With your support, residents at The Village of Rosebush Manor work with occupational therapy students from Saginaw Valley State University. Each week, the group enjoys engaging in music and movement tailored to their needs!

One resident shared, “The Sing Fit musical program is fun with Zoey and Katie. The occupational therapists with SVSU are very professional, always introducing themselves. The therapists take the time to explain each musical program so the audience can choose the first program. Each of the helps everyone to learn the words, actions, and enjoy the music.

The friendliness and interest of the interns really makes the difference. Everyone looks forward to this program each week!

The post See Our Residents Shine with Sing Fit! appeared first on PVM Foundation.

Look no further!

The highlight reel from the Village Victory Cup is now live! 

Thank you for being a part of this remarkable event! Your generosity radiates through the smiles of our athletes and the pride of our communities. Let us carry this torch of victory forward until we meet again at the next Village Victory Cup.

With warmest regards and endless gratitude,

Paul Miller, CFRE
President
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation

The post 2024 Village Victory Cup Highlights appeared first on PVM Foundation.

What an exhilarating journey we have had with the PVM Village Victory Cup!

As we catch our breaths from the thrill of competition and the echoes of cheers, I want to express my endless thanks to each of you who attended, volunteered, and generously donated to the Village Victory Cup. As the heart of PVM, you made this event possible!

With over 300 older adults competing, the competition was nothing short of fierce, and we witnessed the impressive victory of The Village of Woodbridge Manor. Their triumph is a testament to the drive and determination that defines every participant.

Equally captivating was the infectious enthusiasm of The Village of St. Martha’s, who lifted spirits and earned the Spirit Award with their unyielding cheer for not only their team but also all of the other teams. Now, that is what I call sportsmanship!

Your involvement has shown that it is more than a game—it is an expression of belief in our shared values and goals. Together, we are building a future where every senior is empowered to live a life full of victory, both in spirit and in action. This event has proven that age is no barrier to achievement and that joy can be found in every corner of our community.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being a part of this remarkable event. Your generosity radiates through the smiles of our athletes and the pride of our communities. Let us carry this torch of victory forward until we meet again at the next Village Victory Cup.

With warmest regards and endless gratitude,

Paul Miller, CFRE
President, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation

The post And the Winner of The Village Victory Cup Is… appeared first on PVM Foundation.

Mark your calendars for Friday, June 21st, as over 300 older adults from PVM communities across Michigan gather to compete in Olympic-style games, vying for the honor of taking home the Village Victory Cup trophy.

Come and see firsthand the joy and camaraderie that your support helps foster.

Let’s fill the stands with cheers and show our competitors that their community stands with them.

Join us in celebrating the strength and joy of our community’s older adults, and together, let’s cheer them on to victory!

The post Help Us Celebrate Senior Strength at the Village Victory Cup appeared first on PVM Foundation.

Enjoy this brief video on Tips & Tricks to stay active, as we get older.

Click here to read Betty Wellman’s story

Links:

Thera band Exercise for seniors
AARP Exercise
Caregivers Best Friend

The post Paul Miller & Mark Kronner Talking Senior Wellness appeared first on PVM Foundation.

Diane worked her whole life and was eagerly looking forward to a carefree retirement with her husband. However, life had different plans and it all changed with just one word…Cancer.

“I was there for my husband as he suffered with cancer. When you love someone that is what you do,” says Diane. The medical bills mounted. Diane had many tough decisions to make. She took a cash buy out on her pension to cover her husband’s medical care.

Her own wellbeing and self-care like going to the dentist were now luxuries she could not afford. After his passing, Diane was left alone and fearful with Social Security as her only source of income.

Some good news came when Diane found The Village of Warren Glenn, a community that fit her budget.

Diane makes the most of her new home. She organizes and cooks the monthly birthday dinners and decorates the bulletin boards and lobby for every season. However, the Golden Frog award is probably her lasting legacy. Each month a resident that demonstrates outstanding citizenship receives the Golden Frog award.

Diane Sexton, a resident at the Village of Warren Glenn, knows how to make people smile.

Accompanying the framed award is a golden frog plush toy that’s displayed proudly outside the resident’s apartment for the month.“This frog that I found at a 2^nd hand store, provides so much joy. I love handing it out each month,” Diane proudly explains.

While she was spreading so much joy, she was also experiencing severe mouth pain. “I was exhausted each night, and I could not really eat anything but soup,” says Diane. A tough choice that had been delayed, came due. The delay in going to the dentist unfortunately resulted in the need for major dental work.

Over the course of several visits, she had to have all her back teeth pulled and replaced with partials. In the middle of the visits Ms. Sexton was involved in a car accident that totaled her car. Despite all these setbacks, Ms. Sexton has remained positive and thankful for her PVM family.  “I look forward to resuming my position on the activities committee and handing out the Golden Frog. I love my Warren Glenn family!”

Ms. Sexton was faced with a new bill for $10,000 that she could not afford. Creative solutions were required. Ms. Sexton found a dental school that helped reduce her bill. However the remaining balance was still too high. When Diane found out about the PVM Resident Emergency Help Fund she applied and her prayers were answered when she received an emergency aid request.

Your donations make it possible to help a resident with unforeseen expenses, like Ms. Sexton.

“It is so nice that they have this program to help people. I never would have been able to have these procedures without it.”

Donations to PVM helped pay for the expensive dental work for Ms. Sexton. Because of you any resident encountering hardship can access the PVM Resident Emergency Help Fund. Please continue to donate and support older adults when they are in peril and fearful.

Thank you!

The post Golden Frog Lady of The Village of Warren Glenn appeared first on PVM Foundation.

Betty Wellman from The Village of Redford

At 220 pounds Betty’s life was significantly different than it is today. With diabetes, high blood pressure, and a bad back she relied on medicines to get her through the day. At her peak she was taking 10 prescriptions drugs daily. “Something had to change and change quickly”, Betty reflected.

Her son challenged her. “Start exercising and eat heathy,” that was the short and sweet advice he gave me says Betty. From that point on Betty’s daily routine included exercising in The Village of Redford wellness room. “I work out 6 days a week. Sunday is devoted to my faith, so that is my day off,” Betty states.

“Can you believe when I started I could only walk on the treadmill for 5 minutes. I was so, so exhausted! Now I walk or use the stationary bike (Nu-Step) for over one hour. My daily goal is 4,000 steps,” Betty proudly proclaims.

All that work paid off. The weight is off and is still coming off. More importantly her physical health rebounded. Her diabetes and high blood pressure is in check. Her back feels great and she is living life pain free. Today she takes no medications.

Having an onsite wellness center is Betty’s only real option to stay fit. Like many residents Betty does not drive anymore, and her family is not close by. To compound matters she is living on a very fixed income that does not afford her many extras like a gym membership. Having an on-site free wellness center offers so much to Betty and her fellow residents to stay healthy and engaged.

When COVID-19 hit and shut down the wellness room, Betty was concerned. “How will I stay active, will I gain all that weight back?” Betty did her best by walking in place and around her small apartment during the lockdown. She was over the moon when the wellness center recently reopened. “I was the first one back in the wellness center, I could not wait to get my work out in,” stated Betty.

“Thank you donors for giving me my life back. Without the wellness room I would have never lost 50 pounds,” Betty says with a great smile.

When we are able to welcome visitors once again, come stop by the fitness center at The Village of Redford and peek your head into the wellness room. I bet you’ll see Betty Wellman on the treadmill. Her new motto is – Don’t ever give in. Always keep moving. If you stop you might not be able to get up!

Betty is living her best life each day. Your giving does matter so much! Thank you!

Read more ageless/inspiring stories made possible through your donations, click here.

The post Your gifts – and a promise to her son – changed Betty’s life appeared first on PVM Foundation.