The month of September is Healthy Aging® Month, and the last week—Sept. 21 through 27—we are again hosting many activities to celebrate Active Aging Week. This year’s theme is Aspire! Be Active Your Way to honor the joy in choosing your own path to a full life.
Promoted by the International Council on Active Aging, the week focuses on the many positive things that people can do to change the way they age.
We hope you can join us for any or all of the following events. Stay active with us every day of the week!
Touchmark on Saddle Drive - September 2014 Newsletter
1. TOUCHMARK ON SADDLE DRIVE
THE{FULL}LIFE
September 2014
The month of September is Healthy Aging® Month, and the last week— Sept. 21 through 27—we are again hosting many activities to celebrate Active Aging Week. This year’s theme is Aspire! Be Active Your Way to honor the joy in choosing your own path to a full life.
Promoted by the International Council on Active Aging, the week focuses on the many positive things that people can do to change the way they age.
We hope you can join us for any or all of the following events. Stay active with us every day of the week!
Join us for a week {FULL} of Active Aging
Saturday, Sept. 20, 3 pm
David Troxel program at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Sunday, Sept. 21, 1 to 4 pm
Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Monday, Sept. 22
10 am: What You Should Know About The 2014-2015 Influenza Season; 1 pm: Special Brain Builders session.
Tuesday, Sept. 23
9 am to noon: Senior Fitness Testing with the Helena College Nursing students; 2 pm: Foot Care Seminar.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2 pm
Fall Prevention and Recovery Seminar.
Thursday, Sept. 25
10 am: Fun & Fit Exercise Class with drawings for prizes; 2 pm: Healthy Smoothie Samples in the Bistro.
Friday, Sept. 26, 8:30 am
Trip to the CMR Art Museum in Great Falls and lunch out.
Student spreads happiness with flowers
Catherine Etchart submitted a proposal and won a $1,000 grant from the Sokoloff Family Foundation to bring joy through flowers to older adults in retirement communities. Part of that joyful process included students and older adults creating connections.
Along with other volunteer high school students, Catherine taught flower-arranging sessions at different retirement communities. Catherine, students, and residents
(cont.)
2. At Touchmark, we think a lot about the aspects of wellness and aging well. As many know, there are some fundamental guidelines for healthy aging, such as don’t smoke, get regular exercise, eat healthy foods, control weight, socialize, and keep learning.
Recent research also suggests that having a “sense of purpose” in life may help us live longer. Researchers found that individuals who reported having greater purpose in life had a 15% lower risk of death than those who said they were more or less aimless. Furthermore, the benefits of having a sense of purpose apply to all ages (Hill and Turiano).
At Touchmark, we are intentionally purposeful. Each day, we endeavor to radiate Touchmark’s long-held values of teamwork, service, integrity, compassion, and excellence. These values are reflected in the Touchmark Full Life—from the homes we design and build, the programs and services we provide, and the relationships we nurture.
As I reflect on the elements of a purposeful life, I recall the poem The Dash, by Linda Ellis, which can be found on the Internet. Basically, the poem describes the dash that is etched in a tombstone between a person’s birthdate and death date. The dash represents all of one’s activities and contributions.
Let’s live “the dash” and make a difference. Take advantage of all Touchmark has to offer. A PURPOSE{FULL} life is filled with rewards—for you and others.
A PURPOSE{FULL} Life
Brian Pryor
Executive Vice President
arranged dozens of flower vases each time and gave them to residents of another community as well as some individuals living in their community.
“Catherine and her group came to Touchmark three times, but we were blessed with flower arrangements every week during the summer,” says Nanette Whitman-Holmes, Life Enrichment/ Wellness director.
(cont.)