Bickford of Gurnee Weekly Update Hello Bickford Families, We hope you’ve had a wonderful week and are enjoying the beautiful August weather! Here at Bickford of Gurnee, our residents have been staying busy with engaging activities, special entertainment, and meaningful moments shared with friends and neighbors. Thank you, as always, for your continued support, trust, and partnership. We are grateful to have you as part of our Bickford family. ________________________________________ This Week’s Highlights A Musical Afternoon This week, our residents were treated to a special performance by a talented accordion player. His unique style of music brought smiles, laughter, and plenty of toe-tapping throughout the program. It was a wonderful afternoon filled with nostalgia and joy, and residents thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Ladies' Tea Celebration Our Ladies' Tea was a tremendous success! Residents gathered to enjoy delicious tea, sweet treats, and wonderful conversation in a charming and elegant setting. A special thank you goes to Rosie for helping make this event so memorable. Everyone looked absolutely fabulous in their fascinators, and the afternoon was filled with laughter and friendship. Due to its popularity, we are excited to announce that the Ladies' Tea will become a monthly tradition! ________________________________________ Community Announcements Mary B’s Neighborhood Refresh Rodney has been hard at work painting the common areas in Mary B’s neighborhood. As part of this improvement project, you may notice patched walls, fresh paint, or areas that are still in progress. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue enhancing our community and creating a beautiful environment for our residents. Hair Salon Update Our current hairdresser's last day with us was July 28, 2026. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for her dedication and exceptional care of our residents over the years. We are actively searching for a replacement and hope to have salon services restored as soon as possible. If you know of a licensed hairdresser who may be interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Christine. ________________________________________ Upcoming Events August Birthday Social Tuesday, August 11 at 2:30 PM Join us as we celebrate all of our August birthdays with cake, refreshments, and plenty of birthday cheer! Mira the Therapy Dog Visit Wednesday, August 12 at 2:30 PM Residents always look forward to spending time with Mira. Her visits bring comfort, companionship, and lots of smiles. County Fair Happy Hour Thursday, August 13 at 3:00 PM We're bringing the fun of the county fair to Bickford! Residents can enjoy a special happy hour featuring classic county fair-inspired foods and treats. Lunch Outing to Lambs Farm Friday, August 14 at 11:00 AM Residents are invited to join us for a fun lunch outing to Lambs Farm. If you are interested in attending, please let Mallory know as soon as possible. ________________________________________ Friendly Reminder Alonda will be on vacation August 8 through August 16, 2026. During her absence, please contact Christine or Savannah for assistance. They will be happy to help with any questions, concerns, or needs that may arise. ________________________________________ As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to support both you and your loved ones every step of the way. Thank you for being such an important part of the Bickford family. We look forward to another week of creating meaningful moments together! Warmly, Christine Lawrence Executive Director Bickford of Gurnee

Our Mission: To Transform How America Cares for Seniors At Bickford of Gurnee Assisted Living and Montessori Memory Care, our mission is simple but profound: to transform how America cares for seniors. For us, this isn't just a statement on a wall. It's the commitment that guides every interaction, every decision, and every moment we share with our residents and families. We believe senior living should be more than receiving care. It should be about living with dignity, purpose, connection, and joy. Whether it's a helping hand with daily routines, a meaningful activity that sparks a smile, or the comfort of knowing someone is always there, our team is dedicated to creating a true sense of home. We take the time to know each resident's story, celebrate their individuality, and provide personalized support that helps them thrive. Families deserve peace of mind, and seniors deserve a place where they feel valued, respected, and loved. That's the heart behind our mission and the reason we do what we do every day. If you've been wondering whether it's time to explore senior living options for a loved one, we'd be honored to show you what makes Bickford different. Schedule a visit with Savannah at 224-219-1741 and experience our mission in action.

Earlier this week, the ladies had a tea-riffic time at our afternoon tea! They enjoyed the tea, sweet treats, and each other's company. As part of our Montessori program, residents gave input on what kinds of tea they wanted and helped decorate. It was a great way to spend the afternoon, and the residents are already looking forward to next time! #montessorimemorycare #assistedliving #bickfordofgurnee #bickfordseniorliving

FOR IMMEDIATE RELESASE Bickford of Gurnee Achieves Silver Level Certification as a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle Community Bickford of Gurnee Assisted Living and Montessori Memory Care joins an exclusive group of credentialed senior living communities that have implemented a revolutionary Montessori-based approach to memory care. August 3, 2026- The team at Bickford of Gurnee is devoted to building a Montessori Inspired Lifestyle for their community, earning them a Silver Level credential. The MIL program was created by the Center for Applied Research in Dementia (CARD) after one of its founders, Dr. Cameron Camp, adapted Dr Maria Montessori's principles for older adults with dementia. Guided by CARD, staff learned how to implement the Montessori principles of equality, dignity, and respect into their community. Staff were trained to empower residents with memory impairment to be as independent as possible. This is achieved through tapping into each resident's remaining strengths, designing environments they can thrive in, and helping them find purposeful activities and meaningful roles within their community. Communities effectively using Montessori principles benefit from healthier and happier residents, fewer drugs, and fewer responsive behaviors, more satisfied families, and better staffing and census (Witt-Hoblit, Miller, & Camp, 2016). Silver Level organization have resident led committees, multidisciplinary Learning Circles, effective signage and environmental cues, personalization of resident spaces, and ongoing staff training by credentialed internal trainers, among many other milestones. We at Bickford of Gurnee are so proud of this accomplishment, and want to give a special thank you to Mallory, our Montessori Enrichment Coordinator, for all of her hard work and devotion to our residents.

Sweet Corn it is!!!! Last week our residents and families at Bickford of Gurnee Assisted Living and Montessori Memory Care showed there is nothing better than some fresh grown sweet corn (with toppings added for some)!! This weeks show down: Which weather condition do you prefer??? 85°F and Sunny or 45° and Snowy. We can’t wait to see what this week brings so we can get to know everyone just a little bit better!

At Bickford of Gurnee Assisted Living and Montessori Memory Care, we know that a tour is about so much more than showing an apartment or sharing a floor plan. Every tour is an opportunity to listen, connect, and help a family envision a brighter future for their loved one. For many families, walking through our doors is the first step in a journey that can feel overwhelming. They may be carrying concerns about safety, loneliness, caregiving burnout, or a recent health change. Our goal isn't simply to "sell" senior living—it's to understand each family's unique story and help them find solutions and peace of mind. The most successful tours begin with curiosity. Instead of focusing solely on what we offer, we focus on the people in front of us. We ask questions about their loved one's routines, interests, challenges, and goals. What brings them joy? What support do they need? What would make life easier for the entire family? As families tour our community, they experience more than our beautiful apartments and warm common spaces. They see residents participating in activities, enjoying meals together, building friendships, and receiving personalized support. They begin to picture what life could look like when caregiving stress is replaced with meaningful family time. A great tour is also about building trust. Families need to know they are making one of the most important decisions of their lives with people who genuinely care. Every interaction—from a smile when they walk in to a conversation with a caregiver—helps demonstrate the compassion and commitment that defines life at Bickford. At the end of a tour, the question isn't simply whether a family is ready to move. It's whether we've helped them feel heard, understood, and supported. Sometimes the right next step is scheduling a move-in. Sometimes it's coming back for another visit, joining an event, or simply taking time to process their options. If you've been considering senior living for yourself or a loved one, we'd love to welcome you for a tour. Come experience the warmth of our community, meet our residents and team members, and discover how Bickford of Gurnee can help your family write the next chapter of their story. Schedule your personal tour today with Savannah at 224-219-1741 —we can't wait to meet you!

Higher Path Success Story This week, our Health & Wellness Directors and Care Coordinators are leading a major initiative as we transition our Medication Administration Record (MAR) into August Health. By bringing medication administration into the same platform as our residents' electronic health record (EHR), we are creating one source of truth for resident care. This integration improves efficiency, strengthens communication, reduces duplicate documentation, and supports medication safety. While this is a significant undertaking, the long-term benefits are substantial—allowing our teams to spend less time navigating multiple systems and more time focused on providing exceptional care to our residents. #HigherPath #AugustHealth #ClinicalExcellence #MedicationSafety #SeniorLiving #ResidentCare #Teamwork #ContinuousImprovement

Lifesong Station Spotlight: Writing Lifesong Stations are part of our Montessori program here at Bickford. They encourage residents to do activities independently in addition to our regular schedule of activities. Cognitive ramps are utilized to give residents a starting point to complete an activity. Our writing station has a weekly writing prompt that residents can either write down, or they can talk about in a conversation with another resident. There are also birthday cards, thank you cards, and post its to jot down quick notes. Shout out to resident Marie for helping setup everything on the desk! It looks great! #bickfordseniorliving #montessorimemorycare #bickfordofgurnee

Montessori Question Board of the Week! Last week, we asked our Bickford family a summer showdown question: "Where would you rather spend your summer vacation?" The results are in, and the beach absolutely washed away the competition! While the mountains had their loyal fans, our residents made it clear that sunshine, sand, and ocean breezes are hard to beat. Now it's time for a fresh new debate! Which fresh-grown summer produce is yummier? Sweet Corn vs. Watermelon Will sweet, buttery corn take the crown? Or will juicy, refreshing watermelon be this week's champion? Our Montessori Question Board encourages residents to share their opinions, spark conversations, reminisce about favorite summer memories, and connect with one another. It's amazing how one simple question can bring so much laughter and storytelling to the day! Stop by the board, cast your vote, and let us know where you stand in this delicious summer faceoff! #MontessoriMoments #BickfordOfGurnee #QuestionBoardOfTheWeek #ResidentEngagement #SummerFun #SweetCornVsWatermelon #LifeAtBickford

Safety Matters. Peace of Mind Matters. When families are exploring senior living options, one of the biggest concerns is safety—and for good reason. Falls can have a significant impact on a senior's health, confidence, and independence. At Bickford of Gurnee Assisted Living and Montessori Memory Care, our HigherPath Senior Care Model approach to care helps us identify potential concerns before they become problems. Through ongoing assessments, personalized care plans, medication reviews, wellness monitoring, and close collaboration between our nursing team and caregivers, we focus on prevention rather than reaction. This proactive approach is reflected in our outcomes. Our average falls with injury rate is just 0.03, a statistic that demonstrates our commitment to creating a safe, supportive environment for every resident. HigherPath isn't just a care program—it's a promise to know each resident as an individual, anticipate their needs, and provide the right support at the right time. Families can take comfort in knowing their loved one is surrounded by a team dedicated to promoting wellness, preserving independence, and reducing risks whenever possible. If you're looking for a senior living community where proactive care leads to better outcomes, we invite you to discover the Bickford difference. Schedule a tour today with Savannah at 224-219-1741 and learn how HigherPath helps residents thrive.