Springmoor to Celebrate Active Aging Week & Fall Prevention Awareness Day

By Kari Richie, Springmoor's Health and Fitness director 

Active Aging Week®, which is being held Sunday, September 22 through Saturday, September 28, 2013, is a national observance organized by the International Council on Active Aging® to highlight the diverse opportunities available to older adults. The 2013 theme is “Discover your community,” and encourages older adults and the organizations that serve them to focus on wellness.

At Springmoor Life CareRetirement Community, the Pathways Wellness Directors have planned an exciting week for the community. Some of the highlights include a  “Discover your community” scavenger hunt, free smoothies, an evening celebration dance, resident storytelling, Encore Program for Lifelong Enrichment at North Carolina State, tour of the Lego exhibit and an array of exercise classes!

Springmoor's Floral Focal Points: Rain--too much of a good thing?

By Thom Morgan, Springmoor landscape manager

In last month’s blog, I mentioned that Springmoor experienced a lot of rain in June and July. August continued to be wet, and we got a break from the summer heat. I also mentioned that lawns, landscape plants and vegetables only need 1.5 inches of rain a week in summer, and just one inch of rain a week during the cooler months.

When you get too much rain, the ground becomes saturated and plants that can’t tolerate too much water die. If you have a spot that stays constantly wet, there are trees and shrubs that can tolerate high moisture, and low oxygen in the soil.

Springmoor Residents, Staff Donate School Supplies, Wisdom to Sanderson High School

As students around Raleigh embark on the new school year, residents, staff and retired teachers at Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community were busy collecting school supplies—and wisdom—to donate to Sanderson High School.

Springmoor collected everything from notepads to soap, and “senior-to-senior” advice (words of encouragement written on Sanderson High School note cards to share with the students). The school reported to Springmoor that they have students who are homeless, or are otherwise without the support many students at the school enjoy, and would appreciate the donation.

Family Matters: Springmoor Treats Residents Like Family

David Ammons

By David Ammons, chief executive officer of Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community

When I was a boy, “Mr. Smith” was already using a cane. He was funny and odd—a popular guy at church—and we admired him for his devotion to his faith, and to his wife and family. When I was a teenager, he remained a fixture of our community, staying involved in Boy Scouts, and attending every North Carolina State University football game. When I was a young man—and the executive director of Springmoor Life Care RetirementCommunity—“Mr. Smith” walked determinedly through my office door. The usually chipper man looked determined, took a seat and demanded my attention.

South Village Wellness Center Construction Underway!

Construction underway!

Construction on Springmoor Life Care Retirement Community’s new Wellness Center has begun, and residents and staff couldn’t be more excited to see all of the activity! Many in South Village—where the new center is being built—are glued to their windows, watching as cranes lift beams, and workers scurry to move pieces into place. Some residents have even been spotted snapping pictures of the construction as it progresses.

The Wellness Center—which will feature a 25-meter, salt water, lap pool, hot tub, sauna, movie theater, beauty salon, café/bistro, massage therapy rooms, billiard and bridge tables (to name a few)—was a needed enhancement to help residents get excited about fitness, and also to help them enjoy their lives at Springmoor even more, said Springmoor Executive Director Fred Conner. Residents will be able to bring guests to enjoy the amenities of the new center.

Water Exercises Give Seniors Increased Strength, Stimulation and Quality of Life

Kari Richie

By Kari Richie

Springmoor Health and Fitness Director

Swimming is not just for kids or vacationers at the beach. You can find Springmoor residents in the pool Monday through Saturday as they faithfully participate in water exercise. The residents are unique – ranging in age from 77 to 96—and living with various health conditions—ranging from arthritis and osteoporosis to hypertension and  spinal stenosis and joint replacements; but they have one thing in common – they love to exercise in the water!

As Springmoor’s Health & Fitness Director, why do I encourage residents to participate in water exercise? Five reasons:

Springmoor Floral Focal Points: August 2013

Rainy Summer Saves Money

Thom Morgan

During June and July we need 1.5 inches of water each week to maintain the lawns, trees and shrubs at Springmoor. In June, we received a whopping 9.5 inches, and in July, we got 3.5 inches.

With all that surplus water, we turned the irrigation system off and managed to save some money.

In Floral Focus

Pink crape myrtle

Humid August brings several plants to bloom along our walkways and landscapes. The Stella de Oro (Hemorocallis Stella de Oro) bloom all summer long, and strongly in August. Crape myrtles also bloom in late July, which is why we have five varieties at Springmoor: White crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia Natchez); Pink crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Sioux); Red crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Tuscarora); Lavender crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Muskogee) and Light pink crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia Catawba).

The Mallow family begins to contribute their color in August, starting with Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), and the rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos “Disco Belle pink”). 
More popular members of the mallow family are cotton and okra.