University House, Issaquah

On the 15th of March, two days before the actual St. Patrick’s Day, my one-hour trumpet show, “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration,” was listed on the calendar of University House, Issaquah (UHI) as only one of seven events scheduled that day. Compared to many retirement homes, that’s a lot of activities for the residents to choose among when they ask in the morning, “What shall we do today?”

So, at 3:00 p.m., about 50 of them showed up in Gilman Auditorium to hear me play 27 Irish tunes on my three horns and tell a dozen Irish jokes. Amber Duffy, Life Enrichment Director, had advertised the event thusly on the UHI Calendar: “St. Patrick’s Day Happy Hour with the Irish Trumpet.” And it was grand.

Among the ballads, jig, and reels that I played were many old favorite traditional songs, including “My Wild Irish Rose,” “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral,” “Molly Malone,” and “Danny Boy.” Others included “Chicken Reel,” “The Irish Washerwoman,” “St. Patrick’s Day,” “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary,” “Whiskey in the Jar,” “The Irish Rover,” and “The Rocky Road to Dublin.”

For most of them, I used my Getzen Eterna Severinsen trumpet; for several, I played my Super Olds cornet; and for one, the finale, I played my Jupiter pocket trumpet.

Here’s a sample joke:

The doctor was puzzled and said, “I’m very sorry, Mr. O’Flaherty, but I can’t diagnose your trouble. I think it must be the—alcohol.”
“Don’t worry about it, Dr. Cullen, I know how you feel. I’ll come back when you’re sober.”

When the show ended, I handed out a sheet containing 22 good, clean Irish jokes, encouraging the residents to have some fun on the phone, the internet, or in person with their grandchildren and others during the festive weekend.

University House, Issaquah

UHI is one of eight Era Living Retirement Communities (please see https://www.eraliving.com/communities/issaquah/). It offers senior independent living and assisted living care, but it is not an average senior living community. It has unique partnerships with the University of Washington’s Schools of Nursing, Social Work and Pharmacy and the UW Retirement Association in order to deliver innovative programs designed to foster healthy living.

It appeals to residents who “share a passion for knowledge, a fascination with art and culture, and the desire to stay active in mind, body, and spirit.” The community has “a distinct academic flavor where residents enjoy a connection to UW programs and a commitment to lifelong learning.”

Amenities:

• Elegant restaurant, flexible dining options, variety of cuisines, in-house chef
• Vibrant Life Enrichment programs [such as my trumpet show]
• Reception
• On-site Wellness Center, nurse, caregivers
• Emergency call and daily check-in system
• Maintenance services
• Weekly housekeeping and linen services
• Personal and group transportation services
• Swimming pool
• Fitness center featuring EnhanceFitness classes
• Full-service, on-site salon*
• Two solariums
• Garden courtyards
• Game and crafts room
• Library
• Internet Cafe
• Professionally curated art collections
• Auditorium for large gatherings and events [such as my trumpet show]
• Resident parking*
• *Additional fee

Residence Features:

• Full kitchens
• Easy-access shower, bathing benches, grab bars
• Individually controlled heating
• Ceiling fans
• All utilities included, except telephone
• Cable TV and internet access
• Emergency call system
• Additional storage available
• Pet-friendly

Floor Plans:

There are 184 senior residences, offering 44 different floor plans, including expansive three-bedroom penthouses.

Common Areas:

• Lobby
• 1st Floor Loft
• Dining Room with Patio
• Private Dining Room
• Library
• Game Room and Pool
• Living Room
• Gilman Auditorium [where my trumpet show was held]

Assisted Living’s Memory Fitness Program:

This innovative program is designed for residents with early to mid-stage memory loss. It offers a distinct set of specialized memory support services with structured full-day activities. Incorporating research results and community best-practices, this program enhances the daily experience and quality of life of residents with early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Some Memory Fitness activities include:

• Memory engagement activities
• Exercise group
• Social activities
• Cooking
• Art and music
• Travelogues
• Famous biographies

Photos are courtesy of University House, Issaquah. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.