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From the latest community news to our recent blog posts, we’ll keep you up to date on all the happenings at our active retirement community and more.

The Informer Newsletter
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December 9, 2020
Christmas at Matrosa Farm

While growing up, I spent many happy summers with my cousins at my aunt’s farmhouse in Concord, Virginia. Though we spent many summers there, we never went there for Christmas. As time moved on, my cousins and I had all grown up, married, and had children of our own. My aunt’s generation had all died,

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December 8, 2020
Christmas Then and Now

When my grandfather was a young man, he went hunting with Buffalo Bill and shot a moose. The moose head hung in his dining room above the buffet. Every year we went to his place for Christmas dinner, which was a very formal affair of turkey with chestnut dressing served on a silver platter by …

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December 7, 2020
Tall Santa

I remember when I was growing up that our family had a wonderful tradition of gathering at midnight on Christmas Eve to receive presents from Santa. My father was one of five boys, and they were all very tall. We had a large extended family and valued gathering together, especially during the holidays. Each year, …

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December 6, 2020
Christmas at Merchants Hope

The Merchants Hope Episcopal Church in Prince George is very dear to my family. My grandparents were married there, as were some of my aunts and uncles. There is a long-standing tradition for the children to have a breakfast with Santa during the first week of December. After the breakfast, there is a table with …

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December 5, 2020
Maggie

Santa does NOT bring live animals on his sleigh!” I said. “But, MOOOOOOM, all I want for Christmas is a dog! A black dog, like Buck!” my seven-year old son, Phillip, said. “Buck” was his aunt’s black lab and the only dog that he was not afraid of. Phillip did not just “say” he was …

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December 4, 2020
Christmas 2020-2021

I am standing here at the entrance to the Fellowship Hall on July 27, 2020. I have volunteered to be the “sanitizer” — squirting gooey stuff into the hands of all who come to join “Christmas in July” and spend time social distancing with our masks on. We are here to share our stories of …

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December 3, 2020
A Tale of Three Christmases

One summer a friend and I sat eating lunch at a drugstore in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, when I looked across the street and saw a handsome young man who resembled a tall, very thin young man — a friend from high school. We finished our lunches quickly to walk past him, and later that day he …

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December 2, 2020
A Night to Remember

As I was remembering my Christmases while growing up, one especially stood out. Christmases were always a fond time with family, friends, church services, good food, decorations, fellowship, and, of course, presents. Unlike today, the tree was not put up until the last week before Christmas. We lived in Warrenton, Virginia, and the Christmas Eve …

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December 1, 2020
My Christmas Story Only a Cedarfield Resident Would Appreciate

Last Christmas I arose at 5 a.m., to be ready to see my grandchildren descend the stairs of their home at 6 o’clock to view what Santa had left them under their decorated tree. I truly enjoyed watching each of my four grandchildren in Richmond (Frannie, Vinnie, Rocco and Lucia) open their presents and show …

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October 9, 2020
From the Desk of Michael Shaw, Executive Director

NEXT YEAR — On September 3, 2021, Richmond, VA Life Plan Community, Cedarfield, will be 25 years young. So in grand Cedarfield fashion, we are planning a year-long celebration with monthly events from now until then. On October 19, 2020, we will kick off this year-long celebration with a socially distant Fall Festival. Anniversaries are …

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October 2, 2020
Words from Michael Shaw, Executive Director

We highlight our Cedarfield value of Culture in October. We bring to life our value of Culture by lifting up the following: Affirming Resident Choice, Celebrate Home and Community, and Strengthen Body, Mind and Soul. In most U.S. nursing homes, and in many assisted living communities, a very important element has been forgotten overtime: HOME. …

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March 13, 2020
Coronavirus Update

Temporary Visitation Restrictions in Effect at Cedarfield Pinnacle Living has been closely monitoring the evolving Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in Virginia and has been taking appropriate precautionary measures to prevent entry of Coronavirus into our communities. There are no known cases of COVID-19 within any Pinnacle Living community. However, now that there are several confirmed cases …

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April 24, 2017
Introducing our new Executive Director

Upon the announcement of Nancy Brechtelsbauer’s retirement in December of 2016, the search for a new Cedarfield executive director was launched. After several months of searching, Virginia United Methodist Homes, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Shaw to the position starting April 2017. Shaw brings seventeen years of senior living experience to …

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May 27, 2016
Twenty Events To Celebrate Twenty Years

04/marked the beginning of a series of 20 events and activities in 20 weeks, which will conclude with a final big bash, Cheers to 20 Years, planned for August. See what has been going on at Cedarfield as we count down the 20 weeks!

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December 3, 2015
Giving Back to the Community

Driven 2 Destiny Outreach Center is a non-profit providing outreach and resources to people and families experiencing temporary set-backs due to unemployment, illness or other life-changing events. The center provides vocational training, parenting classes and more. They also offer Christmas Camps that give children a safe place to spend the day when school is closed …

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October 14, 2014
Cedarfield Special Care Center

Caring for a loved one with an advanced dementia disease (such as Alzheimer’s) can be overwhelming to families and friends. Statistically, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 or more years from the onset of symptoms. Eventually, 24-hour personal care may be required, whether in …

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April 8, 2016
Season of Celebration

Dining Services kicked off the celebration on April 8, presenting A Season of Celebration, serving residents a very special evening meal– tapas-style! The menu listed nine items – each brought to the tables one at a time. Everyone enjoyed this different, creative style of dining. Rave reviews by all confirmed it was a very successful …

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December 18, 2015
Cedarfield Cases of Love Suitcase Drive

How many pieces of luggage do YOU have in your garage or attic? Is there a Barbie or Spiderman backpack hidden in a closet, long forgotten by your child, never to be used again? How can these items be put to good use once more? It’s called Cases of Love. Through the month of November, …

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November 23, 2015
Congratulations Cedarfield Team – Walk to End Alzheimer’s 2015

It was a rainy November day for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s this year, but Cedarfield residents, staff, family members and volunteers showed up strong to represent the community. The Cedarfield Team came in 2nd place for fundraising, topping off at $15,000. This total includes all resident contributions, staff fundraising, yard sale proceeds, purple sneaker …

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November 13, 2015
Cedarfield Veterans Honored

Over 85 of Cedarfield’s resident veterans were honored during the Veteran’s Day Celebration on November 11, 2015. The Henrico High School ROTC presented the colors before Cedarfield welcomed Capt. John F. Meier, first commanding officer of the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), as the guest speaker. The USS Gerald R. Ford is the Navy’s …

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October 15, 2015
Active Aging Week

Cedarfield residents recently celebrated “Active Aging Week,” by participating in new and creative forms of exercise. Zumba, line dance and a special belly dance class were all big hits! Wellness and Leisure hosted a friendly competition during the week to encourage the community to engage in different classes and activities.

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July 29, 2015
Second Childhood

Cedarfield’s very own resident, Martha Newell, is living her second childhood at 93 years old. With the help of her American Girl Doll, Samantha, she has created over 150 outfits for her great-granddaughters’ dolls. Read her extraordinary story from the Richmond Times Dispatch here.

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July 8, 2015
Person-Centered Care: Exactly What is It?

A lot of talk is going around these days about person-centered care. Its not a new concept, but one that has been slow to take off, especially in nursing homes. Person-centered care focuses on the individual needs and desires of each resident, rather than institutional processes designed after hospital models, with strict schedules and no …

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June 17, 2015
From Cedarfield Dietician

As the temperatures rise, so does your body’s need for water! To keep it functioning normally and to prevent dehydration, you body needs an ongoing water supply throughout the day – especially in extreme temperatures like we have experienced lately. -Drink up. If you’re thirsty, your body has already started to become dehydrated. Drink water …

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April 7, 2015
Alzheimer’s Association Reasons to Hope Breakfast – an Awe-inspiring Experience

I had the opportunity to get out of bed very early on a dark, rainy March morning to spend one hour of my day as a table host at the annual Reasons to Hope Breakfast, a fundraising event of the Greater Richmond Chapter Alzheimer’s Association. Each year I attend this event coming away affected in …

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April 1, 2015
Little Penguin Jumpers

The Cedarfield Knitter Group is currently participating in Nature Abounds™ Knitters for Nature’s Critters™ program, by knitting jumpers for Little Penguins (also known as Little Blue or Blue Penguins). The Little Penguins are the first animal recipient through this program, in which the goals are: To help the Little Blue Penguins themselves in their time …

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March 26, 2015
Pathways to Wellness

What is “wellness?” A healthy lifestyle leaves a person fit, energetic and at reduced risk for disease. Good nutrition, daily exercise and adequate sleep are essentials for good health. Managing stress in positive ways, keeping your mind active – these components define wellness, but there are more! Cedarfield residents have been working with staff, offering …

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June 30, 2014
Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Health Services residents recently took a trip down the yellow brick road. Recreation Therapy staff dressed as these memorable characters for a Wizard of Oz Party. Residents enjoyed music, refreshments and the opportunity to have their photo taken.

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