NEWS

Heritage Estates was the chosen venue for Assemblymember Joan Buchanan to host a free Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 17, 2009. Ms. Buchanan was on hand to discuss legislative and community issues with her consituents. Over 40 residents were in attendance to meet with the Assemblymember.

Heritage Estates has taken a completely unique spin on sporting events! This week staff and residents alike are participating in activities like Walker Dragraces and Beachball Volleyball. Each event is tailored for residents with varying ability levels, so everyone can take part. A great number of residents and staff have turned out for each event to play and cheer their friends on. Still to come are a Bocce Ball tournament and Beachball Basketball. Daily winners are awarded gift cards to Safeway. Heritage Estates will finish the week with a Closing Ceremonies party with awards for MVPs.

Congressman Garamendi stopped by Heritage Estates on January 5th to visit with residents. He made the rounds in the restaurant at lunchtime chatting with the seniors and answering questions. The greatest topic of interest was the impending Health Care bill. The Congressman also took time to talk with residents at the Senior Apartments.

30 staff and residents from Heritage Estates boraded a passenger bus this past Saturday to head to the Alzheimer's Association's Memory Walk. After carbo loading on bagels, walkers disembarked at Treasure Island and made their way to the starting line. Joining 7000 other walkers, half of the Heritage Estates group walked the 1.5 mile loop and the rest walked the 3 mile loop. It was a typical foggy San Francisco day, yet there was a great view of the City and great energy from all the walkers. Heritage Estates is proud to have contributed over $8500 to the event which has raised nearly $1 million for Alzheimer's research.

The 1st Annual Heritage Hoedown brought an incredible turnout and raised $3300 for the Alzheimer's Association. Guests were treated to an authentic barbeque, participated in horse rides, hay rides, roping contests, a petting zoo and voted Heritage's own Chef as the winner of the Chili Cook Off. The Wine Land Banjo band kept everyone's toes tapping and the staff performed two line dances for the crowd.

A great time was had by all and a worthwhile cause was supported. Look for the 2nd Annual Heritage Hoedown next fall!

Grandparent's are especially important at Heritage Estates! Today was National Grandparent's Day and Heritage celebrated by hosting a fun event for granparents and their grandchildren. To saitsfy those with a sweet tooth, there was an ice cream sundae buffet. To make sure the memory of the day lasts, there was a special craft that the grandparents and kids could do together. Clay tiles were purchased from Cafe Art in downtown Livermore and everyone decorated them to honor their family members. Please see the photos of the day in the Photo Gallery.

 

It was another exciting day at Heritage as 20 staff and 15 residents were honored for being the charter members of Heritage's English as a Second Language classes. A year ago, resident Peg Scott started the program in and effort to help Spanish-speaking staff learn the English language. In that time, staff participants have learned how to communicate much more effectively with residents and other staff and one student/staff member studied for and earned her citizenship! Heritage Estates is very proud of all the staff and residents who have worked so diligently in the program.

It's 1 p.m. at the Heritage Estates' Brain Gym in Livermore, California, and the gym rats are starting their workout. Dorothy Emmrich, age 100, straps on a headset and glares at a computer screen showing rows of playing cards. Each makes a different sound when she clicks on it. She searches for pairs that make matching sounds, a classic memory game.

Click the link above to read more on how Heritage Estates residents are improving their memory with the fun and innovative Brain Fitness Program.