The Senior Scene

Cascade Park Communities began in 1994 when Don Hansen, a local businessman and licensed professional engineer, perceived a lack of affordable senior living facilities in the Puget Sound region when he was investigating the options for his then-85-year old father.
Hansen found that many organizations offered living accommodations, but the services and prices appeared to be beyond the scope of the average senior citizen. Additionally, he perceived that most facilities didn’t offer fulfilling senior activities. From that observation, Hansen moved forward with the design and construction of Cascade Park Gardens, a 95-bed licensed boarding home located in south Tacoma, which held its grand opening in 1995. Hansen remains active in the business, serving as manager and president of Cascade Park Communities.
With the success of Cascade Park Gardens, Hansen was presented with the opportunity in 1998 to purchase a second community, the former Grand Vista, located near downtown Tacoma. He renamed it Cascade Park Vista, and the 112-room facility became Cascade Park Communities’ operational headquarters, providing jobs for more than 60 individuals.
Formerly the Doric Hotel, Cascade Park Vista, which this year celebrates its 16th birthday, is in the heart of Tacoma’s Stadium Historical District and is home to over 100 seniors/adults, many of them funded by the state’s Medicaid program.
As a couple of years passed, Hansen realized that Cascade Park Vista had many large areas within the building that weren’t effectively utilized. He saw an additional need for a daytime program that would provide individuals and families faced withchronic healthcare concerns an alternative to moving into a residential or long-term care facility. This led to the creation of Cascade Park Active Day, an adult day healthcare program dedicated to giving frail, physically or cognitively disabled adults the opportunity to meet new friends, immerse themselves in activities and enjoy daily life in a supportive environment. The facility opened in 2000 and now has a traditional program, a traumatic brain injury program, and a memory care and wellness program housed in two specially designed areas adjacent to Cascade Park Vista.

The JuveRest wrinkle prevention pillow is designed to address vertical facial lines that appear near the eyes, cheeks and brows, according to its manufactuer, JuveRest LLC. The polyblend thread is specially designed to smooth skin and eliminate creases, with different grooves that accommodate to your most comfortable sleep position. And there’s an added bonus – less compression and contact means your pricey face creams and serums won’t rub off. More information is available at JuveRest.com.

n is available at JuveRest.com.

These days, toy trends come and go by the month. When a toy is mass-produced and generic, it’s easy to see why kids move on to the next so quickly. So how are grandparents supposed to keep up with what’s “in”? MarbleSpark says it has a solution in the personalized book, “Following Featherbottom,” which can grow with a grandchild for years. It uses unique details like the child’s name and birthday to insert the child into the plot, allowing their imagination to expand with the story. It becomes a keepsake. $32.95 from marblepark.com.

Handcrafted in Portugal faux-fur and sock-like knitted fabric, Arcopedico USA’s fall-winter, arch-supporting comfort shoes are for loafing around the 1151-TM-1-Lhouse on a stormy day, hitting the shopping mall or checking into the airport. With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $95, they can be purchased at independent shoe stores throughout the U.S. Sparks, Nev.-based Simco Imported Shoes Inc., formed after its owners discovered the shoes during a trip to Portugal, is the sole U.S. distributor. More information is available at 775-322-0492 ArcopedicoUSA.com.