Bethany Village Retirement Community

All About Dana Lynch, MSW, Community Liaison and Marketing Coordinator

What do you expect when you check-in to a fine hotel or resort? Do words like "comfort," "service," "safety" and "friendliness" come to mind? That is what’s known as the hospitality model. At forward-thinking continuing care retirement communities like Bethany Village, the hospitality approach is replacing a traditional medical model. I think this is great news.

My name is Dana Lynch and I am responsible for admissions to Bethany’s assisted living and memory-supported care accommodations. I am a strong believer in the person-directed philosophy that we have adopted because it is based on personal respect and resident choice. This means respecting choices and moving decision-making as close as possible to the resident.

My job is a perfect blend of social work, which is my career path; and social butterfly, which keeps me creative and on the go. I am also responsible for market outreach in the community which means I make connections with professionals, organizations and agencies with whom Bethany interacts on behalf of our residents.

Over the past seven years, I have become very proud of Bethany’s history and long-standing reputation for delivering compassionate and competent care and customer service. I try to uphold that reputation every day. It means a lot to me to know that a person has more information and power after talking with me than when he or she walked into my office. I know that even if Bethany is not the right choice for everyone, I have shared the information they need to make the best decisions. Families tend to appreciate that empowerment.

I live with my husband and two daughters (ages 7 and 8) in Centerville, Ohio…where Bethany Village is located. We like spending time together; we have a great time at Kings Island, a nearby theme park where we have a season pass. My girls and I enjoy watching the Food Network on television. Both kids like to cook, which is fun for all of us.

Attention! Medicare Open Enrollment Starts October 15

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 by Dana Lynch

Researching Medicare 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.

Bethany Village and Graceworks Lutheran Services Supports Dayton’s September 25 "Walk to End Alzheimer’s"

Monday, August 22, 2011 by Dana Lynch

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.

Caring for Aging Parents: How To Have "The Talk" With Mom & Dad

Monday, February 1, 2010 by Dana Lynch

What do you do when you start noticing a decline in your parents' health or living conditions? How do you approach one or both parents when a change in their living situation is inevitable?

Having "the talk" can be awkward for both parents and their children alike.

In a perfect world, plans and wishes have been discussed long before a crisis occurs. But in reality, a crisis such as a hospitalization, a sudden illness or a fall often prompts the discussion about where to go from here - whether it be an Assisted Living facility or a Nursing Home offering 24-hour care. Decisions must now be made under duress, choices may be limited and finances may not be in order.

So the time to have "the talk" is before a crisis occurs.

Before you have "the talk" with your parents, you should speak with other family members, friends or neighbors. Get some background information from them about one or both parents' behavior and come to a better understanding of the situation so you can present a unified front. You want to make sure everyone is on the same page before approaching Mom and Dad. Review information about various senior living options and resources for family members so that you will be armed with the confidence that comes with knowledge.

You could lead into the conversation by talking about specific examples as a springboard for "the talk" - you could say, "Mom and Dad, I'm concerned about your health and your ability to continue to live at home. I think its time to discuss your living options." Continue with "This is what I've noticed the last several times I've been to visit." Then give observations pertaining to either a specific health ailment or a general decline in health reflected in poor housekeeping or hygiene.

Validate their strengths, all the things that they are still doing well that do not concern you. That way the conversation is not all about "You're failing this, you're failing that." Instead say, "I think you may need specific help with this." For example, "When I come over I notice the carpet isn't as clean as it used to be. It doesn't appear to have been vacuumed in a while." This works well if there are a few specific issues that need to be addressed.

Don't make "the talk" bigger or more dramatic than it needs to be. You don't necessarily need to have the whole family show up; that could seem like an "us versus them" confrontation. It could be very overwhelming and intimidating for the parent.

If there are a series of small problems that are mounting then perhaps you need to have a more serious conversation with Mom and Dad.

If you'd like to share some advice, or have a question about caring for your aging parent, please write a comment to me below.