Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. The theme for Social Work Month 2021 is Social Workers Are Essential.

Meet Elizabeth Newell, LCSW. She has been at Epworth Villa 7 years. You will never meet a more caring, loving, compassionate person. We are so very lucky to have Elizabeth as part of our team. She cares very deeply for all of the Residents that she serves. SHE IS ESSENTIAL!

Social workers are essential to community well-being.As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities.

Thank you Elizabeth! We celebrate you!

A temporary Chapel Space sponsored by the Religious Life Committee has been designated and prepared for personal worship and meditation until the Brill Chapel has been repaired from the recent water damage. The new space normally known as the activities area is located on the second floor above the Café.

In keeping with the theme “Walk to Jerusalem” activity beginning March 1 and the Lenten/Easter Season the décor features the country of Israel. Many of the items on display are souvenirs, pictures, and stories on loan from our residents who have visited Israel. A committee of three, JoAnn M. Sallie S. and Wilma R. are responsible for the design and decoration of the room.

Residents and Staff are invited to come by anytime 24/7 for quiet reflection on the Lenten weekly scripture postings, prayer, meditation and reading material on the coffee table. We believe you will be pleasantly surprised and pleased with the peaceful ambiance, background music, and beauty of this special room prepared with Loving Care for your Spiritual Enhancement.

Thank you to the residents who have contributed both in loaning their treasures from Israel and in your financial support that has made the additional décor possible.

For our second 6-week movement challenge, we are trying something new!

In celebration of Lent, Walk to Jerusalem will begin March 1st and end April 7th. The idea is to walk the distance from Epworth Villa to Jerusalem, which is 6680 miles to symbolize Jesus’s own Walk to Jerusalem. We know individually someone won’t be able to walk that distance in 6 weeks, so it’s a group effort! The more people we have participating, the more chance we have to cover that number of miles.

Chef Jonathan Groth is a graduate of the prestigious Coach House Apprenticeship Program in Oklahoma City. As a Certified Chef, Jonathan has had a wide-ranging career; from a couple of stints teaching culinary school, to being an executive chef, to operating a food truck. While the primary focus of Chef Groth’s culinary training has been in the French cuisine tradition, he also has a wide range of culinary experience and influences; from Korean, to Italian, to Latin, to Indian, to American.

Chef Groth is a father to two wonderful girls: Greysen (12) and Lauren (9). The household also consists of a Siamese-American Shorthair cat named Storm and a Maltese puppy named Musketeer.

As our Restaurants open back up, Chef Groth will take us on a culinary journey. We can’t wait!

We have said before, our community offers so many unique opportunities to get moving and stay moving.  Boxing isn’t all that unique, but it is a perfect fit for Don!

There are many benefits of boxing, but the two we like the most are the mind body benefits.  Boxing is a way to improve coordination.  By repeatedly practicing the movements and punch combinations, you begin to feel more graceful and coordinated––even if you weren’t at all to begin with. You don’t have to be coordinated to box, but boxing can help you become more coordinated.

Boxing flexes your mental muscles.  You have six punches and five defense moves. You have to remember the names, you have to be quick, you have to be light on your feet.  When putting all those combinations together it requires focus and memorization.  Your brain ends up getting as much of a workout as your biceps!

“If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together.” – African Proverb

Our community not only offers many opportunities to get moving and stay moving. We find that new friendships are developed and old ones are re-kindled. If you want, you can also find an accountability partner to help you stay motivated! Great job guys!!

Bill and John can normally be found out on the road, but they sometimes utilize the indoor spin bicycles when they want to get a quick ride in. Spin bikes?? Yep! We’ve got ‘em!

While Epworth Villa may be a place to come and keep busy, it’s also your new home with new friends at the ready! Loneliness and isolation can be detrimental to one’s health. At Epworth Villa, we are grateful for all our caring friends and neighbors that keep us vibrant and engaged.

Wellness Coordinator, Lori Love talks with CEO, Ron Kelly about the first 6-week movement challenge at Epworth Villa. Our community is unique in that we challenge our Residents to be the best they can be: Physically and Mentally. Having accountability partners in our community and the amenities that offer a variety of ways to move.

We have SO many health care workers here at Epworth Villa that we can thank for their compassion, determination and fortitude throughout this pandemic. Today we offer our thanks to Michelle Brown who is our Health Services Administrator. She among others has tirelessly led her team and has done it with a smile. Yesterday, our Health Services Residents, Assisted Living Residents and a large number of employees received their second vaccine. Well done, everyone!