Montessori Moment Question: Why are residents doing jobs in Bickford communities? Answer: Encouraging senior residents to work in meaningful roles within the community is one of the most important principles of a Montessori-inspired lifestyle. Rather than focusing on what a person can no longer do, it emphasizes each person's strengths, abilities, and desire to contribute. Our residents have a sense of pride in providing acts of kindness within their own community. This benefits the individual and the other community members at the same time. We have residents who deliver the monthly calendars, other residents help prepare refreshments for our “Munch and Mingle”, while some are available to be that extra pair of hands for activities and we also have a resident who uses his voice to educate us each month as we promote lifelong learning. Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Physical activity is more than just exercise—it’s an opportunity to laugh, connect, and create meaningful moments together. Our residents had a wonderful time playing balloon volleyball, sharing smiles, encouraging one another, and enjoying friendly competition along the way. At Bickford, we recognize that every resident has unique interests and abilities. Honoring personal choice is at the heart of our Montessori Inspired Lifestyle, allowing each person to participate in activities that bring them joy, purpose, and fulfillment. It’s not just about keeping the balloon in the air—it’s about building friendships, staying active, and celebrating every moment together. #MontessoriMoments #RespectForTheIndividual #SeniorWellness #BickfordOfChesapeake Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Our Jewelry Making Class was a terrific success! Residents enjoyed expressing their creativity as they designed beautiful beaded necklaces and bracelets that reflected their unique personalities and styles. Jewelry making is more than a fun craft—it offers many meaningful benefits for older adults. Stringing beads strengthens fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity, while selecting colors and patterns encourages creativity, concentration, and cognitive engagement. Completing a handmade piece also provides a wonderful sense of accomplishment and pride. At Bickford, our Montessori Inspired Lifestyle encourages residents to engage in purposeful, hands-on activities that foster independence, choice, and lifelong learning. Every bead tells a story, and every creation is a celebration of creativity and individuality. #MontessoriMoments #LifelongLearning Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Montessori Spotlight A Montessori Inspired Lifestyle is about so much more than activities. It embraces choice, independence, purpose, and meaningful roles within our community. Rod has faithfully taken on the important responsibility of caring for the plants in our Mary B's Courtyard. Day after day, he dedicates time to watering and tending to them, and the joy he finds in this role is evident. His commitment not only keeps our courtyard beautiful but also reminds us that having purpose and contributing to the community enriches life at every age. #MontessoriMoments #PurposefulLiving Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care.

Monday afternoons are always filled with music, laughter, and dancing at our “Bickford Jam!”What makes this tradition even more special is that it was created by our residents. Thanks to their ideas, we've now completed our third round of this resident-led favorite! A special thank you to Sarah (resident) for once again putting together an incredible playlist featuring song requests from her neighbors. Every tune brought back cherished memories and had toes tapping from the very first note. Our nursing friends from Averett University continue to bring wonderful energy and enthusiasm, making each jam even more enjoyable. Dr. Rogers and Don were showing off their dance moves. This week, we were also delighted by our friend Noni, who wowed everyone with her joyful dancing—and even amazed us with some incredible splits! At Bickford, our Montessori Inspired Lifestyle celebrates choice, purpose, and meaningful engagement. When residents help shape life in our community, every Monday becomes a celebration worth dancing to. #MontessoriMoments #BickfordJam #ResidentChoice #LifeInspired Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Today was the perfect day for our Chesapeake Scenic Ride and a sweet treat! Our Bickford family enjoyed a fun outing to Dairy Queen, where smiles were as plentiful as the ice cream. A special thank you to Robert, our Maintenance Manager, for joining us and making the day even more memorable. We love seeing our BFMs connect with residents in meaningful ways that build friendships and create moments of joy. At Bickford, every outing is another opportunity to laugh, connect, and celebrate life together! #IceCreamFunDay #MontessoriMoments #BickfordOfChesapeake Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Our residents put a fun twist on a childhood favorite with Noodle Ball with a Twist—inspired by the classic game Hungry Hippos! Armed with pool noodles, teamwork, and lots of determination, our two teams, The Roadrunners and The Hot Rods, raced against the clock to gather as many colorful balls as possible into the soccer goal in just two minutes. There was plenty of laughter, friendly competition, and cheering from the sidelines! This fast-paced game encouraged movement, teamwork, quick thinking, and most importantly, lots of smiles. Congratulations to The Roadrunners, who swept both rounds and claimed bragging rights for the day! At Bickford, we love turning familiar games into meaningful moments that bring joy, connection, and purpose to every day. Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Please join us in giving a warm welcome back to Jasmine, our Health & Wellness Director! After spending precious time on maternity leave with her sweet new addition, we're so excited to have her back leading our care team with the compassion, dedication, and excellence that mean so much to our residents and families. We are grateful to have her back and look forward to the positive impact she'll continue to make every day. Welcome back, Jasmine! Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Every day, our residents have opportunities to share ideas, make decisions, and help shape life in our community. Whether it's choosing activities or suggesting a restaurant for a lunch outing, every voice matters. Our residents enjoyed their Mexican lunch at El Toro Loco. We took 3 amigos: Helga, Jose, and Dan to a fun outing. We brushed up on Spanish, shared travel stories and of course enjoyed the food! As we rode the Howie (van) back to our home, everyone gave lunch a thumbs up! #CARD #MontessoriMoments # seniorliving Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care

Choice is at the heart of our Montessori Inspired Lifestyle. Our residents shared at our most recent Resident Council meeting that they wanted music and opportunities to dance on Mondays, and from their idea, “Bickford Jam” was born! One of our talented residents, Sarah, takes the lead by creating the playlist for each gathering. Residents are encouraged to share their song requests with her before jam time, making it a truly resident-led experience. We are so excited to have Averett University’s nursing students to join the fun with us! #CARD #MontessoriMoments #Bickford #HigherPath Bickford of Chesapeake Assisted Living and Memory Care