Brookdale Loma Linda

We would like to thank resident, Dr. Neil, for providing an educational and informative class on COVID-19 vaccines, and vaccines, in general, for our residents and associates. Dr. Neil did an excellent job in presenting the material so that it was easy to understand and was available to answer questions afterward. Knowledge is power!

Many people have heard of feng shui, but few really understand what it is or means. Guest blogger Kristen Murney explains how feng shui can be useful in small spaces.

The CDC strongly recommends the COVID-19 vaccine and it’s so important that as many people as possible get vaccinated. We will be having our second vaccine clinic on February 2nd, 2021, at 10am for community residents and associates who are interested in receiving their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Getting vaccinated will help protect you, your friends, family and other members of your community. Learn more about our efforts around the COVID-19 vaccine here: #BrookdaleHope

Efforts towards COVID-19 prevention have become part of our daily lives, and we are so pleased to share that our Brookdale residents and associates are among the first group to have access to a COVID-19 vaccine. We are partnering with CVS Health through the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program and will be having our first vaccine clinic on January 11th -12th all day for community residents and associates who are interested in receiving the vaccine. Together, we can take action to prevent COVID-19. #BrookdaleHope Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine here:

Efforts towards COVID-19 prevention have become part of our daily lives, and finally a breakthrough is almost here: vaccines are on the verge of FDA approval. As part of a U.S. government program, Brookdale residents and associates will be among the first group to have access to a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available. Read on to learn more about Brookdale's next step in aiding prevention.

We want to welcome our new resident, Jeanne to our community. Jeanne moved here from Murietta to be closer to her family who she adores! Jeanne has three children, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren who she describes as having a very close relationship with. She also has a beloved dog named Scruffy who loves visitors! Jeanne was born in Nebraska and moved to California when she was a little girl. She is a retired real estate broker, a job she loved because of the opportunities to meet people from all different walks of life. Jeanne enjoys painting, playing cards and board games, and getting together with friends. She also enjoys drama and acting in plays. Welcome, Jeanne! We are so happy you chose Brookdale for your new home.

The residents and associates would like to thank Desiree, a member of our front desk team, for creating a Christmas village for our community. Desiree inherited her own Christmas village from her grandmother that she treasures dearly. She wanted to do the same for our residents, so she reached out to Facebook to anyone willing to donate village pieces, and she hit the jackpot! A very generous person immediately came forward to help make this happen for our community. Thank you! And, thank you to Desiree for her effort and creativity!

Resident Diane Edwards is a person who is known by others as thoughtful and kind. She speaks softly, has a curious intellect, and is open to new opportunities. Diane attends a lot of the programs we have at our community, and just recently agreed to lead a tech group for residents. We thought we knew Diane pretty well, but we just recently discovered that she is also a talented artist. Diane's pen and ink drawings hang on the walls outside of her apartment rather quietly. At... first glance, they appear to be tracings, but If you stop long enough, it is obvious they are not. The skill and precision required for this type of art is impressive, but what is more impressive is that Diane has painful rheumatoid arthritis. She was diagnosed at age eighteen, but that never hindered her love for drawing. "I can literally feel my right brain shift to the left side," she said. "And, I feel at peace." Diane's husband Larry frequently asks her to draw for him, too, which gives her encouragement to continue. Her favorite subjects to draw are animals, which she dearly loves. Diane says she was once embarrassed about her hands and used to hide them, but no more. We are so glad to hear that because we think her hands are pretty amazing. Kudos to you, Diane, for your talent. You are an inspiration for anyone suffering from rheumatoid arthritis to fight through the impairment and effects of the disease and persevere. See more

We would like to welcome John and Patty to our community. They have been married for 47 years, and say they enjoy being in one another's company more than anything else. They have a beautiful extended family that they also cherish. John and Patty are native Californians and met one another at a bowling alley where Patty was working at the time. They hit it off immediately and have been inseparable ever since. John was in the Air Force, while Patty took care of the home. Welcome, John and Patty! We are looking forward to getting to know you better, and are glad you chose Brookdale!

Residents: Our Computer Basics & Social Media Class is moved to a different time this week, due to upcoming Halloween festivities. The class will meet on Wednesday, October 28th at 3:15pm in the activity room. If you need assistance with your iPad, laptop, or cell phone, please see Dana in Resident Programs. We will arrange a time separate from the class to help resolve technical issues.

Residents: Please join us for our music appreciation group, Tuesday, October 27th 10:30 am in the activity room. This week we are featuring radical songs from the 1960s, the creative process behind the songs, and the impact they had on society.

We want to welcome a new resident to our community, Judge James "Mike". Mike is happy to be here and says he looks forward to meeting and getting to know everyone, and being an active member of our community. Mike was born in Milwaukee in 1942 and moved to Redlands in 1949. He earned his bachelor's degree in history from Loyola Marymount in L.A. and his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1967. Mike practiced law from 1968 to 1995 and then was appoint...ed to judge with the San Bernardino Superior Court by Gov. Pete Wilson. He is the recipient of multiple awards and honors for his charitable community service work, and described by other judges as a "very understanding individual who is blessed with the gift of reason." Mike said he loved being a judge and misses it greatly. "I thoroughly loved helping people make their lives better," he said. We are very glad he chose Brookdale Loma Linda for his new home. Welcome, Mike! See more

Residents and associates voted Victor Guerrero as our Everyday Hero for the month of October. Victor was chosen for the way he expresses himself best: through wonderfully prepared food. Cooking is his passion; he often makes special dishes outside of mealtimes for everyone to enjoy, and just because. He is truly appreciated by all for being so giving of his time and talents. Victor was awarded $100.00, eight hours of PTO, and an Everyday Heroes lunchbox. Congratulations, Victor!

We want to welcome a new associate to our Brookdale team, Judith (Judy) Banuelos. Judy works our busy front desk and already handles it like a pro. She's a very warm and friendly person who says she finds purpose in helping others. "If I can make one person smile, or leave them feeling better, then that makes me very happy," she says. Judy went on to say that she realizes that she can't change the world all by herself, but feels that she can make a difference by being kind to... others every day. We are so lucky to have her! Personally, Judy has been married for eight years and has two children who are one and five years old. Her favorite thing to do outside of work is going to adventure parks with her family. Her goal for the future is to be financially secure and then do extensive traveling. Best of luck to you, Judy, and welcome to our Brookdale family! See more

Of the young adults with autism that pursue further schooling after high school, 75% to 85% are unemployed after graduation. Octogenarian Beverly Ficon is helping change that through her work with Spectrum Works.

Residents: Join us for our music appreciation group, Java & Jam, every Tuesday at 10:15am in the activity room. This week will view and discuss great musical performances throughout the decades. Coffee and hot croissants with butter and jam served to all those who attend.

Residents featured in this post either farmed for a living, grew up on a farm, or worked on a farm. The stories they have about growing food, taking care of animals, and working the land are so varied and interesting, we thought we would start a Farmer's Meetup group. This group will share their history, swap stories, and talk about their best practices in farming. They will also be part of our Spring Garden Planning Committee. Residents, if you want to be a part of this group, please sign up at the front desk. The first meetup is scheduled for November 3rd at 3:15pm in the activity room.

Meet one of our associates, Krystin, who has been working with us for two years. Krystin is currently working in housekeeping and has also worked as a caregiver. She enjoys working at our community because she says, she loves the residents, helping them in any way gives her purpose in life. Residents describe her as a good listener, a hard worker, and someone who will go out of their way to meet their needs. Outside of work, Krystin is a proud big sister to sixteen siblings! She especially enjoys skydiving and will be making her third jump this month. Her next adventure will be attending nursing school. We wish Krystin the best of luck, we are proud to have her working in our community, and have no doubt she will make a great nurse.

Mom and Dad taught you the value of a buck. Now that they're a little older, is it time to give them a little financial help? Check out our five tips to help manage your parents' finances.