Weekly Update October 2, 2026
October 2, 2026
To: Solheim Employees, Residents, Family Members and Stakeholders
From: Sam Oden, CEO of Solheim Senior Community
October has arrived, and with it come all the familiar signs of fall — pumpkins, changing decorations and pumpkin-flavored everything! Unfortunately, Southern California’s weather doesn’t always follow the calendar. We are beginning October under a severe heat warning, with unusually high temperatures expected over the coming days.
Please continue to take the heat seriously and stay well hydrated. Hydration stations are available throughout campus, and we encourage everyone to drink plenty of water and avoid unnecessary time outdoors during the hottest part of the day. Residents, if you experience any issue with the air conditioning in your apartment, please contact your nursing staff or the Front Desk so we can address it promptly. Your safety and comfort are a priority.
We are pleased to welcome Avedis (Avi) Gertmenian as Solheim’s new Director of Dining Services! Avi’s first day onsite will be Tuesday, October 13. He brings more than a decade of senior living dining experience and a strong background in hospitality, team development and special event. We look forward to welcoming him to the Solheim community!
As we welcome new leadership in Dining, we also want to hear from you. On October 7 and 8, Eva Sorin will be onsite hosting resident dining focus groups in the Fountain Room. Sign-up sheets will be available at the Front Desk, and Eva will also visit with residents during meals to gather feedback. We encourage you to share what you enjoy as well as your ideas for how we can continue to enhance the dining experience at Solheim.
We also recently shared an important update regarding pharmacy services for residents on our RCFE campus. Effective November 10, Torrance Pharmacy will become Solheim’s preferred house pharmacy for Residential Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care residents. The change will provide regular medication delivery to Solheim, bubble-card packaging, electronic medication records and ongoing pharmacy review of resident medications. This change does not currently affect residents in our Health Center. Families utilizing Torrance Pharmacy are asked to complete the New Resident Intake Form provided with the pharmacy communication. Questions may be directed to Amber Reynolds at areynolds@solheimsenior.org.
Finally, a reminder that beginning Monday, October 5, our Front Desk hours will return to our regular schedule of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. After 5:00 p.m., visitors may enter campus through our Health Center entrance. Delivery companies have also been notified of the change. Please share this reminder with family members, friends and others who may be visiting you.
Whether October brings us pumpkins or summer-like temperatures, there is always plenty happening at Solheim. We hope you’ll stay cool, stay connected, share your ideas and continue finding ways to enjoy the abundant life of our community. Be sure to check your October calendar and in-house Channel 1390 for all that’s happening around campus.
Masks for all visitors to our campus will be available upon request. Questions may also be directed to Tina Antypas at 323-257-7518 extension 225 or at tantypas@solheimsenior.org.