June 2020

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

QUILTERS ARE THE FOUNDATION – p. 5

RESIDENT OF INSPIRATIONA NEW AWARDS PROGRAM – p. 4

THE BENEFITS OF JOURNAL WRITING A STRESS RELIEVING ACTIVITY – p. 7

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

QUILTERS ARE THE FOUNDATION – p. 5

RESIDENT OF INSPIRATIONA NEW AWARDS PROGRAM – p. 4

THE BENEFITS OF JOURNAL WRITING A STRESS RELIEVING ACTIVITY – p. 7

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June 2020 | 2

It’s easy to focus on the negative when that seems to be all that’s reported by the news outlets, but at Glencroft we actually have good news when it comes to COVID-19. The number of cases continue to decrease and/or hold steady.

We have amazing residents and staff! Because of their preparedness, we are actually seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases on campus and this week have now entered Phase Two.

Opening the campus back up has been slow, but successful thanks to everyone abiding by the rules and regulations set by the CDC. The Performance Center and Marketplace are both open to a limited number of people at a time. We are still taking temperatures and asking the routine screening questions. Activities and group gatherings are still small, but we are winning! And now it’s time to move towards phase two…opening up dining services and various other regularly scheduled activities. FINALLY! We can get back to eating like we’re used to from a larger variety of food items.

Although the challenges of COVID-19 have not been easy, residents and staff at Glencroft have proven their resilience, commitment to each other, and their strength as a community.

Glencroft leadership and staff have worked diligently to prepare for this unfortunate event. It is thanks to everyone’s commitment that we have been able to keep our COVID-19 numbers low and continue to flatten the curve.

As the virus continues, we remain prepared and have plenty of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on site as needed. We are ready and willing to help the larger community if the need arises.

With all of this “good news,” we ask that everyone stay vigilant and not become too complacent. We ask that you continue to wear masks, social distance, and follow the advice of the CDC.

We are grateful to our amazing residents and staff who have sacrificed and helped endure this virus. We know this hasn’t been easy and we truly appreciate you.

THANK YOU!

We Are WinningWe Are WinningWe Are Winning

3. | GLENCROFT LIVING

THE ENVIRONMENT: One positive aspect of COVID-19 is the effect on the environment. Carbon emissions are down globally and with manufacturing and air travel grinding to a halt, the planet has had a chance to rejuvenate.

China recorded an 85 percent increase in days with good air quality. With tourists gone from Italy, the long-polluted canals of Venice now appear clear as fish and other wildlife start returning. Wildlife is reappearing in other major cities and the biodiversity is starting to return in various parts of the world.

CONNECTEDNESS: People are finding new ways to address the need for interconnectedness. In Italy people are joining their instruments and voices to create music from their balconies. People are leading street dance parties while maintaining social distancing.

INNOVATION: COVID-19 is a major market disruptor that has led to unprecedented levels

of innovation. Due to the lockdown, many businesses have had to reinvent themselves with a new ‘business as unusual’ philosophy.

Many businesses have had to undergo rapid digitalisation and offer services online.

GRATITUDE: COVID-19 is giving us a new sense of appreciation and gratefulness. It has offered us a new perspective on everything we have taken for granted—our freedoms, leisure, connections, work, family and friends. We have never questioned how life as we know it could be suddenly taken away from us.

These positive aspects come at a great price, but the positive outcomes are gifts we should not overlook. It is up to us to change ourselves and our system to continue with the positive environmental impact, connectedness, innovation, and gratitude. This crisis will end. We will meet again. We can do so as better human beings.

Positive Outcomes of COVID-19

From recovering ecosystems to new ways of learning, there are silver linings to this global pandemic.

APRIL 2020 | 4.

Every week we recognize a Resident of Inspiration nominated by a fellow Glencroft resident. Each person nominated has been an inspiration to another in one way or another; giving to others, cheerful, friendly, compassionate, etc. The award recipient for the week is the given the opportunity to nominate the next Resident of Inspiration.

Be sure to watch ZoeTV each week to find out who the next winner is.

Resident of Inspiration

June 2020 | 4

The first two winners of this award were Barbara Lothrop and Marlene Christians.

Barbara Lothrop was awarded the Resident of Inspiration on May 20th. She was nominated by the ZoeLife team. Barbara is a friend and caregiver to so many residents on this campus.

Barbara is a true and inspiration to everyone on campus. She has an amazing personality that shows warmth and compassion to every life she touches. Her quick wit, and tell it like it is attitude keeps everyone smiling, uplifted and on their toes.

Barbara was the perfect person to kick off this new recognition award.

Marlene Christians was nominated by Barbara Lothrop and awarded with the Resident of Inspiration on May 27th.

Nominated for her amazing spirit and compassion, Marlene inspires everyone to be a better person! (L-R: Marlene Christians, Barbara Lothrop)

5. | GLENCROFT LIVING

In the beginning, the Glencroft Quilters were one of the cornerstones of Glencroft. Traditionally they would use their talent for making quilts to raise funds for various things within the community. This tradition continued when Glencroft was first being established and for many years thereafter.

The dedication of these quilters in creating a community for seniors is obvious by the number or hours, sometimes up to a year, in making each quilt. Each year they would hold a fundraising auction and raise as much as $40,000 per year!

Mennonite quilts have a long history in American culture. They are hugely sought after for their quality, beauty and durability.

The Mennonite belief is that, “beauty is part of function.”

While many of us see these quilts as nothing more than art or precious heirlooms, the Mennonite women see them as an everyday object with a purpose—to be used as a blanket or bed cover. In keeping with the Mennonite beliefs that “beauty is part of function,” the quilters club here at

The Mennonite community is famous for their quilts and at Glencroft, having been founded by a strong Mennonite community, the quilt making never stopped.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

are the foundationare the foundationare the foundation

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Types of QuiltsQuilts are made in two styles: pieced and appliquéd.

Pieced quilts are made from hundreds of pieces of fabric that are first cut and then sewn together by machine. From then on, everything is done by hand.

Traditional Appliquéd quilts are more labor-intensive than pieced quilts. The reason is that each appliqué is cut and sewn by hand onto a white or off-white background. With appliquéd quilts, a machine is not used.

More Information

For more information about the Quilters Group, contact Sandi Smith 602-399-4915.

Glencroft continues to create these functionally beautiful pieces.

Although the Glencroft Quilters no longer hold an annual auction, they still get together each week to socialize and work on quilts.

7. | GLENCROFT LIVING

Journal writing is a great way to organize your thoughts, write down on paper any anxieties, frustrations and pains, making it less likely you will harbor them inside, creating stress. And there are a multitude of types of journals you can keep—travel journals, dream journals, prayer journals, etc. It doesn’t even need to be about anything specific, just simply getting your thoughts down on paper is a great habit.

There are many benefits of keeping a journal, but journaling is especially helpful when used as an outlet to create, experiment and manage various parts of your life. It gives you

a place to practice writing techniques, flesh out ideas, as well as just keeping a record of times you never want to forget or things you need to remember.

Eight reasons to start a journal:1. Improve your writing.If you have ever wanted to practice or improve your writing skills, the best thing to do is write. You don’t have to have the perfect topic or a specific theme, you just need to start getting your ideas on paper. The more you work through them, the more those ideas will flourish into something more complete.

Everyone has different reasons for writing in a journal. But have you considered it as a method of reducing stress?

From: Penzu.com

The Benefits ofJournalJournal Writing WritingJournal Writing

June 2020 | 8

2. Inspire creativity.Everyone is creative. If you don’t think you are, then maybe you haven’t tried. Your journal is a place to write down anything that comes to mind. The crazier the idea, the better. Let your imagination wander to the farthest parts of your mind and record the journey. The more you practice experimenting with possibilities and opportunities, the more inspiration you will find. Keeping a journal is a great way to help your creativity flourish.

3. Brainstorm ideas more effectively.The benefits of journal writing are that you are able to keep all of your ideas in one place, no matter how all over the place they may be. Feel free to jot down whatever pops into your head and let your mind wander. Later on, you can come back to these ideas and look for connections and conclusions that may promote even more ideas.

4. Stay organized.Diaries help keep your thoughts organized and comprehensible. You can record daily musings, the feelings you had about a certain experience or the opinions you had about a specific event.

By creating diaries that are specific to certain topics, you can organize and archive your thoughts even more. Journals can take you back to that year you spent backpacking, they can remind you of a business you wanted to start or they can guide you to a happier state of mind. Whatever you decide to write about, writing in a journal helps you sift through

the clutter in your mind by organizing your thoughts into notes, lists, memories, stories and more.

5. Reduce stress.Writing down your feelings acts as a release and can be very cleansing. If you are able to put your anxieties, frustrations and pains on paper, then you are less likely to harbor them inside, which creates stress. Expressing yourself in a journal is a positive way to free tension you may be internalizing.

6. Allow yourself to self-reflect.Our lives can become very hectic, making it easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. Responsibilities and expectations start to consume us. Journaling is a way to take a step back from all of that and reflect on yourself. You may begin to see patterns in your behavior, or in the behavior of others. The benefits of journal writing are that you are able to look back at pages you’ve written and think about how you’ve changed, discover things you want to change or decide on things you need to change.

7. Achieve your goals.It is known that you are more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. By keeping a journal you not only can write down a list of ambitions and aspirations, you can expand on them. You can monitor your progress and continue to motivate yourself by documenting new developments and achievements.

9. | GLENCROFT LIVING

8. Improve your memory.By writing down ideas and thoughts you have had throughout the day, your brain is more likely to store that information. If you learn something new, a journal is a place to store the details, but as you recover those facts and write them down, your brain will make stronger connections with that information and you will have an easier time recalling it.

It is time to get those creative juices flowing, those ideas rolling and that brain of yours growing. But remember, the reasons of writing a journal do not stop here. Discover more by starting your journal today!

WRITER’S CLUBDid you know that Glencroft has a writer’s club?

This is an opportunity to explore your creativity and improve your writing skills.

If you are interested in learning more, contact Ken Wixon at 623-939-6074 for more information.

JOURNAL WRITING PROMPTS Following are journal writing prompts to inspire and help you get started:

• Write about the past• Your childhood, lost friendships,

school life, things you would have done differently, etc.

• Write a letter to your younger self• Write about turning points in your life

– what would be different now if you had made a different choice

• Write about your feelings• What frightens you?• What brings you joy?• What makes you sad?• What worries you? • Is there a pressing problem you need

to work out?

• Write a letter • To someone that upset you

• To your children and grandchildren with advice for them when they are older. These letters will help them understand the type of person you were at their age.

• To friends and family members about things you can’t say to them in person

• Write about• Confessions of your deep down

secrets that you can’t tell anyone• The present—current events• The future• How you can improve your life.• Your pets, your home, etc.• Your daily activities so you can look

back and remember each moment.

• Add photos and illustrations to your entries to make them more special.

June 2020 | 10

Coming Soon to GlencroftWe have exciting things coming to Glencroft that will make living here even better!

Currently we are working on a new website that will be much more interactive and informational to you and your family. Additionally, we are working on two apps for residents here on campus. One will keep you updated on all the latest and greatest things happening at Glencroft, allow you to order transportation, make dining reservations, schedule maintenance, and much more. The other is a ZoeLife specific app that will enhance your ZoeLife experience. We’ll keep you updated as things progress.

Did You know?Midwestern University has been a huge supporter and collaborator of Glencroft Center for Modern Aging. Because of their continued support, we are recognizing them this month as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Recently, psychologist Melissa Flint with Midwestern University spoke with KJZZ 91.5 about treating healthcare and essential workers: the staff at Glencroft Center for Modern Aging.

If you didn’t get a chance to listen to this great interview, it is available online and was posted to the Glencroft Center for Modern Aging facebook page.

You can listen to it by going to our facebook page: @GlencroftCenterForModern Aging.

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Thank you Midwestern University for your continued collaboration and support!