It’s no secret that educators across the country are some of the unsung heroes of the Covid-19 pandemic. Teachers have worked tirelessly to ensure that their students maintained access to a quality education, and they’ve often dipped into their own pockets to pay for classroom materials, including necessary PPE and sanitary supplies. While school has been out for the summer, Waltonwood Cotswold was busy planning for the upcoming school year by hosting a supply drive for Billingsville-Cotswold Elementary School. The community worked together to gather supplies for the school including the following items: book bags, water bottles, black and white composition books, wide-ruled spiral notebooks, sharpened pencils, pencil boxes or pouches, pink erasers, blunt children’s scissors, markers, color pencils, folders, boys and girls hygiene supplies, children’s socks, children’s underwear and pencil sharpeners. Now, with the start of the school year quickly approaching, residents and team members recently delivered the items to the school.

“After the events of the past year and half, it’s difficult for anyone to deny the incredible dedication teachers have for their students,” said Eric Davis, executive director of Waltonwood Cotswold. “The supply drive provides us the opportunity to say thank you to educators for all they do and help to alleviate the burden that can come from prepping their classrooms. Our hope is that we can help Billingsville-Cotswold start the new year off right and that the local community will come alongside us in making this possible.”

Studies have long shown that most teachers will end up paying out of pocket for their classroom supplies. Teachers spend $500 or more each year on classroom purchases, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Since the onset of the pandemic, this cost has only increased as teachers purchased cleaning supplies and materials to facilitate virtual learning. Waltonwood Cotswold hopes that the donation will help teachers and students start the year well and save money in the process.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the county, senior living communities are finding unique and creative ways to recognize important events while staying physically distant. Waltonwood Cotswold, a premier senior living community, participated in The Longest Day to raise awareness for the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association. The event encouraged thousands of people worldwide to host an activity they are passionate about or the favorite activity of a loved one, and the senior living community picked arts and crafts. Studies show art therapy stimulates the senses of those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and can trigger dormant memories and encourages conversation. From sunrise to sunset residents were painting, drawing, sewing and more all while collecting funds to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association.

“We are honored to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease and support those affected by Alzheimer’s disease, whether they are living with it or care for someone who does,” said Hollie Sliwa, marketing manager at Waltonwood Cotswold. “Many of the Waltonwood residents and associates have a loved one or friend affected by this disease, and we want them to know we stand with them in this fight. We also participated in The Longest Day as a community so that we can recognize the dedication, compassion, energy, longevity and, most importantly, the love that caregivers share with those who suffer from dementia.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease is a global epidemic. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, with more than five million people living with the disease and 47 million people worldwide suffering from dementia. Waltonwood Cotswold has a memory care neighborhood and understands firsthand the importance of providing specialized care and recognizing the hard work and dedication of their caregivers, including Priscilla Jones who has worked in the memory care neighborhood as a caregiver since it opened in 2016. Jones, who was recognized an Employee of the Month, is a hard worker who has maintained the same respect and care towards residents since day one.

“Working with seniors is my passion, and I wouldn’t change it for anything,” said Jones. “It is a calling that so many caregivers hear. We have an amazing group of people who give 110 percent each day engaging our memory care residents. The Longest Day is held annually on the summer solstice because the duration of this sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with Alzheimer’s disease. Together we can show those fighting this disease that they are not alone.”

The start of a new year brings chilly weather for the city of Charlotte, with overnight lows reaching or exceeding freezing several times per year. With that in mind, Waltonwood Cotswold – a premier senior living community – is helping people stay warm at night by collecting blankets, quilts and sheets and donating them to Crisis Assistance Ministry, a nonprofit organization. The public is encouraged to drop off the items at Waltonwood Cotswold (5215 Randolph Rd.) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday. A donation box has been set up at the front desk at the community, and they will collect donations until February 18.

“We always look for ways to lend a helping hand, and with thousands of people in need in the Charlotte area, the blankets will help us make a difference,” said Logan Diard, life enrichment manager. “Crisis Assistance Ministry does so much for the community, so this is the least we can do to give back. We encourage the public to stop by the senior living community with a blanket in tow. These are simple items that will make a difference in the lives of so many, and they will brighten the day of a person who is trying to get back on the right track.”

Crisis Assistance Ministry was created in 1975 by a group of local churches as a single, centralized place for Mecklenburg County residents to receive emergency financial assistance?to?prevent homelessness and utility disconnection. Today, the nonprofit continues to serve as a one-stop shop for Mecklenburg families facing poverty. Their goal is to preserve the dignity of customers while preventing homelessness and eviction.

“We are happy to hold a blanket drive at the community and know we will exceed our expectations with the help of our residents and the public,” said Nichola Johnson, executive director at Waltonwood Cotswold. “Giving back is something we pride ourselves in at the community. We have hosted multiple drives benefiting local nonprofit organizations and businesses in the past. We hope when residents, associates and the public are out at the store and picking up items for themselves that they grab a few extra items to help those less fortunate. We are excited to tally up the number of items at the end of the month to see just how many people we are able to help. Our doors are open each day, and our associates are eagerly awaiting the donations.”

Father’s Day reminds us of the significant role fathers play in children’s lives. Dr. Martin Chipman, a resident of Waltonwood Cotswold, is a retired neurologist who spent a lot of time traveling around the country during his time in the Army, but he always made sure his family and children were his top priority. Chipman, 89, has four children from his first marriage and one son with his current wife of 45 years. Although balancing work and family time wasn’t always easy, he tried to stay involved in his children’s lives and activities as much as possible. Divorce is one of the hardest things a family can face, and despite his busy schedule, Chipman did his best not to let it impact his children and their relationship with him. Today, he reflects on his favorite memories with his family and is looking forward to celebrating Father’s Day with his five children and six grandchildren. 

“As an Army officer, I did a great deal of traveling, so I tried my best to be constantly in touch with all of my children and remind them that I was there for them even though I may be far away,” said Chipman. “One of my favorite memories is when all of us moved to Jerusalem for my assignment and stayed there for about two years. We had a wonderful time together. I may have been a busy father, but my children knew that I cared about them. Today, I am proud of the people they’ve become, and even though they live all over the country, we still remain close.”

Dr. Joseph Chipman, Martin’s youngest son, followed in his father’s footsteps and is a neurologist in Charlotte. He remembers his dad teaching him how to play tennis as a child, and when he would visit from college and on the weekends, they would play a game or two. Joseph is now a father himself, and he believes he has learned a lot more from his father than just tennis. He also makes his children – and the time he spends with them – his priority.

“Fathers have a big influence on children’s lives, and I believe it is important to honor them and the lessons we have learned from them,” said Joseph Chipman. “Now that I am a father, I realize even more how important it is to celebrate dads and all they do. I believe I wouldn’t be the dad I am if it wasn’t for the relationship I have with my father. He has always been so present and involved in my life and the lives of my siblings. I am thankful for everything he has taught me, and I look forward to celebrating him this Father’s Day.”

“There is nothing better than seeing our residents with smiles on their faces, and we know that spending time with their families makes them the happiest,” said Nichola Johnson, executive director of Waltonwood Cotswold. “Martin’s relationship with his children should truly be an inspiration to younger families. Although they all have families of their own, they still try and spend time with their father as often as possible.”

It’s been nearly eight years since Terry Myers Gladden, an associate at Waltonwood Cotswold, got the call nobody ever wants to receive. Her doctor was on the line to inform her that her biopsy results came out positive. She was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer on December 16, 2010, at the age of 48. Gladden discovered the lump herself during a self-examination, which she performed regularly, and immediately panicked. Only a month after the diagnosis, Gladden underwent surgery to remove the cancer. Ultimately, she went through two surgeries, six rounds of chemo and 33 radiation treatments. In less than a year, she was cancer-free. With the support of her family and friends, Gladden overcame some of the hardest times of her life. Today, she urges women not to ignore the need for regular self-examination.

“I am so glad I was with my sister and my daughter when I received the call from my doctor because I literally fell down on my knees and started crying,” said Gladden. “It’s been almost eight years, but when I think of that moment it still feels like it was yesterday. A lot of people think they can imagine how bad and scary it is to be diagnosed with cancer, but nobody can quite imagine the reality of it. It was hard to even look at myself in the mirror after all the chemo and radiation. I lost all my hair, water tasted disgusting, food tasted like cardboard. It’s unimaginable, and I am beyond thankful I got through it with the support from my loved ones. I strongly encourage all women to perform self-examinations because early detection likely saved my life.”

Gladden has three grown children and nine grandchildren. There is no history of cancer in the family but Gladden still understood the importance of regular self-examinations. Research shows that about one in eight U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. The risk of being diagnosed nearly doubles if there is a family history of breast cancer. Gladden decided to share her story in hopes that it will remind all women to perform self-examination and not rely solely on a yearly doctor’s visit.

“I want women to realize that we can’t simply go to a doctor once a year and hope that we won’t be one of the women who receive the bad news,” said Gladden. “I stress the importance of self-examination and mammograms to everyone I meet. Being diagnosed with breast cancer is scary, no matter if you are a man or a woman. But if it happens and you get the news, please remember to never give up the fight.”

“Terry is a strong person, and we are thrilled to share her story as a breast cancer survivor,” said Leah Nash, executive director of Waltonwood Cotswold. “We are lucky to have Terry on our team, and we hope that her story encourages women to take their health seriously.”