(Centerville, OH) On January 19 Bethany Village, sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, unveiled the designs and redevelopment construction plan for nine new Grand Cottages that will replace 12 original cottages constructed in 1972. Aptly named “Grand”, the new cottages are 50% larger than the cottages they replace and are loaded with pleasing amenities, comfort and safety features achieved through universal architectural design.
More than 100 invited guests attended the reception and unveiling presentation to learn more about senior housing options and trends in retirement communities from Bill Serr, President and CEO of Graceworks Lutheran Services and George Oberer, Jr., President of Oberer Companies, the project developer.
“Our commitment to the community is to meet the needs of area seniors and this means offering the very latest in housing options,” said Bill Serr.
“Today’s retirees want new construction, fresh approaches to daily living, bright and open floor plans and smart spaces. This is a unique opportunity to experience new construction at Bethany Village. Although we will continue to remodel and enhance other cottages and residences as opportunity allows, brand new construction may not be possible again for several years,” he stated. Construction begins in March and plans call for cottages to be completed by the end of the year.
Mr. Serr noted that even during the recent downturn in the real estate market and ongoing slow economy, Bethany Village remains “stable and vibrant, thanks in large part to listening to our customer’s needs and wants and careful planning.”
The unveiling event also featured reality video testimonials by five Bethany Village residents about what it means to live at Bethany. They were present to answer questions. See the video on the website www.bethanylutheranvillage.org.
The $1.9 million project for the nine new Grand cottages caps off new construction on Bethany Village’s 100-acre campus in the foreseeable future. Bethany’s master plan, which peaked in 2009 with the $47 million expansion program, added 60 new residences for the nationally accredited continuing care retirement community that is home for more than 750 adults over the age of 62. Bethany Village was founded in 1946.
Did you make a resolution to get fit this new year? Maybe you just want to add a little cardio into an already existing workout routine. Whatever the case, walking is a great option -- especially for seniors! Places like Bethany Village offer safe and expansive walking trails for both exercise and pleasure. Bethany's full time exercise physiologist Christy Trittschuh has some tips to integrate walking into your everyday routine. Here are her top five tips:
1. Time is more important than distance. Strive for 20 to 30 minutes a day. You can start with even 5 minutes of walking at a time and build from there.
2. Wear shoes with a rubber sole, good arch support and cushioning.
3. Pedometers are good to measure the distance. You can make great strides by just adding one more block at a time to each walk.
4. A buddy is a good support system and encouragement tool. Find someone who will hold you accountable for doing the exercise. You will also feel secure that someone is with you.
5. Always remember: if it is icy, move your workout indoors.
Finally, do you need a little help sticking with your resolutions? Christy has help with that as well. She says to:
1. Do activities you enjoy.
2. Integrate fitness in your schedule.
3. Use the buddy system for motivation and support.
4. Stay off the weight scales.
5. Start off slowly.
6. Remember: you’re unique.
7. Don’t work too hard – go at your own pace.
8. Reschedule missed workouts.
9. Make fitness a habit.
10.Have a plan for what you want to achieve from your workout.
Finally, if you're already an avid exerciser, you might consider another popular resolution aimed at older adults. Some of these include planning a fun trip, reading a self-help book and committing to laughter.
Did you make a resolution for 2012?
Bethany Village Pastor Bob Ashburn reflects on the coming year ahead.
There are some wonderful New Year’s traditions from all around the world that tell us different approaches to the occasion. In many countries, there’s a shared belief that specific actions taken on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day—or at the stroke of midnight when one becomes the other—can influence the fate of the months ahead.
In Spain, everyone eats 12 grapes at midnight so that they will have 12 months of good luck. In Great Britain, the First Footer tradition tells about the good luck that comes with the person who first sets foot in your home in the New Year. In Japan, people start to laugh at midnight because that is going to bring them good luck in the New Year. These traditions look forward to the future year, hoping that some ritual which is performed will bring about positive things.
There are also traditions that look to the past. In Hungary the people burn effigies, or a scapegoat known as "Jack Straw." The scapegoat represents the evils and misfortunes of the past year. Burning the effigy is supposed to get rid of the bad luck. This same practice is done in several countries of Central and South America. The meaning here is that the past is gone, so you will live only in the New Year.
As we begin a New Year with 2012, I invite you to combine some of the meaningfulness from each of these traditions. Look forward to a future of challenges and comforts. Don’t forget about those things in the past which have brought you this far. No matter what tradition you hold, spend time with friends and family. Share yourself. Then you will find that you will have a Happy New Year!
Bethany Village Pastor Bob Ashburn reflects on the holiday season.
We have many celebrations in December. Those of us in the Christian traditions are celebrating the birth of Jesus our Lord. This is the assurance for us that God is with us and that God is willing to go to extreme measures to be with us. Even though the date has been set for December 25th, we do our celebrating all month long or even longer. There is a radio station here in Dayton that began playing Christmas music on November 1st this year! The giving in the Christmas tradition goes back to the gifts of the Wise Men (their holiday is January 6th) and to St. Nicholas (his holiday is December 6th). When we talk about the twelve days of Christmas, however, these are the days from December 25th until January 5th.
In the Jewish tradition there is the celebration of Hanukkah. This is a holiday that in 2011 begins on December 20th and continues through December 28th. The celebration commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek-Syrian army in the Second Century BCE. The celebration is the "Festival of Lights" because God’s miracle during the victory had to do with an oil supply for lights that did not go out. Today, families celebrate this festival through the lighting of lights, through gift giving, through eating of foods cooked with oil, and through the playing of games.
Now, notice that in our December celebrations we have traditions of giving and sharing. We remember at this time, no matter what our faith, that we have something to give to others and that we have received so much from others as well. May your December be filled with much giving and much sharing.
Happy Veterans Day!On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, fighting ceased in Western Europe. This was the end of World War I.
This is the first year the holiday has fallen on 11/11/11 as Armistice Day did not exist before 1919. The holiday become official in 1938 and in 1954, President Eisenhower signed a law changing the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, honoring all who have served and not just veterans of World War I.
Bethany Village residents and staff will commemorate Veterans Day on November 11 with special programming.
For example, historic military vehicles will be on display for all to see. There will also be a display of military memorabilia, provided by Bethany residents. Residents - and staff - will gather to share stories of service and sacrifice.
Bethany is home to many soldiers and Marines.
On Veterans Day, residents will also pay tribute to the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Marines throughout the world gather on November 10 to celebrate the birth of their Corps. By creating special programming for both Veterans Day and the Marine Corps birthday, residents of all service backgrounds can gather, knowing they are showing honor to each other -- and the country.
All this week, staff and residents of Bethany Village are engaging in a wide array of activities related to Alzheimer's disease. The week is an effort to raise awareness about the disease and pay tribute to those affected. Residents are taking part in both fun and reflective activities. For example, caregivers and residents alike walked the halls of Bethany, reading facts about Alzheimer's that were posted on the walls. After the walk, many residents gathered for a fun game of bingo. Purple is the official color of Alzheimer's awareness. To this end, bingo tables were adorned with purple tablecloths and matching balloons. Staff are even wearing purple each Tuesday in November as a sign of solidarity.
Caregivers of a patient with Alzheimer's face several medical risk factors including stress and burnout. Bethany hosted a Caregiver's Retreat offering a day of relaxation for family members of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Perhaps most important after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is a strong support network. Bethany Village has an official Alzheimer's support group that meets regularly.
If you would like more information Alzheimer's disease, please visit the Alzheimer's Association online.
It’s that delicious time of year when we can enjoy all the colors, flavors, aromas and textures of the fall harvest. Among all the fruits and vegetables available right now, the apple is arguably the most universally popular – and versatile. And here's a bonus: apples are filling, low in calories, a good source of fiber and rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants.
There are many types of apple, each with its own unique characteristics. This quick guide can help you select apples for cooking, eating and baking:
- Baldwin: An all-purpose apple great for baking; known for tartness and crisp texture
- Cortland: Tart and crisp, great in salads; hold their shape well during baking
- Empire: Sweet, crisp and firm
- Gala: Mild, sweet, crisp and juicy; best eaten raw
- Golden Delicious: Juicy, mild and sweet; an easy-to-use all-purpose apple
- Granny Smith: Bright green tart, crisp and hard; holds its shape well during baking; great in salads or eaten by itself
- Honey Crisp: Very crisp and juicy, both sweet and tart; are eaten out-of-hand or used in cooking
- Idared: Tart, crisp and firm; stores well and is good for all-purpose use
- Jonagold: Sweet and tart Jonathan–Golden Delicious hybrid; good in pies and sauces
- Jonathan: Sweet and acidic; great for eating raw, baking and sauces
- McIntosh: Sweet, juicy and less firm; makes great sauces and juices; good in salsa
- Macoun: Tart and crisp; good for eating raw, baking and sauces
- Northern Spy: Tart and delicate; may be the best baking apple
- Red Delicious: One of the most famous varieties; best for eating raw
- Rome Beauty: Sweet and firm; holds its shape well during baking and cooking
And here’s a final hint: How do you keep raw apples from turning brown after the flesh is exposed to the air? The citric acid in lemon juice or orange juice will do the trick. Lemon juice is available in a spray bottle, which makes it very convenient to spritz apple slices!
Do you have a favorite apple recipe?
While driving past my local fire station this morning, I saw a line of children – they looked like first- or second-graders – walking two by two with a teacher at the either end of the queue. They were headed into the firehouse for what was likely their first-ever visit and formal lesson in fire safety. And since October 9-15 is National Fire Prevention Week, the children’s field trip was very timely!
We are very conscientious about teaching our kids the basics of fire safety because they are such a vulnerable group. Many of us, however, overlook what is arguably an equally vulnerable group – the elderly, especially older folks who live alone. Seniors with hearing or vision loss and those with mobility impairments may not detect fire quickly and may be hindered in their escape.
In fact, adults between age 65 and 75 have a fire death rate twice that of the national average; between age 75 and 85, three times the national average; and over age 85, four times the national average. The leading cause of fire deaths in the elderly? Smoking. The leading cause of fire-related injuries in the elderly? Cooking.
Here are some fire safety tips for any senior who lives independently, whether in a retirement village or in a community setting:
- The single most important step you can take to save your life during a fire is to install smoke alarms, which can alert you to the presence of deadly smoke while there is still time to escape. Place alarms next to each sleeping area and on every floor of your home. Ask friends, family members, building managers or someone from the fire department to install and test smoke alarm batteries at least twice a year – spring and fall with the change of daylight savings time is a good plan. If your smoke alarms are hardwired (connected to the electric circuitry of your residence), make sure they are also equipped with battery back-ups.
- Whether at home or elsewhere, always know the location of the nearest exit. If you live in an apartment building, know where the exit stairwell is and plan to wait there for help if you cannot take the stairs. If you live in a multistory house, try to sleep on the ground floor. Plan your escape route around your capabilities and practice it.
- Have at least one fire extinguisher – and know how to use it. Keep a fire extinguisher easily accessible in the kitchen. If you are confined to a wheelchair, consider having a small easy-to-reach fire extinguisher in mounted on your chair
- Make sure there is a phone next to your bed within arm’s reach. Keep emergency telephone numbers and hearing aids (if necessary) handy.
- Never leave the stove unattended while cooking. If you need to step away from the stove, turn it off. Keep towels and potholders away from the burners. If food or grease catches fire, smother the flames by sliding a lid over the pan and turning off the heat.
- Never use appliances with exposed wires.
- Make sure that you are alert when you smoke.
- NEVER SMOKE IN BED!
- If an oxygen source is nearby, warn guests to refrain from smoking.
- Don't leave portable heaters alone or go to sleep while they are on.
- Don’t overload electrical outlets or extension cords.
- If your residence is on fire, get out as soon as possible – and stay out. Do not try to gather personal possessions before you leave.
For more information, visit the Ohio Fire Marshal’s website. Take some time during National Fire Prevention Week to think about your own safety and that of your family and friends.
Medicare’s Open Enrollment for 2012 plans begins and ends earlier this year, October 15 through December 7. The new schedule allows you more time to review your options and gives Medicare more processing time, ensuring that your coverage continues without interruption on January 1, 2012.
If you are a Medicare participant, you should have received your annual notification letter by now. You have two important decisions to make:
- All Medicare enrollees must choose a "Part D" plan to help pay for prescription drugs.
- If you are in a "Part C" Medicare Advantage plan for basic health care services, you can stay in that plan, choose a different plan or go back to the Original Medicare program.
As a Medicare participant, you also have some important new benefits:
- You are entitled to an annual wellness visit with your doctor to discuss your health and health care needs.
- Prevention services like mammograms and other cancer screenings are now available with no cost sharing.
- If you reach the "donut hole" in your drug costs, you will now get a 50% discount on covered brand-name drugs and a 14% discount on generics.
It is definitely worth re-visiting your Medicare coverage during Open Enrollment to check that you have the best options in place to meet your needs. But don’t feel like you have to go through this decision-making process alone. Involve a trusted family member or friend.
Visit company websites to compare plans for additional services such as free transportation to medical appointments, nurse hotlines, pharmacist counseling and house call visits that help save money and keep you out of the hospital. Check the rules. Some plans require you to see specific doctors and obtain advance approvals prior to care. Other plans let you select your physicians and receive treatment without pre-approval.
After considering your options, if you think that the plan you have suits you best, you don’t have to do anything. But if your current plan does not meet your needs and expectations, look for a better one and make that change before the Medicare Open Enrollment period ends on December 7, 2011.
Here are a couple of links for websites with more information:
www.medicare.gov and the Ohio State Health Insurance Assistance Program www.insurance.ohio.gov/consumer/pages
Or call the Medicare hotline by dialing 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to ask questions or gather more information by telephone.
Under any circumstances, moving is wrought with all kinds of stress. But when you are leaving a house you’ve called home for a long time, friends and neighbors whose lives have intertwined with yours, a church that has been a pillar of strength, and a community of people who have made up the fabric of your life – well, it’s just more than anyone can be expected to embrace joyfully. Faced with this kind of profound change, many people need a helping hand to help them make a smooth transition.
The majority of people who move to Bethany have been in their homes for more than 30 years. The house itself is like a family member. That’s a lot of memories – and often meaningful personal possessions – to leave behind. And when the transition is rushed, there is even less time to prepare for the move emotionally.
To help make moving easier for new residents, Bethany Pastor Bob Ashburn established a moving transition support group here at Bethany. The group had its first meeting in September, and although it was small, feedback was positive. The group will become the "first stop" for new residents wanting to balance their feelings of loss with their anticipation for a happy future Bethany.
We encourage open discussion so people can share their coping strategies and learn they are not alone in feeling sad or even fearful about making such a dramatic change. The goal of the support group is to help residents learn that nothing will – or should – replace their memories. And most of all, they can find new friends, new traditions, and lots of fun, peace and joy at Bethany Village.
If you have a question about Bethany’s moving transition group or want more information, please write a comment and we will contact you.
Bethany Village salutes the U.S. Air Force on the 64th anniversary of its establishment as an independent military service. For more than six decades, the men and women of the Air Force have been models of integrity, service before self and excellence. We are proud to have a number of Air Force retirees living at Bethany Village. In honor of those who served, Bethany will celebrate the birthday of the Air Force on Friday, September 16. Resident Air Force veterans and veterans' spouses (as well as veterans from other service branches wishing to recognize our residents who have served in the U.S. Air Force) are invited to attend. We will also show the movie "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" on Friday, September 30--a classic movie highlighting the true story of "The Doolittle Raid" and our boys in the air.
Bethany’s “base of operations,” Dayton, Ohio, is also home to Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB). From its beginnings as the Wright brothers' testing field, WPAFB has evolved into headquarters for Air Force worldwide logistics, systems development and procurement, aeronautical engineering. Today Wright Patterson is an almost $60 billion enterprise equivalent to a Fortune 34 company. In addition, WPAFB is home to an extensive research laboratory complex, education center and medical center. It is also the site of National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, which attracts visitors from around the world. WPAFB also provides "shelter from the storm:" Five C-130s and one C-17 found temporary refuge at Wright Patterson during hurricane Irene.
Since 1997 (the Air Force’s 50th anniversary year), WPAFB has hosted the official Air Force Marathon on the third Saturday in September. This year’s event – which includes a full marathon, wheelchair race, half marathon, 10K and 5K – will be held September 17. All levels of runners from around the world will be participating. Over the years, the competition has grown to include more than 12,000 enthusiasts. The marathon course traverses historical places across WPAFB such as the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Wright Brothers Memorial Monument. The Air Force Marathon course is certified by the USA Track and Field Association and is a Boston marathon qualifying race.
Spectators at the marathon’s start and finish lines are welcome.
The following is an original devotion by Pastor Larry A. Hoffsis, Graceworks Mission Integration Consultant. The words are in memory of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Newspaper headlines today warn of another attack. New Yorkers are asked to be vigilant. Fear is again in the air…literally. A case in point: my cousin was going to fly from Mobile to join her two sisters in Minneapolis this weekend, that is, until she realized that this weekend is the 10th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center. Ten years later, our elective decisions are still influenced by the fear the attack created.
Where to turn? Like many of you, I instinctively turn to the Bible. And where in the Bible? To a psalm that has been blessing our church for a long time—Psalm 46.
Just listen to the calming influence of the open verses:
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
After more words of assurance, the psalm gives us this refrain:
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
To read Psalm 46 in the context of this weekend leads one to conclude that the author must have lived through events as earth-shattering and fear-provoking as those we remember ten years ago.
“Though the earth should change.” Our world changed that day.
“Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.” Those man-made skyscraper mountains shook that day and collapsed in the heart of the city.
“Though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” The mountains of our self confidence and security, symbolized in these engineering and architectural wonders, trembled, toppled and the tumult resulted in a still-felt fearfulness.
Although that emotion was predictable and understandable, in lifting our eyes beyond the towers to God, we find an antidote for crippling fear. It is confident faith.
Many had warned Martin Luther not to go to Worms to appear before the Emperor. The twin towers of state and church were crumbling as his protectors. One declared him an outlaw, the other a heretic. Where to turn? He turned to Psalm 46, which further directed him to place faith in the One whose protection would not crumble. God, neither state nor church, is our refuge and strength.
This God is still a very present help in our time of trouble. This is the reason we do not fear, even though we have experienced the trauma of 9/11 and live today with a continuation of threats.
The same Lord of hosts who was with Luther, is with us. The same God of Jacob is our refuge.
Prayer:
Oh God, you are our refuge. Give us what is appropriate for this weekend: moments of silence to honor the memory of the fallen, arms of mercy to support the grieving, amazing grace to overcome evil with good, and an abiding faith in you to override our fear. We pray this in the name of Emmanuel, the One you sent to convince us that you are and remain with us. Amen
Photo: New York City, USA - May 6, 2011: The World Trade Center Cross, also known as The Ground Zero Cross, is seen being viewed by people along Church Street, Lower Manhattan.
Bethany Village Pastor Bob Ashburn reflects on the anniversary of 9/11 with this message to the campus community:
September 11, 2011 is the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. I remember I was home in Sarasota, Florida, watching the local news coverage of President Bush interacting with students at a Sarasota elementary school. At first, we didn’t know what happened in New York. Then, we were all shocked to find out that terrorists were hijacking planes and flying them into buildings.
Over 2,900 people died in those attacks and it changed this country’s belief that we are safe within our borders. This resulted in the passage of the Homeland Security Act and the Patriot Act in the following months. I was hit hard, as I had watched those World Trade towers as they were being built in the 1970’s while I was attending high school in New York. Then I found out that one of my college friends, Debbie Kaplan, was killed in the World Trade Center collapse. Debbie was an engineer and had just gone back to work part-time about a month earlier as she felt she no longer needed to be a stay-at-home mom for her children. So, now it wasn’t just an attack upon buildings; it was an attack upon people - real people - and not just names on a list.
And, ten years after these attacks, we remember the first responders, the firefighters, paramedics, and police officers who saved countless others from death that day, some at the cost of their own lives. We also remember how we have recovered and rebuilt in these ten years. Despite the terrorist destruction of buildings and the death of people, our American spirit has never been defeated!
God’s blessings,
Pastor Bob
What if a vanilla milkshake could help ease the effects of Alzheimer's disease? Axona, the manufacturer of medical milkshakes, funded a clinical trial that provided some promising results. Researches found that patients who consumed the medical milkshakes found short-term positive effects in cognition and memory. Still, researchers caution that there isn't enough evidence to conclusively say whether the milkshakes really work or not.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, more than 5.4 million Americans have the disease. Alzheimer’s affects 1 in 8 people over 65 and causes memory loss, mood and personality changes. Currently Alzheimer’s disease is fatal. A number of prescription drugs are available to fight Alzheimer's but there is no cure.
Axona is available by prescription only and contains 217 calories. Patients mix the powder with any type of liquid. The reason why the Axona milkshakes just might be a breakthrough is because the brains of Alzheimer's patients don't convert glucose into energy as efficiently as healthy brains. According to Axona, the shake contains caprylic triglyceride, a compound derived from coconut oil that is metabolized in the liver to produce ketone bodies which serve as alternate brain fuel for Alzheimer's patients.
For more information on this promising "sweet" drug, visit the Wall Street Journal. Or help find a cure and join Bethany Village in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's.
Nationally, more than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s disease and nearly 11 million more are serving as caregivers. Families in the Miami Valley are no exception to these statistics. Bethany Village’s Courtyard Park memory support center, which opened in 2009, is dedicated to helping residents face the challenges of living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.To demonstrate our support for the Miami Valley Alzheimer’s Association, Bethany Village–Graceworks Lutheran Services is once again a benefactor-level sponsor of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
Bethany’s involvement has grown steadily since we first participated in the walk. Last year, 29 Bethany employees and residents signed up for the event. This year’s 1.5-mile walk takes place on Sunday, September 25, at Dayton’s Carillon Historical Park. Registration/check-in is at noon, with the walk kicking off at 1:30 p.m. (Click for registration details.)
The Walk to End Alzheimer's, which is held annually in the fall in nearly 600 communities nationwide, is the country’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support, education and research. Since 1989, this all age, all-ability walk has mobilized millions to join the fight against Alzheimer's disease, raising more than $347 million for the cause. Money raised in each community goes to the local association chapter.
The Alzheimer's Association’s mission is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Today, more than half of all Americans know someone with Alzheimer’s. Write a comment about your level of awareness of Alzheimer’s and why you want to see an end for this disease.
After the sizzling summer most of the country has experienced, it’s hard to believe that we’ll soon be complaining about how cold it is, how much snow we have to shovel and how treacherous those ice-glazed sidewalks can be. With autumn fast approaching, now is a good time for seniors and their families to give some thought to future living arrangements. Is home becoming too much to handle? Are safety and the everyday demands of upkeep and yard work becoming issues? Is selling the house and relocating to a retirement community beginning to look like a smart move?
Having counseled many seniors and their adult children who are exploring Bethany Village as an option, I can share with you three guiding principles for families making this very important life decision:
· Don’t wait until you are in the midst of a crisis to start looking at retirement communities. You won’t have the time, clarity and peace of mind needed to make an informed decision. It’s much better to start exploring before you feel the pressing need to act. Just because you are investigating choices doesn’t mean a move is immanent; it simply means you are investing some time and thought in deciding the next step in living arrangements.
· Put your feelings on the table. Adult children often approach talking to their parents about selling the house with some trepidation. It can be difficult conversation wrought with emotion. Sometimes, however, an older person may have already been thinking about making the move and welcomes some assistance in sorting out feelings and coming up with a strategy. Sit down together and make a pros and cons list. What are the benefits vs. drawbacks – financial, social, lifestyle, health, safety and mobility – of selling the house and moving to a retirement community? Visit some retirement communities to learn more about amenities and costs. Keep an open mind and be honest about your fears and concerns.
· Be realistic about selling your house. There’s no denying that the economy has been rough on real estate sales. Sometimes, older people may resist selling in today’s depressed market, choosing instead to “wait until things get better” so they don’t lose a penny of the equity they always planned to leave to their children. Recently, an adult child visiting Bethany Village told me that she explained to her parents that waiting to sell was not their only option. If they really wanted to give her a meaningful gift, they could give it to her right now by moving into a place where she had the comfort of knowing every day that they were safe, active and relieved of the burden of maintaining a house.
Ultimately, you may conclude that staying put is the best choice, at least for the time being. Having fully explored the options, however, means that everyone involved in the decision-making process will be that much ahead of the game if and when moving into a retirement community starts looking like the next logical step in safe and happy senior living.
What is your main concern about moving to a retirement community? Please make a comment below.
At one point in mid July, more than 100,000 million people in 32 states were trapped in one of the country’s longest and strongest heat waves ever. And we’re not done yet. “It’s like an upside down cake pan is sitting on top of the nation and trapping the hot air below it,” explained one television weather reporter.
No doubt you’ve read and heard repeated warnings about staying safe during this record-breaking, scorching weather. After a while, however, all that info can become just so much noise. But if you are an older person – or someone who is a caregiver or friend to a senior citizen – please take these cautions to heart. Experts estimate that as many as 1,000 people – 40% of whom age 65 or older – die from heat-related causes each year.
Even healthy, active older folks have unique vulnerabilities to the kind of blistering, unrelenting heat we’ve been experiencing lately. Older brains become less sensitive to temperature-change signals and don’t recognize thirst as easily. (This is even more likely when a person has suffered a stroke.) And because overall percent of body water goes down with age, seniors are more likely than younger people to become dehydrated, which can lead to heat exhaustion (characterized by heavy sweating, muscle cramps, low blood pressure, rapid pulse and nausea). Left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, causing seizures, loss of consciousness and death.
In addition to the natural impact of aging, some of the drugs seniors may take – for example, to treat insomnia, nausea, prostate conditions and Parkinson's disease – can interfere with the ability to sweat and thus raise body temperature. Alcohol and coffee also can cause the body to lose fluid and contribute to dehydration.
Potential dehydration is not the only problem caused by over-the-top temperatures. Heat also traps air pollutants in the atmosphere, creating a dangerous situation for anyone with respiratory issues, such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Here is some advice specifically geared toward protecting older people from the potentially deadly effects of a heat wave:
• Thirsty or not, drink plenty of water – as much as a quart of water a day is not unreasonable. For seniors taking water pills (diuretics) or restricting fluids, seek guidance from a physician.
• Keep glasses or bottles of cool water within easy reach – both for convenience and as a reminder. Refill them often.
• Try to stay inside, preferably in air conditioning – both to stay cool and to avoid air pollution.
• Wear light clothing.
• Avoid over-crowded locations and strenuous activity.
• During a heat wave, check on older relative and friends twice a day. If they don't have air conditioning, help them visit an air-conditioned location for a few hours daily, such as a movie theater, shopping mall or adult daycare center.
• If you see signs of severe heat stress, try to cool the person down right away with either a cool bath or shower or by sponging or spraying them with cool water. Seek immediate medical assistance.
For more information on dealing with the effects of extreme heat, visit the Centers for Disease Control Extreme Heat Toolkit.
Hot and Getting Hotter |
If you feel like you’re sitting on the sidelines while the communications technology parade marches by, listen up. One of the most popular video/voice calling technologies – Skype – may be all it takes to get you in on the fun. It’s popular here at Bethany Village where the first resident used Skype two years ago to video conference with her family reunion that was in the Rocky Mountains. To get started, you’ll need:
• Access to a desktop, laptop or tablet-style (like an iPad2) computer
• A high-speed internet connection via your cable service or telephone provider or a wi-fi connection, which is offered in many public places
• A webcam (a video camera that now comes built in to most computers)
• Skype software, which is free and also provides free, unlimited telephone calls to Skype members, so you can talk face-to-face with live video
Some seniors may think this set-up sounds too complicated, but it’s really easy to get started. (Isn’t this what tech-savvy grandchildren are for?) You can also use Skype on a smart phone – Blackberry, iPhone or Android, for example.
Skype has a number of great features, but the one most seniors will enjoy most is video conferencing – that is, making a telephone call directly from your computer to someone else’s computer and establishing a connection that allows you to both talk to and see each other in real time. It’s free to other Skype members and doesn’t matter how long you talk or the distance of the connection, including international calls. Here are just a few of the things seniors can do using Skype:
• Communicate with family and friends in far-away places
• Share in special moments and celebrations with children and grandchildren
• Tell grandchildren a bedtime story
• Join in a meeting – for example, a book or garden club
I use Skype daily to chat with my five grown and college-age children. For example, my son is coaching kids soccer now. I used to coach him, so it’s fun to talk about his team. We are urging my mother, age 82, to get an iPad so she, too, can join in the fun.
One caution: When you set up Skype, you will be asked to create a profile, which will be available to anyone using the service. Remember: Don’t list your home phone number in your profile and take advantage of all the privacy settings Skype offers.
To learn more about Skype, their free services and their premium options that require subscription expense, go to: www.skype.com
Tell us about how you use Skype to communicate with your family.
In our blog two weeks ago, we wrote about our favorite ways to celebrate the July 4th Holiday. We wanted to follow up and share with you the menu from the annual picnic celebration that the residents at Bethany Village enjoy so much.
Residents bring assorted desserts potluck-style to share a sweet ending for their meal of fried chicken, potato salad, rolls and "Angie’s Famous Baked Beans." Angie is a member of the Bethany Life Enrichment staff where she plans and presents many events, such as the picnic. Rachel Abshear, Life Enrichment manager, says, “The residents love her baked beans and request this favorite dish year after year.”
Thanks, Angie, for sharing your recipe:
Angie’s Baked Beans
2 (16 oz.) cans pork & beans (drain beans)
1 Cup salsa (any type)
½ Cup tomato ketchup (any type)
½ Cup light or dark brown sugar
1 Teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon mustard (any type)
1 Tablespoon molasses (any type)
¼ Cup B.B.Q. sauce (any type)
Combine all ingredients in a large pot and cover.
Preheat oven and bake at 375 for 1 hour or until
beans thicken; stir occasionally.
(Yields 6 or 8 servings)
What’s your favorite Baked Beans recipe?
July 4 is all about celebrating our nation's independence while having fun! Bethany Bloggers would like to share some of their favorite Independence Day traditions:Karen Kuhn likes to drive up I-71 at just the "right time" to catch the spectacular fireworks display at Kings Island, a large amusement park about an hour south of Bethany Village. She also enjoys watching fireworks from her own driveway!
Allyson Crawford enjoys having a day off work to spend with family and friends. The fewer the plans, the better! July 4th is a day to kick back and relax.
Rachel Abshear oversees the annual Bethany resident July 4th picnic. There's always fried chicken and "Angies White's Famous" baked beans. Angie is a Bethany employee and proud her beans are so popular. Some Bethany residents also participate in the annual Centerville Americana Festival parade.
Robyn Nelson also attends the Centerville Americana Festival and always looks forward to cheering on our residents when they march by!
Larry Ramey always enjoys the Cityfolk Festival and exploring other cultures and different types of music that make America so unique. Plus, there's a huge fireworks display in Downtown Dayton which brings out thousands!
Dana Lynch started celebrating July 4th weekend differently three years ago... when she got married! Now the weekend has even more meaning when she grills out and watches fireworks.
Amy Hamm does the exact same thing every year. Husband and daughter in tow, Amy heads off to her parents where her mom always cooks and her dad cleans the pool. They eat and float in the pool all day. On good years, they can even see the fireworks while floating. On "bad" years they have to watch the fireworks from lawn chairs in her parents backyard.
Deb Dicus always watches fireworks - but this year will head to Akron to start a new tradition with someone important in her life.
Cathy Bourquin and her family always head north to a Lakeside cottage near Lake Erie. Years ago, Cathy's husband inherited a giant American flag and each year the family carries it in the town parade. It's a hit with the locals and Cathy has even been featured in the newspaper thanks to the giant flag!
What are some of your favorite July 4th traditions?
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