When our bodies start to age, we begin to lose flexibility due to loss of water in our tissues and spine and increased stiffness in our joints. Stretching and regular exercise is important in order to maintain a full range of motion. It can also reduce stress and make you look and feel better overall, and it's often the best way to slow or even reverse some of these changes in our bodies.Consider some of the following stretches to help improve your range of motion.

Learning to dance as a senior has many benefits. The increased movement provides an excellent source of exercise, and the coordination needed to complete patterns of steps can help prevent falls during daily activities. Recent medical studies have shown that dancing, especially at social and freestyle dances that require seniors to interact with a partner or make quick decisions, reduces the chance for developing dementia.Dancing also offers seniors opportunities to socialize and make new memori...

You've likely heard it said time and time again that exercising has tremendous benefits: It can help control body weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. But sometimes exercising can be challenging, especially if your mobility is limited. Check out these six tips for exercising as a senior to stay active.

Mentioning the fruits of the Spirit may bring to mind gluing word labels onto cutouts of apples and pears during Sunday school. While seniors may not have understood the words as children, the warm community around Bethesda Gardens lets them experience these fruits firsthand. For many, it's been a while since their first introduction to these nine virtues, so here is a refresher using verses from the NKJV Bible.Love"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for hi...

Here at Bethesda Gardens, we know that our time is a gift from God, and as such, we endeavor to make each day fulfilling. Holiday seasons in particular are filled with exciting chances to make memories with friends and family, give and receive special treats and participate in traditions and worship services.Whether seniors are planning a day with their grandchildren or just aiming to round up some of their neighbors for the chance to spend time together as a community, there are many holiday ac...

Traditionally grouped with Titus and called the Pastoral Epistles, the books of First and Second Timothy contain instructions pertaining to the organization of the church as well as notes of personal guidance for Timothy.It can sometimes be easy to overlook lessons hidden within these short letters due to the long lists of requirements for specific roles in the church. Seniors willing to look deeper, however, will discover powerful calls to live blamelessly and remain faithful until the end.To h...

February is National Library Month, which is a great time for seniors to check out their local libraries if they haven't already. Libraries are great for those who love to read or learn, and modern public library systems have robust benefits that include computer networks, ebook borrowing and music and movie options.Benefits of Your Local LibraryThe Phoenix public library system has numerous benefits for people of all ages. Here are just a few services and benefits seniors can enjoy when the...

The holidays are a time for celebrating with family and friends. But with all the extra shopping, decorating and celebrating demands, the holidays can quickly become overwhelming. Here are four tips on how to protect your mental health over the holidays.1.

When it comes to decorating your assisted living apartment, clever is better than clutter. Too much clutter can make your space seem small or even get in the way of mobility. Here are five tips and tricks to get the most out of your apartment if holiday decor makes you happy.

The hotter the weather gets here in Phoenix, Arizona, the sweeter a scoop of ice cream tastes. A seemingly endless variety of flavors and recipes surround this frozen treat, but the one thing we all can agree on is how much we love ice cream.

Attention, gentlemen: How aware are you of the health risks you may face as you age, or how you can best care for yourself to live your healthiest life? June is National Men’s Health Month, so there’s no better time than now to take stock and make healthy changes. Use these eight health tips for older men as you work to improve your life and longevity.

Strokes are called the silent killer because they can sneak up on you, building symptom by symptom, instead of coming on all at once. People who are unaware that they may be suffering a stroke may not seek emergency treatment in time to prevent death or lifelong disability. The Centers for Disease Control report that strokes kill more than 140,000 people per year, and a total of 795,000 people suffer a stroke in the United States each year.

Bethesda communities continually strive to make the aging years as healthy and enjoyable as possible for all our residents. One way we do this is through regularly scheduled fitness activities. We also work to make it possible for you to enjoy your own level and style of activity whenever possible.Even individuals who are dealing with chronic conditions can likely perform some activities, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) notes that regular and appropriate exercise can help improve bot...

We’re excited to host a special networking event, Have Your Cake and Eat It Too, right here at Bethesda Gardens Phoenix on Wednesday, February 21st, from 4:00-6:00PM. In addition to enjoying some sweet treats (which everyone deserves in the middle of winter), visitors will have the chance to meet and mingle with our senior care professionals, including our Executive Director George Bakhit and our Health Services Director, Chantel Westbrooks, LPN.We hope you’ll join us and find out mo...

We’re pleased to congratulate our very own Katherine Guenther, care manager at Bethesda Gardens, who was recently honored with the Arizona LeadingAge “Excellence in Service” award for 2017. Arizona LeadingAge is a nonprofit and senior advocacy organization, and this award recognizes caregivers who enhance the lives of residents through exceptional quality of care, passion for their work, kindness and selfless service.Katherine, who has been with Bethesda Gardens for 15 years, s...

Home is where the heart is, yet as so many of us who love a good meal know, the quickest way to the heart can be through the stomach—or taste buds. Our culinary services team is dedicated to nourishing our residents, body and soul, with tasty, heart-healthy meals.To celebrate, we’re hosting a special “Caring is a Work of Heart” culinary event, and invite you to join us for a delicious meal and to learn about the benefits our residents receive from our nutritional strategy. Mark your calendars fo...

Our very own Donna McDonald, Memory Care Director, is making a notable impact on the lives of our residents, while inspiring other staff to do the same! She is one of the many Bethesda Senior Living care givers training in Teepa Snow's POSITIVE APPROACH™ - a progressive therapy for helping seniors and their families recognize and manage the early signs of memory change. As Memory Care Director at Bethesda Gardens Phoenix, Donna McDonald makes it her personal mission every day to ...

Bethesda Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care is pleased to announce that it has awarded four financial benefits grants of $1,250 each for local organizations to put toward their philanthropy efforts in the Phoenix metro area. As a faith-based nonprofit, Bethesda Gardens strives to make an impact by giving back to the local community it serves. Recipients of the grants include: • Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA), an organization of local bikers that act as advocates for children who have b...

Senior care can be a major expense. What’s worse, by the time you realize you need help, the situation may be urgent—and money is the last thing you need to be worrying about. Fortunately, planning a few steps ahead can keep you out of check and put you in a great position when it’s time to make the decision for assisted living.