Life at Sunset

By Melinda Haight, Director of Clinical Services Dementia can rob families of so much. It robs people of who they are and how they interact and often times they don’t ever get that back. Waterford Place Memory Care is offering a new cognitive learning program that gives hope to those living with dementia.  See the story of how…

Steve Zuiderveen President & CEO “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Cor. 4:18 This afternoon I noticed that the construction crews were in the process of completing the renovation of Sunset Manor. Wheelbarrows…

Melinda Haight LPN Director of Clinical Services We are all forgetful at times.  However, as we age, the risk of developing dementia increases.  According to the Alzheimer’s Association, knowing the early signs that distinguish normal aging from those brought on by the early stages of dementia can improve lives and save $7.9 trillion in medical and care costs.  If…

The following is a guest blog post by Chris Matthysse, Attorney, Mika Meyers. Second Corinthians calls on Christians two be cheerful givers.  Many extend their giving to their will or trust by including their favorite charities or church as a devisee along with their children.  This is an effective way to accomplish one’s charitable intentions.  However, if an individual…

In 2016, I began my career as a CNA at Brookcrest Life & Rehab Center. I planned to keep my head down, work for six months, and gain the experience needed to work at a hospital. While I made connections and friendships with residents and coworkers alike, I still decided to keep looking for the…

Ben Leavell Executive Director of Waterford Place Often used interchangeably, dementia and Alzheimer’s are two different diagnoses and require different treatment. Dementia is an umbrella term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. Alzheimer’s is…

Years before Hazel Coy moved to Sunset Village, her granddaughter Taylor Nysse was a faithful Sunset volunteer. After Taylor graduated from Jenison High School in 1999, she participated in Community-Based Instruction (CBI) and received job training at various locations including a greenhouse, a preschool, and Sunset Manor & Villages. Taylor knew right away that Sunset…

A dementia diagnosis can slowly, and sometimes quickly, alter your loved one’s ability to do things they once loved. You may even find it hard to interact with them because you feel like you don’t know them anymore. But your time together can still be valuable and enriching. Here are a few activities you can…

Do you feel like your list of daily medications keeps growing? If so, it can be daunting to keep track of them all. In addition, as you continue to age, your body is changing and it’s affecting the way medications (and foods) are absorbed, distributed, metabolized and excreted. All of these things can create a…

Since she was a little girl, Ginger Popma dreamt of becoming a nurse. But she could not have imagined the passion she would develop for her career or the amazing family she would create during her 14 years serving residents at Brookcrest. Ginger began her Sunset Retirement Communities and Services career as a charge nurse…