Loving our furry friends makes us healthier.

For National Dog Day on August 26, we honor our four-legged friends and their amazing contributions. They calm and comfort, save lives, help those with disabilities and serve in the line of duty alongside law enforcement and military personnel.

It’s fitting that cat lovers have their day, too, with National Cat Day on October 29. There are few things that can soothe a stressful day than petting a purring cat or laughing at a mischievous kitten. It’s what makes looking for a pet-friendly senior living community so important.

Taking care of a cat or dog can provide a sense of purpose and create much-needed structure and routine to our days, especially as we age. As retirement — or the pandemic for that matter — keeps us closer to home, a pet companion’s unconditional love and loyalty can stand in for family and friends. Just knowing there’s someone at home who needs you and is happy to see you can feel reassuring and rewarding.

Along with love and companionship, pets offer a variety of benefits for seniors.

Whether you love a cuddly cat or a plush pooch, caring for a furry friend could be good for your health*, according to scientists. It’s possible that a well-matched pet can help:

  • Decrease stress and anxiety
  • Decrease blood pressure
  • Decrease loneliness
  • Increase exercise and outdoor activity (dogs)
  • Decrease cholesterol levels (dogs)
  • Increase socialization (dogs)
  • Improve sleep
  • Improve self-esteem

*According to the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Making a move? Look for pet-friendly senior living communities in Phoenix, AZ.

If you’re looking to make a move with your favorite canine or feline, it’s important to verify that the residence, immediate neighborhood and broader community are all pet-friendly.

  • What are the rules and limitations regarding pets?
  • Does the apartment, condo or patio home have room for you and your pet to move?
  • Do you have easy access to the outdoors for your dog to exercise?
  • Can you easily take your dog for an extended walk or run?
  • Is it a safe area at night?
  • Is there a fenced-in dog park?
  • Are there pet waste stations?
  • Are there any organized pet-friendly activities?
  • Is there assistance available to care for your pet while you’re away or receiving medical care?

At Beatitudes Campus, your four-legged friend is most welcome. You’ll find doggie treats in every building, multiple dog parks with pet waste stations and paved walking areas throughout our campus — all within a gated, secure community monitored by staff 24/7. Our Beatitudes at Home program offers a variety of helpful services, including pet care.

Contact Beatitudes Campus in Phoenix, AZ

For more about Beatitudes Campus and our pet-friendly services and amenities, call us today at 602.883.1358 or send us a note using the form below.

Future Expansion Offers Right Place In The Right Community At The Right Time

When Beatitudes Campus began its new expansion of Patio Homes, Marta and Tom Brooks of Phoenix, Arizona, were interested but the timing felt off. They weren’t quite ready to move yet. However, when the senior living community announced its latest expansion, the Promenade Residences, would be coming in 2023, they jumped at the opportunity to be the first in line to choose their new place.

“We’ve been thinking about and planning for the future. We like the idea of living in a community that offers helpful services, maintenance-free living and care options. We’ve looked at quite a number actually, both here in Phoenix and in Flagstaff, where my husband’s daughter lives,” said Marta. “Beatitudes Campus was the best fit for us. The Promenade Residences offered the perfect solution. We could get our choice of a new place and we didn’t have to move in immediately.”

For Marta, a retired healthcare executive and former nurse, Beatitudes Campus was a top choice from the beginning. She had previously worked with the community in her role at a not-for-profit organization.

“I had worked with Beatitudes Campus as well as other senior living communities on a professional level for some time. My familiarity with the staff and the day-to-day operations made me very comfortable with them,” she said.

Charter Members Get First Choice

As part of the expansion, Beatitudes Campus developed the Promenade Charter Membership program to give future residents the ability to learn about and evaluate the plans for the new residences and get to know Beatitudes Campus better. Those who are ready to take the next step can choose their favorite floor plan and location from the available residences. As the first Promenade Charter Members, Marta and Tom had their pick of any place in the building. They chose a spacious Two-Bedroom Grand apartment on the corner.

“We both love the layout. I particularly find it appealing with its open great room and the location of the guest room versus the master bedroom and the spaciousness of the storage and closets,” said Marta. “We’re absolutely delighted with the way they organized the layout of the property to include resources in the building without having them right at your front door.”

Promenade Charter Members enjoy other benefits too, including lower pricing, choice of features, finishes and upgrades, invitations to special events and more.

“We especially liked being able to hear about the plans before anyone else and the ability to choose where we wanted to live,” said Marta. “Plus, we’ve been able to participate in some of the decisions about the interior finishes, which was nice.”

Making The Transition

Even as exciting as it is to watch one’s plans come into focus, the thought of making a move can still feel daunting. For Tom, a retired judge and lifelong Arizona resident, moving from his home of 40 years feels bittersweet. To help ease the transition, Beatitudes Campus offers a variety of moving resources.

“He’s been living here since 1982 and making the transition is a big deal. Thankfully, Beatitudes Campus offers so much support for the move. He definitely didn’t realize how valuable that is,” said Marta. “I was an Army brat and lived in 27 different houses, not counting transition housing so moving to me is something I could do in my sleep.”

Along with help with moving, Beatitudes Campus offers one-on-one assistance from a residency counselor.

“Part of the pleasure of this experience has been working with our residency counselor, Sara Paull. She has become a member of the family. She’s very responsive and absolutely wonderful, and a reflection of the nature of the staff at Beatitudes Campus,” said Marta.

Summing It Up

With all that the Beatitudes Campus lifestyle offers, what are Marta and Tom most excited about when thinking about their future move into the Promenade Residences?

“There’s a certain burden with homeownership and that burden becomes larger as you get older. It’s harder to get things done. When the time comes, we’ll like not having the constant concern about living in an older house and our ability to keep up with things,” said Marta. “We won’t even have to change a lightbulb.”

So, you feel like you picked the right place in the right community at the right time?

“You can say that. No question. I already feel a sense of belonging,” she said.

For more information about the Promenade Residences or becoming a Charter Member, call (602) 833-1358 or contact us through our online form below.

Your Guide To Navigating The Right Senior Living Choice

Are you curious about senior living but not sure where to start? We can help. At Beatitudes Campus, we’ve been offering older adults a vibrant lifestyle infused with laughter, learning, health and wellness for more than 55 years. Thousands of wonderful friends and neighbors have called our community home. To answer your questions and fulfill your curiosity, we are introducing a Quick Start Senior Living Guide series. This series will provide practical information to help you move forward and make the choice that’s right for you. In following each step, you can be certain you’re not only well-informed but also on the correct path to a more secure, enjoyable future that meets your needs and aspirations.

As you read through each step of our Quick Start Senior Living Guide, keep in mind we have lots of resources available that explain what your options are, how to compare those options and their costs as well as the value you get in return for your money. We have programs that let you get to know us better and build friendships before ever moving in, that help with the entire moving process, and help you get acclimated to the community as a newcomer, and much more.

It’s time to take the worry out of the senior living decision. With Beatitudes Campus, you can be certain that you have a trusted guide through it all. Our Quick Start Senior Living Guide starts by offering resources to help set your expectations and goals. When you’re ready for more, check back for steps 2-4 for the rest of the Quick Start Senior Living Guide series.

Step 1

Set Your Expectations & Goals

  • Make a list of your current and future needs based on your finances, health and abilities, and lifestyle preferences.
  • Outline your expectations and aspirations for the future. Have fun with this and consider enlisting friends and family in the conversation.
  • Request our Retirement Planning Guide. It offers an easy, interactive way of thinking through what’s most important to you.
  • Establish a loose timeframe for making a choice and one for making your move. Check out this great advice about the best time to make your move.

For more resources like this Quick Start Senior Living Guide or to schedule an in-person visit, call us today at (602) 883-1358 or connect with us using the form below. We look forward to hearing from you and sharing any resources or information to help you with your decisions!

When you’re ready, check out step 2!

The nation’s largest older adult health and wellness event, now in its 28th year, is May 26. National Senior Health & Fitness Day® will see 100,000 seniors in 1,000-plus locations participating in local health and wellness events.

We embrace and affirm this special day, pointing to our long-standing dedication to creating the community setting in which seniors can readily engage in healthy, fit lifestyles. We’re coming out of a year in which a pandemic has limited access and activity for everyone. Therefore, this is an especially good time to ramp up your personal wellness practices.

Start Simple.

Consider basics, such as:

  • Healthy eating. Meaning, you should try to avoid the bad fats, control portions, get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, include nuts, trim the salt—and do what your doctor tells you.
  • Dinner guests. Friendship is good for you, and during shared meals, you’re likely to eat less.
  • Body & brain exercise. Strength-building and cardio training take care of what’s below your chin but also remember to go upstairs to keep your brain growing. Reading, writing, word and memory games—it’s all good for the gray matter.
  • Falling is a health risk and adding balance exercises to your fitness routine can help you avoid accidents.
  • Breaking routines. While the familiar brings comfort, trying something new or doing something differently can stimulate you mentally and physically.

The All-In-One Wellness Move.

Families often remark on the myriad improvements they observe in their loved ones after a move to a senior living community. It could be the food, the socially engaging environment, the programs and activities, or even the freedom from homeownership responsibilities. Or simply the entire lifestyle’s effect on the resident.

Serving One Purpose Above All.

Senior living communities offer a setting for healthy living.

John Shilling, Director of Life Enrichment at Beatitudes Campus, oversees resident-serving departments at the community. His Life Enrichment team coordinates campus-wide services, including fitness, transportation and programs.

By creating meaningful opportunities for engagement, Life Enrichment fulfills the community’s purpose—to enrich residents’ lives. In doing so, the team must also rely on residents to share their ideas for what they want.

“We create an environment where there are no walls—where every Beatitudes resident feels welcome in every program,” John says.

“Anyone Can Make Their Ideas Come To Life.”

Senior living communities typically offer a variety of programs for life enrichment. However, Beatitudes Campus is among the few that provide such depth and breadth of programming—with many originating from residents’ expressed interests.

  • Art gallery exhibits
  • Art studio
  • Ceramics and painting classes
  • Gardening areas and walking paths
  • Three dog parks
  • Musical and dance performances
  • Woodworking shop
  • Committees, clubs and special interest groups
  • Educational programs
  • Lectures and presentations
  • Spiritual programs
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Bocce ball court
  • Fitness Center with state-of-the-art equipment
  • Fitness classes
  • Heated swimming pool
  • Motion studio for exercise and fitness classes
  • Putting green

In addition, Beatitudes Campus residents can also continue to learn. The Beatitudes Center for Lifelong Learning offers spring, summer and fall semesters, with as many as two dozen courses each semester. Plus, new courses are continuously in development—as resources become available or when residents express their interest.

Wellness Is A Point Of View.

In short, integrating wellness practices—the life enrichment that comes from fitness, socializing and learning—makes for a way of life not possible outside the community setting. That’s why life in a senior living community is good for your well-being. And it’s why so many new residents say, “I wish I’d moved here sooner.”

So, on National Senior Health & Fitness Day, take up the challenge of enriching your life. Ramp up your personal wellness practices. Call (602) 833-1358 to schedule a tour at Beatitudes Campus or submit a form online.

Discover how a healthy, fit lifestyle can be an ideal choice for you and your family.

It’s hard enough—whether it’s by necessity or for convenience—to make a relocation decision for yourself or a loved one. Emotions run high. The need might be urgent. You searched for a nursing home, but aren’t sure what you found? The language of senior living can feel complicated.

And then you encounter the big question: What exactly are you looking for? Independent living or assisted living? A retirement home, nursing home, or senior apartments? Or is a CCRC what you need? (And what is a CCRC?) I see the term “Life Plan Community” used. Is that the same as a CCRC?

We can help sort this out, providing perspective on the language of senior living that helps you know what the service and care levels are—and feel more confident about your search, too.

Independent Living

For those 62 and older—or in some communities, 55+—independent living is a lifestyle setting that provides comfortable senior apartments or other kinds of residences in which seniors can pursue daily life as they wish. It’s the freedom to maintain your current lifestyle but enhanced by a host of services and amenities.

Independent living residents have few, if any, health conditions that limit their independence. By choosing a community over the continuing burdens of homeownership, they gain the benefits of the community’s programs, activities, dining, and social milieu. Independent living is not considered a level of care because residents don’t require care. But support and kindness are invariably found in abundance.

That’s why it’s common for new independent living residents to claim they wish they’d made the move sooner.

Assisted Living

With a comfortable residence designed to help less-than-fully-independent seniors live as independently as possible, residents get a helping hand with daily life. You may hear about the ADLs, the Activities of Daily Living. Assisted living customizes care to a resident’s needs and how much assistance they need with the ADLs:

  • Personal hygiene. Bathing/showering, grooming, and oral care.
  • Dressing. Making appropriate clothing decisions; dressing and undressing.
  • Eating.
  • Maintaining continence. Using the restroom; hygiene.
  • Transferring/Mobility. Being able to stand from a sitting position; getting in and out of bed; walking independently between locations.

A second set of actions—the IADLs, or Instrumental Activities of Daily Living—are functions that aren’t required daily but can also demonstrate the continuing or diminishing capabilities of a senior. IADLs are:

  • Basic communication skills (includes phone and email).
  • Transportation (driving, arranging rides, or using public transportation).
  • Meal preparation.
  • Shopping.
  • Housework.
  • Managing medications.
  • Managing personal finances.

An assisted living community will assess new residents’ abilities relative to all these daily living activities and create individualized plans for helping each resident succeed. You can also expect assisted living services to adapt to a wide range of health care needs that might change over time, from minor to more acute.

Long-Term Care 

Sometimes known as skilled nursing, long-term skilled care, or a nursing home, the care setting is residential and staffed with RNs and a variety of other professionals. Long-term care provides for those who have a chronic illness.

In more recent times, the term “nursing home” has fallen out of favor. This is a reflection of how hospitality and activity programs are integrated with long-term care on campuses that include other levels of care—and often independent living, too.

Short-Term Care 

Also called short-term rehabilitation or simply rehabilitation, these specialized therapies—speech, physical, and vocational—address the needs of those recovering after surgery, accident, or illness. Short-term care is often found within the long-term care setting, where suitable residences, medical professionals, and equipment are readily available.

Short-term care is often hard work for the resident/patient and is, therefore, made as comfortable as possible. The objective will be to speed up the recovery process while ensuring further rehab won’t be needed after discharge.

CCRC

Short for Continuing Care Retirement Community, which has lately been simplified to “Life Plan” community, the CCRC is the flagship among senior living or retirement communities. In addition to independent living, a CCRC also offers a continuum of care services, which may include assisted living, a memory care program, long-term care, and short-term care.

Often, those who move into a CCRC’s independent living can have access to discounts on levels of care, making this an attractive plan for life —or “Life Plan.” Residents and their families know that if a resident ever needs care, it will be provided in a known setting by those who’ve already established their compassion and trustworthiness.

Life Care

Some communities offer a contract that promises to deliver independent living residents any level of care needed for about the same rate as independent living. The rates for assisted living, memory care, and long-term care are usually higher when those care levels are entered directly. But with Life Care, independent living residents will pay less for those levels of care.

Terms That Misrepresent

You might also encounter such terms as elderly, frail, senior citizen, the aged, or retiree. You won’t hear these from us, however, because these are words that marginalize, and seniors routinely rate them poor choices for their age group. Their preferences—and ours—include “seniors,” “older adults” and “older people.”

Finally, you’ll sometimes hear “facility”—for example, assisted living facility or nursing facility. We don’t use “facility” because it’s institutional-sounding and, therefore, dehumanizing. We’re the opposite of dehumanizing. In fact, Beatitudes Campus and other senior living communities are, by vision, mission, and design, humanizing.

We Stand Behind Our Words

For generations, families in and beyond Phoenix have turned to Beatitudes Campus for senior living. The region’s first community of its kind, we are today a true Phoenix original. We’ve served the region longer, with more integrity and more success than any other senior living community.

Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of families find the right answers to their senior living questions and needs. When you’re searching, we can help you, too. Call us at (602) 883-1358 or contact us online.

Although they’re popular among older adults, senior living rental options are rarely offered in full-service retirement communities. Typically, rental apartments are clustered together in a neighborhood where management takes care of maintenance and provides a few basic amenities. Residents pay à la carte for everything else. What are the benefits of renting at Beatitudes Campus?

At Beatitudes Campus, you can choose from a wide variety of residential options, including our rental Plaza Apartments—one of the most flexible and affordable options in full-service independent living in all of Phoenix and the surrounding area.

Flexibility, Affordability

Choosing a rental Plaza Apartment at Beatitudes Campus offers the best of all worlds. You get the flexibility of affordable and predictable month-to-month renting while our staff takes care of everything, making life at Beatitudes Campus truly maintenance-free. You never have to worry about changing a light bulb, fixing a faucet or mowing the lawn ever again.

An Entire Community Of Services & Amenities

One of the very best aspects of living at Beatitudes Campus, regardless of which residential option you choose, is the ability to enjoy the conveniences, amenities and lifestyle of our full-service senior living community.

Just beyond your front door, you have full, unlimited access to Beatitudes Campus’ services, amenities and activities, including social events, lifelong learning classes, recreational programs, fitness classes and more.

At Beatitudes Campus, you enjoy a sense of security, too, knowing you’ve planned ahead for the future you want. Part of preparing for tomorrow means knowing where you’ll receive care if you ever need it.

As a resident of Beatitudes Campus, you’ll have access to onsite health services should you ever need them, from an outpatient clinic for primary care to rehabilitative therapies,skilled nursing care and memory support. We even offer in-home care and support. You or your health insurance only pay for the health care services you need, when you need them.

Plaza Apartments Feature:

  • Flexible month-to-month rental, no lease required
  • Choice of studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans
  • Recently updated finishes and common spaces
  • Access to all Campus amenities and activities
  • Pay-as-you-need-it onsite healthcare available at market rate

Your Monthly Rent Includes:

Now is a great time to consider a Plaza Apartment. It’s a fantastic senior living rental option right here in Phoenix in an area you know and love. We recently gave the Plaza Apartment lounges a whole new look.

We know that with so many choices, deciding which senior living option is right for you can be daunting. At Beatitudes Campus, we want to be a trusted resource to help you navigate your choices. To learn more about planning for your future, request a free retirement planning guide.

Visit our video gallery and follow us on Facebook to see more about life at Beatitudes Campus.

Let’s Talk About It!

Curious if a senior living rental option at Beatitudes Campus is the perfect match for your future? Call us today at (602) 883-1358 or send us a note using the form below. We’d love to welcome you to Campus for a tour and are happy to answer all of your questions.