| |
A professional sculptor, painter, teacher and caretaker, Ruth Dennis is the recreational director at Sierra Vista. She has been with the organization for more than five years.
At Sierra Vista, Dennis creates and manages the full-time recreational program for the facility residents. She leads activities that embrace life and living, from simple routines like gardening, cooking meals and folding clothes to more spiritual and emotional experiences, such as painting, poetry reading, music and drawing.
Through the years, her unique recreational program has helped Sierra Vista become one of the most respected assisted living facilities in New Mexico.
Prior to joining Sierra Vista, Dennis worked as a teacher for gifted children and as an artist in residence at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and Chautauqua, New York.
Previously, she worked in a supported living community for chronically mentally ill, homeless and drug-addicted residents. This experience taught Dennis how she could apply her artistic skills in a professional care-giving environment.
In addition to her position at Sierra Vista, Dennis works one day a week as an art teacher with Open Hands, Santa Fe's only adult-day program that deals with Alzheimer's and aging.
She is a board member of Seniors Reaching Out and Open Hands' Faith in Action Steering Committee. She is a member of Santa Fe Doorways, City of Santa Fe Disaster Evacuation, New Mexico Health Care Association, American Art Therapy Association, Assisted Living Federation of America, and Executive Women International. She also serves as an Alzheimer's lecturer at Southwestern College.
Dennis holds an MFA in ceramics and independent study in architecture from the Cranbrook Academy of Fine Arts and an MA in art therapy from Southwestern College as well as a BFA in ceramics and painting from the Kansas City Art Institute. |
|
As the executive director of Sierra Vista, Velma Arellano brings a lifetime of experience caring for the elderly, and 14 professional years of working with seniors. She has been with Sierra Vista since it was founded in 1998, and is passionate about the people with Alzheimer's and the mission of the organization.
Arellano is responsible for the overall management of Sierra Vista, including the facility, operations budget, programming, staff training and nutritional and nursing care. Since 1998, she has established the well-respected, high standard of care that has earned Sierra Vista numerous awards and the reputation as a premier facility. She has also created the highest staff retention rate of any assisted-living facility in Santa Fe.
Prior to joining Sierra Vista, Arellano served three and a half years as a social worker in long-term care with Casa Real, a nursing home in Santa Fe. She was responsible for the admission process, worked with the Alzheimer's unit and served as the community liaison.
Previously, she worked for two years as the marketing director for Vista de Santa Fe, a retirement community in Santa Fe. She was responsible for all the facility marketing and increasing its occupancy rates, which she grew from 67 percent to 100 percent within a period of 18 months. This included the facility's Alzheimer's unit, which she also kept fully occupied.
Arellano serves as a board member of New Mexico Association for the Continuity of Care, City of Santa Fe Disaster Evacuation, Seniors Reaching Out, and Open Hands Faith in Action Home Visitors. She is a member of Sante Fe Doorways, New Mexico Health Care Association, American Art Therapy Association, Assisted Living Federation of America and Executive Women International. She also serves as an Alzheimer's lecturer at Southwestern College.
Arellano holds an MA in psychology counseling, and a BA in mass communications and Spanish from New Mexico Highlands University. |
|
