Flu Vaccine Clinic Announcement We will be hosting a Flu Vaccine Clinic on October 8, 2026, for tenants and staff. Why is the Flu Vaccine Important? The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to protect yourself and others from seasonal influenza. Vaccination helps reduce your risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and flu-related complications. This is especially important for older adults and individuals with chronic health conditions who are more vulnerable to severe illness. Getting a flu shot is an important step toward living longer, happier, and healthier lives. By helping prevent illness, the vaccine can reduce missed activities, maintain independence, support overall well-being, and allow us to continue enjoying time with family, friends, and our community. When more people are vaccinated, we help create a healthier environment for everyone. Staff Please provide your insurance information in order to receive the vaccine. Tenants and Families If you have not already signed a consent form for your loved one, please see Laura L. Lavender, RN, Health and Wellness Director, to complete the required paperwork. All consent forms must be completed and returned by September 8, 2026, to ensure participation in the clinic. If you have any questions, please contact Laura L. Lavender, RN. Protect Yourself. Protect Others. Stay Healthy. Get your flu shot on October 8, 2026, and join us in promoting longer, happier, and healthier lives for everyone in our community. #higherpath #bickfordoffortdodge #fluvaccines #longerhappierhealthierlives #greaterfortdodgegrowthalliance

Grip, Grin & Get Strong! Our Bickford residents were putting those hands to work with some good old-fashioned grip-strengthening exercises! Squeezing, holding, tossing and working those little muscles… all while wearing some pretty BIG smiles. Grip strength is more important than you might think as we age. Keeping those hands strong can help with everyday tasks like opening jars, turning door handles, holding utensils, carrying objects and using mobility aids. Maintaining hand and forearm strength can also support independence and make daily activities a little easier. So the mission was simple: squeeze the ball, build some strength, and have fun doing it! At Bickford, we believe exercise doesn’t have to feel like a workout. Sometimes it just looks like a room full of smiling faces and a bunch of squishy balls!

Some us are celebrating Italian Day by visiting Pasquale’s Pizza in Humboldt! Mama Mia! Others wanted spaghetti, breadsticks, and spumoni!

A Little Bickford Gardening Crew! Our ladies were busy today taking care of the front of Bickford! They deadheaded our geraniums, pointed out weeds that needed attention for Kylee and Macie to pull, and even grabbed the brooms to give the front porch a good sweeping. They were keeping everyone on task! This is Montessori at Bickford in action. Meaningful tasks and purposeful work are an important part of our approach. It’s not just about keeping busy, it’s about having a role, making choices, contributing to our home, and knowing that your help matters. And judging by the way our ladies were supervising the weed-pulling operation, we’d say they take their jobs VERY seriously!

Senior Planning Event at Bickford Senior Living At Bickford of Fort Dodge, we believe in helping people live longer, healthier, and happier lives. While our passion is caring for our residents, we are equally committed to supporting and educating our community. That's why we are partnering with St. Croix Hospice to host a Senior Planning Event on: Tuesday, August 26 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Bickford Senior Living 1536 20th Avenue North, Fort Dodge, IA This informative FREE event is open to the public and will feature local professionals discussing important topics that many seniors and their families face, including: Financial Planning Selling Your Home Estate Planning and Legal Guidance Medicare Information Hospice Care Senior Living Options We believe that the better informed you are, the more equipped you will be to make confident decisions for yourself and your loved ones. Our goal is to provide valuable resources that help individuals live longer, healthier, and happier lives. While you're here, Mercedes, our Family Advocate, will be available to answer questions and provide tours of our beautiful community. Light refreshments will be served. Please call 515-573-3300 to reserve your spot or to learn more. We look forward to helping you plan for the future with confidence. Join us and take the next step toward informed decision-making and peace of mind. If you are unable to attend and still would like to come visit us give Mercedes a call at 515-573-3300, she would love to show you our community and talk to you about all the ways in which we can help. #higherpath #seniorplanning #greaterfortdodgegrowthalliance #bickfordoffortdodge #stcroixhospice #walkerlawfirm #fullswingfinancial #ColdwellBankerAssociatedRealtors #KHISolutions

Please join us for our Senior Planning Night! This event is FREE and open to the public, and we would love to have you join us! We’ll have local professionals sharing helpful information about planning for the future, including senior living, finances, estate planning, hospice, Medicare, and more. Feel free to share this post and invite anyone you know who could benefit from attending. You never know who might need this information now or in the future! August 26th | 2:00–4:00 PM We hope to see you there! #Fullswingfinacial #GreaterGrowthAlliance #Longtermplanning

BICKFORD BALL: The Exercise Program You Can Eat! We put a delicious spin on our morning exercise today with a little game we like to call Bickford Ball! Instead of our usual exercises, we rolled a ball back and forth for a little movement and a LOT of teamwork. But this wasn’t just any ball… this ball was filled with the makings for ICE CREAM! Our hard work paid off as we made both vanilla and strawberry ice cream, and let’s just say… the residents were VERY motivated to see this exercise session through to the end! Who knew exercise could come with a delicious reward? We may have to add “ice cream repetitions” to the workout routine! #BickfordBall #ExerciseWithAReward #SeniorLivingFun #IceCreamWorkout #BickfordSeniorLiving

Michael loves to practice his guitar playing. We’ve been asking for a concert!

Bickford County Fair Week: Grand Finale! We wrapped up Bickford County Fair Week with a picnic at Kennedy Park! We enjoyed our sack lunches and cold soda pop, strolled around the park, and took in the beautiful views of the river. Then came the fun and friendly competition! We played Flicken Chicken, Hot Potato, and Tug of War, followed by some seated exercises right at the picnic tables. The sun may have stayed hidden, but the smiles certainly didn’t! We had plenty of laughter, good conversation, fresh air, and wonderful company. What a fun way to close out an unforgettable Bickford County Fair Week!

There’s nothing better than getting out, enjoying the sunshine, and making memories together! Our Bickford of Fort Dodge family had a wonderful time at Kennedy Park for a picnic. We enjoyed good food, great conversation, beautiful scenery, and plenty of smiles. These outings are such a special part of life at Bickford because we believe our residents should continue to enjoy the community around them and make memories outside our doors. At Bickford of Fort Dodge, we’re not just a place to live — we’re a place to live life. Join us on our next outing and experience the magic for yourself! We’d love to show you what makes Bickford of Fort Dodge feel like family. Contact Mercedes, our Family Advocate, at 515-605-7649 to schedule a tour and come be a part of our Bickford family! #BickfordOfFortDodge #SeniorLiving #KennedyPark #MakingMemories #LifeAtBickford