March 2015 Edition

Boulder Estates Congregate and

Assisted 601 Village Drive
Marshall MN, 56258

March Notes:
House Calls with
Amy Nicolas, CNP every
Tuesday morning
See Stepping Stone
for more information
House Calls with
Alissa Redding
Podiatrist
2nd Tuesday each month
See Stepping Stone
for more information.

Wellness Clinic
Every Thursday at 12:30pm

$ Stop Hours
Monday, Wednesday, and
Fridays 9:00-10:30 and
Saturdays from
9:30-10:30

Avera Eyewear Clinic

Tuesday, March 31st Lori
from Avera will be coming
over for the Eyewear Clinic
at 10:00am

The Boulder Reminder

March
Everything that is green
As I sit here looking around me, I see a lot of green! There are
green on my walls and my paper is green, my sanitizer bottle has
green on it, and so on. I sure wish I saw more green grass and I sure
wish I had a few more green backs
Our world is full of green things. How many things can you name?
Well, lets try:
Candy (M& Ms and jelly beans), fruit (like watermelons and kiwis),
grass or plants (like ferns and clovers), reptiles (like frogs and
lizards), vegetables (like green beans and peas), holidays (like St
Patricks Day and Christmas), and any cars, hats or furniture that
you can think of! Whewthat is a lot!
So with that, I want to wish everyone a Happy St Patricks Day. This
holiday is celebrated around the world and honors the Catholic Saint
Patrick. So remember to get out your green and wear it on March
17th! Andwe will be having a St Patricks Day party on Friday,
March 13th at 2:30 in the Summit. You never know what you might
find that day

Inspirationa story to share

Healthy for a lifetime!!

Gifts & Special

Donations
Boulder Estates &
Stepping Stone would like
to say Thank you to the
following individuals and
families that recently
made donations.
*Donna Weeks, Myron
Jerzak, Ray Hively, and
Delores Manke for
donating prize money for
Pokeno/Bingo.

This month we have a new inspirational story to bring to youJoan Derynck has a
story to share! There are many reasons to get into shape or lose weight. Some
people do it for a special event such as a wedding, a graduation, or a vacation. But
some do it just to get healthy!
Joan joined the TOPS club and through the encouragement of her family and the
club, she lost 77 lbs! She was then crowned the new Queen of the TOPS club in
Tyler on Feb. 16th 1970.
How did she do it you say? It takes dedication, support and calorie counting! There
are many additional ways to help someone lose weight but these are definitely a
huge part of the mix!
How do you keep this type of weight loss off you ask? Again there are many ways to
achieve this but if you ask Joan, she will tell you all about Weight Watchers and
Medifast and the part they played. If you calculate the years, Joan has kept the
weight off for 45 years!! This is something to be proud of and not an easy task. All
the knowledge you gained from belonging to the groups must be applied in addition
to keeping your dedication to stay in shape alive!
Way to go Joanyou truly are an inspiration!

A little more of these.

Be a heroFight
Hunger!
During the month of
March we will be
collecting food items,
hygiene items, and
cash for the 2015
Minnesota
Foodshare
Campaign. If you are
interested in
donating, please let
Casi, Sue or LaVae
know!

A little less of this

Please join us in giving a warm Boulder welcome to:

Darlene Oftedahl Apt. #135
Stop by Apt. #135 and give a cheerful hello to Darlene Oftedahl. Darlene has a great sense of humor,
enjoys music, and loves sports! She looks forward to making new friends and having lots of fun here
at Boulder Estates! Welcome to your new home Darlene!

Glenn Oftedahl Apt. #131

Welcome Glenn! Glenn Oftedahl moved to Boulder Estates mid February 2015. He has a friendly
smile and is a great listener. As Glenn was a farmer, he enjoys talking with folks about his farm in
Hanley Falls. He also enjoys cheering on the Twins and Vikings. Lets be sure to give Glenn a warm
Boulder welcome by stopping by to say Hi!

March Birthdays!
Mary Emerson March 1
Vernie Christianson March 1
Tom Louwagie March 3
Vicki Faragher March 5
Mildred DeCramer March 10
Lynne McLaughlin March 16
Mary Ellen Neyens March 18
Gloria Hagen March 18
Mary Noyes March 19

Clete Vonbank March 19

Rosella Christiansen March 20
Bernadine Noyes March 23
Darlene Van Overbeke March 25
Dorothy Gilb March 29
Marie Guth March 30

Odds and Ends

Thank you! A big thank you to the tenants that gave their time and their stories to the SMSU
college students during their interview project in their SMSU corrections class! Each student got
a chance to practice their skills and appreciates your generosity!
Sunday Movie Just a reminder, the Sunday movie is now listed on the calendar to make it easier
for you to decide if you would like to attend the movie or not. It will now be held in the 1 st floor
activity room at 2:30. Any Sunday sports/games will be independent or on your own and can be
watched in the Red Baron Room if desired.
House of Hope Gals Will be here two times each month! Once for Wii Bowling (on March 17th at
4:00) and once for nails (on March 19th at 4:00). We appreciate their time and talents!
Information Center is located on the bulletin board in the lobby for general information. It will
have locations of activities, pictures, and more! So if you want to be in the know, check it out!
Father Paul will be holding two 6 week Video Series Sessions in the months of February and
March. The first one, Stations of the Cross, will begin Friday, Feb 20th at 9:30am and will run for
6 weeks. The second one, Decisions, will begin Tuesday, Feb 24th at 1:00pm and will run for 6
weeks as well.
Stepping Stone: Hand in Hand and Matter of Balance classes are not in session yet. If you need
more information about these classes, please see the gals at Stepping Stone. Watch the
information center for times and days that these classes will begin.
Need a ride somewhere? For a small fee one can be arranged. Ask Georgette for more
information.
Something new for April: We are excited to offer an Art Adventure activity every Monday
beginning in April at 2:30. This new activity will involve everything in the art world. We may go
outside and enjoy nature, take pictures, visit the Fine Arts Center, do a craft project, or have an
art person come to Boulder and show off their talents. The options are endless. There will not be
a 1:00pm Arts and Crafts Club. Cards and Games will remain on the calendar but will now be an
independent activity. Many of you have already established groups for your card games, so for
those of you who dont, we will provide you with a list of players names so you can set up your own
game. Tenant council is coming so please share your ideas at that time your positive suggestions
are important to us!

Cooks Corner
Upcoming Meals at The Summit
*Omelet Breakfast: Tuesday, March 3rd from 7:00AM- 8:30AM
*Summit Premiere: Thursday, March 5th at 11:30AM
*Night at the Summit: Thursday, March 12th at 5:00PM
*St Patricks Day Dinner: Tuesday, March 17th at 5:00PM
*Pizza Party from Papa Johns: Thursday, March 26th from 5:00PM-6:00PM

The Long Slow March Toward Spring

The solstice has come and gone. We've turned the page on February. Before this newsletter even comes
out pastel eggs and chocolate bunnies will crowd out the deeply discounted Valentine left-overs on store
shelves. Christmas is a distant memory.
One of my all-time favorite Minnesota authors, Kent Nerburn, recently wrote an essay reminiscing on the
season of giving. He lamented the fact that we have lost the childhood magic and religious significance that
Christmas once had. Partly due to a culture of irreligious consumerism and partly because of our own loss
of spiritual simplicity or "clarity"--we instead stare blankly into the tawdry underbelly of a culture that has
as its primary goal...the selling of "stuff". He said what was once "over the river and through the woods"
has become "over the internet and through the mall". Sadly, I think he is right.
Kent and I are of the same mind and heart on this one. Together we share a deep nostalgia for a simpler
time when we had less, did less, and were more able to establish sacred time and space in our families. I've
always believed that less really is more...and Kent's comments are perfect proof of such simple and plain
faith. This is the conversation that I would like to hear discussed in the dining room at Boulder Estates.
Kent writes that the key is in creating new rituals that retain the spirit of giving and bring the story of
Christmas back into our culture. Does baby Jesus in a manger, the wise men, and the Christmas Star need
to be reduced to myth just to be kept alive? Are we left to do lip service to the religious origins of giving?
Do we yield to the demands of performance, obligation and pressure that our culture and its omnipotent
media dictate? I didn't think so!

Ours is not the first generation to fight against the loss of spiritual clarity and innocence, and we certainty
won't be the last. Kent motivated me, as he invited all of his readers, to keep an eye toward authenticity in
our lives and to live out what he claimed as the true values that we hold most dear. In doing so, I found
myself focusing on his new "creed"...
...Care for the young,
...Bring peace to the old,
...Eschew cynicism and irony to the extent possible,
...Keep anger to a minimum,
...Have the courage to be kind.
Can there be a walk made more simple in today's busy life?
As we turn from the bitter-cold darkness of these winter months and lean into the light and life and coming
warmth of spring I invite you all to search deep into your soul and live out those true values that you hold
most dear. As Kent made note: it's always a struggle; always a slog.
As we strive to live in peace, in unity, and in simplicity...let's talk about these things! I can only imagine that
this is just a small of what Lent is all about. And it is a perfect time to percolate these thoughts.
Always praying for your health and vitality in mind, body & spirit...
TODD

News from Boulder Creek

I cannot believe it is already March. Time is flying by. In March, we look forward to having Leo from the
YMCA visit every Monday and Wednesday at 11:15 a.m., Beth Wilson will be doing her sing along on
Friday, March 6th at 4:00 p.m., Mass is on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 10:45 a.m., open church
is 3rd Thursday of month at 2:00 p.m., Guy and Guitar will be here to perform Friday, March 20 th at 3:00
p.m., YMCA kids will visit Tuesday, March 24th at 4:00 p.m., AFS students will be visiting Thursday,
March 26th at 3:00 p.m. and Lyon County Museum will do a presentation on Friday, March 27 th at 3:00
p.m. We welcome visitors and volunteers.
Is anyone interested in coming to visit, read, sing, dance, play music, play cards or games, please
contact Jamie at 507-929-1234 or Jamie@boulder-creek.org.
If you would like more information on the building, volunteering or a tour of Boulder Creek, please
contact Jamie at 507-929-1234 or Jamie@boulder-creek.org.

Article of the Month

Traveling with Dementia
For people with Alzheimers and other forms of dementia, travel can be stressful. Being away from a
familiar environment and established routines may result in an increase in disorientation and agitation.
However, with careful planning, it is quite possible to travel safely and well with someone in the early
stages of the disease. Someone in the middle stage would present more of a challenge, and travel for
someone in the late stage would not be recommended under normal circumstances.
To Travel or Not to Travel?
If the answer is yes to any of the following questions, travel would most likely not be tolerated well and
further consideration would be indicated:

Are there periods of agitation, aggressive behavior, and significant disorientation even when in
the home environment? Being in unfamiliar surroundings will only make this worse.
Is wandering a concern? If so, wandering may increase in unfamiliar surroundings.
Is there fear of new places and experiences? If so, the new sights, sounds, and people could
prove overwhelming.

Helpful Tips
Once the decision has been made to proceed with the travel plan, there are a number of considerations
and preparations to think about in order to ensure a successful outcome.

If traveling by plane, try to schedule the flight on a low travel day (generally TuesdayThursday).
As much as possible, avoid traveling during peak travel periods, such as holiday and summer
vacation times.
Prior to travel, inquire about and arrange for airport escort services to assist in getting you to and
from the gate.
When booking the flight, inform the airline of any special needs you might have and let the
security and flight attendants know you are traveling with someone with dementia.
Make sure the person is wearing full identification that is not easily removed and is complete
with name, address, destination, and contact numbers. It is recommended that travel
companions carry a current photograph of the person as well.
Accompany the person to and from the restroom. Do not leave them alone.
If traveling by car, many of the previous considerations remain the same. In addition, set up a
comfortable place in the vehicle conducive to napping and be prepared to stop as often as
needed for comfort and stress reduction.
If staying in a hotel, inform the staff ahead of time of any special needs. Be prepared to share
the room and secure the door to prevent wandering at night. One recommendation would be a
childproof doorknob cover.
Be sure to take an adequate supply of medications, up-to-date medical information, a list of
emergency contacts, photocopies of important medical and legal documents (such as a living
will and a power of attorney).
Make sure you have enough people to assist you every step of the way.

Well-planned trips can be fun, exciting, and worth every bit of time and effort put into making them
happen.
I have added a new section to my newsletter. Each month I will put a brain game for you to complete.
This month is Wacky Wordies. Enjoy and hope you have a wonderful March.
Jamie Lanners
Housing Manager

Pictures from Open House

Wacky
Wordies
Each of the puzzles below is a visual representation of a
common word or phrase. Can you decipher them?

Answers posted at the information center!

Stepping Stone News

Early in February I had the opportunity to attend the Leading Age conference in St. Paul. A topic that
was repeated throughout different seminars was the health benefits that come with a thankful outlook
or attitude of gratitude. Today as I write this, I received a copy of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter (March
2015), which has an article titled, Fostering Thankfulness and improving well-being. If you have an
opportunity to read it, do. You can also check the internet at www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com I have
included some excerpts here along with my take aways from the Leading Age conference.
First of all from the conference, the speaker was J. Bryan Sexton, PhD and he is a leader in the patient
safety program at Duke University. He spoke of combating burnout and quality of care. Here are
some bullet points from his talk, (my comments in parenthesis):
Random acts of kindness produce the single most reliable momentary increase in well-being of any
exercise that has been tested. (If you hate to exercise, doing more random acts of kindness will help
you feel better and those you are extending kindness to! Win-Win!)
Those with positive emotions live longer than those who are more negative. (If anyone has told
you, you tend to be negative, do you have your affairs in order?)
Hold a hand or hug for at least 6 secondsit takes 6 seconds for our brains to release positive,
happy hormones which boost mood and promote bonding. (We tried hand holding at the
conference. Initially, 6 seconds feels like a long time, but it made you feel the person who was
holding your hand, wanted to be with you and cared more about you than being embarrassed about
the 6 second length.)
Barbara Fredrickson, author of the book Positivity, states it takes 3 positive comments to take
out 1 negative comment. (WOW! We as humans have some work to do! As humans we tend to
speak more negative than positive. Negative news travels faster than positive. Get readywhen you
hear negativity, what 3 positive comments can you add that erase the negative? I have an employee
who was born in a different country. Whenever she hears a coworker complaining, she comes back
with Oh America, it is a wonderful country! That is her positive comeback so the negativity
doesnt bring her down!)
J. Bryan Sexton suggests that we count our blessings vs. burdens. Write 3 good things each day
for a week, you will find it works better than an antidepressant! (How many are taking medication
for depression or anxietywe could save ourselves a lot of money!).
Mayo Clinic Health Letter discusses gratitude in this way,
transient moments of thankfulness arent enough to explain the wider concept of gratitude.
Gratitude, especially as it correlates to a higher sense of well-being, isnt just an emotion but a way of
being that focuses on noticing and appreciating the positive aspects of life and acknowledging that the
sources of goodness are frequently outside the self. Practicing gratitude means youre able to be
content in the moment even as you pursue long-term plans. A grateful approach enables you to be
happy despite the imperfections of life.
Both resources highly recommend one keep a gratitude journal. Mayo Clinic Health Letter states,
As you contemplate the people and things youre grateful for, write them down. Do it before you
go to sleep so that your last thoughts of the day are positive and your rest is peaceful. Refer back to
your journal on a rough day or when you need a reminder of how transformative thankfulness can be.

Also say thank you. Express your gratitude to others in words and deeds. Say thank you in person for
a kind actions, or write a note to express your gratefulness for having a person in your life.
I challenge you to start a gratitude journal. Even if you simply start with a piece of paper and start
listing things you are grateful or thankful for. As I started this, I found myself seeing things I often take
for granted such as, a comfortable bed, a warm home, a car that works and internet where I can see
and talk to my grandchildren each week who live in Colorado and Arizona.
I suggest you start with 3 things a day and try it for one week. Let me know how you feel after that
week! Get ready to be blessed! If you would like to do a gratitude journal, you can pick one up at
Georgettes desk.
~Tammy and Stepping Stone Staff

SMILE!

Youre in The News!

Sunset at
Boulder

Popular Demand music

group for Valentines
Day!