13 years of Heart Celebrating Jill Colling Executive Director at Bickford of Sioux City For the past 13 years, Jill Colling has been a familiar and caring presence at Bickford Senior Living. As Executive Director, Jill has dedicated herself to something she believes matters most: the residents who call Bickford their home. Jill's love for her residents is evident in the way she talks about them, spends time with them, and works to make Bickford feel like more than a place to live. It is a community-a place where residents are known, valued and cared for. Thirteen years represents more than a milestone on a calendar. It represents years of relationships, memories, challenges overcome, and lives touched. She leads by being present, by listening, and be reminding her team why their works matters. When families are considering senior living, they aren't simply choosing a building. They're choosing the people who care for someone they love. That is where Jill makes such a difference. For 13 years she has helped make Bickford of Sioux City a community where residents are known by name, where their stories matter, and where families can feel confident that their loved ones are surrounded by people who genuinely care. Cheers to Jill,13 years #leadership#teamwork#coffee#assistedliving#memorycare

Sometimes the Smallest Moments Are the Biggest Moments When you spend time in a senior living community, you quickly learn that some of the most meaningful moments don't look particularly significant from the outside. It might be a resident making their own cup of coffee. Someone choosing the colors for a craft project. A favorite Coke brought back from McDonald's. A resident laughing with a dog who came for a visit. Someone sitting at the table with friends, helping prepare dessert. Or a resident deciding they want to get their hair cut. To someone passing by, these may seem like ordinary moments. To us, they're often something much bigger. It's About More Than Keeping Residents Busy At Bickford of Sioux City, we believe activities should be about more than filling the calendar. Our Montessori approach encourages residents to remain involved in the everyday life of their community. That means giving residents choices, opportunities to contribute, and chances to use the skills and interests they've had throughout their lives. Sometimes that looks like helping prepare a meal. Sometimes it's participating in an activity. Sometimes it's simply choosing what they would like to do that day. The goal isn't perfection. The goal is participation. Familiar Things Can Bring Back a Sense of Independence One of the most rewarding things we see is when a resident begins doing something they haven't done in a while. Maybe they start helping set the table. Maybe they begin joining a group activity. Maybe they ask for their favorite snack. Maybe they make their own coffee again. These moments can tell us something important: this person still has so much to contribute. Dementia and aging may change what someone can do independently, but they don't take away their need for purpose, connection, choice, and belonging. The People Around Us Matter, Too Some of our favorite moments happen when our community reaches beyond our walls. A visit from the Siouxland Humane Society can turn an ordinary afternoon into a room full of smiles and cuddles. A visit from local students can bring energy and excitement—and give our residents the opportunity to share stories from their own lives. A simple conversation over a meal can become a meaningful friendship. These connections remind us that residents aren't simply people receiving care. They are people with stories, personalities, talents, opinions, humor, memories, and a lifetime of experiences to share. Look for the Little Things When families visit their loved one, it can be easy to focus on what has changed. Maybe Mom doesn't remember a conversation from yesterday. Maybe Dad needs more help than he used to. Maybe something that once came naturally now takes assistance. But we encourage families to also look for what is still there. The smile when a favorite person walks through the door. The laugh during bingo. The pride after finishing a craft. The excitement when a dog comes to visit. The familiar taste of a favorite food. The satisfaction of helping someone else. The decision to make a cup of coffee. Those moments matter. At Bickford of Sioux City, we believe senior living isn't simply about providing care. It's about creating an environment where residents can continue to live, contribute, connect, choose, and feel that they belong. Because sometimes the smallest moments aren't small at all. They're the moments that remind us who our residents are—and everything they still have to give. At Bickford of Sioux City, we're honored to be part of those moments every day. #higherpath #montessori #assistedliving #memorycare #littlemoments

We had a very busy Wednesday morning. Students from Bishop Helen Catholic School joined us for arousing game of bingo! The Siouxland Center for active Generations performed for us with their newly formed choir. And our wonderful volunteer Sharon provided us with an uplifting worship circle. This was all before lunch! Fun and busy times!

More Than a Building From the outside, this may look like a beautiful building—but inside, it’s so much more. Assisted living is about creating a place that feels like home, where residents are known, valued, and cared for as individuals. It’s the laughter shared on the porch, the familiar faces greeting you at the door, the friendships that grow, and the moments that make each day meaningful. This building is our home, but the people inside are what truly make it a community. #bickfordofsiouxcity #assistedliving

We celebrated our grandparents on Friday evening in the parking lot with a picnic and a live band concert. It was wonderful to see our communities come together both Mary B's and Assisted Living joined together for a wonderful celebration of our grandparents! The New horizons Band provided a delightful evening of music and Sing A Longs! Family time creates moments of happiness!

We celebrated Chocolate Milkshake Day with a sweet treat and plenty of smiles! We enjoyed delicious chocolate milkshakes together while relaxing on the porch and soaking up the beautiful weather. As we move into fall, we’re making the most of these warm, comfortable days outdoors. There’s something special about sitting together, enjoying a cool treat, sharing conversation, and watching the seasons begin to change. It was the perfect way to celebrate a fun holiday and enjoy a little sweetness together!

Next week, we’re celebrating Assisted Living Week—and around here, that means it’s time to break out of the green scrubs! Our residents absolutely LOVE seeing their caregivers and leadership team join in on the fun and dress up for each day’s theme. There’s just something about walking through the building and seeing your favorite caregiver dressed as a superhero, rocking a fun theme, or looking completely different than their usual “green scrub” self that brings a smile to everyone’s face. It may seem like a small thing, but these moments matter. They break up the same old, same old, create conversation, bring laughter into the day, and remind our residents that we’re here not only to care for them—but to celebrate life WITH them. So next week, expect a little less green, a lot more fun, and hopefully a few questionable fashion choices along the way! Let’s make it a week to remember! #bickfordofsiouxcity #assistedlivingweek

Montessori-Style Living at Bickford At Bickford, we believe meaningful living happens in the everyday moments. Our Montessori approach encourages residents to remain active participants in their community by engaging in familiar tasks, making choices, and contributing their unique skills and abilities. Montessori-style living focuses on purpose, independence, choice, and belonging. Rather than simply doing things for our residents, we look for opportunities to do things with them and create meaningful ways for them to participate. Everyday activities are adapted to each resident’s abilities and interests, allowing everyone to contribute at their own pace and in their own way. From helping place a wet floor sign to folding linens, these simple activities provide opportunities for purpose, independence, and connection. Tasks that may seem small can be meaningful because they allow residents to use familiar skills, stay engaged with their surroundings, and play an active role in the Bickford community. This approach also recognizes that residents have valuable experiences, talents, and knowledge to share. Whether helping with a branch task, assisting a neighbor, or simply making a choice about how they spend their day, residents are encouraged to remain involved in the routines and activities that make Bickford feel like home. Montessori-style living is about more than completing a task—it’s about creating a sense of belonging and reminding each resident that their contributions matter. Every helping hand, organized card, and carefully folded napkin is another way our residents make Bickford feel like home.

What do you do on Hump Day! At Bickford this was our Hump Day it was fantastic! Wilson this Darling Dog stopped by for a visit you got to love that face! We had a round of bingo was some fun winners that took the prizes! And the North High School track team were out running and decided to pop in for a visit , everyone was excited to see all the young people and share some stories with them. Marvin had his wife bring his tuba.to him so he could start to practice ,this was great to watch! I think that's a pretty good Hump Day!

Our residents recently enjoyed a fun and creative afternoon of tie-dyeing, turning plain fabric into colorful works of art! Everyone had the opportunity to choose their colors, experiment with different patterns, and enjoy the process of creating something uniquely their own. This activity was a wonderful example of Montessori principles in action. Residents were encouraged to make their own decisions about colors and designs while participating as independently as possible, with support provided when needed. Tie-dye also provided opportunities for sensory engagement, fine motor skills, creativity, and self-expression. Most importantly, the activity focused on the person—not the finished product. Each resident’s choices and individual approach were valued. It was wonderful to see everyone engaged, sharing ideas, and proudly admiring their colorful creations. Activities like tie-dye remind us that meaningful engagement can be joyful, creative, and empowering at any age!