Don’s journey to Villa Gardens is marked by a deep connection to the city. After living in Pasadena and the surrounding area for over 45 years, Don moved to a retirement community in Orange County. However, following the passing of his wife, he felt a strong pull to return to Pasadena, a place he considers home, and settled at Villa
Gardens.

Don’s generosity extends beyond Villa Gardens. He also supports various other organizations, including the Old Mill Foundation, Huntington Library, Colonial Williamsburg and The Smithsonian. His diverse philanthropic interests reflect a commitment to enriching the cultural and historical fabric of his community.

At Villa Gardens, Don’s donations are driven by a passion for enhancing culture and life enrichment. “I like to bring additional programming to Villa Gardens, particularly more music programs,” he said, envisioning a community enriched by the arts.

Don’s story is a testament to the power of community and the impact one individual can have. His three years at Villa Gardens have been marked by a desire to give back to a community that resonates deeply with him, a sentiment that inspires many. His contributions to the Front Porch Communities Foundation and other charitable organizations demonstrate a deep commitment to enhancing the quality of life for those around him, making Don a true pillar of his community.

The post Don Cotton’s Generosity Shines at Villa Gardens appeared first on Front Porch.

Falls affect us all. The risk of falling increases with age. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. If you slip, trip or fall, it could change your life. You could break a bone, take a trip to the hospital, be injured or develop a disability. Fear of falling may keep you from walking, shopping or taking part in social activities. Overcoming this fear can help you stay active, maintain your physical health and prevent future falls.

The good news is that there are simple ways and free online resources to reduce the risk of falling and help stay falls free. Here are some tips with hyperlinks on how to prevent most falls.

Exercise to Improve Your Balance and Strength

One easy way to prevent a fall is to improve balance and strength. The National Institute on Aging has tips on fitting EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY safely into daily life to help stay healthy as one ages. It also has tips with the right steps to take to PREVENT FALLS AND FRACTURES. Life enrichment and wellness directors offer many programs. Try walking, gardening, tai chi, yoga or whatever you enjoy.

Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Regularly review your medications and their side effects with your doctor or pharmacist. The National Council on Aging has a FALLS FREE CHECKUP that allows you to check your risk for a fall to help stay independent. Tell your doctor if you have fallen, even if not hurt. Get your vision and hearing tested. Ask a physical therapist about acquiring a walking aid if needed. Vitamin D and calcium can help keep your bones strong.

Make Your Home Safer

Make sure there are no cords, pet toys, loose rugs or excess furniture in your path. Clutter on your floors and around your home can make it more difficult to stay on your feet. Use the CDC STEADI initiative checklist to identify and ELIMINATE FALL HAZARDS in the home. Adequate lighting in hallways makes navigation easier. Ask an occupational therapist about a home safety evaluation.

Put in a request to add grab bars for the bathtub, shower and toilet if you think you need them.

Make Smart Choices

Be aware of personal abilities and limitations. Request help from someone for difficult or awkward tasks like retrieving objects on high shelves or carrying large or bulky items. The California Department of Aging’s FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM has fall and injury prevention education and information. Stand up slowly with your feet under you. Wear proper footwear. Don’t drink alcohol to excess.

Educate Yourself Today

Understanding fall risks is the first step to staying safer, reducing the risk of falling and helping stay falls free. Check out the free resources above for practical prevention solutions to do the right exercises, take proper care of yourself, make your home safer and ask for help when you need it.

The post Simple Steps You Can Take to Prevent Falls appeared first on Front Porch.

Senior Director for Resident Experience Rebecca Johnson created the program to support residents’ connection to the community and to one another. “We feel a sense of place but don’t necessarily articulate it,” says Johnson. This program allows residents to gather over time “to capture in your words why you feel as you do.”

Each Front Porch community has its own unique geography, Johnson explains. “When we hear the word geography we think, ‘mountains, landscapes,’ which is certainly part of it,” she says. “But geography is also everything that humans build. When we wrote the program, we were intentional about discussing both the physical and social aspects of geography.”

Sense of Place provides a safe environment for people who may not normally speak up in the community to address concerns. “Sense of Place is outside of the committee or council structure,” says Johnson. “Sometimes residents are looking for a new way to share their voice, a less formal way beyond the surveys and the committees that are already in place.”

“I marvel at people who have the ability to come forward and speak their thoughts,” said one resident participant at Friends House in Santa Rosa. “It doesn’t come as naturally to me, but after listening to others, I feel I can talk like that. I feel comfortable here. I feel I’m in the right place.”

Jeannie Pressey, executive director of Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa says that Sense of Place is “an additional opportunity to gain insight from the residents on what’s working well and what they would like to see improved.”

Unlike a resident survey that provides a quantitative snapshot of the community at a moment in time, Sense of Place collects qualitative information that “puts the how, why, and what together in one place,” explains Mary McMullin, chief advancement officer for Front Porch. “A survey will tell us you think your community is great. Sense of Place allows us to understand why you think it’s great. It helps us identify rather than guess about the true community that’s here.”

Because residents were speaking directly with someone in person or on Zoom “instead of simply filling out the boxes on a survey, I feel that they were more comfortable in sharing their viewpoints,” Pressey notes. “And their views were clearly communicated as opposed to checking a box that says ‘are you satisfied? 1, 2, 3.’ You get some context on what people are trying to say.”

The program was open to any residents who wanted to participate, and a range of residents chose to join. “Having new and long-term residents in the same setting was critical,” Johnson says. She notes that newer residents who may have only experienced their community in the wake of the COVID pandemic with its lockdown protocols have a very different perspective than long-term residents who can recall and explain a community’s traditions. Meeting together gave residents a broader perspective on what community feels like based on their individual experiences.

Johnson compiled insights gathered during each session into reports for each participating community’s executive director, incorporating resident feedback, key questions, and recommendations for follow-up programs. Mark Nitsche, who became the executive director of San Francisco Towers during the Sense of Place pilot program, read the reports as a way to became familiar with the community. They allowed him to “really listen to what people are saying,” he recalls.

“People believe the ED is the last word, but it’s collaborative,” Nitsche says. Sense of Place allowed residents “to be a voice for the community and how you want to see community going forward. The program builds a sense of awareness, a sense of hope, and a sense of belonging.”

After testing the program as a pilot project at three Front Porch communities in 2022, Sense of Place is preparing to launch in more communities this year and may later be developed for use beyond the Front Porch system. Johnson is also gathering a working group to develop a new program called ATLAS, designed specifically for the new resident experience.

“Sense of Place is an influencer in decision making,” Johnson says. “It’s a platform for prioritizing the things that mean the most to residents, and one of those priorities is how residents, especially new residents, develop a sense of belonging and attachment in community. ATLAS is our natural next step.

“I’ve learned so much from the resident participants by leading this program. Each community is unique, with its own sense of place. This program has helped me to understand at a deep level what’s important for residents in their particular community. I can’t wait to discover more as we move forward with Sense of Place.”

The post At Front Porch Communities, Residents Discover their ‘Sense of Place’ appeared first on Front Porch.

In honor of Spring Lake Village resident Bob’s recent milestone birthday this past year, friends and neighbors made gifts to the Spring Lake Village Classical Music Fund, a program very dear to Bob’s heart. The Spring Lake Village Concert Series produces nearly two dozen concerts each year, driven primarily by Bob’s organization and planning since he moved to Spring Lake Village 10 years ago. It meant a lot to him to be able to channel the energy and good wishes surrounding his milestone birthday to further a program that touches so many lives. “Music is something everyone can enjoy,” Bob said. “During the pandemic, being able to see and hear concerts without being able to leave my apartment was a life saver. To be able to help provide those concerts via video to my fellow residents means so much because for me, music is life.”

“I am a strong believer in these types of gifts,” said Villa Gardens resident Edith, who has made memorial gifts to the Front Porch Communities Foundation on behalf of several former residents and friends. “We need to keep the spirit of those individuals alive.”

Like any gift to the Front Porch Communities Foundation, memorial or tribute gifts can be designated to support a particular fund or community.

Edith has lived at Villa Gardens for more than 12 years and was part of the community philanthropy committee for nearly a decade, inspiring countless residents to give generously to the Foundation to enhance programs and services they care about deeply.

“I remind people that you don’t have to wait for someone to pass away before making a gift in their name,” Edith said. “Tribute gifts, for example, can be made in honor of a staff member who you admire or you have a special relationship with. Or it can be as simple as honoring someone on his or her birthday. It’s also a way to give back to an organization that you and the honoree care about.”

Edith has a long history of supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as both a donor and volunteer. It was through that experience that she discovered the great value of philanthropic giving and the good it can do. When she moved to Villa Gardens she sought out Villa’s philanthropy committee and after conversations with donors, decided to lend her support as well.

“I support the Front Porch Communities Foundation 100%,” Edith said. “Memorial and tribute gifts not only keep the name and spirit of the person recognized, but also keep the good work of the Foundation visible as well.”

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Although she has a doctorate in biochemistry and worked in that field briefly, Joyce’s passion in life and her career has been art, specifically sculpting, although she also dabbles in watercolor. She had to decide between her love of science and art and art won. “I took a chance,” she said. “It’s very difficult to make a living as an artist but I felt it was my calling.” Joyce is also a published author and was recognized by “Who’s Who” from 1976-2001.

Joyce specializes in public sculptures. Her first was in 1970, which was installed at the Douglas County Library in Castle Rock, Colorado. Her works have also graced Carter Hall, the Administration Building of the University of Northern Colorado; Littleton Civic Center, in Littleton Colorado; and outside the Adult Multipurpose Room in the city of Chandler, Arizona, among other locations.

Her works range from small to monumental. The thematic material that interests Joyce the most are the interrelationship between people seen as forms in the clay. Joyce is basically self-taught, although a longtime artist friend, and sometimes collaborator, Henry Mead, helped her refine her skills over the years.

Joyce recently added an art installation to Villa Gardens senior living community in Pasadena, CA. In April, 2022, her piece titled “Variations,” a site-specific sculpture she created exclusively for Villa Gardens, was dedicated.

“I’m thankful to Villa Gardens for the opportunity to create a piece that is unique to this special place of warmth and community,” Joyce said.

“We are very grateful to Joyce,” said Villa Gardens Executive Director Paula Digerness, who personally asked Joyce to create something for the community. “It’s such a wonderful piece that makes Villa Gardens an even more art filled place to enjoy life.”

“Variations” found its home in a partially shaded area in the garden courtyard near the putting green and Solarium Gym. The site, located above a sitting area and underneath a pergola, provides a variety of light and shadows, which makes it the perfect location, according to Joyce. “When deciding on a location for art, I either pick the site or the site picks me. At Villa, the site picked me.”

Although the wall-hung, high-fired stoneware sculpture is titled, Joyce is usually reluctant to name or interpret her pieces.

“The work has no specific meaning,” Joyce insists. “It is what it is to whomever looks at it. The thing about sculptures is that there are so many different ways to look at them. It looks different depending on the time of day. It’s fun to look at something and find new meaning in it every time.”

“I think the sculpture is very appropriate for Villa,” said resident Ruth Saffman. “It fits in so nicely.”

When Joyce lived in her family home in Pasadena, she maintained an art studio. When she moved to Villa, she was able to set up a new, small studio in her third-floor apartment so she could continue to work in watercolor and drawing.

“Villa has a reputation as an intellectually stimulating community,” Joyce said. “I just love that. Moving to a senior living community was not an easy decision but I wanted to make sure I made the move when I wanted to, not when necessity forced me to.”

The post A Passion for Clay: Villa Gardens Dedicates Resident-Created Sculpture – ‘Variations’ appeared first on Front Porch.

Her desire to do so was recently remedied when she joined residents Sally and Russ White for a “Blind Date,” Villa Gardens’ innovative program that pairs residents and staff for a “get to know you better” lunch.

“I see Mr. and Mrs. White all of the time, but I didn’t really know them on a personal level,” Maria said. “I thought they were serious people, but discovered that they both have great senses of humor, particularly with each other. We talked about all sorts of things. She told me about her family and I told her about mine. We definitely found a connection. The more I know about our residents the better I can serve them.”

“Our lunch with Maria was quite wonderful,” Sally said. “She was little shy at first, but after about two minutes we were laughing and telling each other stories. I think it’s important for staff and residents to get to know each other personally. It brings a family atmosphere here.”

“Blind Date” was inaugurated around Valentine’s Day in 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by Life Enrichment Director Katherine Custodio and her team. At that time, interaction among staff and residents was limited so Katherine drew inspiration from internet dating sites that pair people up based on mutual interests.

“The idea just popped up,” Katherine said. “I thought, why couldn’t this same dating concept translate into something here at Villa. But instead of pairing up people for romantic relationships we would pair them up so they could engage with each other as new friends. We like to think of innovative ideas to keep residents engaged.”

Interested residents and staff sign up for a casual lunch and Villa’s life enrichment team pairs the participants up. They do not meet until lunch is served. The new friends dine on the terrace, outside of Villa’s bistro lounge, sitting six feet apart and enjoy specially catered meals from local business, in order to support the Pasadena community.

 “We particularly encouraged staff who work mostly ‘behind the scenes’ at Villa to sign up for a blind date,” Katherine said. “Sometimes staff who work in the kitchen or on the night shift don’t have a chance to get to know residents as much as they would like and vice versa. We hope bringing people together anonymously would add to the excitement of getting to know someone new and it has.”

To help facilitate conversations, participants are given a list of icebreaker questions. However, after just a few minutes, most said there was no need for help initiating conversations – they seemed to flow naturally.

“At first I was nervous but excited at the same time,” said Pauline Zamora, who works as Villa’s overnight receptionist, when interactions with residents are minimal. “I was paired with Janice Schaefer, a physicist, engineer and retired professor. “What an impressive career she had! But what I remember most is that she was so kind. I felt that she truly wanted to get to know me.”

“Villa set up everything beautifully,” said resident Roberta Lawrence, who was paired with a health center caregiver named Aura. “She told me why she became a caregiver and I told her about my career as an architect. It was a pleasant conversation and when I see her around the community I always remember that day.”

The blind date event proved so popular, it resumed during Valentine’s Day week in February 2022, which is International Friendship Month.

“This event turned out to be so valuable to the community,” Katherine said. “Everyone really enjoyed making connections. This is definitely something positive we created as a result of the pandemic. We feel we will continue our blind date connections for years to come.”

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Irma has worked at Villa Gardens for more than two decades, starting as a food service aide, then cook, sous-chef and now catering manager. She is the go-to person who delivers a worry-free creative  presentation and delicious fare to any function big or small.

“We have residents who host parties, meetings and all types of gatherings here so it is important that we have this unique service available,” said Irma, who holds an associate’s degree in culinary arts from

Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Pasadena. “This is a special service we are very proud of. We can assist with small birthday or tea parties of five or 10 people to large events with 150 guests or

anything in between. We are always happy to help our residents host their friends and family.”

Many residents are movers and shakers in Pasadena and in neighboring communities who often host events like service club meetings, fundraisers and private parties. Under Irma’s supervision, Villa Gardens catering department fills about 100 catering orders each month. These can range from plates of Villa’s famous royale cookies to an ice cream social, or a five-course meal with full bar and appetizers. Residents can choose from the catering menu or make special requests. Villa Gardens’ experienced Executive Chef James can meet almost any request including recreating a favorite family recipe from scratch.

“My favorite thing about my job is seeing the residents faces and hearing their kind words when they see how well the team puts each event together,” Irma said. “They are so appreciative and some are surprised that Villa provides such a service.”

One of those grateful residents is Alice Coulombe. “I used to host events at my home in Pasadena,” she said. “When I moved here, I was pleasantly surprised that Villa Gardens had this excellent service available for residents. What may be a luxury at many retirement communities is standard at Villa Gardens.”

“Irma did a fabulous job,” said resident Sally White, who recently hosted a small get-together for friends. “We requested cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres and Irma gave us about 10 different choices including delicious finger sandwiches and shrimp cocktail. And the room decorations were superb. Russ and I have done a lot of entertaining over the years using some wonderful caterers and we count Irma among the best.”

“My job is to provide excellent service to residents and at the same time use my creativity to produce a unique experience they will not soon forget,” Irma said. “I could not ask for a better job.”

The post No Event at Villa Gardens is Too Big or Too Small for Catering Manager Irma Gallegos appeared first on Front Porch.

“I was looking forward to a new chapter in my life but also to continue doing what I loved and Villa made it so easy,” Lyssa said.

Moving from one home to another at any point in life has the potential to be stressful. But Villa Gardens prides itself in creating a warm and welcoming environment helping its new residents settle in as seamlessly as possible.

The Villa Gardens Mentor Committee is co-chaired by Olive Harkness, a retired  administrative assistant who describes herself as a “talker,” the perfect combination to help any new resident feel comfortable right away. “I was the youngest of seven children so I always had to speak up if I wanted to be heard,” Olive said with a laugh. “There is no need to be shy around me.”

Olive knows the feeling of being new at a community that has so much to offer, having moved to Villa Gardens five years ago from the Philadelphia area. When she arrived,  she was soon greeted by a mentor who not only showed her the ins and outs of Villa life, but made her feel special.

“That experience was so valuable to me,” Olive said. “Because of my mentor, I made wonderful friends here who I feel I have known for a lifetime. When I became a mentor, I not only wanted new residents to feel welcome but also exhilarated and celebratory about their move to Villa Gardens as I did.”

Villa Garden’s mentors are current residents who volunteer to become supportive contacts to new arrivals. They show new residents around, accompany them to dinner and activities, and introduce them to others. “In other words, like the committee did for me, we show them the ropes and help them experience how wonderful it is to live here,” Olive said.

Olive tries to match residents with similar interests or personalities to ensure lasting connections. She and her team also supply newcomers with an information welcome packet that includes campus map, phone directories, calendars and more.

“We don’t just hand them these things with no explanation, we go over everything in detail,” Olive said. “If our mentee has any questions, he or she can call us at any time. All of our mentors enjoy their work. We expect them to call and we are anxious to help.”

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“Getting in front of a camera is no easy thing,” says Jen Sabaot, Front Porch’s director of communications, who spearheaded the project. “If you know how stressful it is to be in a Zoom call, imagine how stressful it is to be in front of a camera and asked to give your personal story.” To help put video participants at ease, Jen got to know each one individually and sent some sample questions in advance. “Without that time getting to know each other, I don’t think we would have been able to get as authentic as we did.”

“I had a really incredible experience,” Victor Ceron, senior director of facilities, says of the filming process. “I didn’t really prepare for the interview per se, because I really wanted my words to come from my heart.” In the video, Victor spoke about the connections he has been able to make over the course of his career. “The incredible people you meet on this journey is humbling.”

Raymond Ruiz, director of life enrichment at Kingsley Manor, appeared in the video alongside resident Karen Palmer. “Karen has always been someone I go to,” he says. “It was a very humbling experience, making a connection and talking to somebody who you see on a day-to-day basis, especially during difficult times. It made me think about the tough year that we had and why we do what we do.”

Katie Wade, senior director of creative engagement, also found herself looking back on her career path. “It was really nice to reflect on the origins of my work, and lovely to think about an older adult in one of our programs who has influenced me.”

One thing that Katie didn’t expect was how hot the room would be where filming took place. “We had to turn off the air conditioning in the interview room to make sure the sound levels weren’t affected.” The video shoot took place over two days, one day at the Home Office in Glendale, and the second at St. Paul’s Towers in Oakland. Video crews also went on site at Villa Gardens in Pasadena and Oak Center Towers in Oakland for “B roll” shots of people in action.

The original objective of the video project was to bring Front Porch’s new mission, vision, and values to life. Formally adopted by the Front Porch board of directors on April 1, 2021 as Front Porch and Covia affiliated, the new, shared values of the combined organization illustrates what brought them together to begin with – values that were already being lived out by employees and residents.

“I am so excited and delighted to get these values out and about – not that we haven’t all been living them already,” says Lauren Mouton-Beaudry, director of ethics and education. “These values are action-packed and they really speak to me. I truly believe that our shared values bring us together. I want to thank everyone who participated in the video. You were using your heart, and that’s what came through.”

The authenticity of voices comes through for Katie as well, and she sees it as part of the authenticity of the work she and others do every day. “It feels very true for me in my daily working environment that people really bring their whole selves to work. We don’t have to compartmentalize our personal self and our work self. I think that is so critical for the relational type of work that we’re all doing.”

“I think it takes special team members to do what we do on a daily basis,” adds Victor.

To Lauren, the video is only the beginning. “It’s interesting: at the end, we say, ‘that’s a wrap.’ But actually, I am feeling like now is when our work and play is really going to begin. We’re going to be sharing our values. We’re going to be strengthening our relationships. And that’s what’s going to make us an even stronger organization.”

Click the image below to watch the video. Also available with captions in Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog. 

The post Mission, Vision, Values, and Video: Behind the Scenes appeared first on Front Porch.

Nan’s long history of activism stems from her family, who strongly believed service is the best way to help both community and country. As the first woman to serve as the majority leader of the Monroe County (New York) legislature in in 1976, she anticipated there would be challenges.

“It was important to show that women could be elected for leadership positions in politics,” Nan said.

Serving as the chief spokesperson for the majority party, Nan ensured the needs of constituents were being met. During caucuses, colleagues sometimes interrupted Nan while she was talking. Without hesitation, she would pound the table and say, “Let me finish!”

As the only woman in a male dominated environment, Nan did what she always did – stayed true to herself. She was educated, assertive, and knew she was an asset to the team. “Most of the men were not used to having a woman in charge,” Nan said. Some of them dealt with it better than others. Despite all this, I always kept my head held high and never let anything get to me.”

Later Nan went on to become an associate professor of political science at the University of Rochester. There, she co-founded the Susan B. Anthony Center to help young women in the community and introduced courses on “Women and Law” and “Women and Politics.”

Nan continues to blaze new trails at Villa Gardens. “Now is the time to bring women together and work on issues we face. I am hopeful for the future of women and society overall,” added Nan.

Last year, she organized “Pasadena 2020,” a float in the Rose Parade celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the 19^th Amendment granting women the right to vote. Now, she is connecting groups of people she has met and networked with over the years to work on issues of poverty, education, healthcare for all, and affordable housing, etc. “I will serve as a mentor to young people helping them to find their voices and encourage them to take leadership roles in the civic life of their community, nation and the world,” Nan said.

Nan Johnson is a resident at Villa Gardens, a Front Porch retirement community in the heart of Pasadena, California.

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