of our soul leads us to being a fully whole, fully integrated, healthy person. They say that we can become sick in our soul just as we can become sick in our mind and body, and neglect and disregard of our spirit will eventually lead to “soul-sickness.” The soul, mind, and body all work together. Chaplain Runkle explains, “There’s a synergy. A relatively healthy soul will positively influence our mind and body.”
At Willow Valley Communities, just as there are opportunities for Residents to take care of their minds and bodies, there are a multitude of ways to tend to their souls. The chaplains minister in all levels of our community, such as Residential Living, Personal Care, and Skilled Nursing Care. They provide weekly worship services, small groups for prayer, Bible study, grief support, religious-themed lectures, mission trips, home and hospital visitation, one-on-one support and counseling, Celebration of Life services, and help in connecting Residents with spiritual resources. (Willow Valley Communities is within a few minutes’ drive of a wide variety of churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and other places of worship.)
At Willow Valley Communities, we encourage a Mind, Body, Spirit approach to all areas of wellness. Our team of chaplains is on campus to ensure intentional, consistent, and persistent care to prevent the decline in spirit — just as Willow Valley Communities does for the body and mind.
Chaplain Edward Runkle
Betty Price
WILLOW VALLEY COMMUNITIES VETERANS: SERVING OUR COUNTRY, SERVING EACH OTHER
After moving to Willow Valley Communities in 2018, retired Air Force Colonel Betty Price became involved in the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group. She is now the chairperson.
As is true with the rest of the group, Betty has had an exciting career. As an officer in United States Air Force intelligence, her duty assignments included a year in South Korea; four tours in Washington, DC; four months in Turkey overseeing intelligence related to Iraq; and school at Stanford University (for her master’s degree), at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and at the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. She says the most challenging assignment of all was a tour as commander of the 480th Intelligence Group at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. Betty also served at the Air Force Academy on a special team planning for admission of the first women. She went through SERE (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape) training with a group of women who first received that training at the Academy and jumped out of an airplane five times in the free-fall parachuting program.
Betty says that although the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group shares the common bond of having served in the US military, and that all have had amazing careers serving our country, right now the true purpose of the group is to help and serve all Willow Valley Communities veterans.
“One of our most important missions,” she says, “is to share experiences and help each other.” The group is eager to help other veterans by providing information about benefits, contacts, and other items of interest through a newsletter and by hosting visiting experts. “In addition,” Betty says, “we strive to meet veterans’ needs through personal interaction.”
The Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group also honors the service of all veterans by coordinating special programs on Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and other national holidays. On Flag Day, June 14, the committee conducts a flag retirement ceremony to dispose of old flags by way of respectfully burning them.
Betty says she receives so much from being a part of the Willow Valley Communities Veterans Group: “Being of service to fellow veterans, being a source of information, support, and camaraderie — now that’s a real contribution to well-being.”
