Eskaton Gold River

10/31/2025

It was a frightfully fun day at Eskaton Village Placerville's Halloween Costume Contest! 🎃👑 From spooky to silly to downright spectacular, everyone brought their A-game, but it was Cinderella (our resident Rosie) and the Queen of Hearts (our team member Jeannette) who were voted the winners! 👠♥️ Congrats to our costume royalty! 👻✨

Happy Halloween to All!

10/30/2025

👨‍🍳 Meet Chef Martin, our talented Director of Culinary Experience for the Trousdale and resident ice sculpting extraordinaire! In addition to creating delicious dishes, Chef Martin brings artistry to every celebration by carefully carving stunning ice sculptures for our special events. ❄️

This week, residents and team members gathered to watch him transform a large block of ice into a Frankenstein masterpiece for tomorrow's Halloween party, and the crowd was frozen in awe! 🧊👀 Even more special, Chef Martin’s biggest fan, his mother and Trousdale resident, was front and center cheering him on!

10/29/2025

In honor of National First Responders Day, residents of Eskaton Village Grass Valley delivered muffins to our local firefighters as a heartfelt thank-you for their courage and dedication. 💛🚒 It was a sweet way to show our appreciation for those who work tirelessly to keep our community safe!

10/28/2025

When Rivers Pugh moved into Eskaton Village Roseville earlier this year, it didn’t take long for residents and staff to discover his incredible musical talent. Almost immediately, his soulful voice and skilled piano playing filled the community’s front lobby, where he would often be found singing heartfelt gospel songs, his favorite kind of music.

Originally from Alabama, Rivers grew up in a deeply musical household. His father played piano, his mother was a singer, and all of his siblings shared in the family’s gift for music. Gospel was the soundtrack of their lives, with church serving as both a spiritual home and a stage for their shared passion.

As a young man, Rivers followed his older brother to California after he joined the service, landing in the Bay Area. The transition wasn’t easy. “I had never lived in a big city before in my life. I was always a country farmer,” Rivers recalled. “When I came here, I was totally lost.” But soon he found belonging again through music and faith when he joined the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley. There, Rivers sang in the choir for many years, building lifelong friendships through shared song and worship.

Rivers also built a remarkable career at PG&E in Oakland, starting with “digging holes” and working his way up to General Foreman over an impressive 51 years. Still, his faith always came first. “I can’t be working on the weekend,” he told his supervisors. “I got to go to church.”

Music continues to be Rivers’ constant companion. “I enjoy playing music. I enjoy singing,” he says. “When you’re down and out, and you’re lonesome and stuff, music makes you feel better. It lifts you up.” That joy was shared with his Eskaton neighbors last month when Rivers and members of his church performed an inspiring gospel concert for the community.

Whether behind the piano, in the choir, or simply humming to himself, Rivers brings light and warmth to those around him. As he puts it with a smile, “If I see a beautiful day, I sing a song about a beautiful day.”

10/24/2025

Residents of Eskaton Granite Bay recently enjoyed an inspiring visit to Blue Line Arts in Roseville! 🎨 After exploring the beautiful artwork on display, they rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on painting session, learning about color mixing and creating vibrant landscapes of their own. A perfect day filled with art, creativity, and smiles! 🖌️🖼️

10/22/2025

Fall flavors were in full swing at Eskaton Land Park's seasonal brunch! 🍂🥞 Chef Lin and the Culinary Team wowed everyone with buttermilk pancakes topped with caramelized apples, pumpkin bread with fresh fruit cups, maplewood bacon, crispy home fried potatoes, and eggs just the way you like them — sunny side up or scrambled. Add a warm slice of toast, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a cozy autumn morning! 🍳🍁✨

10/20/2025

When the shimmering sound of handbells echoes through Eskaton Village Carmichael, it’s likely Vera Refnes at the helm directing her fellow residents.

Vera’s story with the Bell Choir is closely tied to the community’s history. Around 35 years ago, when Eskaton Village Carmichael was first established, a resident and former music director brought her own set of bells and started the choir. After her passing, Vera was invited to audition as the new director. “That was about 25 years ago,” she recalls. “They hired me as an outsider to come in and direct the bells. And when I became a resident two and a half years ago, I just continued.”

Music has been part of Vera’s life from the start. Raised in a very musical family, she and her three siblings practiced instruments and piano daily before school. She went on to major in music in college and continues to play both piano and trombone, as well as perform in her church orchestra.

Her introduction to handbells came about 45 years ago at a music conference in Los Angeles. “I’d never experienced handbells before,” she says. “It sounded like fun… so I went!” Inspired by that class, she returned home and helped start a bell choir at her church. It was through that group that Vera first connected with Eskaton’s Bell Choir, leading to the role she holds now as both resident and director.

This fall, Vera and the Bell Choir began rehearsing for their upcoming Christmas concert, a performance sure to ring in the season with joy and community spirit. Beyond her musical pursuits, Vera also enjoyed a long teaching career, leading choirs and drama programs while teaching students from kindergarten through middle school. “I just realized it was a gift and something that I could succeed in,” she says.

When asked what she enjoys most about leading the Bell Choir, Vera’s answer is simple: “Success. People get lost, play the wrong notes, or fall behind… but when everyone comes together and makes it through the piece, it’s great! That’s success!”

Through her lifelong love of music and teaching, Vera continues to bring people together—one note, one bell, and one joyful rehearsal at a time.

10/17/2025

Residents of Eskaton Village Roseville came together this summer for our very first EVR Night Out! It was an evening filled with connection, community, and preparedness. 🌟 Representatives from the California Office of Emergency Services joined us to share valuable information on disaster readiness and local resources. It was a wonderful opportunity for residents from across our community to meet, mingle, and learn how to stay safe and prepared together. 💛

10/16/2025

Our hearts are heavy as we remember Debbi Duval, a cherished member of the Eskaton family for 25 years, who passed away over the summer. Debbi touched so many lives during her time with us, and her loss has been deeply felt throughout the Eskaton Lincoln Manor community.

In the wake of this loss, Executive Director Shannon Piexoto and the Eskaton Foundation came together to honor Debbi's memory in a beautiful way. Thanks to a generous donation of roses—Debbi's favorite flower—from Green Arces, we have created a Memorial Rose Garden in Debbi’s honor.

The Eskaton Lincoln Manor community gathered for a heartfelt dedication ceremony, where we celebrated Debbi's life, her impact on all of us, and the care she brought to Eskaton every day. Though she is gone, her spirit blooms on in this garden and in all the lives she touched.

Thank you, Debbi. You will be missed and always remembered.

10/14/2025

🍂🥨 Prost to Oktoberfest week! Eskaton Gold River has been in full festive spirit, from crafting beautiful fall flower arrangements to mastering the art of mini pretzels (with a little help from some tasty beer tasting 🍺). Laughter, creativity, and plenty of cheer filled every moment, that’s how we celebrate the season! 🍁

10/14/2025

🍂🥨 Prost to Oktoberfest week! Our community has been in full festive spirit, from crafting beautiful fall flower arrangements to mastering the art of mini pretzels (with a little help from some tasty beer tasting 🍺). Laughter, creativity, and plenty of cheer filled every moment, that’s how we celebrate the season! 🍁

10/14/2025

Last week, Eskaton Village Carmichael gathered under the glow of the Harvest Moon for an evening that blended nourishment for the body and soul. The event featured a unique sound bath experience led by our very own Chelsea Callender, who in addition to being our in-house Pastry Chef, is also a certified Sound Meditation Practitioner. Residents gathered to relax, reflect, and soak in the calming tones of flute, chimes, and singing bowls through this immersive celebration of peace and renewal.

Following the Harvest Moon Celebration, Chelsea shared her personal reflections on the evening:

“This was a full-circle moment for me—20 years ago, I played flute here as a young student with my flute choir. To now return in a professional capacity and serve our community through both music and food is incredibly humbling.

We had over 50 residents attend, a beautiful mix of familiar faces and new participants. Many shared that they had never experienced anything like this before—yet left feeling peaceful, uplifted, and reconnected. Several residents even reached out afterward for music links and playlists to support their self-care practices.

As the in-house pastry chef, I already feel a strong connection to our residents—especially when I design desserts & develop recipes inspired by the flavors of their youth. In the same way that food feeds the soul, so does sound. These sessions are thoughtfully tailored to the preferences and sensory needs of our elders, with the goal that everyone leaves feeling energetically lighter and more at peace than when they arrived.

I’m grateful to Chef Matt, Culinary Director Joel, and Life Enrichment Director Catherine Graham for championing both my creative work in the kitchen and my passion for therapeutic sound. To serve others with love—through both music and baking—is a true blessing.”

10/11/2025

All aboard! 🚂🎃 Yesterday, residents and staff enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland. From a scenic train ride through jumbo pumpkin fields, apple and walnut orchards, and a horse pasture, to plenty of laughter and smiles along the way, it was a tremendous time spent together celebrating the season! 🍂🍎🐴

10/11/2025

All aboard! 🚂🎃 Yesterday, residents and staff of Eskaton Gold River enjoyed a beautiful fall afternoon at Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland. From a scenic train ride through jumbo pumpkin fields, apple and walnut orchards, and a horse pasture, to plenty of laughter and smiles along the way, it was a tremendous time spent together celebrating the season! 🍂🍎🐴

09/12/2025

08/18/2025

🌺✨ The rhythm of the islands came alive at Eskaton Gold River! Residents were treated to a special hula dancing lesson from two very special guests — the wife and young daughter of our Executive Director, Alfredo Cruz. 💃Together, this dynamic duo from Manuia Polynesia Rocklin is teaching residents dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand as we prepare for our annual Luau on September 7th! 🌴🥥 We can’t wait to show off our new moves at the celebration — aloha spirit included! 🌺🎶

08/08/2025

🎨🍉 Sip, paint, and plant! Our Summer Paint & Sip was a refreshing splash of creativity as residents, guests, and team members decorated their own plant pots while enjoying cool Watermelon Mint Mojitos. After the paint dried, each masterpiece was filled with a beautiful house plant—bringing a burst of color and new life into every home. 🌿✨

07/08/2025

🌟 Congratulations to our Employee of the Month from Eskaton Gold River – Rosan! Rosan continues to go above and beyond each day, bringing compassion, consistency, and clinical excellence to her role as a Resident Medication Assistant. A former doctor in the Philippines, Rosan’s medical background shines through in the exceptional care she provides to our residents.

As our Executive Director Alfredo Cruz (pictured left with Rosan) shared:
“Rosan is incredibly proactive and reliable; always quick to communicate with families and providers when a resident’s condition changes, ensuring timely care. She’s on top of med orders, follows up with doctors, and steps in for extra shifts without hesitation. She’s flexible, dependable, and brings a thoughtful presence to every shift change meeting, always coming prepared with updates and solutions. Families trust her, her team appreciates her, and she leads by example every single day."

Thank you, Rosan, for the heart, skill, and dedication you bring to our community! 👏💙

06/26/2025

Summer started with a sizzle at our Hot Summer Night Party! 🌞🎉 Residents kicked off the season in style with a variety of games, tasty bites and sweet treats, and a lively musical performance. Here’s to warm nights and even warmer memories! 🎶🍧🎯🌴

06/24/2025

We had a wild time this week thanks to a special visit from The Lizard Lady (whose real name is Teressa Killeen)! 🦎🐍 Residents got up close and personal with some scaly friends during an interactive reptile presentation led by Teressa, a herpetologist with over 25 years of experience. From fascinating facts to hands-on fun, it was an unforgettable afternoon filled with curiosity and courage!

06/05/2025

Order up! ☀️🍔 Residents of Eskaton Gold River soaked up the beautiful spring weather with lunch on the patio and were surprised with a delicious treat: burgers, fries, and shakes from In-N-Out Burger! Nothing like a classic California bite to make the day extra special! 🍟🥤🌸

06/03/2025

Eskaton is a proud partner of PRIDE Industries, a non-profit employment services organization whose mission is to create job opportunities for people living with disabilities. "At Eskaton Gold River, we believe in the power of ability — and our partnership with PRIDE Industries is a perfect reflection of that," says Alfredo Cruz, Executive Director of Eskaton Gold River.

Much like the vision of PRIDE Industries, at Eskaton we believe in fostering an inclusive work environment where people of all abilities have access to employment opportunities and can realize their full potential. "Welcoming PRIDE team members into our community has been nothing short of incredible," expressed Cruz. "They’ve folded into our team with heart, dedication, and a deep commitment to our mission of serving older adults with dignity and compassion. We don’t see disabilities — we see the gifts each person brings to work every day. Their presence has enriched our culture, our service, and most importantly, the lives of our residents."

Watch the video here to learn more about our growing partnership with PRIDE Industries: https://hubs.ly/Q03qvNSG0

Learn how we can help you find reliable employees at https://www.prideindustries.com/work-with-pride/employment-services/hiring-people-with-disabilities. Ex...

05/31/2025

🌅 Sunsets and summer vibes! Residents of Eskaton Gold River had a wonderful time at a recent Paint & Sip activity, where they created their own versions of "Twilight Tides" — a serene beach sunset scene — while enjoying refreshing peach-basil mocktails. 🍑🍹 Cheers to creativity, community, and the summer ahead! 🎨🖌️

05/30/2025

🍝 Pasta la vista, boring lunches! This month's Chef Showcase at Eskaton Gold River turned up the heat as Chef Natalie wowed residents with fresh handmade pasta and a mouthwatering bolognese made right before their eyes! 👨‍🍳✨ Bellies were full and hearts were happy during this especially delicious lunchtime showcase! 💛