A Step Forward in Fall Prevention at Bickford of Crystal Lake At Bickford of Crystal Lake, ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents remains a top priority. Through intentional efforts, team collaboration, and personalized care, we are encouraged to share positive progress in our fall prevention outcomes moving into 2026. Falls Reduction: Quarter-Over-Quarter Improvement Comparing Q4 2025 to Q1 2026, Bickford of Crystal Lake achieved a meaningful reduction in falls a 3.3% decrease in total falls, reflecting consistent and focused efforts to reduce risk and strengthen resident safety. What’s Driving the Progress? This improvement is the result of several key practices embraced by our team, including: • Proactive fall risk assessments and individualized prevention strategies • Enhanced communication between care, nursing, and leadership teams • Intentional monitoring and rounding, especially for residents at higher risk • Ongoing education and awareness around fall prevention best practices Each small adjustment adds up, and this quarter’s results demonstrate the impact of staying focused on our Higher Path principles. Looking Ahead While any reduction in falls is worth celebrating, our work is far from finished. The team at Bickford of Crystal Lake remains committed to continuous improvement, learning from every opportunity, and refining our processes to further protect our residents. We are proud of this positive momentum and look forward to building on it throughout the remainder of 2026—always striving to provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for those who call Bickford home. #higherpath

A fundamental element of the Montessori program is encouragement. One of our assisted living residents, Anita, had a long-held passion for playing the organ in her younger years, but it had been 20 years since she last performed. Under the guidance of our AL activity leaders, she was inspired to revive her skills on the piano in the Memory Care unit. Initially hesitant, Anita opted to practice privately before performing for the residents. During her practice, the Memory Care residents were engaged in balloon tossing. Fortunately, she agreed to participate, and her performance was thoroughly appreciated by our Memory Care residents. We take great pride in recognizing Anita's accomplishment, as she selflessly shared her talents and brought joy to our community.

Helping Keep Our Bickford Community Safe: Please Remember to Sign In with Accushield At Bickford Senior Living, we believe great care starts with safety, trust, and intentional systems that support our residents and their families. Guided by our HigherPath care model, we are committed to doing the right thing, the right way, every day. One simple but important way visitors can support this commitment is by signing in using Accushield upon arrival. Why Visitor Sign In Is So Important Bickford communities are designed to feel like home—warm, welcoming, and personal. At the same time, we serve residents who may be more vulnerable and deserve thoughtful protection. Requiring all visitors, vendors, and contractors to sign in helps us: • Know who is in the building at all times • Protect residents from unauthorized access • Support health, safety, and compliance standards • Respond quickly and accurately in emergency situations Signing in is a small step that supports a much bigger purpose. How Accushield Supports the HigherPath Care Model HigherPath is built on intentional care, accountability, and doing what’s best for residents—not what’s easiest. Accushield aligns with this philosophy by enhancing safety while respecting dignity. Resident Safety & Security Accushield provides real time visibility into who is in the building, helping our team maintain a secure environment without creating barriers or discomfort for residents and visitors. Health & Wellness Protection Accushield helps track visit history when needed, supporting infection prevention and outbreak management—an important part of caring for the whole person. Emergency Readiness In the event of an emergency, Accushield allows us to quickly identify everyone in the community so staff can respond efficiently and responsibly. Privacy & Trust Visitor information is securely stored and accessible only to authorized team members. This protects personal information while reinforcing trust between families and the community. Simple and Welcoming for Visitors The sign in process is quick, easy, and user friendly—reflecting our goal to balance safety with hospitality. What We Ask of Our Visitors When you arrive at a Bickford community, please stop at the Accushield kiosk and complete the sign in process before visiting. If you have any questions or need assistance, our team is always happy to help. Your cooperation plays a direct role in supporting both our community and the HigherPath commitment to excellence in care.

Every day may not be good… but there's something good in every day. The well-being and satisfaction of our residents is invaluable. Our Community is a place where we can experience love, acceptance, enjoyment and a sense of belonging. Every smile on their faces is priceless. Montessori#MemoryCare #HigherPath #CARD #AnimalRace #MoreFunInBickford

Our residents consistently thrive in MB. In celebration of National Carbonara Day, our activity leaders from AL prepared a carbonara dish for the MB residents. While awaiting the optimal cooking result, some residents and caregivers engaged in entertainment activities, delighting everyone as they watched and waited for the carbonara to be ready. The dish was a resounding success, with everyone enjoying it and some residents even requesting seconds due to its exceptional taste. Meanwhile, the AL residents participated in a bingo game, with one resident volunteering to call out the numbers. Montessori#MemoryCare #HigherPath #CARD

The Easter Bunny brings joy to our remarkable MB residents, whose faces consistently shows a priceless smiles that never fade. Happy Easter!

Our community hosted a successful Easter egg hunt, attended by families and friends. The event was a huge delight for the children, who thoroughly enjoyed the egg-hunting activity. A special appearance by the Easter Bunny added to the festivity, and everyone was surprised when the bunny emerged to take photos. We extend our gratitude to our executive director, who dedicated her time and effort to bringing the Easter Bunny to our community. Happy Easter!

Even the Easter Bunny needs helpers on a holiday weekend, and thanks to Marie we’ve got an amazing team ready to make the day special. It’s going to be a wonderful celebration for everyone! Let’s get your loved one on The Higher Path to a happy, healthy, celebration‑filled life at Bickford! Stop in for a tour, I look forward to meeting you! Lisa Watkins Family Advocate Bickford Crystal Lake Assisted Living / Montessori Memory Care

Yesterday was a busy day in our community, with MB residents participating in a balloon tossing activity alongside BFM's and activity leaders from AL residents. Meanwhile, some AL residents engaged in solving picture puzzles and socializing with family members. The event also included a meet-and-greet session for our new residents, accompanied by snacks, which facilitated mutual acquaintance. It was pleasant to host a monthly meet-and-greet, allowing us to bond and reminisce about past experiences. Today, our student volunteer provided residents with manicures, enthusiastically engaging with their stories while delivering pampering services. Meanwhile, other residents were occupied creating mini Easter paper baskets while awaiting their turn for nail services.The Montessori program is not only with practical life skills, but also provides cognitive stimulation, physical and opportunities for socialization.

Today has been an active day in our community, focused on keeping residents engaged and involved. Our assisted living residents participated in a bingo game, facilitated by fellow residents who volunteered to call out numbers. Meanwhile, our 2 AL residents activity leaders coaching memory care residents enjoyed an educational session on cat care while interacting with the animals. Other residents engaged in a productive activity, folding baby blankets. Following these activities, the residents enjoyed solving picture puzzles, a popular pastime. And they end up with socializing in the courtyard, appreciating the pleasant weather and bonding with our BFM’s.Montessori#MemoryCare #HigherPath #CARD