Education

Respite care!!

Many assisted living communities have openings and have space available for short term respites - 1 week or so.  You don't even technically have to GO on vacation, just take a vacation and take care of yourself.  Some of the local area agencies on aging will actually give you information on FREE respites in local nursing homes.  To find your local area on aging, visit https://www.eldercare.gov and enter in your zip code.

USA Today had a great article "Caregivers, too, need time away." which is about some respite options in assisted living, an option many people often do not think of.  If you are a caregiver or know one, you may want to forward the article to them!

Just wrote that article about Walter, the oldest MAN in the world. Let me clarify that he is the oldest man, there are 13!! ladies in the world older than him.I just found an article about Henry Allingham who previously was the worlds oldest man at 113. The quote above is his secret to a very long life. And jellied eels. Whatever those are. Here is a picture of Henry(because was so darn handsome) and the additional information I found at seniorjournal.com

Just read another short post on Bob DeMarco's fabulous blog, the Alzheimer's Reading Room.  This one was about how one of the first signs you might look for when someone has dementia that you might not think of is their feet!  Shuffling the feet could be a sign of early cognitive development.  Having worked in an assisted living community with a wonderful section just for those with dementia, I can attest to the fact that many of the residents did shuffle their feet.  It was if they were walking with out lifting their feet.

Anyway, that is just one of the many informative things I have learned or thought more about since I started following Bob on Twitter (@ALZHEIMERSread) and reading his blog.  Bob always sends out very informative tweets with links to various articles around the web and I feel like I am always learning (or finding!) something if I follow them.

This morning I attended a networking event and the speakers were Melanie Chavin & Nicole Batsh from the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.The very first thing we learned was the difference between "early stage" & "early on-set". You can be any age and be in the early stage. It is the first stage of the disease where the short term memory issues are starting to interfere with your day to day. Early Onset affects people under the age of 65 - including some in their 30's!, 40's or 50's.We heard an example this morning about a young man who was diagnosed at 36! He has three children under the age of 15 and his wife was a stay at home mom. He worked in construction and so he eventually lost his job. They lost their home, they lost their car - basically anything that depended on that lost salary. The wife is now going back to school so that she will be able to have a job that will support the family in the future. On the plus side, the gentleman, who is now only 39 is living out his dream of being a high school coach so he is working at that job now, and enjoying every moment he can.The following is from a handout we received from Melanie & Nicole, provided by the Alzheimer's Association:

• Many researchers believe that young-onset Alzheimer's accounts for up to 10% (!!) of Alzheimer's cases.
• Individuals who have young-onset Alzheimer's experience symptoms similar to those found in late-onset Alzheimer's.
• Individuals are often active with a career, family and social obligations and may be more physically healthy when the symptoms begin.

There are important issues that affect the person with early-onset Alzheimer's such as:

• Changes in the relationsips with family, spouse & friends
• The impact of diagnosis on career
• The impact of diagnosis on finances, for example, pay for a child's education and future health care costs
• As a result and in addition to their younger age, the person may have difficulty obtaining an accurate diagnonsis
• Many people find that they are diagnosed with a psychiatric illness initially, as many healthcare professionals may attribute the symptoms to stress, depression and other psychiatric disturbances

(Often, they don't get the information on the disease that they need or the treatment or even information on community support..)Living with early-onset Alzheimer's:

• Financial and legal planning are key when diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer's
• Life is not over - individuals can have meaningful and productive lives by engaging in the activities and interests they enjoy
• Facility placement can be more difficult as younger onset individuals can be physically healthy and because of their young age, not fit in with other facility residents.

We had someone with early-onset living in our assisted living when I worked there - she was in her early 50's and looked great - so most people thought she was actually an employee, not a resident...For more information and support call the Alzheimer's Association Helpline 24 x 7 at 1-800-272-3900

Instead of retyping the whole article, I am going to link to it directly as I think it is a great read for anyone who has a loved one just recently diagnosed with the disease, including early-onset as I talked about yesterday.

The article, Tips to help a loved one with Alzheimer's was published monday on US News and World Report's website.

The Community Health & Education Department at St. Joseph Hospital and The Hallmark presents:

Caregiving for the Generations - "The Perfect Storm"

Caring for an aging relative, raising young children or providing support of "boomerang" kids who have moved back home (recession anyone?) has created a "perfect storm" for those responsible for the caregiving.  Joan Ente, LCSW, SCSW from CJE SeniorLife, explores the unique stresses of this generation and offers practical suggestions for planning ahead to manage complex family responsibilities.  Complimentary reception and valet parking will be provided.

Registration was required by today, but feel free to call and reserve your space today!

WHEN: Tuesday, August 11, 2009  6:30pm - 7:30 pm

WHERE: The Hallmark, 2960 N. Lake Shore Drive in the Kellogg Room on the first floor

RSVP: 877-RES-INFO (877-737-4636) to register

Last month, 25 residents for the Cascades Assisted Living in Bethel CT got the chance of a lifetime. A wish to ride in a hot air balloon was granted.I had always wanted to take a ride in one myself. My dad had a customer who actually owned one, but every time he was available, I was not. Finally, after my senior year in college my best friends then boyfriend, now husband, figured out how to get us on one. I was so excited. I forgot to ask how it was going to get back on the land after it went into the air. Low and behold, one of the ladies quoted at the assisted living community said "I just want to know how we're going to get down."Stories like these keep me going. assisted living communities that go the extra mile like this to make dreams happen should be celebrated.I found the article about the assisted living residents taking the ballon rides (in their 80's) on the newstimes.com website. It is worth the read as it also talks about a friendship and some sledding activities in the winter... :)

I love this blog post on "Frugal Family Fun!". If you are going to be frugal, why not share some free smiles & hugs. I bet this activity was enjoyed by everyone she saw that day at their assisted living community. But you have to see the pictures - as they tell the story best.Free Flowers & Hugs!

I am sure the antioxidants made up for the sugar and the fat. Since food is such an important part of senior living, I always like to have lunch and sample the food at the communities we work with. I encourage families to take a second look when they are searching for senior living, and to do it over lunch. If you are going to be living there and they are making your meals, you might want to make sure you like it.Today I give Devonshire of Hoffman Estates double thumbs up and then some for my whole dining experience today!Let me mention that lunch was fantastic. The chef catered to my vegetarian request and with fabulous results. I had steamed cauliflower with salsa on top (surprisingly delightful.) Also had yellow beans with red pepper strips and some sort of ravioli that was just out of this world. But I just about forgot about it once this masterpiece was placed in front of me.Pomegranate Blueberry ice cream with fresh berries and whipped cream. This is the kind of stuff dreams are made of.... Worth every single calorie and then some, because like I said, it was packed with antioxidants, so its all good.

Still dreaming about that ice cream.  But I was reminded of another tour I went on a few years ago.  This was for a large independent living community, and I was with a potential resident.  The marketing person took us into the dining room to show us where meals were served.  We were getting the old "restaurant style dining" presentation but I wasn't having any of it.

There, on the tables, by each plate, was a piece of white bread wrapped in saran wrap with a wee little tub of (extra hydrogenated) margarine on top.  Some choice they had there.  No rolls, no wheat bread.  White bread in saran wrap.  Possibly one of the least nutritious food substances out there. 

I feel that there are two important goals in serving meals in these communities.

1. Socialization

2. Nutrition.  Anyone can eat white bread at home.

Needless to say, my client did not choose to move into that property.

The Community Health and Education Department at St. Joseph Hospital and The Hallmark presents:

Hilliard Slavick, M.D., Section Chief, Neurology will discuss the progress in identifying risk factors and causes as well as new developments in medicine and surgical approaches for Parkinson's Disease.  Complimentary valet parking and reception will be provided.

When:  Thursday, Sept 10 6:30 - 7:30 pm

Where: The Hallmark, 2960 N. Lake Shore Drive, The Kellogg Room

Fee:  FREE!

Please call 877-737-4636 to register and reserve a spot.  Registration required by Sept 3 and space is limited!

That is a quote from Catherine Walker who just celebrated her 99th birthday this past Monday with those that she loves in her life.When you live to be 99, you tend to outlive many of the people that you love. This did not stop Catherine from finding new life. Not only does she live in a local retirement community, but she volunteers in their Alzheimer's wing. She has a great sense of humor and enjoys herself there and her neighbors and friends appreciate her time.I first read about her in the Chicago Tribune where you can read the original article.By the way, she makes "damn good cake." I hope she had some damn good cake for her birthday - she deserves it!!(Great!) photo by David Pierini, Chicago Tribune / August 13, 2009

One of the communities that Senior Living Experts works with had a very special weekend.Our local Chicago CBS News station was at The Breakers on Friday to cover a premiere of the new movie PLAY THE GAME, a romantic comedy starring Andy Griffith and Doris Roberts. The movie is based on the life of a former resident and his relationship with his grandson. The movie is about a ladies man who teaches dating tips to his lonely grandfather who lives in a retirement community. Marc Fienberg wrote and directed the film and was inspired by his grandfather’s life and finding love at The Breakers.Derrick Blakely, CBS 2 news reporter, shot a news segment at The Breakers and interviewed the director’s mother and several of our residents in the dining room. They had a special screening of the movie for the residents in their Movie Theater.If you missed the broadcast which aired on Friday, August 28th on the 6 p.m. news, you can view the segment on the CBS:https://cbs2chicago.com/local/playing.the.game.2.1150628.htmlHere are all the places the movie is playing in the Chicago area:Chicago, IL - AMC Pipers Alley 4Highland Park, il - Landmark Renaissance Place 5South Barrington, il - AMC South Barrington 30Naperville, il - AMC Cantera 30Addison, IL - Addison CinemasGurnee, IL - Gurnee CinemasSkokie, il - Kerasotes Village CrossingNiles, il - Kerasotes ShowPlace 12For more information about the movie which opened Friday, go to:Play the Game Movie Website

Today I will be touring more communities with a lovely lady in her 90's who has been in Florida for the past 30 years but is now lonely down there.  She is very independent but is considering moving back to Chicago where she was born, grew up, and where she raised her family.

We had a lot of fun on Friday when we toured some communities in the city.  She would be able to move to any of them and they (luckily) are all within her budget its just a matter of her making a decision.  She asked me which one I like best.  I told her I liked them all and would not have chosen them to visit if they were not nice places.  You have to go with your feelings is what I told her she needs to do.  You are going to know when one place just feels more like home than the others.  One place is going to put you more at ease.

So now we just have to see if she made a decision over this long weekend.  We are going to look at two more places this morning, in a completely different area just to compare.  What she has to decide is if she wants to give up the warm winters in Florida for the cold winters here in Chicago.  I know the thought of staying inside for a few months in the winter is not that attractive.  But my guess is most of the seniors in Florida have to spend a few months in the summer trapped indoors as the heat & humidity are unbearable.

So I look forward to hearing her impressions of the communities we look at today and seeing if what she decides to do!

You are never to old to twitter! Or facebook or blog for that matter.Just read a wonderful article about Ivy Bean, a young (104 y.o.) lady that I happen to be following on twitter. I have been following her for a while, so it was cool to see the article and learn more about her.You can follow her on twitter @IvyBean104 and you can follow me @SeniorLivingExpHere is a link to the article from CNN.

Sept 13 - Sept 19th 2009 is National Assisted Living Week.“This year’s theme, ‘Traditions of the Heart’ pays tribute to thepersonal connection that caregivers, relatives, and volunteers havewith nearly 1 million people residing in more than 38,000 assistedliving and residential care communities nationwide,” said David Kyllo, The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL)'s executive director.NCAL established National assisted living Week in 1995 toprovide a unique opportunity to bring together residents, families,employees, volunteers, and the surrounding community to celebrateresidents and the services provided within assisted living residences.

As of Sept 11, 2009 the office of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services - Senior Services Division (or as I call it the department on aging..) has moved from 30 N. LaSalle to:

1615 W. Chicago Ave, 3rd Floor, Chicago IL 60622

All phone numbers have been changed and the new phone number is:

312-746-8541

I received this letter from Amber Leigh Blough at StoryCorp at the end of last month.  I finally had a chance to listen this week and I don't know why I waited.  It is a very quick story and it contains a valuable tip for talking to your parents about moving to assisted living (or regarding any time of care or conflict.)  Please listen if you get a chance, its pretty quick!

Here is the letter:

I'm writing from StoryCorps, America's largest nonprofit national oral history project. I thought you and your readers would be interested in listening to StoryCorps' latest story to broadcast on NPR this morning. Fanni Green tells her daughter, Danyealah, about moving her mother, Pauline, into an assisted living facility after her health began to fail. You can take a listen here (about 2.5 minutes): https://www.storycorps.org/listen/stories/fanni-green-and-her-daughter-danyealah.

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. Since 2003, tens of thousands of people from across the country have interviewed family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to take home and share and is also archived for generations to come at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Millions listen to the award-winning broadcasts on public radio and the Internet. Select stories have also been published in the New York Times bestselling book, Listening Is an Act of Love.

Pretty awesome I say.

The Alzheimer's Association Greater Illinois Chapter is partnering with the South Side Dementia Consortium to host a conference called You Are Not Alone: Supporting Caregivers of Loved Ones with Memory Loss.This conference will be helped on Saturday, Sept 26 and will be held at Kennedy-King College, Media and Culinary Arts Building, 740 West 63rd Street, Chicago IL 60621.This year they have assembled some of the most prominent leaders in the field of dementia care and research. Anyone caring for a family member is encouraged to attend.$10.00 per person in advance and $15.00 at the door. Lunch is provided. Limited scholarships are availableThe event runs from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. You can register by calling 847-933-2413 or online here.

According to actionalz.org, World Alzheimer's Day was firstlaunched on September 21, 1994, at the Alzheimer's DiseaseInternational (ADI) conference as part of the 10th anniversarycelebration. Since that time events have been planned around the worldto commemorate and honor those who have been affected by thisdevastating disease.