A chapter from the book “Transitions” By Encore’s Director of Environmental Services  Robert Milstid The Five-Minute Blessing   Time is moving along at a steady pace. I’ve decided to spend the next few days with a new focus on my job and the residents that I am blessed to know at Blue Lakes. I will get to the note one day soon but I feel the need to simply let it go for a few days. The clutter is not helping me go forward and I want nothing more than to get back to the clarity that this job has offered me in spite of receiving the two letters. The…

A chapter from the book “Transitions” By Encore’s Director of Environmental Services,  Robert Milstid Win a Handyman       I pulled the screws out quickly from the crate’s lid with my screw gun. As Anna opened the lid I watched her face; it was full of emotions that ranged from excited to sad. There was a maroon colored crushed velvet material that covered the contents of the crate. Anna pulled it back to reveal her dad’s treasures. She said that before her dad moved into Blue Lakes, she and her dad went through his house and gathered up a few things to pack a way. She then paid a man…

Growing old is a part of life, but it doesn’t mean that we are unable to reduce mental decline. There are many preventative measures you can take with your elderly loved ones so they stay sharp mentally and even have some fun in the process. Here are a few ways you can work with your loved ones to remain mentally strong: Learn New Skills – New skills keep the mind and body stimulated. Learning a few words in a foreign language and applying it throughout the week can do wonders. They don’t need to become a master, just maintain a decent practice to continue to stimulate their mind. Mental Challenges…