Excellence in Service

Bobbi Jackson was given the Excellence in Service Award at the 2012 Aging Services of Arizona convention held at the Fort McDowell Convention Center in early June in recognition of her service to the Lodge’s Senior residents.

Bobbi retired as the Director of Nursing in our Health Care Center last year after 12 years in that position and guiding the Lodge to a perfect score on the annual Arizona Department of Health Services survey.  Bobbi still serves Lodge residents, however, in her new role as Wellness Nurse where she works 20 hours a week in our Assisted Living department.

Aging Services of Arizona is a trade association representing more than 50 not-for-profit facilities dedicated to providing quality health care, housing and services to over 12,000 elderly Arizona citizens and is affiliated with the Leading Age a Washington D.C. based national membership organization of non-profit voluntary and governmental homes and service providers for the aging.

At last year’s conference, our Director of Plant Operations, Al Pepe, won the same award.  We are extremely proud to see members of our highly dedicated staff recognized for their outstanding work.

Helen Dearman

Helen Dearman is the founder of the National Chronic Pain Society, radio host, frequent TV panelist, speaker, and author.  She has dedicated her life to helping people who, like herself, have to live with chronic pain. 

Helen has suffered with chronic pain for over three decades.  In her recent book, Pain Tamers, she writes about her own experiences with endless doctors' appointments, tests, procedures, medications and 11 surgeries to repair damage to her spine resulting from a fall.  Pain Tamers is a valuable compendium of information from medical professionals, sound advice, first-person accounts and resources - all aimed at informing, empowering and equipping the person living with chronic pain. 

 

Be sure to check out Helen's engagements at Sun Valley Lodge on November 7th and 8th.  For more information call Mike Kloberdanz at (623) 933-0137.

Living & Aging Successfully with Chronic Pain

Sun Valley Lodge is thrilled to offer three opportunities to meet America’s premier advocate for those suffering from chronic pain. Helen Dearman will be visiting the Lodge on November 7th & 8th to discuss the special needs and concerns associated with aging and chronic pain.

In a recent conversation, Helen told us that "surveys in the United States estimate that between 15% and 50% of all Americans suffer with chronic pain of some sort or another. Chronic Pain Syndrome is defined as a group of related symptoms associated with chronic pain and the impact chronic pain has on your life. Although pain is real and may be a fact of life, you are your own best advocate to get the care you need and deserve."

You are invited to join us on:
Wednesday, November 7th or Thursday, November 8th for Helen’s presentations on the special concerns associated with aging and chronic pain. Her goal is to educate and empower those with pain and to help them manage their own situations. Helen’s message is always positive: "Even with pain you can enjoy the pleasures of a full and meaningful life. Remember, life is a journey not a marathon race and there is always something to be grateful for." Both programs will begin at 9:00 AM.

On Thursday, November 8th at 1:30, Helen will lead a roundtable discussion that will include Blanche Forrester, our Assisted Living Director, and Mike Mankenberg, SVL Director of Nursing, as well as health care personnel from Hospice of Arizona. This is a great opportunity to hear from and ask questions of medical professionals about living-and aging-with chronic pain.

Leave a Legacy and Help the Lodge

The first order of engraved bricks has been set in our Memorial Garden and we invite you to visit us and take a look. We are now preparing our second order and ask that you please consider supporting the Lodge by purchasing an engraved brick or bench to leave a legacy for yourself or your family, or to memorialize a loved one.

Donors are invited to order engraved bricks and join our annual Garden Society through our website: www.sunvalleylodge.org. Or, contact Mike Kloberdanz in our development office directly at (623)933-0137 extension 129. All donations to the Sun Valley Lodge Memorial Garden are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

Oktoberfest

Resident and Former Lodge Employee Turns 100

We celebrated Margaret Steffek’s 100^th birthday this month.  Margaret is not the only centurion at the Lodge, but she is currently the only former employee among our residents.

 

Margaret began her relationship with the Lodge in 1967 when she moved to Arizona from Denver and took a nursing position with us.  She moved to the Lodge’s Health Care Center over two years ago and is very popular with her fellow residents and staff.

October 2012 HCC Activities

Click on Calendar to Enlarge

October 2012 Assisted/Independent Living Activities

Click on Calendar to Enlarge