Melrose Gardens December 2020: Assisted Living and Memory Care in Los Angeles

Happy Holidays to our Melrose Gardens & Cottages Residents & Families!

This year took an entirely unexpected turn thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. We have been doing our best this year to learn about and practice preventative actions, and respond with extreme safety measures to keep the most vulnerable citizens in our assisted living and memory care programs - our older residents - safe. These efforts have been met with grace and thankfulness, so we want to thank everyone for their patience and for working with us this year as we work to go above and beyond in caring for our communities. 

 

As we embark on our final month of 2020, we are grateful that we are so well prepared to tackle anything that comes up in the following year, and that we can still find holiday cheer and happiness even amidst uncertain times. We want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, so please have a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, or Joyful Kwanzaa! The holidays are a wonderful time to pause and reflect on the things that are important - relationships, self development, spreading joy, and so much more. We know that our activity directors Mikel and Yolly have a lot of holiday cheer planned for our community, from classic caroling music to holiday decorating to movies and baking. I hope everyone is perked up by our festive and fun activities and atmosphere! 

 

As we end the year, we will spend time reminiscing and catching up with loved ones. With the aim of focusing on ways to improve ourselves and our circumstances in 2021, I will leave you with a classic toast from Benjamin Franklin to ring in the New Year: "Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man.” ~ Benjamin Franklin, "Poor Richard's Almanac, 1755

Resident Spotlight on Aura

Aura was born in the 1930’s in Managua, Nicaragua. Her parents, Narciso and Maria, had three children; Aura grew up as the youngest to her siblings Josephine and Guillermo. Aura attended Marymount College, where she met her husband Lester, and they were happily married for many years. Together they had one daughter, Mariangela, who has since blessed Aura with a grandson! Aura had majored in Education while at Marymount College, and went on to pursue a career as a teacher. She fondly remembers her dog named Gangster. While living at The Cottages, Aura enjoys exercise, walks, dancing to music, and is always up to join a party! We hope that she has an amazing time this December with all the holiday music and festivities that will take place!

 

Holiday Music & Movies that bring back Memories December is fast approaching, which means it's time to hunker down with some hot chocolate for a holiday-themed movie or enchanting Christmas caroling session. 

If you really want the spirit of the season to overtake you, may we suggest joining us for one of these classic Christmas movies that are steeped in nostalgia? We've scheduled some black-and-white favorites like It's a Wonderful Life, Bing Crosby's feel-good musicals of the 1940s and 50s, and more than a few versions of Charles Dickens tales. If it's Christmas-set romances you're searching for, then The Holiday, a modern classic, makes for the ultimate follow-up to Love Actually. No matter your mood, there’s a classic holiday movie that will play each evening after dinner. So check out the calendar, and Scrooges, enter at your own risk! 

Whether we're decorating the Christmas tree, hosting a holiday happy hour, or simply trying to get everyone hyped for the holiday season, a festive soundtrack with all the best Christmas songs is essential to set the mood while we deck the halls. We’ve got a classic playlist of the top holiday songs of all time to make sure you don’t forget your faves. So join us in song whenever we’ve got the tunes on!

Here’s a Christmas selection to start you humming: White Christmas, Silver Bells, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, and I’ll Be Home for Christmas. We’re also ready for Hanukkah too, with songs like: Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah, Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel, and Light One Candle.

December 10 Hanukkah This year, Hanukkah 2020 begins the evening of Thursday, December 10th and ends the evening of Friday, December 18th.

Hannukah is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled. These upcoming Hanukkah evenings we look forward to reciting the special blessings before the menorah is lit, singing traditional songs afterward, and enjoying sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) and latkes (potato pancakes)!

 

December 25 Christmas Every year on December 25th, we celebrate Christmas, a day for spending time with family, observing an important Christian holiday, partaking in lighthearted traditions, or just spreading some holiday cheer!

Christmas has evolved over several millennia into a worldwide celebration that’s both religious and secular and chock full of fun-filled, family activities. Traditionally, Christians celebrate Christmas as the day on which Jesus Christ, the son of God, was born. Secularly, it is a great time of holiday music, caroling, traditions of Santa Claus delivering presents, gift exchanges, and so much more. This Christmas season we look forward to decorating holiday desserts, singing Christmas carols and watching classic Christmas movies, making cards and homemade gifts for one another, and spreading that holiday cheer!

 

December 31 New Year’s Eve Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia.

Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays. Here at Melrose gardens and The Cottages we will be having an afternoon New Year’s Eve Silent Auction, a spectacular New Year’s Eve Dinner, and follow with a Monte Carlo Night themed New Year’s Eve Party! We will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and mocktails while trying our luck at the casino tables. At 9pm on the dot, we will ring in the New Year with a champagne/sparkling cider toast!

 

Our employee of the month of December is our wonderful Med Tech, Karla. 

She has been a vital member of the Melrose Gardens family for a little over two years. She has been a CNA for seven years, and Med Tech for 4. She loves her job, especially having the ability to connect with the residents. She is appreciated for her hard work, dedication, and caring manner. Karla was born and raised right here in Los Angeles with her sister and four brothers. She loves family time with her boyfriend of 10 years and her daughter, Jayla. Together the family enjoys going to the beach and good old fashioned barbecues. She loves hiking-she finds it a great stress reliever. Karla’s philosophy in life is “Everything happens for a reason!” She believes that life is too short to not do what you love. She proves every day, through her positive attitude and work ethic, that she loves working here at Melrose Gardens! Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Karla! We appreciate you.

 

Melrose Gardens

Memory care, assisted living in Los Angeles

Our purpose is to provide industry-best assisted living services and memory care programs in Los Angeles. When we hear our residents and their families tell us that they couldn’t have asked for a better experience, we know we’re succeeding.

If you’re searching for memory care or assisted living in the Los Angeles area, we would love to have you over for a tour of our community, and lunch with our team. We can walk you through our programs, advise on suitable options for your family, and give you the information you need to make a great decision.

 

Please Contact Us

960 Martel Avenue.

Los Angeles, CA 90046

Phone: (323) 876-1746

Email: director@melrosegardens.com