From the “Desk of Todd”

I N S I D E

T H I S I S S U E :

From the Desk

of Todd

1

We Know You Are Out There!!

1

A Courtesy

Call, Indeed!

2

Turning Point

Donkey Rescue.

2

Making The

Turn Against

Parkinson’s

3

The Crosaires

Foundation

Update

3

Living the

Mission and

Vision!

4

CROSAIRES

“Where Care and Community Intersect”

M A Y 2 0 1 8

season and two elders thoroughly enjoyed their first six mile bike trip tootling through the countryside enjoying the fresh air and early spring flowers.

For the month of May the elders are very excited to plant their annual flowers baskets and pots, start their raised gardens with vegetables and herbs, fly kites, and simply sit outside letting the sun radiate on their faces.

Enjoy the month ahead, I know we will!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CROSAIRES!

On April 4th Crosaires celebrated its sixth anniversary!

We have been so very blessed over the past

six years and look forward to many

more wonderful years to come. Thank you

everyone for continuing to serve as ambassadors for our name, mission and

vision.

As elder Jeanne Brown would say, “Hip Hip, Hooray!

CROSAIRES REMAINS VIGILENT... Our search for a live-in companion (dog) is going slow at Crosaires and we need all the help we can get in finding this lucky friend. Interested staff and family members are actively searching the Humane Societies and rescue shelters of Ingham, Shiawassee and Livingston Counties, but we could use your help as well. Below are some characteristics that we feel are important in our search. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. If you know of a breeder, please contact us at 517-898-1715.

1. Small (lap dog) weighing up to 15 pounds.

2. Hypoallergenic in nature.

3. Breeds such as Bichon Frise, Poodle, Maltese and/or Schnauzer (open to oth-ers).

4. Adult dog 3-5 years old and housetrained.

It has ended right? I am referring to the long winter we experienced beginning last November! Hopefully Mother Nature is done teasing us now and we can finally move towards the next season, spring!

In full anticipation of warmer days ahead, the elders have already been planting seeds indoors, turning over dirt outside in the raised gardens, enjoying lunch on the deck and planning upcoming picnics in local parks. For older adults, winter months can be very hard and a challenge as many more days are spent indoors.

Late last month we even rolled out our Trishaw bicycle for the first time of the

Let’s Go Fly A Kite!

“With tuppence for paper and strings;

You can have your own set of wings.

With your feet on the ground, you’re a bird in

flight,

With your fist holding tight, to the string of a

kite.

Let’s go fly a kite, up to the highest height,

Let’s go fly a kite and send it soaring

Up through the atmosphere, up where

the air is clear.

Oh, let’s go fly a kite!”

You are never too old to fly a kite,, just ask

elders Dee and Mary!!

A COURTESY CALL, REALLY?

TURNING POINT DONKEY RESCUE Building relationships is so very important in an elder community and we have now formed a new relationship with the folks at the Turning Point Donkey Rescue in Dansville. Last month as we visited the baby chickens at Tractor Supply Company in Williamston, Courtney, a team member at the store overheard me say where we were from. She quickly offered her donkey services and, well the rest is history. On Monday, April 30th everyone gathered outside for a wonderful afternoon of fellowship and stories. Thanks again Courtney and to find out more information on this organization, find them on Facebook.

I continue to be appalled on how older adults are often devalued in our ageist society when they are no longer able to live in their own “homes.”

On April 26th, an elder living at Crosaires, was scheduled to have bloodwork drawn and by 9:15 a.m., we still had not received a courtesy call from the lab letting us know when the technician was on his/her way. By 9:25 a.m. the doorbell rang and it was the technician smiling and ready to complete her “in and out” task. I kindly informed the technician

we did not receive a courtesy call and she quickly responded, “We NEVER give courtesy calls to AFC (Adult Foster Care), homes.” I took a deep breath and kindly educated the woman that this insensitive practice needed to be addressed. This particular elder was stripped of her identity and now placed among the masses of older adults who live in AFC homes and are seen as a number, a task, not a person. I asked the technician if this is how she would desire to be treated, and of course her reply was, “NO.” The answers are always no, so why do we continue on this way?

Another end of the season ice storm on

Sunday, April 15th may have eliminated some

folks from coming out to our annual dinner

fundraiser at Ellie’s Country Kitchen, but when

the evening ended at 7:00 p.m. we had

earned a few more dollars than last year. A

huge thank you to all of the board members

and other volunteers who worked (and had

fun) to make this year’s event very successful,

raising $796.00 for the Foundation.

The generosity of many will continue to allow

the Foundation in moving forward with a

couple large capitol expenses including the

paving of some of the grounds at Crosaires to

maximize independence for the elders.

The Foundation has chosen Monday,

MAKING THE TURN AGAINST PARKINSON’S

You may recall reading in a separate newsletter

that the Crosaires Foundation is teaming up with

the local organization, “Making the Turn Against

Parkinson’s.” In January of this past year the

board of directors unanimously voted to move

forward with assisting this organization with their

highly successful annual golf outing, held on June

15th at Brookshire Golf Course in Williamston.

The Crosaires Foundation holds the raffle license

for the event and, as a result, will have our name

on every ticket and be given $1,000.00 of the

proceeds. If you would be interested in purchasing

a ticket or two, call Todd Walter at 517-898-1715.

Tickets are $25.00 a piece or five for $100.00.

There will be plenty of great prizes given away,

several of which are listed on the flier to the right!

The Crosaires Foundation Updates... June 18th and October 8th as our next fundraising dinners at Culvers in Okemos near Walmart. Save the dates and be looking for further advertising soon!

The Crosaires Foundation is always accepting donations. If you and/or someone you know would like to make a financial contribution, contact Todd Walter for more information.

For more questions about the Crosaires Foundation, visit the Crosaires’ website at www.crosaires.com and/or call Todd Walter at 517-898-1715.

LIVING OUR MISSION AND VISION...

There is nothing more gratifying to an owner of a small business when he/she sees that the organization is

fulfilling its mission and vision statements on a daily basis and are recognized by others for doing so as well.

For the past six years, Crosaires has tried to live up to its mission statement and are proud to say we strive to

do so each and every day. Our mission and vision statements were founded on strong principles and as one

family member recently stated, “Crosaires always strives to put ‘humanity’ first above everything else.”

Mission: Where care and community intersect.

Vision: Honoring elderhood by continuously creating a culture of well-being, rich in meaning and purpose.

Each month we continue highlighting a significant event, program and/or life experience which depicts our

mission and vision. Constant awareness builds excitement and when excitement builds, things really begin

to move.

This past month the elders assisted The St. Thomas Aquinas Church of East Lansing by purchasing, filling,

donating and dropping off a backpack stuffed with socks, gloves, peanut butter, tuna fish, crackers and a

re-usable water bottle. In the near future this backpack will be given to a recognized local agency which

serves those who are homeless.

lf you hear and/or know of a community volunteering opportunity please call Todd at 517-898-1715. The

opportunity to give care, and not only receive it, is essential to human life!

CROSAIRES

An “Aging in Community”

Residence.

5829 Zimmer Road

Williamston, Michigan

Phone: 517-599-8210

Cell: 517-898-1715

Fax: 517-655-1455

www.crosaires.com

Email Address:

toddw@crosaires.com