Preventing the Spread of RSV at Bickford of Rockford RSV season is here, and protecting our residents is a shared responsibility. RSV spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, direct contact, and touching contaminated surfaces. Here are simple steps everyone can take to help keep our community healthy. Wash Hands Often Regular handwashing or using hand sanitizer helps prevent the spread of RSV, which can survive for hours on hard surfaces like tables and doorknobs. Cover Coughs and Sneezes Use your elbow or a tissue to reduce droplets that carry the virus through the air. Clean High‑Touch Surfaces Because RSV can live on surfaces for extended periods, frequent cleaning helps reduce transmission. Stay Home When Sick Even mild symptoms can spread RSV. Avoid visiting the branch when feeling unwell to help protect vulnerable residents. Increase Air Flow Fresh air can help reduce the concentration of respiratory viruses indoors. Bringing in outside air or using air purifiers adds another layer of protection. RSV Vaccination for Older Adults The CDC recommends a one‑time RSV vaccine for: • All adults age 75 and older • Adults age 50–74 with health conditions that increase the risk of severe RSV illness Keeping Our Community Safe With a few consistent habits, we can significantly reduce the spread of RSV at Bickford of Rockford. Thank you for doing your part to help protect our residents and team. #higherpath

Supporting Your Loved One Through Our Partnership With Hansa Medical Group At Bickford of Rockford, your loved one’s health and well‑being are always at the center of what we do. One of the ways we strengthen their care is through our partnership with Hansa Medical Group, which gives residents the option to have an assigned Primary Care Provider (PCP) who regularly visits our branch. Having a dedicated PCP means your loved one is seen by the same medical provider each time—someone who knows their history, understands their needs, and communicates directly with our nursing team. This consistency helps us catch changes in condition early, follow up quickly, and prevent avoidable trips out of the branch. This approach plays an important role in the Higher Path program, which focuses on keeping residents healthier, more stable, and more comfortable right here at home. When our nurses and a resident’s PCP work closely together, care becomes more coordinated, easier to manage, and far less stressful for everyone involved. Families often tell us how much peace of mind they feel knowing their loved one’s provider is just down the hallway, not across town. It’s one more way we work to create a safe, supportive environment where residents can thrive. We’re grateful for our ongoing partnership with Hansa Medical Group and for the shared commitment to providing thoughtful, consistent care to the residents of Bickford of Rockford. Please reach out to Giselle or Kate if you would like to meet Jeff the NP with Hansa! #higherpath

Self- Portrait Day at Bickford of Rockford Our residents got creative today with a special coloring activity--- they colored pictures of themselves! Everyone added their own personal flair. It was so much fun seeing each personality shine through in their artwork! Activities like this aren't just about coloring- they help support fine motor skills, encourage self-expression, spark conversation, and bring back wonderful memories. It's also a great way to celebrate individuality and build confidence. Most importantly? There where lots of laughs, creativity, and proud smiles all around.

During our baking class, residents made red velvet cupcakes using a Montessori-style. Everyone took turns completing each step, patiently waiting as the cupcakes baked and chatting with friends about their favorite dessert along the way. Once they were ready, each resident iced and decorated their own cupcakes, even making extras to share with their table mates. It was a fun, hands-on experience that encouraged independence, patience, and connection #montessoriinspiredlifestyle #bickfordoseniorlivingassistedliving.

There is a certain kind of magic that happens when the music kicks in and the living room transforms into a dance floor. At Bickford assisted living in Rockford we believe staying active isn’t just about exercise. It’s about celebrating life and these smiles say it all! This isn’t just a dance. It’s a perfect reflection of the Montessori Lifestyle we embrace every day by focusing on: social connection-building meaningful relationships through shared movement purposeful living-encouraging independence and the freedom to express jo inclusion-ensuring everyone, regardless of ability has a place in the circle. When you foster an environment of choice and community every day offers a new reason to get up and groove!

I am thrilled to announce the newest member of the Bickford Assisted Living in Rockford family. Please help me welcome Giselle Roda, our new Health and Wellness Director. Giselle comes to us from sunny Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and is happy to make the Midwest her home. Yes… you read that right, Florida. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida International University and has been a nurse for 30 years. Giselle began her nursing career as an adult ICU nurse. Over the years, she has also developed extensive experience in utilization management and healthcare operations. In her spare time, she enjoys wreath making and other crafting. Giselle is excited to be a part of the Bickford family and looks forward to making a difference in the lives of our residents. Her offiice is located on the main floor right off of the living room. Stop and introduce yourself the next time you are here. Welcome to the family Giselle!

EFFECTS OF HYPERGLYCEMIA ON THE RED BLOOD CELLS Have you ever wondered “what happens to my blood when my blood sugar is high?” Well that’s a great question. Let’s talk about it. There are many effects on our bodies as a result of high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia. For today, we’ll focus on the red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for delivering oxygen throughout our body. They also carry back carbon dioxide, a waste, to the lungs to exchange waste for fresh oxygen. Red blood cells are also flexible which allows them to get down to the smallest areas of our body. When our blood sugar is high, our blood becomes thicker and stickier. The stickiness makes it difficult for the red blood cells to move forward and causes them to stick to our blood vessels. The red blood cells also become stiffer. Both of these effects impact the ability of the red blood cells to do their job. This leads to many complications that diabetic patients experience. This includes things like numbness and tingling of fingers and toes and poor wound healing. Here at Bickford of Rockford, our Montessori inspired lifestyle and clinical team help our residents to live their best life by education of residents and their families/friends on their health conditions and providing assistance with managing their health concerns. Let us walk with you to better health.

Exciting News at Bickford of Rockford Assisted Living! We’re thrilled to share our Branch has officially launched a brand-new POS electronic ordering system to make mealtimes smoother, faster, and even more accurate for our residents. This upgrade helps is reduce errors, improve efficiency, and ensure everyone gets exactly what they want-just the way they want it. A huge Thank you to Joe, our favorite Bread Basket trainer, for being onsite to guide us through the new process and make sure our team feels confident and ready to go. His support made all the difference. Here’s ro better service, happier meal times and continued innovation for our residents.

Falls at Bickford of Rockford decreased by 38.7% from Q3 to Q4. This remarkable progress reflects the dedication of our nursing team, caregivers, and leadership who consistently apply Higher Path principles in real, practical ways. Over the past quarter, Rockford strengthened several proactive care strategies, including: Enhanced post-fall root cause analysis Targeted mobility and balance support based on individual needs Consistent environmental safety rounds Improved shift‑to‑shift communication to monitor high‑risk residents Increased collaboration with families to reinforce personalized care plans Each improvement is more than a number — it's a safer environment, fewer injuries, and more opportunities for residents to stay active and engaged in the daily life of our community. We are incredibly proud of the Rockford team for their commitment to continuous improvement and for embodying what the Higher Path truly represents: safer outcomes, smarter care, and a stronger quality of life for every resident we serve. We look forward to continuing this momentum and sharing even more successes in the months ahead. #higherpath #AssistedLiving #MemoryCare #BickfordSeniorLiving #BickfordRockford #Bickford #Seniors

Bonnie is a creator at heart, someone whose imagination naturally flows into everything she touches. Painting is her true passion, and she brings an unmistakable style to her work. Her brushstrokes carry movement, depth, and emotion, giving each piece a sense of life and presence. Creativity isn’t just something Bonnie does. At Bickford of Rockford Assisted Living- we embrace the diversity of ur resident's needs and desires. It is part of our Montessori Inspired programming. We’re glad she shared her talents with us. #Assistedliving #Bickford #seniors