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National Volunteer Month is celebrated in April, and people around the country are celebrating the selfless dedication of those who volunteer their time to better the lives of others. Volunteering not only helps the recipients of the volunteers’ efforts, it also benefits the volunteers themselves. For volunteers, they get to enjoy the enriching experience of giving one’s self to a cause outside of themselves, spending quality time with people they can learn from and increasing socialization: all things that lead to increased happiness. The senior living community is working to build a group of dedicated volunteers of all ages who will visit the seniors on regular basis for a variety of purposes. While the senior living community already has some committed volunteers, they are looking for more kindhearted people, as it takes a special type of person to open their heart and serve seniors. The senior living community offers several volunteer opportunities, including the implementation of cooking groups, art classes, fitness classes, special events, entertainment, holidays and parties, sponsorship of birthdays, gardening, or organization of supplies.

Laura Goughnour visits Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse twice a month with her children. Goughnour has five children, ages 12, 10, eight, five and two years old. Her children’s favorite activity to participate in with residents is baking, but they also enjoy crafting, reading to the residents, manicures and games. Goughnour believes volunteering with seniors gives children confidence and makes them feel better because they are giving back to the local community. 

“Every time we come to Mustang Creek Estates the seniors are very excited to see us, and my children are thrilled to go visit them as well,” said Goughnour. “The residents are loving and full of gratitude. The relationships we have built with the seniors are extremely beneficial for my children because they teach them how to create connections with people from different generations.”

Ruth Wharton comes to Mustang Creek Estates every Tuesday to lead a bible study. She reads to residents living in both memory care and assisted living, and she leads engaging conversations. Wharton has been coming to the community for several months and always looks forward to spending time with the seniors. She is the author of a new book, The Valentine Symphony, and she is happy she can share her love for reading with the residents who are always happy to see her.

Lynn Ayik visits the seniors at Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse once a week with her furry friend, a dog named Baxey. During her visits, the seniors can interact with Baxey, which is something many of them find very therapeutic. Pet therapy has many health benefits including lowering blood pressure and reducing anxiety.

“It’s important to enhance the lives of each resident living in our thriving community, and we are seeking volunteers of all types and abilities to share their time, life’s work, hobbies, or skills with the residents in various ways,” said Sharon Flowers, executive director at Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. “We would not have nearly the same impact without the help of volunteers, and we are thankful for all of the volunteers who already visit us. These individuals positively affect the lives of all the residents, and their efforts give them opportunities to keep growing and learning.”

If you are interested in learning more about how you can volunteer at Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse, please contact Rosanne Wilcox at 469-974-5517 or rosanne@mustangcreekestates.com.

 

Mustang Creek Estates – whose mission is to provide seniors with high-quality residential-style assisted living and memory care at an affordable price – has additional locations in Allen, Frisco, Burleson and Keller.

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Everyone sometimes wonders what they would do without their friends and they remember what brought them together. Many people think of their friends as a second family. Studies show that friendships have even more benefits as people get older because they positively impact overall physical and emotional well-being, including for seniors living with Alzheimer’s. Vondaine St. Marie, 79, and Shirley Remo, 69, were both diagnosed with this progressive disease five years ago. St. Marie, a native Texan who always lived a busy life, was a professional ballroom dancer and owner of a dance studio. Remo, originally from Louisiana, is a mother of five children and worked as a school teacher. Their paths crossed once they moved to Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse and enjoyed lunch together one day. From that day forward, they have been inseparable friends. They eat every meal together, participate in activities and just relax together. What’s even more important, they encourage one another when one is not having a good day. Their families and the senior living community team members say they are like sisters whose caring relationship inspires everyone they meet.

“Many people might not realize how loving the environment is in our memory care homes, and Shirley and Vondaine are the perfect example of seniors thriving in our care,” said Stephanie Upton, sales coordinator at Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. “They support each other and help each other get through every day, no matter if it is a good or a bad day. When caring for somebody with Alzheimer’s, we never know what each day will bring. There is one thing we know for certain: Shirley and Vondaine will be there cheering each other on.” 

Those who know St. Marie know that she always loved to dress well, with her hair neatly coiffed and her makeup immaculate. It wasn’t until five years ago that her friends and family started noticing changes in her appearance, as well as her ability to pay bills on time and to remember otherwise familiar places. Fearing the worst, Donna Colon, St. Marie’s sister, made a doctor’s appointment for her older sister. The diagnosis was hard for everyone around her to accept. Recently, St. Marie had to have nose surgery due to skin cancer. She was very self-conscious about her appearance and didn’t want to come out of her room, but Remo was by her side throughout the recovery process, reminding her of her beauty and the strength of their friendship. 

“My sister always liked to oversee everything, and she always stayed busy. When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it was very hard for her to accept,” said Colon. “She has always been a giving and friendly person. She helped my mother raise me and our three brothers, she owned a dance studio and pie shop and worked hard her whole life. It is very important for me to know that she is not alone at the community because she has a companion. Every time I come to visit her, I am so pleased to see her with a smile on her face next to Shirley. They truly share something special.”

Remo, a mother of five children, has never been a big talker, but she is always friendly with everyone around her. She spent her life teaching fourth and sixth grade and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her early 60s after her family noticed her challenges remembering things. Remo’s family believe her friendship with St. Marie is one of the most important parts of her everyday life. When the evening comes and they go to their own rooms, Remo and St. Marie get upset because they don’t want to leave each other’s side. They are each other’s shadow in every good way possible.

“I think this friendship is one of the few things that helps my mom remain positive,” said Sharon Poole, Remo’s daughter. “Anytime she is around Vondaine she is relaxed, and I am so happy they have each other. We all need somebody close to us, and I am pleased to know my mom has somebody down the hall who cares about her. My sisters and I just want the best care possible for our mother, and I know she is receiving it at Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse.”

For seniors suffering from memory loss, it is important to be engaged through different activities and social interactions. Studies show that stimulating activities and socialization are significant for maintaining and improving cognitive functions. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse ensures its residents stay active physically and mentally. The senior living community puts a large emphasis on preserving dignity and providing loving care for residents across all level of care.

Mustang Creek Estates – whose mission is to provide seniors with high-quality residential-style assisted living and memory care at an affordable price – has additional locations in Allen, Frisco, Burleson and Keller.

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Every year in February, people around the world exchange cards, flowers, chocolate and other gifts with each other, but for our troops overseas who are separated from their loved ones, Valentine’s Day can be a hard and emotional time. To show their love and support for the brave men and women serving our country, Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse residents and Sachse High School students recently came together to make handwritten cards which were then sent to troops overseas. In addition to writing cards, the seniors and students also baked Valentine’s Day cookies for the Sachse Senior Center. This activity was part of an ongoing partnership between Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse and Sachse High School.

“There are thousands of brave men and women serving our country far from their loved ones, and we want them to know we appreciate their sacrifices,” said Sharon Flowers, executive director of Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. “Both the students and our residents had a lot of fun writing the cards and baking the cookies. Some of the students visit our residents on a regular basis, and it is always an exciting time for everyone involved.”

Studies show that active seniors who engage with members of younger generations experience less depression and better physical health. Seniors, children and young adults have a lot to learn from one another. Intergenerational activities are beneficial not only for seniors, but also for the children, as these kinds of activities help them develop a positive attitude toward aging and gain encouraging role models. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse consistently finds ways to connect with the surrounding community and people of all ages, as well as build fun and meaningful relationships with younger generations.

“Our residents enjoyed this extremely interactive, engaging and meaningful activity with the students,” said Flowers. “It is a privilege to work with the students on an ongoing basis, and we look forward to many more projects in the future. We believe wonderful things will come from these activities.”

Mustang Creek Estates – whose mission is to provide seniors with high-quality residential-style assisted living and memory care at an affordable price – has additional locations in Allen, Frisco, Burleson and Keller. 

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Dallas-based Mustang Creek Estates is proud to announce the opening of Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse, its fifth senior living community in Dallas/Fort Worth. This affordable assisted living and memory care community is bringing a unique personalized style to the Sachse area. The team is excited to serve its first residents and help them adapt to their new homes as they move in. One of these residents is Charles Foster, 96, originally from Kansas. Foster is a Navy veteran who served during World War II and survived many battles, including Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Mariana Islands and the Philippines Campaign. Foster moved to Texas last year to be closer to his family and recently moved into Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. The community is recognizing Foster and all of its veteran residents with a new wall of honor. The tribute will showcase photos of veteran residents at the community all year long.

“We are delighted to have Charles as one of our very first residents, and the wall of honor is the least we can do to express our appreciation for our veteran residents,” said Sharon Flowers, executive director of Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. “It is important for us to ensure our residents feel comfortable and at home from the beginning. We look forward to getting to know Charles and ensuring we have activities he enjoys in the community. Our residents will always have an opportunity to create new friendships, make a difference by volunteering or enhance their lives through interesting activities and new experiences.”

Foster served in the Navy during the World War II, and between the years of 1942 and 1945 he served as a fire controlman on a light cruiser in the South Pacific. During this time, Foster survived two torpedo attacks and one bombing. His daughter Carol Gray recalls that after her father returned home from the war, he didn’t talk about it much. Foster, who was married for 59 years and has five children, went to college after his return and then worked for the federal government until his retirement. Foster played golf until he was 90 years old and has always enjoyed gardening and working with wood.

"My family and I are so proud of our father serving in the Navy during WWII,” said Carol Gray. “He came back and lead a life devoted to his church, his family, and the communities he lived in. He was a wonderful role model to his 5 children as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren. We are all so lucky to have had him as a father. His patriotism and service to his country will never be forgotten."

Mustang Creek Estates – whose mission is to provide seniors with high-quality residential-style assisted living and memory care at an affordable price – has additional locations in Allen, Frisco, Burleson and Keller.

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Starting school as a kindergartener can be a scary and uncertain time for any child. To offer support, Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse hosted a card-writing activity for Sachse seniors. During this heartwarming event, seniors handwrote letters of support and encouragement to make sure each kindergarten student at Don Whitt Elementary School in Sachse received some comfort and reassurance as the school year began. The team from Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse led seniors at the Laurie Schwenk Senior Activity Center in this special activity. Participants incorporated a poem and special messages of encouragement inside of cards for the children to assist with the transition. In addition, the two teams and seniors visited each Don Whitt Elementary kindergarten class to pass out the cards, as well as books donated by Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. The goal was to make sure each child knew that people in Sachse wished them well at the start of the school year.

“We are so glad the children and seniors had the chance to interact with one another during our visit at Don Whitt Elementary,” said Stephanie Upton, sales coordinator for Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. “This was such a heartwarming intergenerational activity. We always look for ways to be active in the community and connect with people of all ages.”

Both activities demonstrated how seniors in the Sachse area continue to enhance their lives through community involvement. Studies show that active seniors who engage with members of younger generations experience less depression and better physical health. By writing a personal note on each card, seniors had a chance to share a message of encouragement with the students or share what their favorite subject at school was. During the school visit, seniors read the poems and personal notes and passed out children’s books to each kindergarten class. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse is committed to having a positive impact on the local community.

“It was extremely satisfying to watch both the seniors and the children enjoying our visit at Don Whitt Elementary,” said Upton. “This is really just the beginning of our partnership with the school and Laurie Schwenk Senior Activity Center. We believe great things will come from these activities. We look forward to serving the local community even more once we open, and we will always engage with local organizations and the public.”

Mustang Creek Estates, whose mission is to provide seniors with high-quality residential-style assisted living and memory care at an affordable price, believes in making a positive impact in the greater community and will always look for ways to give back. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse is now accepting reservations and expects to open in fall of 2017.

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To express excitement about becoming part of the Sachse community and to start positively impacting the lives of others, Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse, an affordable residential-style assisted living and memory care community currently under construction, recently launched a year-round program called “Cookies for Kindness.” The goal of the program is to brighten the days of area seniors and caregivers. The Mustang Creek Estates team is asking the public to nominate anyone who lives in the Sachse area and could use an extra boost or deserves to have his or her day brightened. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse staff will hand-deliver cookies to that person’s door to spread a little extra joy. The senior living community is partnering with Say it with Sugar Cake Shop, and is on the lookout for individuals who would enjoy this special kindness.

“As we develop Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse, we want to create a home in every way, from the smells of the kitchen to the design of the interior and exterior, and that extends to this program. We are a family, and we want to help other families,” said Renee Ramsey, co-founder and CEO of Mustang Creek Estates. “This is part of our mission and why we exist; to show compassion to seniors and the local community. We look forward to recognizing the worthy people in Sachse and the surrounding areas who are nominated by the public because they could use a little extra kindness.”

Many times, when a senior or caregiver is going through a hard time – whether it be the loss of a loved one, a sudden illness or other stress – the person becomes lonely or isolated. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse seeks to offer a new way to reach out to people who deserve additional joy and gratitude to provide comfort, a smiling face and compassion at their doorstep. One of the first cookie recipients was Mary Lou Nard from Sachse, who received an extra dose of joy and sweetness while recovering from a bad case of shingles.

“This is such a nice gesture from Mustang Creek Estates,” said Nard. “My recovery has not been easy, and to know that somebody recognizes me as I’m going through this hard time means the world to me. It is so sweet, and it sure makes me feel so much better.”

“Just like we hope to provide support to the families we will soon serve daily, we want to lift the spirits of those who need and deserve it throughout Sachse,” said Stephanie Upton, Sales Coordinator of Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse. “We want to spread a little extra joy to others, but we need the public’s help to nominate these special individuals. We encourage everyone to help us identify those who could use a sweet treat and a smile.”

Mustang Creek Estates, whose mission is to provide seniors with high-quality residential-style assisted living and memory care at an affordable price, believes in making a positive impact in the greater community and will always look for ways to give back. Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse is now accepting reservations and expects to open in fall of 2017.

If you know someone who fits this description and could use a little boost, contact Stephanie Upton, Sales Coordinator at Mustang Creek Estates of Sachse, at 469-910-2330 or stephanie@mustangcreekestates.com.