We had a new entertainer named Todd. Let us tell you Todd plays the accordion plus interacts with the residents and gets them singing along, laughing. Todd is the real deal. Todd and his wife will be gone the entire month of December playing Santa and Mrs. Clause. We will be seeing more of Todd after the 1st of the year. #BickfordofClinton

Happy Veterans Day! Hy-vee of Clinton was kind enough to bring breakfast to our Veterans and spouses. Sure looked good! #BickfordofClinton

We are celebrating Birthdays this week, 1st is our new resident Gretchen, who had a wonderful day getting her nails and hair done! Today was Betty's special day of celebrating 99 years. We're giving all our love to both of these special ladies!

#BickfordofClinton. Happy Birthday Betty! Look what a healthy life style at Bickford can do! Ninety nine years young! Live your best life here at Bickford ♥️

Pet therapy offers a wide range of emotional, physical, and cognitive benefits for older adults, whether they live at home or in a care facility. Emotional and Mental Health Benefits • Reduces Loneliness and Isolation: Interacting with animals provides companionship and a sense of purpose, which significantly lowers feelings of isolation. • Lowers Stress and Anxiety: Spending even short periods with a therapy animal triggers positive brain-hormone changes, reducing cortisol (stress hormone) while boosting "feel-good" hormones like serotonin and dopamine. • Improves Mood and Decreases Depression: The calming presence of animals helps ease symptoms of depression and reduces behavioral or psychological distress in seniors dealing with cognitive decline. Cognitive Benefits • Stimulates Memory and Recall: Brushing, petting, or talking to an animal can help seniors remember names, past pets, or specific commands, strengthening neural pathways. • Reduces Agitation in Dementia: For individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia, animal interactions often reduce agitation, combativeness, and sundowning behaviors while encouraging peaceful, interactive engagement. • Encourages Communication: Non-verbal or withdrawn seniors frequently open up, smile, or use verbal cues when prompted by a gentle dog or cat. Physical Benefits • Lowers Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: Regular contact with animals has been shown to reduce baseline blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiovascular reactivity during stressful situations. • Encourages Movement and Exercise: Walking a dog, grooming, or playing fetch promotes light physical activity, better motor skills, and improved balance or coordination. • Pain Management: Engaging with therapy animals can serve as a distraction or comfort that lessens the perception of chronic or post-surgical pain. #BickfordofClinton #HigherPath

We're all wishing Ron G an amazing birthday as he is an amazing man! #BickfordofClinton

We had a large crowd for Bingo with a couple new faces. The best part was everyone was a winner! #BickfordofClinton

Adding a few more pictures from our Trick or Treating day! #BickfordofClinton

Our Trick or Treating was a big hit! So many cute costumes and so much candy! Would like to thank everyone who donated candy for this event. #BickfordofClinton

Had some pre Halloween fun. Got the votes tallied up on the pumpkin decorating contest. (Check out the post from #BickfordofClinton yesterday to see the pumpkins.) We finished up with our Halloween trivia got some pictures of our staff all dressed up. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.