Reflections at Fellowship Square-Mesa is our Memory Support Community that strives to provide an environment of comfort by empowering the resident to live on their terms, their way. We believe education is powerful in teaching our staff and families about the disease process. We offer cutting-edge approaches to providing dignity, strength, and hope. The caregiving staff is trained by the National Council of Dementia Practitioners and by Comfort Matters.
Our Approach
Our belief is every moment matters
Our focus on the importance of making each moment the best it can be and by directing the resident step by step. Our staff spends time learning the Residents Core Values, through this approach caregivers are trained and knowledgeable about the individual’s medical, physical, social, spiritual and emotional needs. By learning about the individual’s life and anticipating their needs, the staff is able to provide comfort on the resident’s terms.
Our activity coordinators plan and prepare customized Therapeutic Recreational Activities are planned and prepared for each Resident to live with purpose and enjoy their days with programming based on their circadian rhythms that help support the Residents state of mind and prevents sun-downing.
We provide weekly oral hygiene as studies have shown that proactive dental care protects residents from harmful effects that accelerate heart disease, diabetes and dementia.
At our community we utilize technology to enhance personal engagement and experiences for each resident through programs developed by “It’s Never 2 Late”, the leader in senior technology.
Reflections at Fellowship Square Mesa offers a safe, secure, wander-risk environment focused on relationship centered care.
Comfort Matters is a dementia care education and research program dedicated to improving the quality of care and life for people with dementia. Accreditation by Comfort Matters Dementia Care Education is important because having it means that our organization has taken extra steps to prepare for the care of persons with dementia. This “extra” may provide reasons why some families choose to place their relative who has dementia at a particular organization.
Meet the Team
Tawnya Christensen, ALM, CDCM, CADDCT, CDP
Assisted Living & Social Services Director
Tawnya is a native of Mesa, Arizona, where she was born and raised. Tawnya is honored to follow in the footsteps of her parents, whom are both in the senior living industry. With over 27 years serving seniors, Tawnya has been fortunate to work in every department of senior housing. From Housekeeper to Executive Director, she has experienced it all. Tawnya earned her Assisted Living Managers license in 2010. She serves on the following committees; Memory Care Alliance for AZALFA and the C.N.A. Board for EVIT. She is a Paul Harris Rotarian and an Arizona Leading Age Fellow. Due to the caregiver shortage, Tawnya has also chosen to be an Adult Education Instructor with EVIT, East Valley Institute of Technology teaching Caregiving Classes. In 2014, Tawnya was certified by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practioners as a Certified Alzheimer’s and Dementia Instructor. She is a Certified Dementia Care Manager where her Assisted Living License is active at Reflections at Fellowship Square – Mesa, a memory care community focused on Resident Directed Care. There is nothing more important to Tawnya than building relationships and empowering those around her.
Melissa Opat, ADC, CDP
Reflections Assistant Manager and Recreational Director
Melissa was born and raised in Iowa and moved to Arizona 6 years ago. Back in Iowa she attended Iowa Lakes Community College where she received her Associate of Arts Degree then went on to attend the University of Northern Iowa where she studied Recreational Therapy. After college she applied for a job at a Dementia Community in the activities department which was intended to be temporary until she found a job working with children with disabilities. She had no idea that, that job would change her life and make her realize that working with residents with Dementia is where her passion lives.
Melissa is National Certified Activity Director and a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She also recently earned her Assisted Living Caregiver Certification as a pathway to getting her Assisted Living Manager License. Melissa is also a member of the Arizona Association of Activity Professionals.
Melissa has served the Residents of Fellowship Square-Mesa for over five years. She started working in the Life Enrichment department for the Residents of Oasis, and eventually was recruited to operate the Recreational Therapy program at Reflections. She has devoted herself to creating from scratch our programing that promotes purpose and security for the Residents at Reflections, her approach is to ensure all activities inspire our residents spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
Melissa also trains all our Caregivers in the Comfort Matters by Beatitudes approaches in helping our Residents thrive at their best potential. Melissa is passionate about giving the Residents at Reflections the most independence by teaching our staff how to allow our Residents to Live on their terms their way. Comfort Matters helps us see the whole picture so we can think better for those with brain failure.
Suzanne Spolar CG, MA, CDP
Assisted Living Business Relations Coordinator
480.803.9854
[email protected]
My name is Suzanne Spolar and I have been blessed with opportunity to be the Assisted Living Business Relations Coordinator of Reflections at Fellowship Square – Mesa, our memory care community. I have been with Fellowship Square-Mesa for just over a year and new to the assisted living field.
Prior to this I worked in the medical field for approximately 25 years. During this time I supervised a multi doctor internal medicine practice, worked at ASU on a research project, and was a patient coordinator for a group of bariatric physicians. I was also a caregiver for two family members with a terminal illness.
My work and personal experiences has allowed a smooth transition into the role of being an advocate for the residents and their family members at Reflections.
I was trained as a medical assistant and a phlebotomist in the 90’s. I then furthered my education and pursued a degree focused in health sciences. I have been certified as an Assisted Living Caregiver and have also been certified as a Dementia Practitioner by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. I am currently working on being Comfort Matters certified, which is a Dementia focused program on helping Residents thrive in their world.
Dementia has touched my family several times. This is something I feel very passionate about. I want our residents lives to be as stress free as possible, for them to feel loved, give them a sense of security, and bring a smile to their face everyday. I want families to feel comfortable to know that their loved one is cared for not only physically but emotionally as well.
I have truly been blessed by the opportunity to be able to be apart of our residents and their family’s lives.
Next Steps…..
Please take a moment to call and schedule an informative tour and feel the experience of
“Mindful Living for Memory Care”