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Coronavirus Updates

Posted on: April 13th, 2020

At Villages Rehab & Nursing Center, our top priority is the health and safety of our residents and staff. We have implemented precautionary measures and protocols to help prevent the entrance of COVID-19 into our building, and to reduce the transmission of the virus. We are following the guidelines & recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, we do not have any known or suspect cases of COVID-19 in our building, and we are working diligently to remain virus free. Thank you for your support, cooperation, and understanding during this uncertain time.

Some of the precautions & actions we are taking include:

  • We are now open for limited visitation.  All visitors must attend a mandatory training session prior to their first visitation.  Training is available daily at 12:30 and no appointment is needed.  CDC guidelines will be followed to ensure the safety of our residents.
  • Employees and approved visitors are screened daily for symptoms and risk factors, and their temperatures are taken prior to entering the building. Employees are tested for Covid-19 weekly.
  • New residents are tested for Covid-19 and thoroughly screened prior to admission
  • Current residents are closely monitored for symptoms
  • Employees are provided masks and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We have ample supply of masks & PPE at this time.
  • Ongoing staff training on infection control practices and COVID-19 prevention & control
  • Our activities department can schedule a virtual, electronic face-to-face visit. For more information call our activities department at 352-430-0017
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Senior Care Scholarship: 2017 Winners

Posted on: July 19th, 2017

Reprinted from A Place For Mom

A Place for Mom is pleased to announce the winners of our fifth annual Senior Care Scholarship. We received over 800 entries from students describing the most important life lesson that they learned from a senior and how they will use that lesson in their future career.

Senior Care Scholarship

Choosing just five of the 800 essays was a difficult task but after much deliberation our judges picked the following students as the five winners of the 2017 A Place for Mom Senior Care Scholarship:

  • Arianna Smith
  • Jacqueline McGinley
  • Meghan McDarby
  • Sandra Karina Espinoza
  • Xiao Wang

Thank you to all of the students who entered, we were touched by your thoughtful heartfelt essays on seniors in your life; we wish you the best of luck in your future!

Winning Scholarship Essays

Arianna Smith, Nursing Student at Bethel College

There was a time once when the elders were respected and given a place of value. It is sad that in this culture, beauty and youth have replaced that spot. The fact that one becomes frail and in need of care when one ages, does not mean that there is no worth in that individual.

As I sit here writing this essay, a sense of warmth overcomes me, thinking about my grandfather who is turning eighty-five years old today. He has had a life of adventure, challenges and successes. Yet he also experienced pain, imprisonment and had to overcome many obstacles to get where he is. Born in Cuba a country plagued by communism, he experienced the turn over when the Castro rebels fought and overtook the government. The changes implemented when Castro took power was the reason why he was imprisoned. As a college professor, he boldly and bravely stood against some of the changes. That placed him immediately in the opposition to the new government. My grandfather has told me stories of where military guards came often to his place of employment to intimidate him into silence. Many times, they took him and kept him for days. He was beaten and mistreated while under their custody, and consequently served three prison sentences. Though he endured the mistreatment he still does not regret standing up for his beliefs. He believes in individual freedoms, religious freedom and landowner rights. These were all stripped away once communism took full control of Cuba. He believes there are some things worth taking a chance for. To stand against adversity to defend yourself, your people, your family and your country is difficult but necessary. His strength and understanding of his purpose in life makes me desire to be more like him.

I can sit and listen to his stories for hours. Of course, there is also my grandmother who had to raise five children alone when her husband was serving his prison sentences. She did not have the grocery stores around the corner that those of us in America are used to having. She did not have the commodities we have become accustomed to. She had to use real cloth diapers and wash them by hand. All the meals prepared, were prepared from scratch. As I listen to her share what her days entailed, I can see how difficult her life had been. Yet, there is no bitterness in her. On the contrary, she enthusiastically shares the joys of how she overcame them.

As a nurse, I will encounter many different type of people. Their background, their culture and certainly their life experiences will all be different. I believe as a nurse: one should step aside and try to understand the individual patient one is caring for. Try to see life through their eyes. What culture differences does this individual have? What must one avoid doing and what things should one learn to do? This is essential is allowing the patient to feel that they are safe and thus, can concentrate on getting well. That is one of the things I enjoy learning, the differences in people and the many things that make us unique. This will allow a person in my care to believe in me and trust that I will do my best to help them in their healing process.

As I go about my life and in my duties as a nurse, I will always look at an elderly person and wonder. Wonder about what conquests can he or she name as his or her own? What struggles did he or she suffer? What careers did he or she practice? Was he or she an artist of some kind? There are victories to be shared and regrets that plague their very soul. I will be a nurse first, but will forever hope for the opportunity to sit by their bedside, and hear them tell their story. With this, their accomplishments will live on.

Jacqueline McGinley, Social Work Graduate Student at University at Buffalo

The best classroom I have ever had was very close to the feet of an older adult.  It was at the bedside of an older adult who was deaf-blind with an intellectual disability and died following a prolonged period of serious illness.  I was only a year into my tenure as a social worker for a nonprofit agency supporting adults, many of who were seniors, when she died.  But the events of that day – and those that came before and after her death – changed the course of my career.

Adele had lived in an institution for much of her life, and she transitioned to a group home as there became awareness in the sociopolitical culture that large congregate care setting were inappropriate and often harmful places for people with disabilities to spend their lives.  Her life in the community was robust; she cross-stitched, cared for her roommates, and rarely missed a day of work even well past the average age of retirement.  In the last year of life, Adele became increasingly fatigued, and it was later determined that she had a life-limiting illness that would ultimately culminate in an extended stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) before her death.

Even in the ICU, she enjoyed the companionship of her extended family, staff members who had become like family and housemates who loved and adored her.  I consider myself lucky to be counted among the people who spent time with her during the last year of life.  Adele taught me how to advocate for someone who lacked the capacity to advocate for herself due to her present condition and also her pre-existing disabilities.  Her life with serious illness and ultimately her death taught me how to ask the right questions of healthcare professionals; how to find the best specialists and care settings in spite of persistent barriers; and how to break difficult news to people who loved her.  The one most important lesson I learned was the limitless capacity of any person to help another to die better.

These are lessons I have paid forward to other older adults I have supported as a Masters-level social worker.  These are lessons I have shared with the disability professionals I train and social work students I teach.  These are also lessons that have informed the issues I study and the research questions I now ask as a PhD student at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.  My proposed dissertation, A Retrospective Study of the Last year of Life for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Community Residence, is very much because of and in honor of my experiences with Adele.  Upon conferral of my PhD in May 2018, it is my intention to pursue a research and teaching career as a gerontologist exploring the intersection of aging, end-of-life, and disability.

I am most grateful to A Place for Mom for the opportunity to share the story of this inspirational older adult.  The chance to simply speak her name and the lessons she taught me is a privilege.  I humbly ask that the award committee accept this essay, scholarship award agreement, and online student information form in consideration for the 2017 Senior Care Scholarship.

Meghan McDarby, Graduate Student in Clinical Geropsychology at Washington University in St. Louis

Most individuals make the most of the hand they are dealt. They adapt to hardship, determined to overcome barriers, but are nonetheless hardened by challenge. In my late teenage years, as I really started to get to know Joan on a more personal level, I presumed she might be the same. How wrong I was.

I’d first met Joan when she was a volunteer in my elementary school: she was bubbly, full of energy, and eager to enrich my curious young mind with thoughtful discourse and stimulating academic exercises. She reinforced my advanced academic behavior, despite the fact that my zest for learning was frequently mocked by peers, and facilitated the development of my true passion for reading and writing. Unbeknownst to me, Joan was in her late 60s at the time. Since I had always preferred spending time and engaging in conversation with adults versus peers, I never really gave much thought to her chronological maturity. She was simply a person with whom I “had a connection,” a person who understood me as a student and individual.

Joan and I stayed in touch regularly, and when I was in high school, we started to meet for coffee a few times each year. By this time, Joan was in her late 70s. We had extremely thought-provoking conversations, sometimes spending more than three hours together and losing all sense of time. I told her about my career goals and interests, my plans for college, and my thoughts about the world. She slowly revealed to me more about her life experiences, as a successful college graduate, surrounded by family difficulties but grateful to have extended family members who were willing to support her childhood and scholastic achievement.

Our conversations while I was in college and after I graduated were similar but increasingly more serious: she slowly revealed more to me about her heart-wrenching divorce and the pervasive aloneness that she had successfully kept at bay for more than 30 years. She listened carefully to my discourse about hospice, disparities in healthcare access for rural and underserved older adults, and my passion for working with older adults as a career. She constantly challenged my beliefs and thoughts about the human capacity for overcoming difficulties.

When I decided to apply to graduate school to earn my PhD in Clinical Geropsychology, Joan was just as proud as any member of my family. She shared with me some of her own experiences with mental health issues and transferred a true sense of empathy for individuals who constantly suffer from psychological difficulties. It was at this time when I finally realized that Joan had completely transcended the default mode of human nature for more than eight decades: she had slowly but surely risen above extreme life difficulty and hardship, free of any resentment, not only to find her own purpose in the world but also to help me find mine. It was also at this time when I realized it was because of Joan that I was simultaneously intrigued, inspired, and enriched by older adults, because, in fact, I had never thought of them as “older” adults: I had simply thought of them as particularly knowledgeable people who could contribute something special to my life and to the world.

Joan is now in her mid 80s, and although my pursuit of graduate school has resulted in a distance of over 1,000 miles between us, we still email regularly. When we last saw each other, she did not feel quite as strong as she once was, yet her encouragement and support for all aspects of my life were unwavering, and her ability to challenge my mind was hardly disturbed. Among all of the older adults I have befriended, cherished, and loved in my lifetime, it is Joan who I have welcomed into my “chosen family” and whose zest for life, support, and resilience will continue to inspire my career as a geropsychologist for the rest of my life.

Sandra Karina Espinoza, Nursing Student at California State University, East Bay

Every year after I turned six, I remember wishing for only one thing I remember using up all my birthday wishes for it and my Christmas letters were filled with the same wish: to be able to go to Mexico and see my Grandpa during Christmas break. It was a one week trip once a year filled with adventures. The event didn’t matter, what mattered to me was being able to spend time with my hero, my Papa Lalo. He’d always share stories about his struggles throughout his life, his amusing anecdotes made me laugh until my stomach hurt, and his memories were magical to me because it took us back in time. His stories were always filled with hard work, bravery, and confidence in the future. He told me how education was important, but he had to sacrifice his education to be able to survive He shared how at the age of six he had to become a fieldworker to help his mom afford food for him and his 10 siblings. I wanted to be just like him, I wanted to wear flannels, cowboy boots, sombreros, tend to the cows, ride horses, and be as hardworking as him. I asked him to teach me how to be like him and he laughed his deep raspy laugh and said I already had it in me, but he’d teach me how to ride a horse.

On my last trip to Mexico, my grandpa woke me up before the sunrise and told me to put my cowboy boots on and meet him outside when I was ready. When I walked outside I saw him saddling up the horses he had been teaching me how to ride for the past few years, I asked him where we were going and he said to trust him, so I did. We started heading towards the mountains, and I have never been more scared than trying to maneuver a horse in the dark on a trail I had never been on. I cried out to my Papa Lalo begging him to take us back home, but he calmly stated you can do this, don’t doubt yourself. I remember thinking I would never make it to the top. But nevertheless, I persisted. After hours on the trail and once we reached the summit, it was breathtaking. We sat in silence watching the sun rise before us taking it all in. I remember him wiping sweat off his forehead with a red bandana, and noticing how his skin was now filled with deep ridges. I remember wondering when that happened or if they had been there the whole time. I remember him smiling and saying “It’s worth it, Karina, the hard work is worth it. Don’t try to give up just because the road gets tough. If the horse gets tired rest, but you have to keep going.”

My Papa Lalo taught me to not give up no matter how hard it gets, but he also taught me to give to others selflessly even when we are going through our own silent struggles. He was always so focused on giving me great adventures and wonderful memories, but he never told me about his battle with cancer, he didn’t tell anyone. The following year there was no trip to Mexico, my hero was gone. I wished for his strength to endure the hardships I had to face and his wisdom to show me the way. Now almost 9 years after his death, I travel back in time to sit on the old tree where his stories once filled the silent street. Nine years later, I continue to use that advice as motivation to complete the nursing program while working two jobs. His words will help me become a better person every day and will help me spread kindness. His memory will live through my nursing career when I am given the opportunity to help those who need care while fighting their silent battles. I will rest if I get tired, but I will not give up. I will selflessly devote myself to my work and my patients.

Xiao Wang, Medical Student at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

I remember the day I decided to volunteer at the hospice. I was in college, and I asked my pre-med advisor about what extracurricular activities I should seek out. He told me to find opportunities that would show me different aspects of medicine. “If it were me,” he said, “I would want to see how I would handle death.”

I naturally thought of the nearby hospice. I was eager to get involved in clinical work. As much as I enjoyed my classes, I knew that this type of interpersonal interaction was what drew me most to medicine. It’s the science of humanity, I quipped, thinking I was clever. I genuinely believed it though, and I yearned to live it out rather than simply check off a list of activities. I thought that as a hospice volunteer, I would learn to appreciate the value of the doctor-patient relationship, see the limits of medicine firsthand, and hear from patients with different medical conditions that have reached those limits. And, as my advisor suggested, I would learn about death.

I volunteered at the hospice for over two years. Each week, I would visit residents and help them move around the facility or get them something to drink, most of the time, though, we just sat and talked.

My most memorable interaction was with an elderly woman in Room 208. I was warned that she tired easily and didn’t like visitors to stay very long. As I hesitantly entered her room, I heard the sounds of a football game from the TV. To my surprise, she was a big Denver Broncos fan, and we instantly connected over our shared love for sports. Over the next year, she and I became fast friends, chatting about everything from school to family to hobbies. She shared her story, and I shared the stories I hoped to still write. She had accepted that she didn’t have much time left, and said that the hospice allowed her to enjoy her last months with comfort, dignity, and independence, on her own terms and surrounded by loved ones.

When patients began to decline, the hospice would sometimes request volunteers to sit with them around the clock. I remember getting the email for Room 208. I came in around 11pm. We greeted each other, but she was too weak to say much more. I visited again a few days later, and this time, I heard the shallow breathing that had become familiar to me. I said goodbye to her and her family, knowing that it might be the last time.

She passed away two days later.

As I think about her story, I also revisit the expectations I had as a first-time volunteer. My time at the hospice certainly taught me about death. More than anything, though, it taught me about life. I remember the seniors I met – their voices, their laughs, their stories. I didn’t learn about medical conditions, but I learned about the human condition.

Many residents talked to me about their experience with health care and about their relationships with their doctors. Like the woman in 208, they were grateful, not disappointed, as I may have expected. Seeing this taught me more about medicine than I could have imagined. I once saw hospice care as the limit of medicine, but I realize now that it epitomizes medicine itself. Through volunteering, I saw that for the hundreds of medical conditions that we cannot cure or treat effectively, the purpose of medicine is to provide care and improve well-being. If hospice care is indeed the best option for a patient, then we can’t ignore that it achieves this goal best.

The resident in Room 208 gave me a new perspective as a future physician, something that I believe will prove invaluable for me moving forward. I’m in my third year of medical school now and am pursuing a career in oncology. I know that each person I treat is just that – a person, with unique biology, but also with unique stories, dreams, and wishes. As Dr. Francis Peabody once said, “The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.” It’s the science of humanity, after all.

 

Senior Care Scholarship: 2017 Winners posted by Angel Ridout

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Making Family Gatherings Easier for Seniors Who Can’t Hear

Posted on: July 19th, 2017

Reprinted from A Place For Mom

By :

Family gatherings are a wonderful opportunity to come together with the people you love, however, for someone with hearing loss, large gatherings can be overwhelming. One-third of people over the age of 70 have a form of hearing loss, and some members of your family may not be open to sharing their struggle. Making Family Gatherings Easier for Seniors Who Cant Hear

Communication for someone with a hearing impairment can be challenging, but you can make a few simple adjustments to ensure the family gathering is an inclusive and pleasant experience for everyone.

Position Yourself to Be Heard and Seen

It is important that you are in the best position to be heard, as well as seen, by a person with hearing loss. Face the person directly so that your face, especially your mouth, is in plain sight. Do not obstruct your mouth with your hands, or eat or drink, while trying to communicate.

If the person with hearing loss has a favorable ear, be sure to sit on that side of them. When initiating conversation, be sure you have their attention so that you are both focused on the conversation and no words are lost or misunderstood. It is difficult for anyone to jump into a conversation or respond to questions when they have not heard what was spoken or asked of them.

Consider the lighting or other distractions as well, and avoid interferences from obscuring the vision of the person with hearing loss.

Communicate Clearly

Speak in a clear, concise manner without shouting and overemphasizing. It is a common mistake for people to speak excessively slowly or loudly to a person with hearing loss, which can lead to unnecessary hurt feelings and embarrassment. In fact, exaggerated speech may even make it more difficult for the person to hear what you are saying, as words can sound distorted.

If the person is having trouble understanding what you are saying, try rephrasing your words rather than repeating them. Sometimes saying something in a different way can be less complicated and make it easier for the him or her to understand you.

Consider the fact that we don’t just communicate with our words, we also use facial expressions and gestures, so be sure to use these visual cues when speaking with someone with hearing loss.

Reduce Background Noise

Background noise can be very distracting as well. The noise of the television, radio or multiple conversations taking place around you can obscure the words you are saying. Turn off background noise and relocate to a quieter area to have the best possible conversation.

In addition to hearing loss, people with hearing impairments can also be sensitive to loud noises. Be mindful of this when considering background noise.

Encourage Seniors to Wear Their Devices

Seniors have lots of legitimate reasons for not wearing their hearing aids or other hearing devices. Often, the cause comes down to simple discomfort. Help ensure that the senior is wearing the hearing aid properly, the volume level is adequate and that it fits properly. If they complain about any of these issues you should get them in touch with their doctor or audiologist so that modifications can be made, or their hearing can be checked to identify any additional loss or problems.

Introduce the Concept of Perceptive Listening

What is perceptive listening? It’s using perception, context, visual cues and pieces of the conversation the person has heard to figure out what has been said. Encouraging the senior in your life to use perceptive listening (which is a skill that, like any other, should be practiced), will help them to regain some independence when it comes to communicating with family, as well as with people outside the home.

Show Patience and Understanding

Most importantly, when communicating with someone who is experiencing hearing loss, be patient and understanding. Hearing loss can have a profound effect on a person’s life and can cause frustration, social withdrawal and depression. It is important to include people with hearing loss in conversation, and make your best effort to accommodate their needs. Doing this will ensure that family gatherings are a fun-filled experience for everyone!

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Opioid Abuse Among Seniors

Posted on: July 19th, 2017

Reprinted from A Place For Mom

By :

The opioid abuse epidemic in America is only now getting the media attention that it warrants, but it has been a growing issue for decades. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), there are an estimated 2.1 million people in the Opioid Abuse Among SeniorsUnited States suffering from substance-use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers.

Learn more about the opioid epidemic among seniors.

Opioid Drugs Have a Stranglehold on Seniors Too

Since 1999, the number of deaths attributed to opioid abuse has quadrupled, and “there is also growing evidence to suggest a relationship between increased non-medical use of opioid analgesics and heroin abuse,” according to NIDA, which is why the number of heroin addicts has increased to 467,000 in the United States.

Still, most of the media coverage of the epidemic focuses on younger people. Meanwhile, opioid abuse among seniors remains an underreported, dangerous and shockingly pervasive phenomenon.

44% of Opioid Overdose Deaths Are in Patients Aged 45 to 64

A study conducted by Medicare found that about 15% of Medicare recipients were prescribed opioid-based medication after visiting the hospital, and about 43% of that group continued to take the medication three months after it was first prescribed.

The number of seniors hospitalized for opioid overdoses has increased five-fold over the last 20 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 44% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2013 and 2014 occurred in patients between the age of 45 to 64.

Why Seniors?

Often seniors can find themselves addicted despite following doctors’ instructions to the letter. But why is this?

It is no secret that as you age, you face greater risk of illness and injury. Seniors are more susceptible to injuries that require pain management, such as broken bones and chronic pain.

Unfortunately, there are not many good options for treating pain in seniors. Even seemingly benign drugs like ibuprofen or Advil can lead to serious bleeding, while being far less effective at treating pain than opioid or synthetic opioid painkillers.

In 2009, the American Geriatric Society (AGS) came out in favor of prescribing opioids, asking doctors to consider opioids for any senior with moderate or severe pain. They based this decision on controversial findings that suggested seniors were less likely to become addicted to opioids than other patients. This conclusion, however, is not accepted by all.

Dr. Mel Pohl, a notable critic of the AGS recommendation, was quoted by National Public Radio as condemning the idea as a “horrible misconception” suggesting that “there’s no factual, scientific basis” for the study. Pohl argued that “opioid drugs take over the brain. It doesn’t matter how old the brain is.”

The AGS guidelines are no longer being implemented, but many doctors continue to prescribe opioids more liberally to seniors than younger patients. They argue that they don’t want to see their patients in pain, and that seniors are less likely to develop dangerous habits associated with opioid abuse.

Opioids Pose Additional Risks to Seniors

In addition to the risk of overdose or dependence that is always associated with opioids, seniors also face many age-associated risks. When on opioids seniors are, according to the Wall Street Journal, “especially vulnerable to falls, fractures and respiratory arrest when using prescription narcotics – and often they are taking other medications that magnify the risks.”

One study found that 16.5% of all opioid-related fatalities occur despite the patient taking the recommended doses, as per the instructions given by their doctor and pharmacist.

How to Protect Against Opioid Addiction or Overdose

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has begun to urge doctors to opt for short-term, fast-acting medications, instead of long-lasting drugs prescribed for a longer period. But anyone prescribed an opioid should still take precautions.

If you or a senior you know are taking an opioid, encourage your doctor to prescribe the lowest necessary dose, and look into alternative options to address pain, such as non-opioid medications. Never exceed the recommended dose, follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and don’t take your prescription with alcohol.

Most importantly, listen to your body. If you feel that you are being over-prescribed pain medication or are dependent on your pain medication, then speak to your doctor immediately.

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Innovative Senior Health and Fitness Programs

Posted on: July 19th, 2017

Reprinted from A Place For Mom

By : 

Despite an increased emphasis on personal health and fitness, a 2016 report by the United Health Foundationfound that America’s baby boomers are actually unhealthier than their predecessors. Adults between the ages of 50 and 64 in 1999 were healthier than those in that age group in 2014. Although these new seniors smoke less, they will be “entering their senior years with higher rates of obesity and diabetes, and lower rates of very good or excellent health,” the report concludes. Innovative Senior Health and Fitness Programs

Retirement communities are taking it upon themselves to combat the health epidemic that’s facing seniors. From Emerald Court’sfocus on improving posture and balance to prevent the risk of a fall through its Stand Strong program to Brightview Senior Living’sSPICE program, which is the foundation of ongoing wellness efforts and the model on which resident programming is based (SPICE represents five holistic elements of wellness: spiritual, physical, intellectual, cultural and emotional), innovative retirement communities across the country are going beyond exercise to take a holistic approach to senior health.

Movement for Seniors of All Abilities

When Benton House piloted and tested the Ageless Grace program, its staff was impressed with the program’s focus on the body, but also on the mind. Geared toward the needs of all seniors, but especially those who can’t get out of a chair, this accessible exercise program is done sitting down, and the results have been “powerful to see,” says Ginger Fronebarger Couch, Regional Director of Community Relations for Benton House. “It’s a good program for seniors who can’t stand up,” she says. “They still move their arms, practice breathing, sway to the music and move their legs. To see people who can’t do a rigorous exercise regime get moving, but more importantly be engaged and entertained, is powerful. It wakes their spirit and gets them up and moving.”

The guided imagery and movement of Ageless Grace has brought seniors in Benton House’s memory care communities to life. “Even if the participants can’t remember the mental cues, the program brings joy through the music, which can be so powerful for them,” Couch says. “Music is a powerful thing, it works very well for these folks.”

Seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s have been extremely responsive to the program, which operates as a half-hour to one-hour class taught by staff members who have received the Ageless Grace training. The class starts with breathing, then seated exercises that include simple arm and leg movements, and ends with a meditative breathing session. Not only are seniors stretching and moving their joints, they are also practicing coordination and movement to music, which offers an important cognitive element.

The program is available for free within the Benton House communities, but staff have also started taking the program to the community at large, offering it for free at local nursing homes and senior community centers, because they believe so strongly in its physical, mental and emotional value. Ageless Grace, which has been running for a year now, has become an important part of Benton House’s physical therapy program, and is a great way for staff to encourage residents who are isolated or lonely to get out and join the rest of the community.

Beyond Exercise

Recognizing that seniors are not looking to sit around and grow old gracefully, CareOne newly devised Forever Fit as a way to help its community stay active and maintain a quality lifestyle. Seniors who struggle to manage illness and mobility are at risk of limited social experiences, which can cause feelings of isolation and depression. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

“People are more mindful that getting older doesn’t have to mean feeling older,” Patricia Chiorello, VP of Communications and Business Development for CareOne explains. “Aging isn’t a process where you feel like you’re ‘getting older, so what do I have to give up.’ We wanted to design a program that would help our residents stay as active as they can and as great as they can.”

CareOne’s Forever Fit program offers an individualized strength training and fitness program for older adults that’s combined with nutritional guidance, and traditional and non-traditional wellness treatments including physiotherapy, massage, yoga, meditation and even Reiki. The Forever Fit program provides seniors with a physiologist, dietitian and physical trainer for one-one-one programming that assesses a senior’s existing health and fitness level, and designs an individualized strategy that will help meet wellness goals.

The holistic focus helps seniors take fitness a step further than just exercise. Whether they’re meeting with a nutritionist, doing a group fitness class or having a one-on-one session with a physiotherapist, learning how to live healthier lives is paramount.

CareOne isn’t alone. When it comes to fitness, the trend among senior living communities is to take a holistic approach to health – one that looks beyond exercise. And what’s the result of this individualized approach to health? Residents “feel motivated and empowered,” Chiorello says. “We’ve already seen significant gains in health across our communities.”

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A Playful Approach to Boost Senior Mobility

Posted on: June 20th, 2017

Keeping seniors healthy and active is a top priority for caregivers, but finding a way that also keeps loved ones engaged and safe can be challenging. An innovative solution to this problem is sweeping across senior communities and public parks everywhere. Motion Wellness Systems by Xccent Fitness allows seniors to be socially and physically active, while working on fitness and balance.A Playful Approach to Boost Senior Mobility

We had the opportunity to sit down with Guy Chaham, Director of Sales of Outdoor Fitness at Xccent, Inc. to discuss senior mobility and the Motion Wellness System, which promises to improve senior mobility through a playground-like environment. Learn what it is doing for seniors across the globe.

The Importance of Senior Mobility to Healthy Aging

Maintaining and strengthening senior mobility is a key component of healthy aging. According to the World Health Organization, one third of seniors over the age of 65 fall at least once a year and about 50% of all admissions to long-term care communities are related to a fall.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham also took a closer look at the importance of senior mobility. Researcher Kellie Flood, M.D., of the UAB Division of Gerontology, said that: “Increased mobility limitations are the edge of that slippery slope that leads to loss of function.” In short, keeping seniors mobile increases strength, balance and coordination, which all work together to ultimately prevent falls.

In addition to fall prevention, keeping seniors active has a wide range of benefits. Physical activity can increase overall fitness and help seniors burn calories to maintain a healthy weight, in addition to improving cardiovascular health. Many activities are also done in a group setting which can help seniors avoid social isolation, a risk factor for dementia and depression.

Preventing Falls and Maintaining Mobility Using the Motion Wellness Systems

Senior Playground U.S.

A new tool from Xccent Fitness called the Motion Wellness System, is helping seniors around the world stay strong and social, while improving balance and enhancing their overall health.

Similar to the nostalgic playgrounds of our youth, the Motion Wellness Tool has over 20 different activities ranging from fitness steps and ramps, to balance beams, chin up bars and a stretching board. Activities can be modified to adapt to the physical fitness level of seniors. While many Motion Wellness Systems are found within assisted living communities, some are located in public parks. The systems located in public parks have the benefit of multi-generational play and allow grandparents to actively play with grandchildren, which has many health and physical benefits.

In addition to creative play and exercise for seniors, the Motion Wellness System can also be used as a tool for nurses and therapists to evaluate the fitness level of a patient. Upon implementation, staff undergoes a program called “Train the Trainer” which shows how the tool can be used and adapted for specific therapy needs of the patient. From there, trainers and therapists can develop a specific training program to improve a senior’s fitness, balance and coordination.

An Expert on the Topic of Senior Mobility

Xccent Fitness was founded in 1976 and began in the commercial playground industry developing innovative and safe playgrounds for children. Chaham says that after working closely with a developer in Finland, the Motion Wellness System was developed following six years of research and many hours of senior movement observation. He adds:

“For years it has been recognized that there is a need for standardized interventions in primary care for seniors to avoid missed opportunities to reduce the risk of falls and fractures.”

In addition, Carole Lewis, a well known geriatric rehabilitation specialist, will be conducting an independent study on the system. She is currently conducting case studies in the Washington, D.C. area with George Washington University and Howard University. The company is eagerly awaiting data in the next six months for more information on how the tool is engaging people and improving balance.

A Global Movement Toward Senior Health and Mobility

Senior Playground Canada

The Motion Wellness System is currently located in assisted living communities, senior centers and public parks across the world. There are over 800 systems installed throughout Europe and the tool is currently gaining momentum in the United States and Canada.

While the product is still new, feedback from communities who have the product shows that it has been very successful in maintaining mobility and engaging seniors at all health levels.

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Low-Impact Sports for Seniors

Posted on: June 20th, 2017

Many seniors miss the camaraderie and challenges of competitive sports. While there are exceptions, most of us find that our bodies can no longer physically keep up with the sports we once enjoyed when we were younger.Low-Impact Sports for Seniors

As baby boomers retire and move into senior living, many communities are providing access to low-impact sports so that everyone can enjoy the health and social benefits that being a part of a team provides.

Low-Impact Sports for Seniors

Join in on the fun by participating in one of these popular sports for seniors:

Bocce Ball

Bocce ball is a game with ancient roots, that was adopted by the Romans who viewed it as a sport of rulers and statesmen. The sport is now played across the globe in individual backyards, national leagues and in the Special Olympics.

Bocce ball is a popular choice at senior living communities due to its many health and social benefits for residents. It is a simple game, yet provides seniors a mental challenge as they learn strategies to improve their sport. The game also provides low-impact exercise, which can be enjoyed by those with disabilities through the use of ramps and other adaptations. Bocce Ball is a social activity as well, and allows players to enjoy friendly competition and learn new skills from others.

While the sport is traditionally played on a hard surface, it can easily be played on a lawn as long as the surface is level. To begin a game of bocce ball, a small ball is rolled onto the court and then each team takes turns tossing larger balls as close to the smaller ball as possible, the team with the most balls near the small ball wins.

Pickleball

Pickleball combines the best of badminton, ping pong and tennis into a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and athletic abilities. Pickleball was born in the mid-60’s when three friends from Bainbridge Island, Washington, were unable to find their badminton equipment so they improvised with the equipment at hand. Although the name is odd, the game has nothing to do with pickles but was named after pickle boats in crew racing. The game uses a paddle comparable to a large ping pong paddle and a ball that is similar to a whiffle ball.

The game has become very popular with seniors, since it is a low-impact sport that can be played indoors or outdoors and with or without teams. I spoke with Andy Nelson from Pickleball Experts, and asked why pickleball has become so popular with seniors:

“First, it is a great low-impact form of exercise that has a ton of health benefits. It is a great alternative to tennis for those who no longer feel they can cover that much court or deal with the injuries. Second, pickleball is a great social game that has formed countless friendships and brought communities of people together.”

Getting started with pickleball is simple even if you are not near a league or in a senior community with a pickleball court. Both existing tennis courts and badminton courts can easily be modified for pickleball and the only gear you need is a paddle and a ball.

As Andy explains, “Pickleballs are similar to whiffle balls, but slightly smaller, with unique varieties for indoor and outdoor play. Paddles come in all sorts of materials, shapes and sizes, and there is now a huge variety available from a number of manufacturers. It can be intimidating to find the right paddle, so we’ve created a pickleball paddle guide that makes the process easy.”

Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard had its beginnings in 15th century England within a game called shove groat, which eventually evolved into shuffleboard and came to America with the colonists. Shuffleboard soon became popular in the U.S. and tournaments were held throughout the colonies and eagerly attended by fans.

The game can be played on an indoor table or an outdoor court, which makes it a popular amenity for senior living communities. The game provides low-impact exercise, mental stimulation and socialization for seniors of all abilities and skill levels. Shuffleboard is another game where the basic rules can be learned in a few minutes but skill and strategies can continually be improved.

Getting started with shuffleboard can be easily done by joining a group at a local senior center, shuffleboard league or by participating in your community’s shuffleboard activities if you live in a senior community.

This article only touches on a few of the possibilities for seniors to continue their lifelong enjoyment of competition. Whichever sport you choose to enjoy, you will continue to reap the benefits of healthy exercise for brain and body.

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Safety for Seniors Online

Posted on: June 20th, 2017

The Internet is many things to many people, including an accessible source of information, a great place to shop, an easy way to bank and, most importantly, a place to connect with friends and family. Surfing the Internet from the safety of your home can give a false sense of security. The fact is, it can be easy for anyone to fall victim to online scams, fake news, fraud, identify theft and even abuse. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that “many of the crimes that occur in real life are now done – or at least facilitated – through the Internet. Theft, abuse, and more can be and are being done online.”Safety for Seniors Online

Although people of all ages are at risk, statistics show that when it comes to online safety, seniors are more vulnerable. In fact, according to the DHS, “seniors are defrauded at twice the rate of the rest of the population.”

How Seniors Are Targeted Online

Popular ways that scammers or thieves target seniors online include emails or websites for:

  • Dating services: The scammer becomes close with the victim and once they gain trust the scammer asks for money or personal information.
  • Charitable donations and requests for help: Often the charity isn’t legitimate or the request for help is a lie. The scammer is out to steal money or personal and financial information.
  • Health care offers: The old snakeskin salesperson scam, this one is as old as time. The scammer promises to heal or treat conditions using medical breakthroughs that don’t exist. Again the goal here is to steal money or obtain personal and financial information. The treatment simply doesn’t work or is never received.
  • Affordable prescription medication: There are legitimate online pharmacy sites, but there are others that are out to scam seniors. They either send medication that isn’t FDA approved, don’t send medication at all or simply steal the senior’s financial or personal information. This scam can be deadly if it results in a senior taking the wrong medication.
  • Online auctions and community buy and sell sites: An item is purchased but not received, a lesser quality item is received or the senior is abused or robbed when they meet up to trade the item with the seller.
  • Fake news stories: These stories report untrue news that creates a sense of urgency. These fake news articles often end with a request for a donation to “help the cause.”

Lock Down

Just because these dangers exist online doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go online. Study after study reports that seniors who are active online are happier and better connected with family, friends and the world around them. Instead, a shift in awareness is important to stay safe online. Just like you would lock your house and your car, there are safeguards that you can put in place to protect yourself and those you love.

Although these scams require some sort of interaction between the scammer and the senior, whether chatting through an online dating site or believing a fake news story, there are instances where no interaction is needed. For example, a store you shop at (online or in person) could have information stolen that is then used to hack into your bank account, steal your identity or even access your email.

The first step to online safety is to ensure you have secure passwords that are changed frequently and to have a different password for every site or asset that requires one, including your home computer. This is like having a different key for every room in your home, instead of just one key for the front door. With strong, unique passwords you’ll be less vulnerable should your password be stolen. If you use one password for everything, a stolen password means that the thief has access to everything.

How can you remember all these passwords?

When your web browser asks you to save passwords or credit card information, don’t! That’s the equivalent to putting your key under your doormat. Instead, use a secure password management software service such as Passpack.

These types of services require a complicated phrase plus a very secure password to access and, as long as you have that information, you can then login to see all your passwords across sites. Because this software’s business is keeping passwords safe, they have the best security out there. And some of them, like Passpack, are free to use.

A password management system is a great tool for anyone who frequently forgets their online passwords. It means that all the information and access you need is available in one place.

Common Sense

The DHS points out that the common sense rules that you’d apply in the real world apply online. These include:

  • Don’t overshare. Cybercriminals and identity thieves don’t have to connect with you to see the information you post. Don’t reveal any personal information to strangers or in public forums. This includes your name, address, age, phone number, birthday, email address, social security number, insurance policy numbers, bank information, doctor’s name, name of your children or grandchildren and the school your grandchildren go to.
  • Don’t talk to strangers. Be very careful of people who approach you online. It’s okay to chat with someone you don’t know but be very conscious of the information you share. Don’t open attachments or respond to email messages from people or companies that you don’t know.
  • Don’t take candy from a stranger. Be careful of entering contests or joining groups that require you to share your personal information. Don’t accept a trip or prize for something that you didn’t enter. Nothing is free, and emails that say you have a long lost relative who left you a fortune or want to contact you to give you a trip around the world are scamming you. Most legitimate companies don’t ask for personal information over email, and that includes requests to confirm or update your personal information. Don’t do it! Your bank and the government will never communicate with you in this way.
  • Be careful who you trust. Make sure the site is legitimate. Sites that end in .edu (education) or .gov (government) are trustworthy. When you’re using an online bank be sure that you’re on the right page (look for https://). It’s important to type the bank address directly in the address bar; don’t follow links to your bank (or other sites where you will need to put in personal information like a password). Your bank must have a padlock icon and any online shopping you do should also have the padlock icon, which means that the site is secure.
  • Check your credit card statements. If you bank or shop online then you need to check your credit card and bank statements on a regular basis to ensure that there is no suspicious activity. If there is, then you should report it right away.
  • Do your business at home. You wouldn’t go to a friend’s house to do your banking, so don’t bank or shop on a public computer (like at the library) or over WiFi. It’s simply not as secure as your home computer.

What’s Real and What’s Fake?

A recent study showed that 64% of U.S. adults felt that “made-up news caused a great deal of confusion about basic facts of current events.” Before you can determine what type of stories out there are real and which ones are fake, you first have to know what fake news is. According to the Globe and Mail, fake news is disinformation for profit, political gain or crime; viral pranks; or unethically reporting a hoax or fake news story as fact.

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to figure out what type of news, stories and websites are real and which ones are fake. Think it’s easy to spot fake news? Take this fun quiz from the Globe and Mail and see how well you’re able to spot the fake news story!

When it comes to news, here are some tips to help you figure out what information you can trust:

  • Trust your intuition. If your first reaction is “this can’t be real,” then listen to your gut and do some further digging.
  • What is the motive? Legitimate news should be unbiased. If the motive is to sell a product, service or idea, or to push a political ideology then you could be dealing with fake news, or news that is being reported in a questionable way.
  • Look at the source. Do you trust the source of the news story? Legitimate news stories source their information, usually with a hyperlink or a list of their sources at the bottom of the story. Check out the author’s sources to see if they are also legitimate. A news story without legitimate sources requires further digging before you should trust it.
  • Dig deeper. Some news outlets like The New Yorker are trustworthy because they have been reporting legitimately for years. But that doesn’t mean that you should automatically believe them. Even with sources you trust you should still:
    • Look at how the story is written. Is it written in a different or strange way? Is the grammar poor? It’s possible you’ve landed on a fake site masquerading as a legitimate one.
    • Check the URL. Is there a typo or country code you don’t recognize? Look for subtle changes, like an l being written as a 1.
    • Verify the social media account. Do they have a large following?
    • Verify the webpage. Do the other pages on the website look legitimate? What about the About Us page?
    • Double-check email. Is the sender’s address correct?
  • Get a second opinion. If the story is real news then it’s probably being reported by other legitimate news outlets. Take a look and see who else is covering the story, and how they are covering it.
  • Are you being asked to do something? If you receive a request for money or your personal information, don’t give it. Legitimate news sites don’t ask for your contact information or financial support.

When it comes to staying safe online, it’s important to use security measures, your common sense and to dig deeper for the truth. Sure, this takes some time and diligence on your part, but these are critical steps to keeping you safe, no matter what your age.

Have you or a loved one fallen victim to an online scam, fraud or fake news story? Share your experiences to help others avoid the same online traps.

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According to Seniors, This Is the Secret to a Happy Life

Posted on: June 20th, 2017

While finances are a hot senior living topic, multiple research studies have shown that financial well-being and material wealth are not the most important factors in living well. So, when the United States of Aging Survey asked seniors “what is most important to maintaining a high quality of life?” it’s no surprise that staying connected to family and friends was the most popular choice for four in 10 seniors. According to Seniors, This Is the Secret to a Happy Life

Searching for Happiness

The problem with determining what makes a life well-lived is that the definition of happiness changes depending on the individual and their values, goals and cultural beliefs. This year, U.S. News rated the countries they believe offer the best quality of life to their citizens. Citizens in Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and Norway have, according to this report, the best quality of life.

According to Business Insider, “if you regularly remark about how happy, safe and satisfied you feel in your personal and professional lives, you most likely have a pretty high quality of life.” Based on these factors, Business Insider has rated the following U.S. cities tops for their quality of life: Bellevue, Washington, Alexandria, Virginia, and Plano, Texas.

However, whether these cities offer the best quality of life for seniors is another matter —the United States of Aging Survey compared a nationally representative sample of adults aged 18-59 with 4,000 U.S. adults who were 60 and older, and the results showed that each demographic had very different ideas on aging and quality of life.

Ultimately, where you live doesn’t necessarily impact your quality of life, nor does your financial situation (although the United States of Aging Survey did note that low income seniors had a more difficult time in some important areas like connecting through technology and health).

So, what’s the biggest factor to a senior’s quality of life?

Family Is Everything

Seniors in America are driven by a desire to be close to their families, the United States of Aging Survey found. “More than half of seniors (53 percent) nationally indicate that being close to friends and family is important.” Technology, rather than physical proximity, is an important element in staying connected with family. “Eighty-four percent of seniors nationally cite technology as important to their ability to connect with the world around them,” the survey showed.

In fact, with seniors living longer, they’re using their “‘bonus years” (defined as the years they live beyond the average U.S. life expectancy of 78) to spend time with family, the survey found. Of the senior respondents in the survey:

  • “41 percent say seeing their children and grandchildren grow up is the most exciting prospect of living a longer life”
  • “One-fifth say spending time with friends and family will be the best part of their bonus years”
  • “18 percent say they are excited to have more time to do the things they enjoy”

Health an Important Factor

It’s not surprising that the survey found that health was a greater factor to a senior’s quality of life than money, but it is surprising to see how optimistic seniors are about their health. Sixty percent of seniors “expect their health to stay the same during the next five to 10 years (compared with 53 percent of adults aged 18-59).” This optimism prevails despite the survey findings, which showed that:

  • “65 percent of seniors report having at least two chronic health conditions”
  • “Less than one in five seniors has received guidance in the past year to develop an action plan for managing their health”
  • “26 percent of seniors nationally indicate they exercise less than once a week for 30 minutes or more”
  • “74 percent of low-income seniors report at least one barrier to managing their health condition, such as lack of energy or money”

So, while seniors in America may feel their quality of life is high (and that health plays an important role in their quality of life), the reality is that many seniors are overly optimistic about their health situation. While senior living experts have focused of late on the financial situation of American seniors, the results of the United States of Aging Survey show that seniors may also be overly optimistic about their health, a factor that ranks higher in their perceived quality of life.

You can access the full United States of Aging Survey here.

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Where Operators Plan to Spend for Tech in 2017

Posted on: March 22nd, 2017

The article below was originally posted on McKnight’s Senior Living, January 25, 2017, by 

Many senior living organizations will be investing in information and communication technology infrastructure in 2017, according to the results of a new Ziegler CFO Hotline survey.

The specialty investment bank, with input from the LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technology, in December asked senior living organization chief financial officers about their companies’ technology spending plans for the next 12 months. A total of 115 CFOs participated in the survey, 65% of them from single-site organizations and 35% from multi-site providers.

The most frequently cited area for planned investment over the next 12 months was ICT (sometimes calls e-health) infrastructure, with 45% of total respondents indicating that their communities intend to spend money in this area. Fifty-five percent of multi-site operators plan such expenditures, compared with 38% of single-site operators.

The second most popular area for planned technology investment this year is electronic health or medical records systems. Overall, 35% of respondents said they plan to make such investments, with 40% of multi-site operators and 31% of single-site operators making such plans.

The third most popular area for planned tech expenditures is access control/wander management systems. Overall, 31% of respondents said their communities will invest in such systems in 2017. The rate is 35% of multi-site operators and 27% of single-site operators.

See the complete survey results, including information about past technology spending, here.

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