We create our daily menu based on the preferences and dietary needs of our residents. Prior to moving in, we interview each person to determine likes and dislikes, and special requests for favorite foods. We review doctor's orders and medications to further determine dietary requirements and specific orders for food preparation. Detailed Care Plans include food preferences and nutritional needs for each resident, and a love for cooking fuels our yummy dishes. The Administrator, Kelly Sturgeon, is a home chef who cooks in partnership with her husband Berkley. Together, they create thoughtful menus with recipes from their favorite cookbooks and cooking blogs, using fresh, local, and organic ingredients. They share their experience and recipes in their food blog at: http://berkelly.wordpress.com/. Activities
Enjoyable and creative activities are offered daily for residents. The Activity Program is tailored to the interests and needs of each resident. We believe that meaningful and fun activities can enhance the physical, emotional, mental and social health of our residents. Creekside Cottage collaborates with artists, musicians, exercise instructors, and community agencies to provide activities. Physical therapists and occupational therapists are consulted when adaptive equipment is needed to aid a resident. Our goal is to support each resident so that they can pursue activities that they have enjoyed in the past, or to undertake new activities. Our sensory garden is growing to become a vibrant part of our home and it provides fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables for our home chefs. The garden also offers residents the opportunity to grow flowers for arrangements, stretch their legs on our walking path. or to enjoy outdoors on our deck. Creekside Cottage works with local expert, Stacey Meinzen, and her website Edible Yardworks, to prepare and plan for each season. Creekside's Administrator, Kelly Sturgeon, served for six years as an Activity Director and later as the Director of Therapeutic Activities for Hillhaven Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation facilities in the Bay Area. Kelly participated in the first strength training program for nursing home residents in Marin County, later used as a model throughout the county. The leaders of this program, Kim Botenhagen and Betsy Best Martini later published Exercise for Frail Elders. Today, Kelly applies the same skills and principles for exercise and strength training. Music plays a big role in our activity program -- listening to a musician in a home performance, watching musicals, singing favorite songs, drumming, etc.! Community
Community provides the very foundation of our philosophy and approach to caring for our elders. Within Creekside Cottage we create a family environment as we care for our residents and support our caregiving team. Communication that is clear and ongoing is an important part of how we keep our community connected. Communication is provided through quarterly Care Plan meetings with residents and family, bi-monthly reports to family, and day-to-day communications with doctors and other professionals assisting our residents. Reaching out to agencies and programs in the region that benefit our residents, staff and family members is also a key part of our approach, and include programs through Assisted Living Education http://www.assistedlivingeducation.com/, the Alzheimer's Association http://www.alz.org/norcal/, Petaluma Senior Center http://cityofpetaluma.net/parksnrec/senior.html, Petaluma Senior Care Connection, and the Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging http://www.socoaaa.org/. We support and participate in local projects that promote sustainable living through the terrific programs with Daily Acts, www.dailyacts.org. Our values emanate from within and without, and are strengthened by our church community at Unitarian Universalists of Petaluma http://uupetaluma.org/.
