Music has the ability to transcend time, space and even science to impact others. Its lyrics and melody bring purpose to people’s lives and return them to a place of comfort, peace and joy. After lifelong choir director and jazz performer Beverly Eubanks, 86, was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia a few years ago, many wondered how her lifelong passion for music would be affected. They might be surprised to know that she still performs just like she did in her younger days, but on a smaller stage. Instead of singing beside the likes of Duke Ellington, as she did in her younger days, Eubanks now has new partners. They are her friends and fellow residents at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco, a residential assisted living and memory care community where she has lived for a year. Eubanks delights the residents and staff when she performs during weekly karaoke activities and alongside performers who visit the community regularly. Though her memories may come and go, it is through music that she continues to come alive, and caregivers and staff and Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco are committed to providing all residents with that feeling of joy and self-confidence that comes with doing activities they love and enjoy.

“Even with this diagnosis, it has never affected her music memory,” said Eubanks’ daughter and Frisco resident Teri Rogers. “She remembers every word and sings along with songs. She still has great talent, and the songs instantly come back to her as soon as they start. While my mom is healthy overall, she needs 24-hour care, and one thing that attracted us to Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco was their residential concept and smaller size, which allows the caregivers and staff to tailor activities to residents’ preferences. It’s personally rewarding to visit and see my mom still performing like she always has, belting along to Sinatra recordings – she still doesn’t miss a beat.”

Eubanks’ family has a history of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and she was a caregiver for her husband, who passed away from dementia almost six years ago. Eubanks’ mother also had dementia, and she was able to play piano even into the late stages, so the family knew music would be important to achieve some normalcy once Eubanks moved to the memory care community.

During the variety of music-filled activities at the community, Eubanks, along with fellow residents, sings and dances along with recorded music or live performers. Eubanks especially enjoys singing alongside performer Michelle Priest at the monthly birthday party celebrations, and she puts on quite a show during karaoke.

“We feel so privileged to have a resident like Beverly, who brings such talent and experience to Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco,” said Penny Tipton, activity director at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco. “Her enthusiasm with music proves to us that while dementia and Alzheimer’s can take away a lot, there is still a person inside who can still give back to others and experience life’s accomplishments. Music is such a therapeutic tool because so many can relate to the feelings and emotion of a song, and we love incorporating music into daily activities and will continue to see other ways it could be beneficial.”

Karaoke is offered at the community Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m. The next music therapy activity will be July 14 and 28 at 10:30 a.m.

Seniors in Frisco are giving back to Mother Nature this Earth Day and getting their green thumbs dirty in a hands on activity. Residents at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco will gather on Friday, April 22 and spend the day giving back to the Earth by planting a tree and an interactive herb garden. A Texas Red Oak, the species residents voted on and selected, was donated by Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco’s landscaping company, JLM Jones Landscaping, and will be planted behind House E at 10 a.m. that day. Included in the planting will be a short dedication and ceremonial dig by residents. At 2:00 p.m. behind House B, residents will gather again to celebrate the holiday, this time to fill raised planter boxes with herbs, including mint, chives, sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley and basil. The herbs are not only for the dining team to use when they prepare meals, tending to them can also have a calming effect for residents with Alzheimer’s or other memory impairments. The garden will be entirely safe for ingestion and will be an additional space for residents to enjoy.

 Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco chose to participate in Earth Day this year because many of their residents have a personal connection with plants, and they wanted to honor their commitment by giving back to the Earth.

 “I was raised on a farm in Missouri where we milked cows and grew corn, oats and wheat,” said 95-year-old Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco resident Gerald Cisco. “My family made a living off of the land for a long time, and I think it’s important to preserve the Earth and keep its soil healthy so it can continue to grow things we all need to survive. The pastureland was also very important in feeding our livestock and keeping them healthy.”

 81-year-old Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco resident Frank Griffith attended Arizona State University’s horticulture program decades ago and owned his own commercial landscaping company just outside Seattle. He cared for the grounds of hospitals, hotels and golf courses, and still enjoys being outside today.

 “I think it’s very important to protect the Earth and continue to plant things, because that’s how we receive oxygen,” said Griffith. “It’s great that all of us at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco are participating in Earth Day and contributing to the health and wellness of the Earth.”

 “Many of our residents planted flowers and greenery, or gardened as a hobby,” said Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco executive director Cleta Brock. “We’re excited to offer them another way to be outside and get their hands in the soil again in a way that will look beautiful and benefit our whole community.” 

This month, George and Gisela Smith will celebrate a milestone that a majority of Americans will never share: 70 years of marriage. The Smiths met in Tonawanda, New York after George returned from World War II. After dating each other for only about a week, George proposed, and the Smiths were wed on February 16, 1946. With their upcoming anniversary, they find themselves looking back on their 70 years together. They have overcome challenges–including losing two sons–and their positive attitudes and close bond helped them conquer these hard times together. This connection is now more meaningful than ever as Gisela battles with Alzheimer’s. The Smiths live in separate apartments, since Gisela requires specialized memory care attention, but George visits his wife almost every day. To acknowledge this strong bond and rare achievement, Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco will host a private anniversary dinner for the couple and their family at the community on Friday, February 19 at 5:00 p.m. The staff is looking forward to making a special evening for the Smith family, complete with a personalized menu, festive decorations and even a small wedding cake.

 Gisela is originally from Germany, and came to New York with her family as a toddler. While the Smiths didn’t date until 1946, George and Gisela actually first met in high school, but didn’t really know each other. After George returned from the war, George’s brother was dating Gisela’s cousin, and they decided to plan a double date. George was immediately smitten with Gisela, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 “I think about my vows a lot…for better or worse, to honor and obey, and still try to observe them even after 70 years,” said Smith. “Gisela has always been a cheerful, upbeat and honest person–that was what initially attracted me to her, and still does to this day.”

 The Smiths vows have meant different things to them in different stages of their marriage. George spent much of his career traveling as a merchant marine, which took him to all seven continents. Gisela was a homemaker and did much of the child rearing. Trust and communication was very important during this time. After a career opportunity presented itself, the family moved to the Panama Canal Zone, which George describes as the right move for their family. After two of their sons died in accidents, the Smiths learned what true perseverance means. They worked hard to remain positive and not blame others for the cards life dealt them, a tenet which they also applied in their marriage. They worked hard to forgive each other and remain positive no matter the circumstances.

 “They’ve had an extremely giving marriage,” said George Smith, Jr. “They’ve had hard times just like everyone has, but they’ve lasted 70 years, which is fantastic. They always taught me and my brothers that your word is your bond, and they have definitely lived that. Together they make a great team and have established a wonderful partnership. I’ve tried to model my own marriage of 35 years after theirs, and I strive to have the same kind of relationship they have.”

 George and Gisela, now 90 years old, are in a new stage of their marriage. As Gisela’s Alzheimer’s worsened, it required 24-hour caregiving which Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco is able to provide. There they are able to spend time together in an environment where staff members treat the residents like their family, which is exactly why they wanted to acknowledge this momentous occasion in a special way. Although Gisela’s memory is fading, the love between them after 70 years will never be forgotten.

 “George and Gisela are a special couple and their marriage continues to inspire others, including those of us at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco,” said Cleta Brock, Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco executive director. “Seventy years is a huge milestone, and we’re thrilled to bring their family together to celebrate this occasion.”

As parents, grandparents and other seniors age, we expect many things to change, like hair color, eyesight or hearing. These are things most spouses, children and grandchildren are prepared to deal with. But when memory impairment and other health disorders enter the equation, it is an almost impossible job for any person to handle by themselves. The role of the full-time caregiver can be very isolating and lonely. No one knows that struggle better than Donald Zoller. His wife is a memory care resident of Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco, and he is dedicating his life to creating an open and educational dialogue about caregiving and dementia. In fact, he recently published a pamphlet entitled “Alzheimer’s and Dementia…This Ugly Disease: A Caregiver’s Journey Into Pain, Anguish and Hope”. In his own words, he discusses the challenges and realizations that are part of deciding that your loved one needs a higher level of care in an assisted living and memory care community. His words are especially powerful around the holidays, when family members reunite and may realize it is time to consider an assisted living or memory care community.

“I made a vow to my wife when we got married that I would be there, no matter what,” said Zoller. “I think at first many spouses think they’re breaking that vow when they decide to find help with the care of their husband or wife. I had to ask myself ‘What is the loving thing to do for my wife?’, and now, I don’t see it like that. I see the extra help as a way to improve her quality of life and give her a higher level of care which I am unqualified to provide. In Beverley’s new living environment, I still care for her needs, but much of it is done through the hands of a professionally trained staff. I am honored that Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco keeps copies of my pamphlet on hand for families to use a tool.”

Zoller became a full-time caregiver for his wife about five years ago when she was diagnosed with a form of dementia. Many of Beverley’s family and extended family members also had memory impairments, and due to its genetic nature, looking back, Donald estimates he began seeing warning signs of this disease in Beverley as early as her 40s. Zoller is using his pamphlet as a tool to help other caregivers and families find understanding during a hard time.

As a caregiver, Zoller knows that caregivers have to realize when it is time to ask for help from others, which was hard for him to admit. First, he had to realize that he was in over his head, which happened through a conversation with his family, and then he had to find the right people to help Beverley and himself find a new path to take. At that time, the Zollers had just moved to the Frisco Lakes active adult community. He quickly found a team who could care for Beverley full-time just a few miles away at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco. Next, it was time for Donald to receive the support he needed. He began attending a caregiver support group at Frisco Lakes designed to bring caregivers together to provide an environment for them to share what is going on in their lives and receive guidance and words of encouragement from fellow caregivers.

“Support groups are some of the most beneficial tools I’ve found for myself and other caregivers,” said Zoller. “They help to build up community among all kinds of caregivers and help people who are in the same situation you are in and offer guidance. It shows other caregivers that there is hope, support and a place to go for help when they need it. ”

“Making health decisions on behalf of a loved one is always difficult, and we understand the many concerns and considerations families take into account in determining the next step in their journey together,” said Cleta Brock, executive director of Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco. “Donald’s pamphlet provides valuable first-hand understanding of this situation, and his perspective is extremely helpful to others facing the same decisions.”

Because Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco understands that caregivers have such a challenging role in their loved one’s care, it would like to extend its help to the caregiving community at large by creating a caregiver support group in the new year. Zoller will help lead the group, which will be open to the public.

In the meantime, Zoller and the staff members at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco have several tips that could assist families over the holidays and beyond. Families might see signs that their loved ones need more assistance, but they may not know what that means.

Here are some questions family members can ask themselves about their loved ones:

1. Is your loved one able to complete tasks she could last year on her own, like cooking her signature dish without error?
2. What was her condition just six months ago? What does that look like compared to today? Where do you think she will be six months from now, and will you still be able to care for that person on your own then?
3. Does she have trouble thinking through a sequence of steps, like driving directions or getting ready in the morning?
4. Does she have difficulty managing daily living activities, like medications, shopping or laundry?
5. Are there changes in appearance, like noticeable weight gain or loss, hygiene habits, frailty or inability to maintain appearance as was possible previously, like shaving, make-up or hair styling?

Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco looks forward to being a resource for the public and welcomes any questions. If a member of the public would like a copy of Zoller’s pamphlet, please contact Mustang Creek Estates at 214-872-4242.

As the annual frightful event of Halloween drew nearer, the residents at Mustang Creek Estates of Frisco offered a sweeter side to the holiday for pre-k students at Plano’s Cambridge Academy. The residents visited the school the week of Halloween to deliver handmade and decorated treat bags of pre-packaged candies and artistic crafts to celebrate with the children. To thank the residents for their treats, the children prepared to sing a few songs for the group.