Cultivating Community Through Diversity
At a time when diversity feels under attack, Beatitudes Campus is a heartwarming, welcoming place open to everyone. Since our founding in 1965, we’ve nurtured an inclusive community that welcomes all people. Our friends and neighbors hail from around the globe, representing all walks of life’s journey.
We value every person regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation. This philosophy is so important to us that we’ve put it into words. You’ll find it on our website, posted around campus, and printed in our brochures and other materials.
See why it matters
Embracing diversity and inclusion ensures each individual in our community feels valued. A strong sense of connection and belonging encourages people to help each other, learn more, stay active, and feel more secure–all of which leads to higher satisfaction with life, healthier minds, and bodies. The latter link includes a wonderful infographic on the benefits of feeling connected by Dr. Emma Seppala at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education.
Follow your own path
Whether you look to the stars for heavenly inspiration or to marvel at the beauty of science, Beatitudes Campus offers a variety of programs that foster spiritual fellowship and lifelong learning.
You can choose from several types of worship services, religious classes, faith-based volunteer opportunities, pastoral care and counseling, and more. Broadly organized like a college curriculum, our Lifelong Learners program features nearly two-dozen non-credit courses each semester exploring art, history, science, foreign languages, and skill-building topics.
Express yourself
At Beatitudes Campus, we know that diversity isn’t limited to gender or race or sexual orientation. It’s about learning from each other’s perspective.
Here, you’ll find an array of ways to express yourself. Every week, we host what we call a Hootenanny. It’s an open mic night where everyone is welcome to come together to sing and play instruments in an all-out jam session. Residents also perform poetry, philosophize, and inspire the audience to think about the world around us.
If you like to advance new ideas, you’ll love the Design Studio Residents’ Think Tank. The Design Studio works with management and the Board of Directors to foster and create innovative resident-driven programs.
The management and staff at Beatitudes Campus firmly believe in ongoing communication, which is why you’ll find us in the community talking with residents virtually every day. From one-on-one conversations and resident council meetings to Newcomers Coffee events, we’re out and about more than we’re behind our desks. When you get a chance, tell us what you think. We want to hear it.
Share our vision
If you want to live in a community with heart, that’s open and welcoming, and that values you for who you are, we invite you to come for a visit. To schedule lunch and a personal tour, give us a call at (602) 833-1358.
What Is Skilled Nursing Care?
Designed for individuals with serious health challenges, skilled nursing care provides higher-level medical services and ongoing supervision by a registered nurse, LPN, and other health professionals. This can include monitoring vital signs, wound care, IV therapy, injections, and physical, occupational and speech therapies.
Nursing care also encompasses assistance with everyday activities, from medication management and meals to personal care and hygiene. Nurses, certified nursing assistants, and support staff are on call 24/7. There are two types of skilled nursing care–short-term and long-term. Below is a summary of each type:
Short-term skilled nursing care: Time to heal
Short-term care is provided to those who need time to recover from an illness, injury or surgery. This can range from a few days or weeks to a few months.
For example, a loved one who leaves the hospital after a stroke or joint replacement surgery may not be capable of returning home immediately. He or she may need additional time to heal or to go through a concentrated rehabilitative process with a mix of physical, occupational and speech therapies.
Nursing care helps bridge the gap. The goal is to regain capabilities, health, and strength in order to return home safely, or to another living situation such as with a family member or an assisted living apartment.
Long-term skilled nursing care: Ongoing care and support
Long-term care provides hands-on, around-the-clock support and monitoring for those who have a chronic condition or complex health issues. There is skilled care, which requires higher-level medical services, and custodial care, which includes occasional medical care but primarily focuses on help with everyday tasks. Most of the time, long-term nursing care involves the latter.
Long-term nursing care centers can be a residential option for those who cannot live on their own and require a high degree of continual assistance and monitoring. For example, someone in the late stage of a progressive condition such as congestive heart failure or Parkinson’s disease. If a loved one is very frail, has serious health issues, falls often, lives alone and is unable to care for their own well-being, they may benefit from the stability and supervision of nursing care.
Not all nursing care centers are alike. Many, such as Beatitudes Campus, offer a stimulating atmosphere with enjoyable programs and amenities as well as friendly volunteers who help keep residents as active and engaged as possible. If your loved one needs the support of nursing care, take some time to tour the various centers to find one that fits their needs and preferences best.
Nursing care at Beatitudes Campus
The Health Care Center at Beatitudes Campus offers both short-term skilled care and long-term nursing care. We offer shared suites along with delicious, restaurant-style dining and special activities and programs.
The Health Care Center at Beatitudes Campus is Medicare and ALTCS Medicaid-approved and fully licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. We are continually recognized in Arizona state inspections for outstanding care.
To learn more about nursing care at Beatitudes Campus and whether it’s right for you or a loved one, visit the Health Services page on our website or call us at (602) 833-1358.
The life plan community concept began about a century ago when faith-based and other charitable organizations sought to provide lifetime shelter and care for the aging. In exchange for this promise, residents being cared for were usually required to assign most or all of their assets to the organization. Although well-intentioned, this model was less than scientific, and when residents lived longer than expected, there often wasn’t enough money on hand to fulfill the organization’s commitment.
In response to the short-coming of this model, the idea of entrance fees evolved. Rather than collecting the assets of a resident, organizations began establishing minimum entrance fees (combined with monthly fees) that were determined to be adequate to cover commitments.
After proving to be more effective, the entrance fee model eventually expanded to also offer refundable entrance fees. Many prospective residents responded more favorably to this approach because they knew that either they or their heirs would receive back some portion of the entrance fee if they ever left the community, or at death.
Today there are more than 2,000 life plan communities located throughout the United States offering non-refundable, partially refundable, and fully refundable entrance fees. Many providers offer multiple options from which to choose.
So, what is the purpose of an entrance fee? Primarily, the entrance fee helps secure a resident’s contractual access to a continuum of care. This is why life plan communities are the only type of retirement scenarios providing such a promise to its residents. In recent years, more rental-only life plan communities have evolved. However, under a rental contract, there is either no contractual promise to provide a continuum of care, or the monthly fee will be higher than a comparable entrance fee.
The money received from entrance fees is also used to help pay down, or limit, the amount of debt required for development, expansion, or occasional capital projects, which keep the community attractive and competitive in the marketplace.
Finally, many life plan communities- particularly non-profit providers- offer a financial assistance or endowment fund to help ensure that if a resident runs out of money due to a longer than average stay in the healthcare center, or some other unforeseen circumstance, they will not be forced to leave the community. Of course, this would not apply to any situation where a resident mismanaged or intentionally transferred personal assets in order to receive such support.
At Beatitudes Campus, the entrance fee for our Central Park Apartments and Patio Homes include 90 days of skilled nursing, memory care, or assisted living for each resident at no additional cost. The monthly service fee and the one-time entrance fee is up to 90% refundable, and you can enjoy the convenience of maintenance-free living with the security of a future healthcare benefit.
The above article was written by Brad Breeding of myLifeSite and is legally licensed for use.
When you’re considering a move to a new place, it can be helpful to know what the people who live there think and feel about their home and community, the neighbors and staff, as well as the atmosphere and amenities. We asked four residents to tell us about what Beatitudes Campus means to them. We were delighted to hear their answers.
Marc Adelman
When Marc Adelman lived across the street from Beatitudes Campus years ago, he didn’t know the community specialized in senior living. Today, he not only lives on campus, he’s involved with dozens of programs, committees, and activities.
Marc spearheaded a program to install a special audio system in the campus’ Everett Luther Life Center to help people hear the presentations and music better. As an ad hoc technology expert, he helps residents with their TVs, phones, and other devices.
“I moved here in 2015, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Marc, who also teaches mahjong and serves as a community ambassador. “I was very active before moving here. Beatitudes gives me the opportunity to stay active and involved.”
In June, Beatitudes Campus debuts its new Gaming Connection, a special calendar that tracks all of the game and puzzle meetups happening across campus–bridge, poker, dominoes, mahjong, board games, and more. It makes it easy for everyone to find a game and join in whenever they want. It’s a great way to meet new friends. Marc helped create the computerized tracking system for this new calendar.
“To me, Beatitudes Campus means safety, friendliness and connection with people,” he said. “Most of us wear name tags. On it, we get to add a word that best describes ourselves. I chose the word ‘involved.’”
Bill Chase
As an electrical design consultant, Bill Chase stays busy, dividing his time between his clients and life at Beatitudes Campus. Bill and his late wife lived just four miles from the community before moving to the community in 2016. Beatitudes provided the stability, ease, and optional in-home caregiving the couple needed.
“When we visited Beatitudes, the community was so lively and engaged. People had places to go, things to do. We liked that,” said Bill. “Plus, people here seemed more friendly.”
Today, Bill spends his free time participating in social groups and playing guitar on-campus several days a week. “There are a lot of choices. You can pick and choose what you want to do,” said Bill. “It’s like being back in college.”
In addition to an active social life, Bill has found friendship and support at Beatitudes Campus.
“It feels like a small town. People look out for each other,” said Bill. “Living at Beatitudes Campus makes me want to be a better person, just like my wife did.”
Carol and Wally Flinn
Married for 64 years, Carol and Wally Flinn moved to Beatitudes Campus in 2016, after deciding that keeping up a four-bedroom house was just too much work.
“We started educating ourselves on what was available. We looked at three other communities over two years,” said Carol. “We chose Beatitudes because we like the staff, the people, and the food. We feel safe here, especially at night.”
The Flinns enjoy a variety of activities on campus. Wally, who’s outgoing and gregarious, likes the fitness center, walking on campus, and playing darts and bocce ball. Carol is loyal to spending time with friends, playing bridge, using the campus library, and being a part of the Welcome Committee.
“For us, Beatitudes Campus means being more involved, more active, taking lifelong learning classes, belonging to groups, and meeting new people,” said Carol.
MaryLou Renfrow
When MaryLou Renfrow began needing help at home after a fall, she and her family didn’t choose a senior living community lightly. Before MaryLou moved to Beatitudes Campus, her son-in-law thoroughly vetted the community before giving his blessing.
“He checked out everything to make sure it was a good place,” said MaryLou, who lives in a ground floor apartment with a beautiful patio decorated just the way she likes it. “I just love it here. Everyone smiles, waves, and says hello. We’re like a big family.”
MaryLou takes advantage of Beatitudes Campus “Be at Home” services program to make everyday living a little easier. The program provides in-home care and personal support, such as help getting ready in the morning, transportation to the doctor, grocery shopping, medication reminders, and more.
“They even take great care of my cat, LouLou,” she said. “For me, Beatitudes Campus means feeling content and relaxed. It feels like my home. There are a lot of wonderful things that come with it.”
Are you or a loved one considering the transition to a retirement community? Schedule a tour of Beatitudes Campus by calling us at (602) 536-4732 or submitting a contact form!
By Rodney D. Bailey, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing
At Beatitudes Campus, service to others isn’t just our philosophy; it’s in our DNA. In 1965, our founders envisioned a senior living community devoted to the needs and preferences of older adults and their families. They fostered a welcoming, engaging, vibrant place to retire that instilled an atmosphere of respect and honor for its residents. An innovative concept at the time, their promise continues to influence everything we do today.
While others may talk about exceptional service, the staff at Beatitudes Campus live it. We’re devoted to making your world a little brighter, solving your challenges, and bringing more opportunities your way. Perhaps the difference isn’t simply being better at serving others, it’s knowing that those we serve are not “customers” or “clients.” For us, we’re serving our friends and neighbors.
You’ll hear plenty of stories from Beatitudes Campus residents who’ll tell you about how our chef makes wonderful meals to everyone’s liking, how quickly our maintenance team responds to requests, and how much they appreciate the golf cart shuttle across campus. I’m most proud of the out-of-the-ordinary actions we take every day that pleases a single person or couple–something no one else may ever see. To me, that’s truly going above and beyond.
Greater Heights in Retirement
One of my favorite examples is when a couple moved in with a large totem pole. Having purchased it on their honeymoon, it was a sentimental treasure. However, at the last minute on moving day, they realized the ceiling wasn’t high enough to accommodate the tall statue. On that Friday evening, the Beatitudes Campus staff quickly came together to find a solution. They did–another apartment with higher ceilings. The couple moved in as planned, and continued to enjoy the beautiful souvenir of their honeymoon.
Tea Lover
Oftentimes, exceptional service shows up in small ways. One of our residency counselors was talking with a prospective community resident who requested hot tea, which we were out of at the moment. She enjoyed the conversation and scheduled a follow-up appointment. For the prospective resident’s second visit, the residency counselor had the gift shop manager create a gift basket with herbal teas and a ceramic cup with the words “Tea Lover.” She loved the gift and added her name to our apartment reservation list. The small gift was a thoughtful reminder that we’re always listening.
Smart TV
For some residents at Beatitudes Campus, a small adjustment can solve big challenges and bring huge benefits. A Korean-American family liked the idea of their mother moving to Beatitudes Campus. However, they all were concerned about her limited ability to speak English. After their father passed away, their mother had spent more time with other Korean women, which reduced her second language skills. The family suggested that Korean television programs would give her the comfort she needed to make the move.
Beatitudes Campus was in the process of converting to DIRECTV®, which didn’t include a Korean channel. We brought together an entire team–our move-in coordinator, senior vice president of sales and marketing, chief financial officer, residency counselor, and most importantly, our IT specialist and DIRECTV® representatives–to brainstorm how to help this prospective resident. We discovered that she could stream a Korean channel with a smart TV. Our staff made it happen.
Today, the resident is happy, thriving, and rediscovering her skills when it comes to speaking English as she meets new people and enjoys activities on campus.
The Right Fit
One of Beatitudes Campus’ greatest strengths is the open and welcoming community. Diversity brings a wonderful exchange of ideas and cultures. It helps all of us–staff and residents alike–feel supported and connected.
Older adults who have lost a spouse often feel isolated and forgotten. Being around others who understand their feelings and share in their interests, can help create that sense of belonging again.
A lovely lady whose husband had passed away had retreated inward. Grief over his death along with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders made it challenging to socialize and stay active.
We heard from the lady’s financial advisor that she was interested in moving to a senior living community. Sadly, it was virtually impossible for her to make it through other community tours because of the toll the stress took on her.
Christy Marlowe, one of our residency counselors, agreed to meet with the lady and her financial advisor to talk about Beatitudes Campus. From here, I’ll let Christy, share what happened next.
“She was nervous and taking deep breaths. I learned that she attended support meetings. Once I mentioned we host weekly support meetings on campus, it was like a door opened. I told her about our Success Matters program with Jessica Myers, Director and Occupational Therapist, and Josephine Levy, Resource Navigator, assuring her that our priority is her safety and success as a resident. I invited her back to meet Jessica and take a tour of the apartments. This time, the woman was relaxed and excited. She was ready for a new beginning with the help of Beatitudes at Home, one of our support groups, in addition to companion care, activities, and opportunities that would allow her to start socializing again on her terms. I’m delighted to say she moved to our community 30 days later and is doing exceptionally well.”
As you can see, serving our friends and neighbors is our mission and our joy. We love going above and beyond every time. We invite you to see if Beatitudes Campus in Phoenix, AZ is the right retirement community for you. To schedule a visit, call us at 602.910.2795. We’re always delighted to share more great stories like these.
At Beatitudes Campus, one of the major considerations we hear from older adults is focused around timing their next move to a retirement community or life plan community. Most people recognize the value in downsizing and moving to a place that suits their current and future needs, but actually pinpointing that moment to move is challenging for some.
Our best advice: Adjust how you view your next move. Throughout our lives when change comes, we generally focus on the exciting opportunities ahead. Take that approach now. As you think about moving, imagine how much you’ll gain–a network of friends, enjoyable programs and amenities, easier living, a plan for the what-ifs, and more.
Once you’re comfortable with the thought of moving, you can tackle the when.
For many older adults who are currently independent, but like the idea of an active retirement in a setting where healthcare services are available if needed down the road, a life plan community can be an ideal solution.
A popular question among prospective residents is, “When is the best time to make the move?” There is no perfect answer to this question because everyone’s situation is different. However, waiting too long can mean missing out on some of the very reasons that seniors are attracted to these communities in the first place.
If you feel a life plan community is right for you, here are a few reasons why you may want to consider moving sooner rather than later:
- Involvement: One of the main benefits of living in a life plan community is having easy access to a vast array of services, amenities, and activities. Many of these perks take place within the walls of the senior living community, but these communities are increasingly providing ways for residents to stay involved in the broader community through service projects, adult education classes, and more. Moving earlier allows residents to more fully enjoy and benefit from these “extra-curricular” activities.
- Wellness: Life plan communities strive to help residents stay healthy and live independently as long as possible. Comprehensive health and wellness programs may include access to qualified fitness professionals, special diet meal plans, aquatic and fitness centers, low-impact aerobics, and yoga classes–just to name a few. Additionally, more communities today are emphasizing a “whole-person” concept, including emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and vocational.
- Relationships: Residents of life plan communities often say that one of the best things about the community in which they live is the friendships they have formed with other residents. Those who wait too long to make the move may not have the time to develop meaningful relationships, which can be particularly helpful as part of a support network if healthcare needs arise in the future.
- Window of Opportunity: Continuing care contracts generally require that residents must live independently and that they are not at an increased risk for assisted living or healthcare services. Therefore, many life plan communities will perform a health evaluation on prospective residents as a part of the application process. Those who do not meet the community’s health criteria can be declined for entry and miss the opportunity to benefit from what the community offers, including access to a full continuum of care.
- Easier Transition: Moving gets more difficult with time. Those who are able-bodied and in good health can better handle the transition, often even embracing this new chapter in life. Alternatively, those who are frail often suffer from relocation stress syndrome (RSS), which can lead to other health problems.
So, when is the best time to move to a life plan community? The above factors and considerations must go into each person’s unique answer. Generally speaking, once you have made the determination that a life plan community is right for you, it may be wise to make the move while you are still young enough and healthy enough to enjoy the many benefits of these dynamic communities.
As a life plan community, Beatitudes Campus offers a world of inspiration and motivation with entertainment, cultural programs, social experiences, educational classes, and volunteer activities. You can participate as little or as much as you like. To help you feel your best, we offer an array of fitness options and healthcare services along with delicious and healthy dining choices.
If you’re considering a move now or in the future, we encourage you to explore Beatitudes Campus. You’ll discover a warm and welcoming place to live with wonderful neighbors who truly care about each other. Once you decide that making a move is a smart choice with lots to gain, you might just find yourself asking, what am I waiting for?
The above article was written by Brad Breeding of myLifeSite and is legally licensed for use.