50+ Lifestyles

Reminiscing at Ridgecrest

By Mary Huebbe
Marketing Consultant
Ridgecrest Village

Ridgecrest Village is so much more than most people imagine. We have the whole realm of Senior Care, starting with Independent living going all the way through to end of life care.  We have a wide array of elder care activities. We work hard on keeping you active so you can enjoy your life.

Barb told me one time that she feels she has found her safe harbor, a place where she can eventually dock her ship and have eternal peace.  She calls the place she lives now (Terrace) God’s waiting room, “it’s the Heaven before Heaven.” I felt so blessed having her say that to me. It makes me know for sure I am in the right place doing the right job. As the marketing consultant at Ridgecrest Village, I am making a difference in our senior’s lives.
December reminiscing at Ridgecrest

This past Christmas season, we were reminded of the true meaning of Christmas, and it shouldn’t end on December 25th.  It is supposed to continue all year round.  We are to help each other, do what we can to make someone’s life a little brighter. I believe I do that because of my residents. After they move in, they visit with me, letting me know how good they feel, how they know that they made the right decision. They become more active and make new friends, while keeping their old ones. It gives them twice the opportunity to do the things they enjoy.

Last year, someone mentioned to our Heath Center’s Activity Director, Kimberly, that it was too hard to go to the Festival of Trees anymore. They really missed seeing all those beautiful trees. Being the kind and caring person that Kimberly is, she decided to put on the Forest of Trees here at Ridgecrest. We had our arcade walkway filled with trees, Santa’s workshop, and all different kinds of Christmas treasures. We even had a homemade igloo made out of distilled water jugs from our fountain. Throughout all our buildings, inside and out, we were showing our Christmas Spirit.  All of our residents, families and guest were able to enjoy it without having to fight through the crowds.

It was a lot of work getting this together, and our Ridgecrest team worked together to get it done for the second year in a row now. That is the kind of care offered at Ridgecrest Village. You are family here at Ridgecrest, no matter what building you reside in.  The “team” works to make sure you’re happy and healthy.  You’re given almost anything you want (within reason), because our Residents deserve only the best.

Last year was the first year I didn’t max out my credit cards to buy Christmas gifts for the family or go out at crazy times after Thanksgiving to get the best deal I could for my children.  I stayed home with my family. We enjoyed playing cards and visiting. Telling stories of our past and talking about our goals for the future. I decided to do this after visiting with Pat, who told me going in debt for Christmas isn’t what it is about. After she lost her husband, she didn’t think about the gifts or what he bought her. She thought about the times that they shared together. That is really what it is about. That is the sharing of yourself, not of things.

My residents show me daily that we are never too old to learn new things, and when I said that, their response was, “We learn something new all the time as well.”  We have to be open to new things and changes, and you will be surprised how much your life will improve. So from my Ridgecrest Family and me, keep the Christmas Spirit of Love and Caring alive all through 2015.