Vol. 09 · Bella VistaThe Spring Issue
Members and a staff guitarist on a picnic blanket at the lake outing

Adult day center · Bella Vista, Arkansas

Lake days, good company and a nurse down the hall.

Tanyard Creek is an adult day center in the hills above Lake Windsor, for retirees who moved here for the trails and the lakes and still want to enjoy them, with care close by.

Video calls with family at the computer table

What sets us apart

Where we shine

The noon blood pressure check
01

Medication administration and daily health checks

Noon medicines, vitals, blood sugar and weight, with a note home each day.

Included
Movement class in the great room
02

Parkinson's movement class

Big, loud, rhythmic movement, led by our therapist.

Twice weekly
A walk along the water, one member in her wheelchair
03

Lake outings and the trail picnic

Accessible lakeside pavilions, a picnic and a short stroll on paved trail.

Weekly, spring to fall

The cover story

They moved here for the lakes. They shouldn't lose them.

Bella Vista was built for retirees, and many of our members came here in their sixties from Chicago, Wichita, Minneapolis and Dallas for the golf, the trails and seven lakes. Twenty years later, a stroke, a fall or a diagnosis can turn the same house into a very quiet place, with the kids a thousand miles away.

Phyllis Nakamura, a nurse who moved here from Omaha with her own parents, opened Tanyard Creek in 2009 so that wouldn't have to happen. Members spend the day with a nurse down the hall, real lunch, therapy, music, and as many outings to the water as the weather allows.

— Phyllis Nakamura, RN, founder and director

A member and his wife toasting with lemonade on the lake beach

Ratings & recognition · sample

  • Readers' Choice · Best Senior Program
  • Area Agency on Aging · Community Partner
  • Parkinson's Support Group · Partner Site
  • County Chamber · Small Business of the Year
  • Regional Hospital · Preferred Day Program
  • Veterans Coalition · Community Partner
  • Lake Trails Alliance · Accessible Outings Partner
  • 2009opened by the lake
  • 46members on a typical day
  • 11states our members moved from
  • 4:1members to staff

Sample family reviews

Letters from families

I live in Seattle. The Friday email with photos of Dad at the lake is how I know he's okay. Some weeks it's how I know he's happy.
Jennifer K.Daughter of a member
My husband has Parkinson's. Raj's class has him taking big steps again. Our neurologist in Fayetteville asked what we were doing differently.
Marilyn S.Wife of a member
Mom played bridge in Wichita for forty years. She found a foursome here in her first week.
Doug H.Son of a member
Sharon called my brother in Chicago and me in Houston on the same call when Dad's blood pressure dropped. That's how it should work.
Ann T.Daughter of a member
Dad was an engineer at Boeing. He runs the woodshop bench with Joe like it's a production line.
Mike R.Son of a member
The lake outing is the highlight of my wife's week. She can't always tell me what she did, but she always tells me she saw the water.
Frank O.Husband of a member
Lisa got Dad's VA benefit approved after two years of trying on our own.
Karen W.Daughter of a veteran member
Tom's lunch is better than the club's. Don't tell the club.
Bill F.Member, four days a week
We moved here to retire, then my wife got sick. Tanyard Creek is why we didn't have to move again.
Ron P.Husband of a member
A quiet moment by the water

Our story

Back issues

Phyllis Nakamura moved to Bella Vista in 2006 to care for her parents, who had retired here. Her father's stroke made the house very quiet, and there was nowhere nearby for him to spend the day.

Read our story

Rooms & suites

The floor plan

A great room with a lake view, and smaller rooms for quiet, therapy and a good bath.

A group of senior adults enjoying conversation and coffee in a cozy café setting with stained glass windows.
01

The great room

Tall windows toward the lake, round tables, a piano and the coffee bar where the day starts.

  • Lake view
  • Piano
  • Coffee bar
3,600 sq ft
Active senior couple performing stretching exercises on mats in a modern fitness gym.
02

The therapy room

Parallel bars, mats and a practice staircase, used by our therapists three mornings a week.

  • Parallel bars
  • Practice stairs
Therapy
A cozy reading corner with an armchair and shelves of books library.
03

The quiet room

Recliners, soft light and books for naps and calm afternoons.

  • Recliners
  • Dementia-friendly
Seats 8
Spacious and accessible bathroom featuring a large glass shower, modern sink, and stylish decor.
04

The shower suite

A roll-in shower and a trained aide, so bath day is one less job at home.

  • Roll-in shower
  • Grab bars
Private

Our team

The masthead

Phyllis Nakamura, RN, Founder and director

Phyllis Nakamura, RN

Founder and director

Sharon Pike, RN, Nurse manager

Sharon Pike, RN

Nurse manager

Dr. Raj Mehta, DPT, Therapy director

Dr. Raj Mehta, DPT

Therapy director

Lisa Brandt, LMSW, Social worker

Lisa Brandt, LMSW

Social worker

Meet the team

Activities & dining

This week at the lake

A sample week. The full calendar goes out with the weekly family email.

  1. Mon

    • Coffee and current events
    • Parkinson's movement class
  2. Tue

    • Bridge and cribbage
    • Painting class
  3. Wed

    • Lake outing and trail picnic
  4. Thu

    • Parkinson's movement class
    • Ukulele club
  5. Fri

    • Woodshop bench
    • Friday sing-along

Wednesday picnic lunch

  • MainTurkey and Swiss on rye, or chicken salad
  • SidesPasta salad, fresh fruit
  • DessertOatmeal cookies
  • Always availableSoft-diet and diabetic plates

For families

For families, near and far

How the day works for families in Bella Vista and a thousand miles away.

  1. 01

    The weekly email

    Photos and a note from our nurse every Friday, sent wherever your family lives.

  2. 02

    The daily note

    Local families get a short note at pickup: meals, mood and anything our nurse noticed.

  3. 03

    Care conferences

    Every quarter, in person or by video, with everyone who needs to be there.

  4. 04

    When something changes

    We call the local contact and the out-of-state family on the same call.

Insurance & payment

Paying for the day

Our social worker checks every option with you, in person or by phone if you live out of state.

Private pay

One daily rate, meals and the van included, billed monthly.

Arkansas Medicaid programs

Home and community-based programs can cover adult day for members who qualify.

VA benefits

Adult day health care is a VA benefit for eligible veterans. We help you apply.

Long-term care insurance

Many policies include adult day. We fill out the forms.

Ask our business office

Now hiring

Good people make Tanyard Creek Adult Day. We are hiring for every shift.

Visit

Find us above Lake Windsor

Tour & office hours

  • Program, Mon – Fri7:30a – 5:30p
  • Tours, Mon – Fri9:30a – 2:30p
  • Families drop inAny time we are open

The great room fills up at ten.

Come for a tour and stay for lunch, or bring your parent for a free day with the van included.