Cottages features activities program

Kathleen Bain is a resident of Cottages of Green Valley and also a big fan of the bingo games that are played daily at the assisted-living and memory-care community located at 2620 Robindale Road in Henderson.

"Bingo is my favorite activity," Bain said, "and I love that we play it every day."

Bain isn't alone in her love for the game. In fact, at least 30 residents play bingo each day at Cottages, which features an activity program.

"With assisted- and memory-care residents, we must provide activities for our highest-functioning residents, which means everyone benefits," said Trudy Andrews, administrator. "We take a pro-active approach and have a full schedule of events and activities for all our residents."

Most recently, the St. Patrick's Day Crazy Hat Parade was a big hit with the residents, Andrews said.

Many of the directors wore hats they had decorated. Armed with a boom box, which played Irish jig music, activity director Victoria Adams led the parade of managers to all the cottages and handed out necklaces of sparkling green beads.

Food service director Hector Rubio dressed up as the Easter Bunny and a group of children came to the center for an Easter Egg hunt. All the little ones had their picture taken with the bunny and received treat-filled eggs and prizes.

Pine Lodge, the smaller of two activity centers at Cottages, provides meeting space for small groups and clubs.

Several women participate in the Knit Wits, a group that loves to crochet, knit and visit.

One member, Recil Arenson, loves to knit lap blankets for the residents. In fact, she donated 50 handmade blankets to Big Brothers and Sisters, which was able to share them with people in hospitals or other assisted-living facilities.

Church services are also an important part of the residents' lives at Cottages. On Saturday mornings, the Oasis Baptist Church group holds its prayer and worship services, and a group from St. Thomas More Catholic Church conducts the rosary and communion services for residents at Cottages each week.

In addition, other faiths are addressed, and special Jewish services are conducted during specific holidays such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.

Weekly shopping trips to drug stores, 99 cent stores and discount stores are also popular at Cottages, which utilizes a 14-seat bus for the excursions, Andrews said

She said a group of residents recently formed the new Lunch Bunch.

"Some of our residents would never be able to go to a restaurant on their own," Andrews said. "The fact that our bus can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers makes it possible for our residents to enjoy eating out at a different restaurant every week. And for those residents, especially in memory care, who would find it difficult to go out to eat, we're reinstituting our monthly Candlelight Dinners in our newly expanded main activity center, Rose Hall."

Andrews said two full-time activity directors and a bus driver help keep the residents active.

"Transportation for sightseeing trips, picnics, sight-seeing, shopping, as well as doctor visits is a service we're proud to offer," she said.

Rose Hall is the main activity center where entertainers perform for Cottages' residents two to three times per week.

Singers -- professional and school children -- are two of the residents' favorite forms of entertainment. Sing-alongs of all the old standards are always well attended, Andrews said.

"I would find it very difficult to keep up with our calendar of events," she said. "There's so much to do here. Everything is offered and nothing is required. It's totally up to the individual resident what he or she wants to participate in. They love getting the daily list of events and making note of which ones they're going to do. It's a pleasure to see our residents truly enjoying themselves."

Residents live and eat with others who live in the same cottage, which houses 12 residents. Each resident is provided three meals a day. A higher-than-average caregiver ratio ensures attention for residents, who average 83.5 years of age.

The community, which opened in 2002, has five memory-care cottages, three assisted-living cottages and one Easy Care independent-style cottage.

For more information, visit Cottages of Green Valley from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Scheduled evening tours are available by calling 992-0000.

Additional information is also available at cottagesgv.com.