It was lobster night last Friday at VHRC's Bistro! Our dining team provided a pop-up dinner featuring lobster, corn on the cob and all the sides in The Bistro. Seating was limited but the food was superb! Those who did not get a seat that evening in The Bistro were able to enjoy a lobster dinner in their apartments. We are already looking forward to the next pop-up dinner -- Oktoberfest!
Join us for a webinar, Downsizing Tips and Strategies, on October 7 at 1 pm! Email Kayla Bennett (kaylab@vinsonhall.org) to register.
Downsizing has lots of advantages, but sometimes just the thought of such a task is overwhelming. If the thought of downsizing is keeping you from living your best life, you will appreciate our upcoming webinar! Dawn Williams, Client Experience Manager for Wayforth, a move management company, will share tips and tricks that have helped her clients make the move to a more convenient and efficient life.
https://www.vinsonhall.org/event/downsizing-tips-and-tricks
Don't forget to sign up for our webinar and learn more about today's real estate market. The webinar will be tomorrow, September 23 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Email Kayla Bennett, Marketing Coordinator at kaylab@vinsonhall.org to RSVP. See our website for more information: www.vinsonhall.org/event/understanding-the-real-estate-market-of-today-webinar
We are delighted to share our 2019 Partnership Wall! Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation's Partnership Wall shares highlights from our 50th Anniversary year -- what a great year it was! It also shares the milestones we reached, including providing financial support to residents so they can "live life their way," donations to community groups, and the number of volunteer hours donated to VHRC. Most importantly our Partnership Wall is one of the ways we say thank you to our community partners and our very important Star members. It is thanks to the financial support from these individuals and organizations that NMCGRF can achieve its goals! Thank you! Please be sure to check out our Partnership Wall on the 1st floor of Vinson Hall and in the Kathy Martin Community Building near the Executive suite.
We were Casual for a Cause today! VHRC staff members had the opportunity to dress comfy and show their support for the fight to end Alzheimer's.
The number of Americans living with Alzheimer's is growing — and growing fast. More than 5 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's. One in ten American adults age 65 and older has Alzheimer's dementia. VHRC's Sylvestery Memory Care Community provides compassionate, loving support for individuals living with Alzheimer's. See our website for more details about this community: https://www.vinsonhall.org/memory-care-at-the-sylvestery
#ENDALZ
Are you thinking of selling your home? Are you curious how our current situation affects home sales? If so, RSVP to attend our webinar on Wednesday, September 23 at 1 p.m. Webinar topics will include:
• How do I sell a house during this pandemic?
• What I should know before diving into the current real estate market?
• What’s in a number? Understanding “value” vs. “price” when selling a home.
Our webinar will be conducted via Zoom. Email Kayla Bennett, VHRC’s Marketing Coordinator, at kaylab@vinsonhall.org, to RSVP. After you RSVP, Kayla will email you a link to the Zoom webinar and further instructions.
Prost! The Bistro hosted an Oktoberfest lunch. With socially distanced seating, residents were able to enjoy a four-course lunch thanks to the Dining Services team. Director of Dining Haider Mahmood developed the "pop-up" events to give residents a dining event to look forward to. Haider hopes to provide two such events a months. “I hope these events are another way we can start to at least feel like we are returning to normal,” said Haider.
VHRC residents and staff participated in a Walk to End Alzheimer's today on the VHRC campus. With the help of our residents we charted an 8/10 of a mile walk around our lovely campus -- we actually did the walk twice -- once for early birds at 9 a.m. and then again at 1 p.m. VHRC is committed it the fight to end Alzheimer's. #ENDALZ
We are excited to share with you our 2019 annual report! Due to COVID-19 and our office’s efforts in providing communication support, our report is a bit late. But better late than never, right?
2019 was a great year for VHRC as we celebrated our 50th Anniversary. The 2019 Annual Report captures all the festivities and fun of last year. It also was a year of significant philanthropic highlights, with 19 sponsors supporting NMCGRF, 27 community partnerships, 143 Star Members -- individuals who donated $250 or more to help NMCGRF achieve its goals. In total NMCGRF raised $545,714 throughout the year. Quite a year! Check out our Annual Report online to relieve the memories. https://www.vinsonhall.org/sites/vinsonhall/uploads/Foundation/Annual-Report-2019.pdf
VHRC employees were treated to a socially distant fun fair featuring games, prizes and delicious carnival-style treats. Participants competed in a matching game, solving riddles, and other challenges all from inside their cars. The fair was organized by our HR team and the food was provided by our Dining team.
The number of pumpkin sightings have increased! It must be October! Check out the activities we have planned at VHRC for this month on our website: https://www.vinsonhall.org/life-enrichment
A few of our residents did their civic duty today and voted early at the McLean Government Center. VHRC's Activity Coordinator, Mirna Fuentes, is arranging transportation for small groups of residents to vote early between now and October 31. Have you decided how you will vote this year?
Over the last several months, VHRC’s clinical team has been constantly adapting and adjusting to the new environment created by COVID-19. Their ability to remain informed and adapt to changes have been key factors in our efforts to keep the health and wellness, mind, body and spirit, of our residents and dedicated staff our top priority. The most recent adaptation involves a piece of technology new to VHRC – an antigen testing machine – which will be used to perform rapid COVID tests once supplies (currently limited) for the machine are available. For now, the team continues to use other testing methods to perform COVID tests. Lisa Desmond, Director of Clinical Operations and Lead Infection Preventionist, with Theresa Morgan, Director of Nursing, demonstrate the BD Veritor Antigen Testing Machine in the photo below. We are so grateful for such expertise, and for the unwavering commitment of the entire VHRC staff team during this pandemic!
It’s all treats and no tricks this Halloween at VHRC! We kept the Halloween spirit festive but socially distanced with a Zoom Halloween costume party. Residents, dressed up in their Halloween attire, joined each other via Zoom. It was great to hear the laughter and see the creativity while enjoying each other’s company – from a distance. We at VHRC hope you and yours have very scary – and safe! – Halloween.
October is breast cancer awareness month. All this month, the Health & Wellness Clinic has hosted a display encouraging breast cancer screening. Did you know that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women? Breast cancer screening can help save lives! Read more quick facts about breast cancer risk factors at https://bit.ly/3hmFfup
Ooray! Today is the Marine Corps’ 245 birthday. It is a Marine Corps tradition to celebrate this birthday with cake – cut with a sword as a reminder that Marines are a band of warriors, committed to carrying the sword, so that our nation may live in peace. At VHRC we are grateful for the service of the Marines. Happy 245th Birthday!
Last week Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation celebrated its Star members. NMCGRF’s Star members donate $250 or more per year to help the Foundation achieve its goals of supporting the residents and staff of Vinson Hall Retirement Community. This year we celebrated our Stars virtually with a video featuring a few of our Foundation members who expressed their thanks for the Foundation and its members.
In the past year, the Foundation has provided funds to ensure that no VHRC resident is asked to leave his or her home due to an inability to pay. The Foundation also launched the Employee Caring Fund (ECF) to support VHRC’s 240 employees should they suffer a financial hardship.
We invite you to take a few minutes to watch the video. We also invite you to make a donation to the Foundation, so you too could be a Star! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64RHafDLWfE&feature=youtu.be
We are excited to share that VHRC’s Resident Care Associate (RCA) program, which offers in-home personal care to VHRC residents who select this service, was recently awarded Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice by Home Care Pulse, an independent company which conducts surveys with clients and staff of homecare companies. Home Care Pulse conducted phone interviews with a percentage RCA’s clients and staff. Since the surveys began earlier this year, the RCA program has received high marks. The RCA program is another way in which VHRC distinguishes itself from other life plan communities. “We are providing quality care which shows in these surveys,” said Beth Lawhorn, RCA Operations Managers. “Our clients are happy with the care they are getting. For VHRC it’s an added feature you might not get somewhere else.”
On this Veterans’ Day, we are grateful for the service of the veterans who now call VHRC home and for all veterans who gave so much to keep our country safe. Happy Veterans’ Day.
A beautifully decorated poster graced the Willow Oak and Vinson Hall lobbies this week. The poster celebrates Veterans’ Day and thanks veterans for their service. A portion of the poster reads: “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than one’s self.” The poster was created by a group of local Daisy Scouts – first graders from Wolftrap Elementary. The leader of the troop is a niece of a Willow Oak resident and her daughter is in the troop – some multi-generational outreach! The leader said she wanted to “support the folks living at VHRC, especially during these crazy times.” We are so grateful for this outreach and for the reminder that we live and work among heroes!
Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation held a Holiday Jewelry Sale on Thursday, November 12. It was a huge success and a lot of fun! The sale featured jewelry from NMCGRF’s Treasure Shop, which closed permanently at the end of June. In addition, to jewelry we also offered items, such as purses, decorative items, and other items, from our Variety Shoppe. We were delighted to be able to offer this sale to our residents and staff members. Shoppers were admitted one by one, with only one shopper per table, and masks and hand sanitation were required. We are pleased to share that the sale brought in over $2,000 in revenue for NMCGRF. We are grateful to the VHRC residents who helped set up the event and those who stopped by to shop.
NMCGRF raises money throughout the year to support the residents and staff of VHRC. Learn more about NMCGRF on our website: www.vinsonhall.org/the-foundation
For this year’s Thanksgiving card we selected a painting by one of our VHRC residents. We loved the vibrant colors of the painting. The greeting on the flip side of this postcard reads: This Thanksgiving we wish you blue skies and more blessings than the autumn leaves! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at VHRC!
VHRC’s Facilities team – head by Shawn Bostic – have been utilizing a variety of technology to keep our campus safe. Over the past several months, the Facilities team has purchased air scrubbers with dual Hepa filters, electrostatic sprayers (shown in the picture), rapid air recovery units, and UV disinfecting machines as well as dozens of plexiglass barriers.
“When this pandemic happened, we had to figure out quickly how to clean these rooms and how to clean the air. We had to adapt,” said Shawn. In addition to adapting, Shawn also credits the ability to be flexible. “We are here to serve the residents. If we are not flexible, that could create a serious situation. Every situation is important. Every concern is important. It’s important to see what the issue is and try to respond.” Many thanks to Shawn and his Facilities team for all of their tireless efforts in keeping our community safe!
VHRC residents had the pleasure of decorating gingerbread houses in the safety of their own homes last week and at the same time engaging in a little friendly competition. Our activities coordinator, Mirna Fuentes, with COVID measures in place, distributed gingerbread house kits to everyone who wanted one. They then decorated their gingerbread house. When the final touches were in place and the house was complete, the participants sent a picture to Mirna, who then shared the decorations and the holiday joy -- and picked a winner!
VHRC is a little cheerier this week thanks to a poinsettia donation from Madison High School’s swim team. Every year the team hosts a fundraiser and every year folks donate poinsettias to a worthy group. This year – thanks to a connection to one of our residents – VHRC was selected as that as that worthy cause. Over the weekend a mother and daughter duo (shown in the photo below) from the team dropped off 36 live poinsettias, which were then distributed across campus. We are definitely feeling the holiday spirit!
The VHRC campus is ready for the holiday season! The week following Thanksgiving a very busy crew of residents and staff decorated the entire VHRC campus.
More than 20 Christmas trees were put up by our Facilities teams. The trees, fireplace mantels and gathering areas were then decorated by residents and staff – while adhering to COVID restrictions and working in shifts so as not to have more than two people in one area at a time.
In addition to Christmas trees, residents donated Christmas items from their storage areas or scoured weekly store circulars to find and then purchase several special items that completed the festive look. The whole activity was guided by Michelle Crone, in Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation’s Office of Philanthropy and Engagement and undertaken by residents.
"I think the lobby, the Penthouse lounge, the auditorium and the entire campus looks very festive and inviting. It's absolutely marvelous to have these wonderful decorations all across campus. The whole place looks like a party just waiting to happen," said one resident who helped coordinate the decorating.
Local Girl Scout Troop 265 spearheaded what turned out to be an extremely popular card-making operation. The troop, together with seven other local Girl Scout troops – with girls ranging in ages from kindergarten to 12th grade – plus a local card maker, made over 400 cards which they donated to VHRC to spread some cheer among our residents. “Service is integral to the Girl Scout mission. We always do service projects around the holidays. This year we wanted to continue the tradition, but knew we had to do something virtual,” said Troop Leader Anjali Gupta. “I also think it’s really important – especially because of the pandemic, which can be really isolating -- to connect and to reach out. This project was a great way to remind our girls that they are part of a broader community.” In the photo below two of the members of Troop 265 deliver their cards to VHRC. Many thanks to the girls for the beautiful cards!
For the second year in a row, VHRC residents had the opportunity to give back. The Office of Philanthropy and Engagement – working with SHARE, a local food bank – started this campaign in early December and wrapped it up on Monday. SHARE specifically requested items, such as paper towels, tissues, hand lotion, and coffee, which are not only useful to the individuals living in McLean’s senior affordable housing residences but are also items that cannot be purchased with supplemental nutritional assistance. We were very touched by the outpouring of giving from our residents – especially during these challenging times. Below, Fran Mooney and Michelle Crone of the Philanthropy and Engagement Office prepare an overflowing box of donations for delivery to SHARE.
Why are Christmas trees bad at knitting? They always drop their needles.
What do elves learn in school? The elf-abet!
If you love riddles like these, you would have loved our virtual ugly sweater and – in keeping with the times – an ugly face mask contest. VHRC’s Life Enrichment Coordinator, Mirna Fuentes arranged this virtual holiday celebration, complete with riddles and games and displays of “ugly” creativity. She said she really enjoyed the event and had fun making her own sweater, plus she has heard from other residents that they thought it was a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. Below are some photos of VHRC’s residents and staff which Mirna took after seeing their great holiday creativity virtually.
Wishing you the very best this holiday season! This holiday season will definitely be different from other holidays. Nonetheless, we hope you find moments of peace and joy. For this year's holiday card, we selected a piece of artwork we felt most appropriate created by a VHRC resident. Happy Holidays!
Good-bye 2020! As we closed out our 50th Anniversary Year in December 2019 and welcomed 2020, little did we imagine that this year would have turned out as it did. Now we can bid it adieu and look to 2021 with optimism, which we hope will bring with it an end to the stress, anxiety, and loss caused by COVID-19. At VHRC, we are celebrating the end of this year as we have spent the majority of year – socially distanced and masked. That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t enjoy a little bubbly and some end-of-year treats! Yesterday, our residents received a goodie bag, complete with champagne, noise makers, party hats, and an invitation to join a Zoom end-of-year celebration tomorrow night! We hope you can close out 2020 safely and that you too are looking to 2021 with hope. (In the photo, Life Enrichment Coordinator, Mirna Fuentes, delivers a goodie bag.)
We are very excited to share that Vinson Hall Retirement Community is a Best of Arlington WINNER for 2021. This award shows what a great community VHRC is -- great residents, great staff, and a great place to live! Check out their website to see the other Best of Arlington winners. https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/best-of-arlington-2021-home/
Hooray! It’s vaccination day! Today was the first day of Group B vaccinations for Virginia, and VHRC residents were at the front of the line. Today’s vaccinations – more than 150 vaccines administered to independent living, assisted living, and memory care residents – added to the over 100 vaccines that were administered to long-term care residents and staff on December 28. The remainder of our residents and staff who gave consent to receive the vaccine will receive their first dose this week. We have great hope that this vaccine will bring an end to the anxiety, stress and loss caused by COVID-19. We will receive the second dose in the next few weeks. Today we celebrate the science behind the vaccine, the coordination efforts of our staff, and our residents who got vaccinated today for a stronger tomorrow!
Just before Christmas, we put out our Campus News and Views, VHRC’s quarterly resident and staff newsletter. Publication of this newsletter, like all of our plans, was a bit later than normal due to COVID-19. This issue includes stories and memories written by our residents as well as some updates from VHRC team leaders. In one article, a resident reflects on the 1950s polio epidemic and how she contracted the virus and then overcame it. The newsletter also includes a resident’s short story, titled Hawaii, in which the hero confronts her mental anguish and considers the simple joy of a jar of raspberry jam. Another story recounts a resident's teenage experience of playing basketball with a future star. To read all of these stories and more see our website: https://vinsonhall.org/blog/
Check out our new website! Over these past several months we have been working with a senior living marketing firm to update our website. This process began in June – in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic – and continued through the holidays. We think the website has a fresh, new look and easier navigation. Additionally, several of our current residents very gamely participated in a photo shoot earlier this year – and their pictures add an especially nice feel to the website. Be sure to check out our website: www.vinsonhall.org!
As the promise of the #COVID19 vaccine becomes a reality, join us in pausing to remember and honor the Vinson Hall Retirement Community residents – friends, neighbors, wives and husbands, mothers and fathers – that have been lost to this terrible disease. We also give a heartfelt and enduring thanks to VHRC’s frontline workers who have braved this time to provide care and support for those suffering from COVID-19.
As we wrap up our review of 2020 we have to give a shout out to our 2020 Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation individual donors. In 2020 we had 177 Star Members. These are individuals that gave $250 or more to support the Foundation’s mission of enriching the lives of the residents and staff who live and work at VHRC. We are very grateful for all our donors!
We are also excited to share that we had 34 MORE Star Members in 2020 than in 2019! In the midst of this very challenging year, 34 more individuals came forward to support the Foundation! Additionally, in 2020 we increased our number of giving levels to include a Five Star giving level, which includes donors who contributed $5,000 or more. In 2020, we had 10 individuals give at this level!
All of our donors – no matter the amount – help NMCGRF achieve our goals of supporting the residents and staff of VHRC. Thank you, thank you to all our donors! To learn more about NMCGRF, check out our website: www.vinsonhall.org/foundation
We were seeing red at VHRC yesterday – but for a good cause! Friday was National Wear Red Day – an American Heart Association initiative that calls attention to the number one threat to women’s health: cardiovascular disease. Despite the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiovascular disease remains the leading killer of women in the U.S., according to the American Heart Association’s newly released 2021 Heart Disease & Stroke Statistics. Heart disease kills one woman approximately every 80 seconds, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined. We are grateful to our staff members who took some time to call attention to this very important issue.
During our latest three day COVID-19 vaccination clinic, which wrapped up yesterday, 426 vaccine doses were administered to VHRC residents and staff. Some folks received their first dose of the vaccine and some received their second. Many thanks to the VHRC staff who worked tirelessly to ensure that this clinic ran like clock-work! As we have been holding COVID-19 vaccine clinics since December 28 – our crew has become vaccine clinics pros! During this three day clinic, residents and staff moved through check-in, vaccination, and post-vaccine monitoring period smoothly – within 30 minutes the process was complete for most. Few residents or staff reported any unsettling post-vaccine side effects. In fact, the biggest side effect we have seen is joy! Check out our video: https://youtu.be/dac_COD7zak
YOUTUBE.COM
February Vaccine Clinic 2
We are sharing the love this Valentine’s Day weekend! Rather than taking down some of our sparkly Christmas trees, they have become Valentine trees! A few of our residents have re-decorated them with a more springy theme in anticipation of some warmer months but definitely reflecting the warm hearts here at VHRC. This week, the Office of Philanthropy and Engagement sent a heart to all Vinson Hall and Willow Oak residents and asked that they share a note with a friend, a loved one, a VHRC staff member or the community as a whole. Our residents have placed kind and thoughtful notes on the windows of the connector bridges between buildings. We are very touched by the sweet words!
We did it! On Wednesday we completed our sixth – and last planned – COVID-19 vaccine clinic! More than 600 individuals – residents and staff – received the vaccine on our campus. For the past two months – starting December 28 – VHRC in connection with CVS/Omnicare has been working hard to get as many residents and staff as possible vaccinated. Many thanks to our clinical staff who helped ensure that we got the vaccine so quickly and so early in the vaccine process! And thanks to all our staff and residents who opted to receive the vaccine, helping prepare for a safer future!
Did March blow in like a lion? One thing is for certain -- it's great to see some more sunshine! Another great thing to see -- our March activities calendars! Be sure to check out the great activities planned for all levels of living on our website: www.vinsonhall.org
Each year the residents of Vinson Hall and Willow Oak vote on the Paul Peak Vinson Hall Retirement Community Resident of the Year. This process got underway earlier this month, and all nominations were due this past Wednesday. The award was established in 2015 by Mrs. Jane Peak, in memory and in honor of her husband, who was a 25-year resident of VHRC. CAPT Peak was a strong believer in the value of community and was an active supporter of the VHRC community and its residents. Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation, which coordinates the award process, is proud to be part of this tradition and looks forward to the announcement of the resident of year later this month. Below is a photo from two years ago when we were able to gather in person and last year’s event which was virtual. Shown in the photos below are the previous winners of the Paul Peak Resident of the Year Award, back row, left to right: Col Mike Cluff, USMC (Ret), Mr. Robert Matthews, front row, Mrs. Jane Peak, Mrs. Elaine Baker (who passed away earlier this month), and CAPT Jay Arnold, USN (Ret). Raising a glass of champagne and looking lovely in COVID-style is last year’s winner, Mrs. Carol Saunders.
Navy Marine Coast Guard Residence Foundation, which supports the residents and staff of Vinson Hall Retirement Community, produced a mask with the VHRC logo and distributed them to residents and staff last week. We have to say that this new mask looks very smart -- especially as modeled by Col Mike Cluff in the photo below! And – like so many great things – it was a collaborative effort pulling together the great thinking of our clinical team and our dining team. Lisa Desmond, our Director of Clinical Operations, provided guidance on mask features. Thanks to this guidance our mask is made of three-layers of soft fabric and adjustable ear straps. Haider Mahmood, our Director of Dining, used his connections to get us a good price on the customized masks. We hope all who wear this mask do so in good health!
VHRC Chaplain Scott Harrison presented a service of remembrance today to reflect on the impacts of the past year on our community. As is our annual tradition here at VHRC, Scott read the names of all those friends we have lost over the course of the year. But like the poem that Scott read (below), we hope “to turn again to life and smile.” (In the photo, Scott prepares to read his service of remembrance while VHRC’s Life Enrichment Coordinator, Mirna Fuentes, films it for broadcast on our in-house TV channel.)
Turn Again to Life
by Mary Lee Hall
If I should die and leave you here awhile,
Be not like others, sore undone, who keep
Long vigils by the silent dust, and weep.
For my sake — turn again to life and smile,
Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do
Something to comfort other hearts than thine.
Complete those dear unfinished tasks of mine
And I, perchance, may therein comfort you.
Irish eyes were smiling at Vinson Hall Retirement Community today! Residents enjoyed a bit of festivity including green smoothies and green beer! Our staff joined in on the fun too with great, green outfits! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Today we bid farewell to Randy Fowler, Administrator of Vinson Hall and Willow Oak. Randy joined the VHRC team in 2013. In his eight years here, Randy’s seen a good deal of change and initiated some best practices at VHRC. He’s also laid the groundwork so these programs and others can continue to improve.
Randy said that he will certainly miss VHRC. “What I’m going to miss the most are the residents,” said Randy. “I will miss the hallway encounters and the time to talk with people. I’ll also miss the staff. A number of the staff have been just terrific to work with. I’ve seen growth and happiness in a lot of folks and that has been a pleasure to witness.”
Haider Mahmood, VHRC’s current Director of Dining Services, will transition to be the Administrator of Vinson Hall and Willow Oak. We wish Randy all the best as he enters his next chapter and look forward to seeing Haider in his new role.
Today we celebrated the 100th birthday of one of our residents, Betty. Shortly after moving to VHRC, Betty took up painting. She had painted a bit before retiring but nothing serious, she said. Now she spends at least one afternoon a week in Vinson Hall’s art room. In addition to painting, Betty has become good friends with the other artists and her neighbors. Today, they threw her a party in the Penthouse Dining Room. All the guests wore pink – Betty’s favorite color. Over the weekend, parishioners and friends from St. Mary’s Church had a Drive-By Birthday Celebration with 31 cars participating. Betty makes 100 look good!
