Senior Living Information Blog

Senior Living Experts helps son find senior living for isolated mother

Recently we were contacted by a son regarding his lonely and isolated mother.  She was living along and was not able to care for her home as she had done in the past.  Her son took notice and contacted us right away.  Kerry answered all of his questions and helped him select a few places that would be the best fit for his mother.

Although she was skeptical, his mom agreed to look into senior living.  They toured a few communities and fell in love with one that recently opened in the western suburbs.

The staff understood that the transition was going to be difficult as this was such a big change in her life. They helped support her and she is now thriving in her new environment.  Because she had been depressed and alone for so long, there was a lot of concern that she would not adjust which is not uncommon. 

After two months we are happy to report that she is active and participating in all the events at the community and is happy about her decision.

And her son?  He is at ease knowing his mom is safe and happy.

Follow Senior Living Experts on Facebook and get to know how we can help you or one of your friends who may be going through a similar situation.

Photo of Kerry Quirin, Senior Living Advisor taken by John Cox - Downer's Grove Reporter

Seniors for Living's list of helpful caregiving resources on Twitter

Thank you to Seniors for Living for compiling a helpful list of Caregiving resources that they follow on Twitter.  Thank you especially for including @seniorlivingexp we are honored to be part of such a great group of people!

You can also follow me on Facebook!

Jilted bride throws 'reception' for senior living community near Chicago

I was reading a copy of last months AARP Bulletin on our drive home from Florida and came across this article.  As I read it again out loud to my husband Jason who was driving, tears came to my eyes so I ripped it out so I could remember to share it on my blog.  I don't know who you are Teanne Harris, but I think you are the bomb.

Jilted Bride Throws Bash Anyways - When Teanne Harris' fiance got cold feet six days before their late October wedding, a retirement community in Des Plaines, Ill., got a special treat.

After finding out it was too late for a refund for the reception, Harris decided to turn her Halloween-themed wedding celebration into a holiday party for the 340 residents of Asbury Court Retirement Community.

"She didn't know anyone here," says marketing director Jean Higgason. "But she offered to move everything - food, flowers, table decorations and the DJ" - to the seniors.

"I worked really hard on planning for the perfect party, and it would have broken my heart even more to have it go to waste," says Harris, 34 of Bensenville, Ill.  The residents "helped me out by giving me some joy watching them enjoy it." - reported by Cathie Gandel.

Happy New Year

The new year is but a few hours away.  I have the pleasure of spending it with my family at my parents home in their "55 and better" community in Florida.  As I have been here, I have noticed a lot of people living for the moment and enjoying their time, their friends and their hobbies.  I even attended 2 yoga classes, which were both excellent and enjoyable.  More yoga is one of my resolutions.  I vow to "learn" how to relax and enjoy more in 2010 and I hope you will too!  Until next year...

Are You or Someone You Know Caring For an Elderly Loved One?

A few years ago, I had the chance to meet Barbara Friesner, and Elder Care Expert and Founder of AgeWiseLiving.  A while ago, she created “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” which I recommend to any caregiver dealing with an aging parent. 

Just in time for the holidays, she is offering $100 off AND a free upgrade on shipping so that you can order today and get it in time for Christmas.  It’s a great gift so I thought I would share some information on it!  I had them send me this description because I know she could explain it better than I!

Did you know that more than 1/3 of elder caregivers had long term health problems because of elder caregiving?

In fact, researchers have found that there is a 63% increase in mortality over 4 years, compared with non-caregivers.  And the numbers are worse when there is also financial strain.

Did you know that almost all respondents reported that they paid one or more expenses in order to help the care recipient? (Food, transportation, and medications were their three most common expenses.) And these are just miscellaneous costs – not including loss of pay, pension, social security, etc.

Barbara Friesner, Elder Care Expert, Generational Coach, and former caregiver to her grandmother, and her mother, has helped hundreds of families with their Elder Care issues.

That’s why she created “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System.” And right now, Barbara is offering it at $100 off the regular price! And right now, until December 22nd, you'll also receive a free upgrade from ground to air shipping at no additional cost! To order just click on this link “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System”

If you’re a caregiver or care about someone who is, please don’t wait until these statistics are about you. Give yourself or someone you love the gift of love and order “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” at this special sale price today and get the help you need today.

”The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” is an amazingly comprehensive and information-rich resource that is guaranteed to address your most difficult questions, roadblocks, and communication breakdowns that are so typical for elder caregivers.

Because no one has time and money to waste – especially caregivers –“The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success System” is a very simple step-by-step and easy to follow program.

 The System includes “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success GUIDE” which has checklists, examples . . . all kinds of information – that makes the process easy to understand and more importantly, easy to be successful. In addition, the System includes 8 CDs –6 seminars, 1 CD of all the forms in the book, and 1 CD with Barbara's rolodex of resources, plus the 3 CD boxed set of the Expert Series. That’s The Ultimate Caregiver’s Success Guide and 11 CDs.

Guiding principles behind the AAHSA Idea House

Technology, universal design and aging in place all come together at the Idea House at the AAHSA 09 conference.

When you are touring the home you can see all three of these principles in every corner.

I am going to start with sustainable design.  "Green" design is important not only to the environment but to the health and wellness of the occupants who live in the home.  The healthier the environment, the longer they can remain in their home whether that be and actual home, apartment or senior living community.

The house was designed to be oriented with the courtyard having an exposed southern exposure.  This is important because it allows for optimum natural light.  Also the light will come in during the winter and help to heat the home.  In the summer when the rays are more direct, the louvers are designed to shade the windows.  The home has windows on all corners allowing for additional light and shades that work at the touch of a button allow for privacy.  The orientation of the home also allows for maximum ventilation. The roof can support solar panels (maybe we will see these next year when the show is in California..) and they can be moved to face the sun and help to heat the home.

The home also includes a green roof (imagine growing your garden right on your roof...).  In addition the home is loaded with recycled products as well as water and energy saving devices.

This leads me to the second principle, technology.  There were monitoring systems that can tell a caregiver what the temperature of the home is - that way if mom had not turned on her heat or air conditioning in a time when maybe they should have, something can be done about it sooner rather than later.

Some of the devices showcased can monitor motion (record average footsteps and gait), moisture on the floor, medications and weight and vital statistics.  All of this information can be web based, again allowing for a remote care giver or a doctor to monitor the senior.   These technologies are also currently used in many senior living communities as well.

You can also connect socially to family and friends through technology.  There were multiple examples of software programs to run on a computer that allows a senior to easily stay in touch.  You can even join a Wii bowling league and bowl against someone in a another state... But more about all these new technologies in another post.

Finally, aging in place or universal design.  It allows any homeowner and their family members to have the confidence that the home will adapt to the future physical needs and allow them to stay at home as long as possible.  Or if you already live in a senior community, it could delay a move to a higher level of care which can be very stressful.

The home is modular and could be used as a large group home instead of just a home for an individual or a family.  It could be used as a home and an adult day care.  It could also be added on to and become a home for a large group of individuals with private rooms and large inviting social areas.  I saw computer graphics showing the home built out as well as up.   I will talk more about this when I write about my interview with Eric Krull from THW design later. 

There is still time to see the home for yourself.

McCormick Place Lakeside Center

Exhibit Hall Lobby, Level 3 - register on 2nd floor, they will give you a pass for just the Idea House

When:

Tuesday Nov 10 noon - 3:30 pm

Wednesday Nov 11 noon - 3:30 pm

AAHSA's Last Designer Standing

So maybe I wandered away from the Idea House just long enough to see what the students at Harrington College of Design were doing in the back corner of the expo hall...as a student of the school myself, how could I resist?

Students were challenged to transform a skilled nursing room into a special home for an AAHSA member resident on a limited budget.  14 students from one of the graduate studio classes at Harrington were chosen to participate and compete against each other in groups of two.  Initial concepts were created and presented to a team of judges consisting of Joseph Hassel, Jennifer McDermott and Carlo Salvador from Perkins Eastman, Julie Moller from Freeman White and John-Martin Rutherford and Crandon Gustafson from Harrington College of Design.  I actually met Mr. Hassel today and he described the entire process and competition to me. 

From there, two of the schemes were chosen.  The students were re-organized in 2 groups, an orange team and a green team and they have 48 to complete their designs.  Guests of the expo can vote for their favorite one and the winner will receive $1000.00

The picture above were the original submissions and below I have the concepts and the teams in action. 

Hopefully I can get pictures of the finished rooms to publish. 

 

Touring the AAHSA Idea House

This morning I had the opportunity to venture over to the McCormick Place and tour the Idea House that was built right inside for the AASHA Annual Meeting.

When I initially arrived, the media was touring the home and I got to stand back and take a look and really appreciate how many people could comfortably stand inside the home and socialize.  And socialize they did, as there were many vendors demonstrating some of the latest and greatest technology available to us today to help us age in place. 

I walked into the open courtyard area and tried to decide which section of the home to explore first.  A few hours later I have to say I was almost on information overload.  Some of the built ins and products were to be expected, and some were hard to even imagine existing.  Over the course of my next few posts, I am going to talk about some of the things I learned and some of the products I learned about.  I even had the opportunity to interview Majd Alwan, the Director of CAST and Eric Krull, the AAHSA Idea House Designer.  It was hard not to see the excitement in their eyes as they talked about the project and the possibilities to come.

It was inspiring to see how architects, designers, aging services providers, and technology can all come toghether and create safe, beautiful functional spaces for the rest of us.  Stay tuned, more to come..

Memory Walk 09 update

I received an update on how we did back in September!  There were about 5,500 people present on the day of the walk which is amazing and to this day more than $850,000 was raised.

Thanks again to everyone who walked, who donated in general and who donated to me specifically!  I really appreciate your help year after year.

The Memory Walk dollars will be used ot support the programs of the Greater Illinois Chapter.  These programs include traditional and early-stage support groups that are attended by more than 450 individuals each month; family, community and professional education programs; a 24 hour helpline offered in 140 different languages and MedicaAlert/ Safe Return, a nationwide program that helps identify, locate and return people with memory loss who wander and become lost.

Special thanks go out to Mollie Shapiro, Manager of Special Events and Melissa Kast, Event Specialist for all their hard work and for letting me walk around with a clipboard looking important.

Changes in Senior Living

We have also noticed that the market has become even more competitive than every before.  I have seen a lot of communities that are spending money on capital investments in order to compete with the brand new communities down the street.  Especially as the new communities are offering some incredible pricing specials to entice people to move in and get their buildings full of lively seniors.

Many of them are adding or expanding on fitness and wellness centers and programing.  You probably already know they make special gym equipment for the seniors, and more and more communities are adding them.  Course many of them are going out and buying a Wii if they don't already have one. I have also seen an increase in spending in adding to existing therapy departments.

I have seen new carpeting, new furniture and new cafes go in.  I have even seen a multi-million dollar new elevator installed in a 20 year old high rise.  While it was painful during the transition you can imagine the improvements they have noticed.

Older buildings that are primarily full of studios are now willing to literally cut down walls between two studios to make one larger studio or "one bedroom" apartment.  This is a result of the demand for more space.

We also work with a community that has applied for a supportive living license though the state which, when approved, will allow them to work with Medicaid for payment.  What this means, is anyone who lives there now, can stay if they run out of money which is a welcome relief for both the community (who would other wise lose the resident) and the residents and their families who would otherwise have to find another place to live with less choice being the key factor.

On the flip side, even with everything the way it is, we still work with some communities that have waiting lists.  This could be because of the service they offer is available at the right price.  And of course, it is similar to real estate - it is all about location.