Kare Bears’ Korner

Dr. Nieri

Dr. Nieri

Dr. Nieri speaks on healthy aging January 20

Kare Bears would like to invite you to hear Dr. Walter J. Nieri speak at the Kare Bears monthly presentation on Wednesday, January 20. The presentation will be at 11:00 a.m. at the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom.

Dr. Nieri will be discussing current and future trends in life expectancy. He will help us to understand the multiple factors that contribute to longevity. And Dr. Nieri will provide information on positive interventions that will enhance the likelihood of achieving optimal aging and the best quality of life.

Dr. Nieri is a graduate of Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and is certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics and as a Medical Director of Long Term care. He is also a hospice medical director. He is a past president and board member of the Arizona Geriatrics Society. He is an active member of the American Geriatrics Society and the American Medical Directors Association and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society. He has been selected as one of Arizona’s Top Docs numerous times and also was a member of the Arizona Governor’s Council on Aging and End of Life.

Dr. Nieri is the Program Director for the University of Arizona, College of Medicine – Phoenix Family Medicine Geriatric Fellowship Program, Sun City/Phoenix. This program educates both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine physicians to become Geriatric practitioners. Since its inception in 1996 there have been close to 70 graduates from the program, and the majority have remained in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

He is, also, the Past-Director of the Banner Sun Health Research Institute’s Center of Healthy Aging in Sun City. Currently he is the Principal Investigator for the Longevity Project entitled: Learning from our Elders. The purpose and ultimate goal is to look at multiple factors that contribute to optimal aging and utilize that information to formulate new clinical approaches and policies to promote healthy aging. There are over 1,100 participants in the registry, with over 600 of the participants eighty years and older.

In addition, he is a medical director of several long term care facilities including Silverado Senior Living in Peoria. He is also a Hospice of Arizona Medical Director.

Dr. Nieri has a specific interest in healthy aging and in developing innovative models of care for long term care and dementia patients to ensure the best quality of life in later years and at end of life.

The 2015 Annual Treasurer’s report will be available at this presentation.

Soft refreshments will be served.

We look forward to seeing you on January 20!

Several PebbleCreek residents recently toured Abrazo West Campus Hospital.

Several PebbleCreek residents recently toured Abrazo West Campus Hospital.

Abrazo Hospital tours

Susan White

Kare Bears has scheduled a tour of Abrazo Hospital, formerly West Valley Hospital, on Thursday, January 21 at 10:00 a.m. We are offering a tour and lunch to the first 16 people to sign up.

Please call the Kare Bear House at 623-536-1200 to make a reservation. Your name must be on the list to attend the tour.

If January is full, you may sign up for the next tour on Thursday, February 25.

We know you’ll enjoy this tour and appreciate all the much needed information. The hospital has undergone tremendous new construction which we feel everyone will be pleased to see.

This is the nearest hospital to PebbleCreek offering a Level 1 Trauma Center, accredited chest pain center, cardiac arrest center, joint commission certified, primary stroke center and board certified physicians.

Abrazo Hospital has the Robotic Surgical Services using the de Vinci Surgical Platform, Outpatient Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine. They do offer free wellness events on Living with Knee or Hip Pain.

Abrazo Hospital is located at 13677 W. McDowell Road. We will meet at the hospital’s main entrance for the tour just before 10:00 a.m.

Calendar of events

Susan White

Calendar of Events

January 20 – Monthly Presentation – Eagle’s Nest 11:00 a.m.

January 21 – Abrazo Tour – 10:00 a.m.

January 22 – AED/CPR Class – Tuscany Falls Ballroom – 8:30 a.m.

January 26 – AARP Safe Driving Class – Tuscany Falls Ballroom – 8:30 a.m.

January 28 – Pathways Tour

February 11 – Hacienda del Ray Tour

February 13 – Annual Health Fair – Tuscany Falls Ballroom – 9:00 a.m. to noon

February 17 – Monthly Presentation – Eagle’s Nest 11:00 a.m.

February 25 – Abrazo Tour – 10:00 a.m.

Thank you donors!

Susan White

The Kare Bears Board of Directors wishes to acknowledge various donations received in November from the following residents and groups:

Non-Campaign Donations were received from Joan Amet, Clarence and Lucy Parker, Michael Shouse, Stan and Connie Spielbusch, Howard and Janell Jenson, Mel Donaho, Elaine Yielding, John and Bari Cavallo, Robert and Patricia Schreibman, Aila Vorhies, William and Judith Stough, Fred Amrhein and Marilyn Kovach.

A Transportation Use Donation was received from Twila Moody.

The generosity and thoughtfulness of these residents and groups will enable Kare Bears to continue to serve the needs of our PebbleCreek residents.

Source Book delivery update

Susan White

Kare Bears will be delivering your 2016 Source Books to your front door. The date of delivery is pending, however we expect it to be in late January or early February, 2016. Your Source Book will be left at your front door, in a plastic bag, one book per house. After home delivery, additional source books will be available for purchase at the Kare Bears house.

If you are unable to retrieve the book from the door, please inform your neighbor or person watching your home to take care of it. This is your information guide to residents and facilities in PebbleCreek.

Specific information on home delivery dates will be made available via egroup announcements as soon dates become available. If you have questions, please call Arlis Legler at 623-234-4709.

AED/CPR class January 22

Susan White

Have you always wanted to learn CPR but never took the time—well, here’s you opportunity to learn a lifesaving technique. The class will be held on Friday, January 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom

The AED/CPR defibrillator and resuscitation class is open to all employees and residents of PebbleCreek. The certified instructor does an excellent presentation with hands-on training in all equipment and technique.

The cost is $30 for residents and can be paid with cash or checks to AZ Pro CPR and First Aid LLC at the beginning of the class.

A sign-up sheet is in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Mailbox across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop.

Any questions, please call the Kare Bears house at 536-1200.

AARP Safe Driving Class Jan. 26

Susan White

An AARP Safe Driving Class will be held on Tuesday, January 26 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom for all PebbleCreek residents. Cost for AARP members is $15 and for non-members the cost is $20. Checks for the class should be made payable to AARP.

Safety techniques and driving principles will be explained in the class. Some auto insurers do give a discount upon completion of the class, so please check with your insurance carrier. It is well worth the time and cost. A certificate of completion will be distributed at the end of class.

A sign-up sheet is in the Kare Bears folder at the Community Information Mailbox across from the Eagle’s Nest Pro Shop.

Any questions, please call the Kare Bears house at 623-536-1200.

Health Fair February 13

Susan White

The Annual Health Fair for PebbleCreek residents will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom.

The fair will consist of approximately 55 professional doctors, dentists, chiropractors, orthopedic specialists and health service specialists. They all will have information to cater to everyone’s special needs, some of which will be breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer. These concerns regarding health, special services, in-home help, facilities for special needs and products to aid health issues will be answered. Some of the services will be able to perform minimal checks, such as hearing, eye exams and blood pressure checks.

More information will be available in the February PebbleCreek Post along with the PebbleCreek email Yahoo groups and PebbleNews.

We look forward to seeing you at the fair.

Tours of two assisted living facilities in January & February

Susan White

On Thursday, January 28 we will tour and lunch at Pathways Assisted Living Community. Pathways is located on PebbleCreek Parkway at Indian School Road. We will meet at the main entrance at 11:30 a.m.

On Thursday, February 11, we will tour and lunch at Hacienda del Ray. Hacienda del Ray is located behind the Albertson’s Grocery Store, just off of Indian School Road. We will meet at the main entrance at 11:30 a.m.

These communities offer all utilities (except phone), 24 hour staff on duty, weekly housekeeping, dining, full activities program and scheduled transportation. Join us on the tours to see the complete list of amenities for each community.

Please, don’t wait till you need to find somewhere to get assistance—be prepared!

Space is limited – don’t delay!

You can sign up by calling the Kare Bears House at 623-536-1200.