Emerald Heights Community Blog
Community Blog
Get the latest community updates and stories from residents and staff.
Meet Heidi, a Multi-Generational Resident
A home can be defined many ways. Comfort. Security. Memories. A home for the second phase of life should meet your needs and provide a community that mirrors your lifestyle. For resident Heidi Smith, Emerald Heights combined it all and was considered a home long before she lived there. Her parents were early residents of … Continued
Granting a Child’s Wish – One Wooden Toy at a Time
During this season of giving, residents of Emerald Heights are spreading cheer by hand crafting more than 700 wooden toys and donating to charities in the Washington area. The Wooden Toys for Charity, a group of 14 Emerald Heights residents created in 2014, use saws, sanders, and other hand tools to create wooden doll cribs, … Continued
Meet Emerald Heights’ Zumba Instructor: Alexandra Clark
A performer at heart, Alexandra Clark has always loved bringing people joy. Before her current role as programs manager at Emerald Heights, Alexandra co-founded and toured with Last Leaf Productions a theatre company dedicated to bringing theatre to communities, specifically the youth, through performances in schools, libraries and Shakespeare in the Park throughout western Washington, … Continued
Resident Blog: Grace Koopmans
Grace Koopmans has held many titles. Educator, program director, volunteer, community leader, mother, and wife to name a few. During the recent 2018 commencement ceremony at Pierce College, Mrs. Koopmans added honorary college degree recipient, becoming only the second person in the college’s more than 50-year history to receive an honorary degree. The honor is … Continued
EMERALD HEIGHTS NAMES NEW MARKETING AND SALES DIRECTOR
REDMOND, Wash. – Emerald Heights, a resort-style Life Plan Community, has named Jacqueline Claessens as its marketing and sales director. A 25-year veteran of marketing and operations largely in senior living, Claessens most recently served as marketing director and community relations officer for Horizon House, a not-for-profit Life Plan Community in Seattle. Claessens will oversee day-to-day … Continued
Emerald Heights Names New Marketing and Sales Director
REDMOND, Wash. – Emerald Heights, a resort-style Life Plan Community, has named Jacqueline Claessens as its marketing and sales director. A 25-year veteran of marketing and operations largely in senior living, Claessens most recently served as marketing director and community relations officer for Horizon House, a not-for-profit Life Plan Community in Seattle. Claessens will oversee … Continued
From Japan to Guam to Emerald Heights
Moving from Kirkland, Washington about four and a half years ago, Maggie Backman and her husband Fred knew it was time to see what Emerald Heights offered. They wanted to plan ahead for their futures to make it easier on their children, and they both knew the timing was right. Maggie and Fred lived in … Continued
Cruising Through Life Together
The need for a loving relationship in life is third in Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” just after physiological needs and safety. Ralph Dines and Jane Nettleton recognize that need for companionship and believe there’s an opportunity to find love at any age. Ralph and Jane, residents of Emerald Heights, met six years ago in … Continued
Sibling Rivalry: When Family Members Disagree on Senior Care Options
When it comes to caring for an aging loved one, having family members by your side can be a tremendous help—mentally, physically, and financially. But there are also times when having to consider more than one opinion on an issue can cause great strife between relatives. We often see this challenge come up between adult … Continued
Bringing the ‘Active’ to “Active Aging”
For 10 years now, Ron Cole or “Coach” as he is known by many, has been spreading joy and inspiration to residents at Emerald Heights. Not only is he a life coach, he is also a fitness instructor for various classes such as strength training and balance. His experience in fitness dates back to when … Continued