Centenarian Credits Life-Long Learning

By: Sandra Cline on April 24, 2012

We recently read about a Taiwanese gentleman who earned a second university degree at age 91, a master’s degree at 98, and recently celebrated his 100^th birthday…still living and learning each day joyously.

Born in China, Chao Mu-ho earned his first university degree as a typical young student, but was unable to put it to use because of unrest and wars in his home country.

At age 40, he emigrated toTaiwanwhere he began a 25-year teaching career. But retirement didn’t dim Chao’s commitment to learning and growing. He spent his days reading, writing calligraphy, learning and using his computer, learning English and more.

His motto: “Opening eyes greet the morning and another day of work.” It is a philosophy Chao lives daily. And, because of it, he knows, “What the young can do, I can do, too.”

Chao lives alone on the fourth floor of an apartment building, where he is entirely self-sufficient, even tending his own garden. His decision to return to university for a second undergraduate degree came when he agreed to take the college’s entrance exams with his grandson. Both earned places, and Chao graduated at age 91.

Post-graduate studies mirrored his undergraduate experience. To encourage the son of a friend to focus on studying, Chao agreed to take the entrance exam with the young man. Both were admitted, and Chao began two-years of a lengthy daily commute. He was so determined to set a good example for his younger classmates that he never missed a single class in that two years.

His master’s degree was awarded when he was 98 years of age, and he began a new career as a volunteer helping raise funds to give to elders without family. One of his gifts was to write the words “Helping elders as an elder” in the ancient “bird-worms” calligraphy style he had learned as a youth. The tokens were presented to donors as a thank-you from the Huashan Social Welfare Foundation and the Genesis Social Welfare Foundation which led the project.

Chao credits living simply and exercising physically and mentally for his long and happy life. A lesson, perhaps, for us all.

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Thank a Volunteer This Week!

By: Sandra Cline on April 16, 2012

April 16 – 20 is National Volunteer Week, and no organization could be more proud of its volunteers than Westminster Village North. Last year, our volunteers provided almost $100,000 in time value to the Village.

Among the benefits they provide to our residents:

• Helping residents exercise their creative talents by helping with arts and crafts;
• Helping raise money for the Resident Council by assisting in the Bargain Basement;
• Enabling more residents to take trips off-campus by pitching in on outings;
• Tickling the ivories, strumming a guitar, or singing…anything to provide live entertainment five days each week;
• Volunteering in the mailroom to sort and deliver, six days each week; and
• So much more, playing games, taking residents on walks, providing one-on-one visits, bringing therapy and companion animals to visit, leading religious service…the list is absolutely endless!

So, please, if you see a volunteer – at Westminster Village North or anywhere else – say, “Thank you.” Their work is a blessing!

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Vitality, Wisdom and Wit

By: Sandra Cline on February 27, 2012

Sir William Osler was probably the most influential physician of his era when he retired from the medical faculty at Johns Hopkins in 1905. His farewell speech focused on the link between age and accomplishment, and his conclusion was that the truly important work of the world was accomplished by those between the ages of 25 and 40. He called them the “15 golden years of plenty.”

In comparison, he found those older than 40 to be intellectually “useless.” And those older than 60? The world, Osler said, would be a far better place if those individuals stopped work altogether.

Of course, Dr. Osler exempted himself from that depressing recommendation. Upon leaving Johns Hopkins, he accepted a position atOxfordUniversity, where he remained until his death at age 70.

We disagree with Dr. Osler’s 1905 conclusions, too. AtWestminsterVillageNorth – where the minimum age for residents of our independent retirement apartments and cottages is 62 – we see evidence every single day of the vitality, wisdom and wit of those well into their 90s and beyond. What a sad, sad place the world would be if our seniors took the good doctor’s recommendations to heart!

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We’re Celebrating Therapeutic Recreation Month

By: Sandra Cline on February 14, 2012

 

February is Therapeutic Recreation Month, and the perfect time to celebrate these dedicated individuals.

Our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) are one more way we concentrate our efforts on wellness and maximizing the independence of all residents at Westminster Village North.

Recreational therapists work alongside our other rehabilitation specialists to improve the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and leisure needs of our population. They concentrate on the specific interests and lifestyle of the individual, helping to ensure the client develops and retains a healthy leisure lifestyle when he/she returns to the community. Specialized leisure education programs are designed for short-term rehabilitation patients, as well as those in long-term care and memory support units.

In most communities, therapeutic recreation requires a doctor’s referral. At Westminster Village North, we want all our residents to enjoy the benefits of this unique specialty, so we incorporate it within our wellness culture.

Our health center activities department is led by a CTRS, and another CTRS is on the activities staff. A third CTRS concentrates her days between our Medicare-certified rehabilitation wing and our advanced dementia unit. The results are amazing.

Walk through our health center on any afternoon and you may find late-stage dementia residents creating beautiful murals, rehab patients honing their putting skills, and long-term nursing care residents baking and decorating holiday cookies.

We’re celebrating Therapeutic Recreation Month because we know what a difference Laura Myers, Brittany Mendenhall and Patricia Whitener (left to right, above) make to our residents.

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Many Reasons Why Nonprofit Communities Make Sense

By: Sandra Cline on January 23, 2012

“Most studies show that nonprofits do a better job of caring for patients,” said JiSun Choi, a postdoctoral fellow in nursing and long-term care at the University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing. Choi was quoted in a recent column on the New York Times blog, “The New Old Age.”

The January 4 post by author Paula Span cites a study Dr. Choi led interviewing 900 registered nurses at 300 nursing homes. The findings: nurses working in nonprofit nursing homes were significantly more satisfied with their jobs than their counterparts in for-profit facilities.

That’s no surprise to us at Westminster Village North. As a nonprofit community, we understand the difference between us and for-profit entities. Most important among them: we have the luxury of focusing on our residents, rather than increasing the dividends for absent owners, investors and shareholders.

Quality, not earnings, is the barometer of our efforts, and proceeds from our operations are reinvested in the community – improving the property and environment of our campus, serving more people, offering more and better accommodations and services. We operate with mission-driven values, and hold ourselves accountable to our residents, staff and volunteer board of directors.

That gives all of us who work at Westminster Village North a definite sense of satisfaction, meaning and purpose. Maybe that’s why we have so little turnover, and a management staff that averages more than 10 years tenure.

As we’ve said so many times, it’s people, not profits that define the nonprofit retirement community’s success. When you’re shopping for a retirement community, assisted living accommodations, Medicare rehabilitation, or long-term care, that makes a nonprofit the logical place to start.

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ADLs Key to Senior Living Choices

By: Sandra Cline on January 13, 2012

Aging – especially when combined with illness or injury – can sometimes limit one’s ability to perform the simple tasks required for normal daily living. Those limits can be temporary or permanent, but definitely contribute to any decision about a senior’s living choices.

The acronym “ADLs” refers to “Activities of Daily Living,” and healthcare professionals, senior living advisors and long-term care insurance companies typically assess ADLs to measure the functional status of an individual.

The six basic tasks required for self-care are eating; bathing (including getting in and out of the tub or shower); dressing and undressing; toileting (getting to and from, and on and off); transferring (getting in and out of bed, or from one place to another); and maintaining continence.

The number of ADLs with which an individual needs assistance may be a barometer of whether or not Medicare-paid rehabilitation is necessary. It also can trigger long-term care insurance benefits.

But perhaps even more important for deciding whether you or a loved one can continue living independently or require some home care assistance or a move to assisted living are IADLs (instrumental activities of daily living).

Some IADL questions to think about when evaluating the situation include:

*Can you safely and comfortably shop, including choosing and buying food, clothing, etc.?

*Can you manage your money, paying bills, balancing a checkbook and so on?

*Can you plan and cook healthy, delicious meals for yourself?

*Can you safely drive a car, or travel independently by taxi or other public transportation?

*Do you remember to take all prescribed medications at the correct time?

*Can you keep your home clean and tidy?

If you or a loved one is beginning to have difficulties with two or more of the ADLs or IADLs, talk with your physician or a trusted family member or friend.

Because nonprofit continuing care retirement communities offer a full continuum of care without the burden of profit-making, their professionals can help you make the decision about what the best residential setting is for your situation – anything from your own home to a senior apartment, assisted living, or even long-term care.

The professionals at Westminster Village North are ready to help you have that discussion.

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Karen Black is Certified Senior Advisor

By: Sandra Cline on January 6, 2012

Karen Black has been in the senior housing industry for more than 25 years – 16 of them right here at Westminster Village North. Five years ago, she decided to add to her wealth of knowledge about seniors by seeking certification as a senior advisor.

After a rigorous course of study and a proctored examination, Karen earned the title Certified Senior Advisor (CSA).

That’s important to our residents and those considering retirement living options, because the CSA program incorporates a broad-based education in the health, social and financial issues that are important to seniors, and the dynamics of how those factors work together in seniors’ lives.

“Seniors today face surprisingly complex issues,” Karen says. “Understanding how all those concerns are interwoven requires more than just knowing the sizes and amenities of senior apartments and cottages.”

Karen and her co-workers in the marketing department at Westminster Village North aren’t “sales people” in any sense of the word. They listen first, because their aim is to help seniors achieve their goals “If living in a continuing care retirement community isn’t the best solution for an individual, we want to help him and his family understand what other options should be explored,” Karen says. “We never hesitate to make referrals to more compatible living choices.”

As the marketing manager in Westminster Village North’s assisted living neighborhood, Karen has made it a point to understand and keep current with financial assistance vehicles such as long-term care insurance, veterans’ benefits, and the Medicaid Waiver program. Her counterparts in our independent and long-term care levels take advantage of Karen’s expertise, too. It’s all part of our nonprofit mission to enhance the lives of seniors.

“When looking at senior living options, you want to be sure you are dealing with an ethical, honest and principled professional,” she says. “Those are the only kind of people who should be working with seniors. Maintaining those standards is a huge part of the CSA designation, and why I make sure I continue to deserve that designation.”

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Grown-Up Resolutions for the New Year

By: Sandra Cline on December 27, 2011

If you’re finding it increasingly difficult to keep your New Year’s Resolutions, maybe it’s time to put away those boring, self-improvement-good-intentions-be-a-nicer-person versions and concentrate on resolving to have a happier, more fun and fulfilling life in 2012.

At Westminster Village North, we have lots of opportunities to fill your life with entertainment, enrichment and socialization. But we’re not so smug as to think we’ve covered all the bases. Maybe it’s time for you to let the leisure services coordinator know what you’d enjoy in 2012.

Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking.

1. You may not cook much anymore, but that doesn’t mean all those wonderful family recipes should be retired. Get together with a group of friends and resolve to create a “family” cookbook to share with your individual families. Each of you can contribute one, two or as many recipes as you like. Then combine them all into a “cookbook” that you can each gift to your families next Christmas!
2. Feeling a little left out of the family? Maybe it’s time to give up that principled refusal to join the tech world and start sharing on-line with your children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Resolve to learn computer-ese in 2012, and start communicating through e-mail, Skype and Facebook. Interested? We’ll schedule the classes.
3. Once you get the hang of computers, reach beyond your family and close friends. Share your knowledge, ideas, experience and opinions on your very own blog.You could become famous – or just blow off a little steam in this election year.
4. If you miss the days of real letters, handwritten on real paper, revive the tradition with a “letter journal.” Purchase a blank journal and write a “letter” to a friend or loved one. When you next see that person, give him the journal and ask him to write you a letter on the following pages and then return the book. Before you know it, you’ll both be looking forward to reading your next “letter,” and the process may continue well into 2013!
5. Book clubs don’t have to be about novels. Reach out to your like-minded friends and create a book club that delves into the kind of reading you enjoy. History. Biography. The classics.
6. Create your own festivities. Invite your neighbors to a “floor party” for New Year’s Eve or another holiday. Our staff can help you create invitations and plan party games.
7. Grab a friend or two and learn a new game. Backgammon. Chess. The Name Game. Bezzerwizzer. Blokus.
8. Have a Farkel Party. Interested? Contact leisure services.

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Make It a Safe and Healthy Holiday

By: Sandra Cline on December 19, 2011

            The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Office of Women’s Health offers some great tips for maintaining health through the busy holiday season, and some of them are especially pertinent for seniors.

1. Wash your hands often. One of the easiest ways to minimize your chances of spreading germs and getting sick is to wash your hands with soap and clean running water often. The CDC recommends a minimum of 20 seconds. An easy way to be sure: keep lathering for as long as it takes you to sing a chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

2. Stay warm. Stay dry. Layer loose-fitting, tightly woven clothing so it’s easy to adjust for varying temperatures indoors and out. Put safety before fashion when heading outdoors; gloves, hats, scarves, thick socks and boots are essential winter wear. And if it’s really, really cold, pull that scarf up over your nose and mouth to warm the air going into your lungs.

3. Manage stress. Don’t be afraid to say “thank you, but no,” when you start getting over-committed. Ask for help and support from family and friends. Don’t over-spend. And remember to get plenty of sleep!

4. Travel safely. Seat belts aren’t just the law; they’re common sense. Buckle up whenever you drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Pull off the road into a safe parking lot if you need to use your cell phone or send or receive a text message. Don’t drink and drive, and don’t ride with a driver who has been drinking!

5. Stay smoke-free. If you smoke, quit! Talk with your health care provider for strategies to help, or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). Avoid breathing second-hand smoke, too. Ask smokers near you to abstain or step outside.

6. Prevent injury. Candles, fireplaces and stoves all add atmosphere to the season, but never leave them unattended. Use a stepstool, rather than a piece of furniture to reach the back of that top shelf. Check the batteries on your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector (you DO have them, don’t you?).

7. Eat healthy and stay active. Don’t use the holidays as an excuse to over-indulge. Moderation and balance are the keys to enjoying tempting holiday treats without regret. Instead of a snack, take a walk…or how about dancing to your favorite holiday music?

            For more ideas and ways to help the whole family stay healthy during the holidays, visit www.cdc.gov/family/holiday. And from all of us at Westminster Village North, have a wonderful, happy and healthful holiday!

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Project Linus ‘Spreading the Warmth’

By: Sandra Cline on December 16, 2011

            Residents of Westminster Village North’s assisted living apartments joined with the City of Lawrence Fire Department Auxiliary to help “spread warmth and comfort one blanket at a time” through Project Linus. The ladies contributed seven beautiful new hand-made blankets.

            The Central Indiana Chapter of Project Linus was established in 1996 and,k since then, has donated more than 17,000 hand-made blankets to Indianapolis-area hospitals, homeless shelters, foster homes and camps for medically challenged children.

            Named after the security-blanket-toting character in Charles Schulz’s “Peanuts” comic strip, Project Linus is a 100 percent volunteer nonprofit organization. Its mission is first to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need and, second to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for volunteers.

            Monetary donations help offset the cost of supplies, and blanket-makers provide crocheted, quilted, knitted or fleece blankets or tied comforters. Every donated item must be hand-made and brand new.

            In Central Indiana, blankets are donated to Riley Children’s Hospital Cheer Guild, Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital atSt. Vincent, Community Hospital South, IU Methodist Hospital, The Little Red Door, St. Frances Hospital South, Coburn Place Safe Haven, IU Clarian Hospital North, the Julian Center, the Dawn Project, Community Hospital North, St. Frances Hospital, and Johnson Memorial Hospital.

            To participate in or donate to Project Linus, visit http://www.orgsites.com/in/projectlinus/ .

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