(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.
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.
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.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8
The blogger team at Bethany Village shares their favorite tips and advice about how to honor Mother and celebrate her special day.
Larry Ramey says:
Call mother and say "I love you." Send flowers with a card included.
Karen Kuhn says:
Take a picture of your Mom and yourself together: priceless.
Give fresh cut flowers. No cooking for Mom on Mother’s Day; you take care of her meal---go out to her favorite restaurant or get her favorite carry out.
Take time to select a card for Mom with a beautiful message and add your own personal sentiment. If your Mom is living, make every effort to visit her on Mother’s Day.
Robyn Nelson says:
Unfortunately, my mom is no longer with me, so part of what I do to honor her memory on Mother’s Day is to reminisce with my children about wonderful memories we have of her. When my mother was living we would prepare a special meal to take to her and spend the day visiting. My mom loved lilacs and tulips, so I always make sure I have a bouquet for my table. The scent of lilacs always reminds me of my mother.
Cathy Bourquin says:
Think as adult children: our Mom’s often have most of the "material" things they need or want. So when my Mom was alive, I would take a day and devote to her and what she wanted done or wanted to do. It may be planting flowers, going shopping or cleaning out a closet….something that made her feel good.
Artie Taylor says:
Invite the rest of the family to be at mom’s house and cook out and have her just mingle with everyone visiting.
Go to the garden center and select some items to plant at her house.
Go to church.
Call her the morning of Mother’s Day and pick her up, and take her to breakfast.
Pam Blumensheid says:
Give her the best gift of all -- your time and conversation!
Spend time together over coffee or a cool drink on the deck or porch.
This is a great idea for a daughter: Schedule a pedicure or manicure for mom – and go with her and have one yourself! Then you can be pampered together.
If you can’t be with her in person, schedule a group Skype call and include as many of our siblings as possible. Make sure to account for different time zones.
If you live near your mom, fix brunch and share it with her. Make sure you call ahead to tell her what the plan is. Then go to her kitchen with all the fixings and cook brunch. Include a small bouquet for the table.
Allyson Crawford says:
For Mother’s Day, every year I select my mom a special gift, take her to lunch and get her some flowers. She doesn’t like flowers that die – rather – flowers that she can plant in the yard and grow all summer long. Now that I’m married, I do the same thing for my mother-in-law.
Meg Wulfeck says:
Post on Facebook…"Top 5 Reasons Why I Love My Mother".
As a child, I would write her poems.
Send her a card.
Take her out to dinner.
Pay a visit.
Barbara Wells-Seay says:
I lost my Mom in April. I’d like to say "Hug your Mother and hold her tight and most of all tell her that you love her."
Rachel Abshear says:
Take her out for an experience—i.e. spa day (both of you getting facials or massages), a tour of the current exhibit at the art museum and lunch, a trip to the zoo or museum of discovery if she’s an animal lover, a make your own pottery day, etc.
Send her a gourmet food basket with her favorite treats.
Jennita Sullenger says:
With my Mom no longer alive, I LOVE planting a perennial in my butterfly garden to honor/ remind me of her or add to my garden statuaries.
My three brothers have started calling me since she died and we reminisce so I get the best of both worlds: being honored by them as a mom and smiling with them because of the blessing my mom was in our lives.
Deb Dicus says:
Go out and have ice cream together.
Go to church with her.
Buy her a new outfit to wear on Mother’s Day.
Coordinate for her to get her hair done.
Call Mom and thank her for everything she has done for me and my siblings.
I send a card with money for my sister to buy flowers for her garden as she lives out of state.
What are some of your favorite tips to honor mom?
There is positive news to report in the battle against Alzheimer’s: the discovery of five new genes that are possibly linked to the disease. American investigators analyzed the genes of 54,000 people, some with the disease and others without. This lead to the discovery of four new genes. British researchers found an additional gene. Together, the teams are working to figure out the correlation of genes on the development of Alzheimer’s.
Alzheimer’s is a form of degenerative dementia. Scientists now believe the disease is 80% genetic.
"Through our ongoing research, we are finding genes that increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, allowing us to pinpoint what may be going wrong, biologically, in the brain," Cardiff University's Julie Williams said of the study and its findings.
The five newly discovered genes impact the body in the way the brain processes cholesterol, lipids, the removal of toxic amyloid-beta protein from the brain and even the immune system.
According to researchers, there are now ten known genes linked to Alzheimer’s disease. Experts estimate that just being able to treat the effects of those 10 genes would reduce Alzheimer’s cases by 60%.
Researchers say finding these five new genes is a positive step in the right direction when it comes to completely understanding what causes Alzheimer’s disease. Experts say it could take 15 years for treatments to result from this most recent, promising study.
Have a family member or loved one with Alzheimer's disease? Bethany Village's Courtyard Park is a state-of-the art memory supportive care center. Our staff is dedicated to helping residents face the challenges of living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.
The new research is published in the journal Nature Genetics.
There was a time that salt was so rare and valuable that no one dared waste it. Centuries ago, salt was even used as currency. Today, however, scarcity of salt is no longer an issue. In fact, an over abundance of salt in the food supply is damaging to our health.The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that most people limit their salt (sodium) intake to just 2,300 milligrams – about 1 teaspoon – a day. People who have or are at risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, are 51 or over or are African American should aim for only 1,500 milligrams a day. While it’s not that difficult to control how much salt you cook with or sprinkle on food, it is very challenging to avoid salt in the processed foods that make up a great portion of the American diet. Most people consume double, or even triple, the amount of sodium the body needs. For example, just 8 ounces of tomato soup can have 1,200 milligrams of sodium.
How can you become "salt smart?" Read the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredients list on canned and packaged foods and make lower-sodium choices. Cook more meals at home using less processed foods and limiting high sodium ingredients such as salt.
Remember that salt-free does not mean taste-free. When a recipe calls for salt, replace it with another herb or spice. Here are some other flavoring ideas:
- Sprinkle grated citrus zest (the outer colorful layer of the rind) on salads and vegetables
- Toast nuts in a moderate oven until lightly browned and aromatic. Add to salads and vegetables. (Careful! Nuts burn easily).
- Caramelize onions and other aromatic vegetables before adding them to soups and stews.
- Make mashed potatoes with low-fat milk, unsalted margarine and roasted garlic, curry powder or paprika.
- When preparing a Mexican recipe, such as guacamole or filling for tacos and burritos, add cumin and lime juice instead of salt.
- When making oven-baked fries, sweet potato spears or onion rings, sprinkle with garlic powder and cumin or curry powder.
- Add a dash of chili powder to corn
- Simmer carrots in cinnamon and nutmeg
- When cooking with cheese, opt for fresh mozzarella or cheeses labeled "low-sodium."
- Be adventurous… experiment with a variety of herbs in food preparation to determine combinations pleasing to your tastes
- Try a commercial salt-free seasoning blend (such as Mrs. Dash), or make your own mix with a recipe from the American Heart Association
March is National Nutrition Month. Click for more information on healthy cooking and eating.
Have you taken action to reduce the amount of salt in your daily diet? Are these tips useful for you?
ABC News recently launched a series called Elder Care: Families on the Brink hosted by Diane Sawyer. The roundtable discussions focus on topics for adult children, specifically, having difficult conversations with mom and dad.
Have you ever wondered how to handle sensitive subjects involving aging parents such as driving, medication management, will creation and more? The ABC News series promises to help.
Panelists include Martha Stewart, Dr. Neil Resnick, Virginia Morris and Dr. Marie Bernard.
Watch the debut of the series below.
Are your parents thinking of moving to a continuing care retirement community like Bethany Village? Get your questions answered one-on-one by scheduling a personalized appointment with a senior living counselor. Just call 937-436-6850 or click through our website.
Spring is in the air, and "for sale" signs are popping up on lawns all over the country. If you are thinking about making the move to a retirement community like Bethany Village, now is the time to do some planning. The more you know before you start visiting prospective communities, the smoother your decision-making process will be. Here are a few tips:
1. Contact your Area Agency on Aging to find retirement living options in and near your locale. If you are uncertain about the different types of housing available – for example, independent vs. assisted living – check for definitions.
2. If you have access to a computer, visit some websites associated with retirement communities in your area. Look for the kinds of housing available, amenities and services. Some websites will offer a virtual tour of housing and grounds. This step will show you what is possible in retirement living; you can decide what appeals to you.
3. Make a list of lifestyle priorities. How much living space do you want? What kind of home appeals to you – a high-rise condo, townhouse, free-standing house? What recreational services and amenities are important to you? Will you have a pet(s)? Do you want a full continuum of care available? Think about what you don’t like about where you live now. Can you change any of those things when you move?
4. Think about your financial commitment. For example, do you want to purchase or rent? Retirement communities have professionals on staff who can walk you through your options, but it’s a good idea to know your budget before you start visiting places.
5. Call ahead to make an appointment. Prepare a short list of questions so you can easily eliminate places that don’t meet your basic requirements.
It’s important to remember that your search for a retirement community is just that – yours. While you’ll want to consult with your family and close friends, the ultimate decision rests with you. When you visit, invite a trusted advisor along, but avoid bringing lots of friends and family. You’ll want to concentrate on your needs – not theirs.
Expect the community representative who is showing you around to give you the time you need (usually 60–90 minutes), focus on your needs and answer your questions straightforwardly. Choosing a retirement community is choosing a lifestyle. The representatives you meet with should be as interested to in your happiness, comfort and safety as you are.
Are you planning to visit retirement communities this spring? Do you have other questions?
Everybody has a story. Just ask retired political science teacher and Bethany Village resident Jeremy Curtoys. With some editing help from his wife, Linda, also a retired teacher, Jeremy, 69, has devoted mornings over the last two years to writing his memoir, The Waters Always Parted (named from a snippet of dialog in the novel Gilead by Marilynne Robinson).
"I thought I might be finished by the time I am 70," Jeremy remarks, " but I am writing chronologically, and I’m only up to 1967 – the year I came to America from Rhodesia." Jeremy has also written two short biographical stories about childhood adventures, both of which won awards in an annual arts competition sponsored by Advocate of Not-For-Profit Services for Older Ohioans.
Jeremy began his memoir for his two sons and future generations of the Curtoys family. "I started as if I were writing a long letter," he says, "but now I don’t care if anyone reads it! I simply enjoy the process. The more I write, the more I remember." When we asked Jeremy for his best advice for would be memoirists, his answer came easily: "Just start!"
We have also collected a dozen additional tips for capturing your story:
1. One of the best ways to learn about memoirs is to read what others have written.
2. Perhaps you aren’t comfortable writing long narratives about yourself. Trying journaling. Write down just a few memories each day.
3. Need to "prime the pump?" Try using a Q&A book like All About Me by Phillipp Keel.
4. You don’t have to write your entire life story. Start with a certain time period or even just one event.
5. Write in the first person. Your story will have more energy.
6. Write first. Edit later.
7. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar and style in your first draft. You can fix all that later.
8. Try to reveal your goals, problems, fears, emotions, struggles and lessons learned.
9. If you have a computer but dislike typing, consider using a speech-recognition software program that lets you dictate into a microphone attached to your computer. The program converts what you dictate into a text file.
10. You can write your story on paper and hire someone to transcribe it later if you want a typed version.
11. If talking your story is more your style, use an audio device or video camera to record your story.
12. Are you more of a visual person? Try scrapbooking (or digitaL
scrapbooking). Write extended captions for your old pictures.
As you pursue writing a memoir, you will find that storytelling is a fun and fulfilling life-skill. Bethany Village has offered a well-received memoir writing class in the past. If there is enough interest, we’ll do it again. Respond to this blog to let us know if you are interested.
Recently, some residents were interviewed about life at Bethany. Remember - these are real residents and their thoughts are their own! There was no script and residents were free to say whatever they wanted to describe life on Bethany's 100-acre campus.
In the coming days, Bethany will roll-out several testimonials from residents with various living situations. For now, here's a taste of what is to come: cottage residents Paul and Mary McClain discuss the "gift" they gave to their children when choosing Bethany.
For older adults, falling can lead to serious injury, disability and loss of independence. Last week we talked about fall-proofing your home. Now let’s look at another very important step you can take to lower the risk of falling: EXERCISE.
Once you have made sure your home is safe, have talked to your doctor about medications that may cause dizziness and, if you have osteoporosis, are taking your calcium and vitamin D supplements, the next item on your agenda should be developing a regular exercise regimen. If you live in an assisted living community or CCRC like Bethany Village, chances are there is a certified exercise professional/trainer on staff who can help you design a program. Otherwise, ask your doctor for a referral to an exercise physiologist who understands the needs of older adults. If you are a beginner, you may feel more comfortable in a group class.
Exercise not only makes you stronger, it also helps improve balance, endurance, flexibility and mood. A program of regular strength and balance training as well a cardiovascular routine are the backbone of a good exercise plan. Even 15 minutes of activity, such as walking or swimming, done every other day can make a difference. Add yoga and tai chi for an extra dose of balance training.
If your doctor says it’s okay to begin exercising on your own, take a look at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) general strength training program for older adults. The CDC recommendations are comprehensive – and to some, perhaps overwhelming. Begin by focusing on just a few exercises that work the lower body and are specifically designed to help prevent falls. But don’t overdo it! For example, recent research suggests that strength training (often done using weights) should be done only three times per week to get fall-prevention benefits. Muscles need time to rest between sessions.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
For strength
- While standing at the kitchen sink, rise on your toes, then lower your heels to the ground, and then rock back on your heels and lift your toes before lowering again. (Hold on to the counter!)
- From a seated position, lift and straighten alternating legs.
- Carefully try easing into and out of a sitting position without using your hands.
For balance
- Stand on both feet and focus on a point on the wall for 30 seconds. Try not to move your body to steady yourself.
- Try to do the same thing while balancing on one foot. Do this next to a sturdy piece of furniture or counter that you can grab if need be.
- Work up to 30 minutes of walking most days of the week.
Although exercise isn’t a surefire way to prevent falls, it can make a big difference – and it has many other health benefits. Before starting any exercise program, however, be sure to check with your doctor. People who have had hip replacements, for example, are restricted from certain movements.
Do you exercise regularly? Write a comment about your exercise activities.
Falls are the primary cause of accidents in people over the age of 65 and also the main cause of serious injuries and accidental deaths in older people. Two-thirds of those who fall will fall again within 6 months. Even older people who appear strong and healthy can fall. If an older person falls and is injured, their ability to live independently can be temporarily or permanently affected.
- Remove clutter that you can trip over (like books, papers, clothes, shoes).
- Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
- Arrange furniture so that it's easy to walk around it.
- Keep electrical and telephone cords out of the way.
- Store items you use often in cabinets you can reach easily without using a step stool.
- Keep the path from bed to bathroom clear and install a nightlight.
- Install grab bars next to your toilet and in the tub or shower. Don't use the soap or towel holdeer for a grab bar or handrail.
- Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
- Check carpeting to make sure it is firmly attached along stairs.
- Avoid placing throw rugs or scatter rugs at the top of bottom of stairways.
- Install handrails on both sides of the stairways.
- Be sure stairways have high-wattage lighting. Install on/off switches at both the
top and bottom of stairs. - Watch out for single steps; they are easy to overlook.
- Outside, repair cracks and rough edges in sidewalks and driveways.
- Pay attention to where you are walking and don't hurry.
- Avoid standing up too quickly from a seated position.
- Have an annual eye exam.
- Don't carry large loads the obscure your line of sight.
- Wear "sensible shoes" - both inside and outside the house.
- Be aware of medications you are taking that might affect balance or cause
dizziness. - Limit intake of alcohol as it may interact with medications.
- Exercise regularly to preserve bone density and muscle strength.
- Use a cane or walker if needed.
Preventing Falls at Home
AARP Preventing Falls Checklist
NIH Senior Health: Falls and Older Adults
Are you retired and looking to make a move to a senior living community like Bethany Village? Maybe you’re an adult child and you are planning for both your parent and yourself. As we get ready to usher in a new year, give yourself some time to reflect on the past…and what you would like to happen in the future.
If you want to start 2011 off right, you’ll need a plan. Here are some popular resolutions for seniors:
- Consider your living arrangements. Is it time to move to a senior living community and leave the life of maintenance and housework behind?
- Get (or keep!) moving every day for optimal physical fitness. Bethany Village exercise physiologist Christy Trittschuh reminds all of us to start small and do mild exercises like walking.
- Clean out your dressers, drawers, closets and donate what you no longer want or need. Think of the feeling of accomplishment when you have all that free closet space!
- Make plans to get together with a friend or neighbor at least once a week. This forces you to keep a social schedule and strengthens your non-familial relationships.
- Be indulgent. That’s right! You’ve earned that extra (occasional!) cookie or extra hour of sleep. Drop the guilt, enjoy life more.
All those resolutions are well and good for people who are already retired. But what if you are a Baby Boomer and thinking about retiring in the next decade or so? There are some important resolutions you should be considering as well. Here are a few key points:
- Get your financial house in order. Baby Boomers Retirement Network has an entire checklist regarding your finances and future retirement goals. The top of their list? Stashing enough money in your 401(k) to get your employer match and don’t keep all your investments in one company’s stock.
- Get moving everyday. Just like mom and dad, you need to move it…or lose it! Hit the gym or grab a friend and go walking. Staying healthy cuts down on doctor bills.
- Take good care of your aging parents and plan for both your futures.
- Hire a lawyer and get a will…and a living will, too.
- Travel to different destinations and consider where you’d like to spend retirement.
So that’s what the experts say should be on your resolution list for 2011. Do you have any other resolutions not listed here?
Bethany Village, a nationally accredited Continuing Care Retirement Community, has been providing quality senior living to the Dayton community for more than 60 years and was recently recognized as the retirement community of choice in the Dayton, Ohio area. Since 1946, Bethany has devoted itself to faithfully caring for the needs of older adults. Bethany Village is sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, an organization incorporated in 1926 with a mission to help people of all faiths experience dignity and wholeness.
Come and See
For information on our wide range of residential choices or to take a tour of our community, call the Bethany Marketing Department at 937-436-6850 if you're exploring a new living experience for yourself or your parents.
Bethany's 100-acre campus, with tree-rich walking paths and a lake, includes:
- Contemporary new villas with expansive floor plans
- Cottage homes of a variety of sizes, accessories and affordability
- Spacious new apartments with convenient parking garage and a large deck for outdoor gatherings and fun events
- Comfortable, convenient apartments to suit
- Assisted living
- Long-term nursing care
- Memory-supported care with beautifully landscaped enclosed courtyard and life enrichment activities
- Short-term rehabilitation services with nursing care and therapy services
- New Village Center with an up-to-date fitness center, art center, casual dining bistro, classroom, Grand Room reception facility and lounge areas
Take our virtual tour to see how we've transformed senior living with a new Village Center, 30 new villas, 30 spacious apartments and a new Memory Support Center. It's a life full of enriching activities in beautiful surroundings with caring staff. If you'd like to visit us in person, call 937-436-6850 to schedule an appointment.
Are you retired and considering adopting a pet? Maybe you’re an adult child helping mom or dad pick a new furry friend? Pets can be a wonderful addition to a senior’s daily routine. Pets - especially older animals - can provide seniors with improved health, mood and activity. Studies show that having a cat or dog can even lower blood pressure!
When considering a pet, think about your daily life. You probably don’t want a kitten or puppy. While young animals are certainly cute and can be a lot of fun, they are also a lot of work. Both older cats and dogs provide just as much love as their younger counterparts – but require much less work.
According to the American Humane Association, cats are especially great for seniors:
- Unlike dogs, cats are happy staying indoors all the time.
- Most adult cats require only 20 to 30 minutes of playtime per day, and interactive play does not require the owner to be mobile.
- Cats are also very content to spend most of their time sleeping on their owner’s lap or bed.
Of course, this isn’t to say older dogs can’t make great companions! There are many programs that pair senior dogs with older owners.
The American Kennel Club has some tips and some important facts to consider. First, consider your activity level and favorite activities. You also need to strongly evaluate your financial fitness. Older pets may require more medical care than a puppy. Also, make sure you choose the right breed of dog. All dogs have different temperaments and you don’t want a hyperactive dog that barks incessantly if you live in an apartment.
Like cats, dogs can easily keep you active. They provide you with a routine and encourage exercise because dogs need walked. Consider a small breed, or "toy" dog as they require less physical activity and make great lap pets!
Remember the rules of your community. Some places, like Bethany Village, have limits on how many pets you may own at one time. Your senior living counselor will provide you with all the information you need to make the right pet decision for your living arrangement.
After surgery, injury or even illness, we all need time to recover. The Bethany Rehabilitation Center (BRC) provides short-term nursing care and therapy for individuals who aren't ready to return home from the hospital following an injury, illness or surgery. The BRC is renowned for caring for persons after hip or knee replacement surgery. If you know you’re having a hip or knee replacement, you can plan ahead for your post-hospitalization stay.
If you need to find a rehabilitation facility for yourself – or a loved one – there are some important things to consider. The facility you choose should have specialists, such as physical and occupational therapists and dedicated nurses. Also, you may want to consider a rehabilitation facility that is part of a larger continuum of care. Bethany Village is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that provides residential choices like apartments and cottages as well as various healthcare services, from assisted living to state-of-the-art memory support. You may require different levels of care following your surgery or illness.
Choosing a community like Bethany means not moving around and having ample opportunities for learning, fitness and making friends. Admissions to Bethany Rehabilitation Center are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The center is certified by Medicare and Medicaid, and Bethany Village is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities—Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CARF-- CCAC).
Approximately 25 individuals comprise a team specializing in physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Therapy is offered seven days a week in one of two specialized therapy gymnasiums. Moreover, the Bethany Rehabilitation Center provides services within the highly acclaimed Linden House. Private rooms feature private baths and many overlook gardens and waterscapes to promote relaxation and healing.
For more information call 937-436-6846.
If you hate to move, you’re not alone. In fact, the thought of moving can often act as a deterrent from people making the decision to move to a continuing care retirement community like Bethany Village.
"Downsizing is always the biggest part -- and fear -- of the move because the majority of our residents have lived in their home for 20 or more years," says Bethany Village move-in coordinator April Shank.
April has a unique job at Bethany: she gets to meet every new indepedent living resident before they actually move into their cottage, villa or apartment on campus! She helps with the transition and makes moving to Bethany more manageable. She can provide information about moving companies and even help future residents determine which furniture to bring to campus.
"I will visit them at their place to look at their furniture and help them determine what might work," continues April. "We will even measure current pieces and sometimes discuss new furniture." Being able to arrange their new environment -- make it their home -- also gives them a certain peace of mind.
Not everyone coming to Bethany is from Dayton or even Ohio. It’s not uncommon for new residents to come from a neighboring state or across the country. April assists residents with moves both large and small and provides info packets with partner companies worldwide. Before moving day arrives, April ensures all details are ready like carpeting, paint or other upgrades. On moving day, April is on hand to help with last minute details. If something needs fixed, she contacts maintenance immediately. Plus, her presence helps new residents feel at ease. She makes sure new residents know their way around campus and gets them settled.
All of April’s services are free to incoming residents.
Interested in Bethany Village? Call 937-436-6850 to schedule an appointment with a senior living counselor. Or, take our virtual tour before calling!
Bethany Village is located just north of the intersection of Interstate 675 and Far Hills Avenue in Centerville, 10 miles south of Dayton, Ohio.Click here for a map or for Mapquest directions.
If you are scouting living options for a parent who can no longer live alone or whose care requires more than a family member can provide, assisted living might be a good option. Bethany Village offers a comprehensive continuum of care that includes independent cottages, villas, and apartments; assisted living apartments, rehabilitation care, and long-term nursing care.
But all assisted living places are not the same; it pays to visit as many as you can to see everyday life in action. Sometimes what you actually see when you make a scouting visit is more revealing than answers you receive to your questions. Here are a few things to look for:
- Do the residents and staff seem happy? Are they smiling?
- Are the grounds nicely landscaped and well kept?
- Are the interiors – living spaces and common spaces – clean and tidy?
Here are some important questions to ask your nursing home tour guide:
- Do your employees enjoy working here? Can you show me current employee satisfaction survey results? What is your turnover percent compared to the average?
- What do you do to ensure the facility follows all state and federal regulations? Do you have committees that oversee quality? Do you perform regular audits to ensure quality care?
- Do you have current resident and family satisfaction survey results you can share with me?
- What is the ratio of nurses to patients? How does it compare to other facilities?
- Do you use agency nurses or have your own employees? The organizational commitment and consistency of care that comes with having employee nurses is important.
- What do you do to keep residents as independent as possible?
- How is toileting handled for those who are not mobile on their own?
- Are rooms private or semi-private?
- What furniture and décor items can I bring in to make my parent’s room more like home?
- Can residents select their own meals?
- Do you have an onsite laundry?
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when you are investigating assisted living or long-term care for a loved one. Visit www.medicare.gov/NHCompare for information on nursing homes in your area and to compare facilities using Medicare’s Five-Star Quality Ratings, health inspection results, nursing home staff data, quality measures and fire safety inspection results.
Here is my last piece of advice – and it’s probably the most important of all: look for a facility or community that is based on a "social model," not a "medical model." A social model focuses not on what residents can’t do, but on what they can do. Feeling empowerment, independent and able to make ones own decisions is the best medicine of all.
We welcome your comments and questions about how to find the appropriate level of care for your parent(s).
If you are an older person thinking about visiting some retirement communities in anticipation of making a move (or if you are a family member thinking about future living arrangements for a loved one), I have a very important piece of advice for you: Do it when things are going well and you are not in crisis or under any pressure to make a fast decision. Not being in a hurry to make a move gives you the freedom to consider all your options, weigh the pros and cons, and make an informed decision.
I’ve been a senior living counselor at Bethany Village for 11 years, and in that time, I have learned what it takes for prospective residents to glean the most information from their retirement community preview tours. Here are some tips:
Don’t be afraid to make an appointment. Selecting a retirement community can’t be done over the phone. You’ll want to compare at least a couple of similar places. Meeting face-to-face with a counselor is the best way to get a feel for the place and have all your questions answered.
Be prepared. Before you set off for your appointment, take a few minutes to write down your "hot button" issues. What are you looking for? What is less than perfect in your current living situation? Could the community you are visiting solve those problems?
Allow enough time for your appointment. For example, Bethany’s campus is fairly large – ranging from independent living in cottages to long-term nursing home care. We ask our prospective residents to plan on about a 90-minute visit.
Visit during the day. Retirement communities are quieter in the evening and on weekends, so if you want get a realistic impression, come during the day.
Try to set aside preconceived negatives. There are several common preconceived notions about moving into a retirement community. One has to do with loss of control over your lifestyle. A quality retirement community will allow you to make the decisions about how much assistance/care you need. Fear of moving into a nursing home is another common issue. If there is a nursing home associated with the retirement community you are visiting, ask to see it and take a good look around. At Bethany, for example, I think the community and atmosphere would be not at all what you anticipated.
Expect the places you visit to follow-up with you. The counselors you meet with should call you about a week after your visit to see if you have any questions. If you show interest in the community, you should expect the counselor to invite you and perhaps a family member back for another visit.
Let’s face it: people generally don’t like making dramatic changes in how and where they live, especially as they get older. You probably want to see me – a retirement community counselor – about as much as you want to go to the dentist! But taking care of these plans now can make your life a lot easier later. I can assure you that at Bethany Village, your needs and comfort come first. And if you use the tips I’ve outlined above, you will be able to make an informed choice when it’s time to look at retirement living.
Your comments are welcome about your experience with tours of retirement communities.
Bethany Village is located just north of the intersection of Interstate 675 and Far Hills Avenue in Centerville, 10 miles south of Dayton, Ohio. Click here for a map or for Mapquest directions.
Care giving for an aging or elderly parent is usually a fairly long-term proposition that may evolve from just checking in every day to actually moving in. Chances are, however, that your parent’s needs will eventually escalate to more than you can safely handle on your own. That’s why it is so important to have a discussion early on about how both of you will know it’s time for a move to long-term care. If you reach agreement when life is relatively calm, it will much easier for you to take the next step when it’s necessary.
In the meantime, here are 10 tips for you to keep in mind for your own well being as you care for your parent.
1. Lead as much of a balanced life as circumstances allow.
2. Make sure you stay healthy. Eat well and get enough sleep.
3. Be aware that depression goes along with long-term care giving. Exercise will help ward off the blues. You may benefit from professional counseling as well.
4. If your parent is gravely ill, you may be grieving over the reality of slowly losing him or her. Seek emotional support from family and friends. Avoid emotional isolation.
5. Avoid physical isolation, too. You may find yourself homebound along with your parent. If you can’t get out regularly, invite people to drop by. Have family and friends over for potluck meals and holiday celebrations.
6. It’s difficult to do, but try to keep any personal issues separate from your care giving responsibilities. Stress can damage the relationship between you and your parent.
7. Your parent needs to have as much autonomy and independence as possible. It’s important for him or her to make decisions (like deciding what to have for lunch) and have some meaningful activity (like folding the clothes) that contribute to home life. These things may seem insignificant, but they greatly enhance quality of life.
8. A cognitively impaired person requires a set routine, but within that routine, he or she needs still some meaning and purpose to ward off depression.
9. It’s important not to encourage a role reversal. Your parent has lived a life. Respect that and preserve the relationship.
10. If your parent refuses to eat regardless of what you do, take it clinically not personally. Get a medical evaluation. Having no appetite could be a precursor to an acute illness.
If you need additional help and have financial constraints, Medicaid will assess your parent’s requirements and, if he or she qualifies, will provide assistance. Some examples of assistance - regardless of ability to pay - include home health care, adult day care, Meals on Wheels, housekeeping and home health companion services.
Were these tips useful for you? The Bethany Village staff welcomes your comments. Let us know how you are getting along with care giving for your parent(s).
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