Considering a Retirement Community?

Posted by Katharine

Reasons to Move to a Retirement Community 

Every day, during our conversations with the seniors considering a move to The Atrium at The Cedars, we hear a number of reasons why they haven’t taken action yet.  The ones listed below we hear most often, and if we had a nickel for each time I heard them……well, you know the rest!

  • “I’m healthy.”   Great news – you are the perfect candidate for Independent Living!  And even better news, our community offers tai chi, yoga, strength training, an indoor pool, and a fitness center all under one roof, so you can maintain your health and well-being.  We also have visits from podiatrists, blood pressure clinics, and seasonal flu shots.  All this and a highly respected, state of the art rehabilitation facility, The Sam L. Cohen Rehab Center, right here when you need it.
  • “I can’t imagine fitting all my stuff into an apartment.”  But, do you really need all that stuff?    The term “downsizing” has a negative connotation – after all, who wants to head in a downward direction?   Think of it as “simplifying”.   Consider unburdening yourself from those crates, boxes, and files.  Anything you haven’t used, or even laid a hand on in years, is not serving you as it should.  Keep only what you really love or what is truly practical, give sentimental items to friends and family who you know will take good care of them, and the rest – let it go!
  •  “I don’t want to lose my independence.”   Do you rely on friends and family, neighbors perhaps, to run errands, shovel your driveway, or help with yard work and home maintenance?  Or are you struggling with doing these things yourself?  Independence comes from having options, vs. having to rely on someone else.   Independence comes from the will to make a change, rather than waiting for something to happen – at which point you may not be in control.   Independence is about choices.  Consider a move as gaining your independence, rather than losing it.  Our members at The Atrium will tell you that due to the level of services we provide (housekeeping, meals, and concierge services are only a few) they spend time doing things they love with people who matter.  Isn’t that a choice we all would make?     And finally ….
  • “I’m not ready.”   I could ask you “why?” and you could give me the excuses listed above, and more.  The question I pose is “What is holding you back?”  Try it – it’s a little harder to make excuses, isn’t it?  Ask yourself, “What is it that is keeping me from simplifying my living situation?”  “What is it that I’m holding on to?”  “What is preventing me from making a change I know is in my benefit?”  Tough questions, with some tough answers.  Some of those answers might require a bit of soul searching, some tough love on the part of your family and friends, and ultimately, the courage within to make a change.

For more information on retirement living, contact us or our marketing representative at 207-221-7100

 

 

Maintaining a Healthy Brain

Posted by Katharine

Mindful Connections

Does playing cards or studying a foreign language help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease?  A recent study presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Copenhagen found that these kinds of activities support the “use it or lose it” theory in that they lead to greater brain volume as seen on neurological imaging tests.  Although the study did not reveal that brain games prevent Alzheimer’s Disease altogether, it did show they lead to better learning, memory and information processing.  The best evidence suggests that a healthy lifestyle of exercise, a balanced diet and not smoking, combined with activities such as going to museums, doing puzzles and reading books can reduce the risk of dementia.

At The Cedars community, we approach overall wellness from various perspectives, depending upon the individual’s needs and abilities.  At The Atrium independent living, and The Osher Inn assisted living, we provide multiple opportunities to regain or maintain physical strength and cardiovascular health.  As a compliment, the members and residents enjoy bridge playing, book clubs, blackjack, computer coaching, trips to the museum and theater, lectures and more.

And for those with mild to moderate dementia, we offer our unique Mindful Connections  program – also available on an outpatient basis – to provide a combination of mental stimulation, cardiovascular exercise and socialization with the goal of maximizing independence while enhancing physical and cognitive wellness.  For more information on this exciting program, call 207-221-7150 or check out Mindful Connections.

Making Healthy Choices towards Better Brain Health

Posted by Katharine

Heart HealthThe American Heart Association recently released an assessment tool, Life’s Simple 7, that focuses on cardiovascular health issues typically resulting from lifestyle choices, or modifiable behaviors.  With several studies having established the relationship between poor cardiovascular health and cognitive decline, researchers questioned whether this tool could be used a motivation for better lifestyle choices.

Researchers studied over 17,000 individuals over the age of 45 who completed the Life’s Simple 7 assessment.  The tool covers the following health areas: smoking, diet, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol and fasting glucose.  After four years, the participants’ cognitive status was assessed and, not surprisingly, those with the lowest cardiovascular health scores on the Simple 7 had a greater rate of cognitive impairment by 35 to 37 percent. And the strongest correlations came from smoking, BMI and fasting glucose.

Recently another study completed in the UK with a similar list of seven risk factors found that exercise topped their list for being the most influential.  The researchers estimated that by reducing the risk associated with each lifestyle factor by just 10%, 9 million cases of dementia worldwide could be prevented by 2050.  One researcher noted, “Although there is no single way to prevent dementia, we may be able to take steps to reduce our risk of developing dementia at older ages.  We know what many of these factors are, and that they are often linked.”

These research efforts support our Living Well with Dementia outpatient program philosophy, where individuals living at home with mild to moderate dementia participate in exercise, cognitive exercises and socialization.  To find out more contact The Cedars at 207-221-7100.

Standing Up for Seniors: John Watson Wins Advocacy Award

Posted by Katharine

john watson award 1JOHN WATSON, Chief Financial Officer at The Cedars, received a special Advocacy Award from Leading Age on April 14 for his work on Maine’s Commission to Study Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities.

John has been a leader in the statewide movement to change the ways our state pays for nursing home care for years, and his distinguished service on the Commission reflects his commitment to good finance—and fairness.

“The Commission found Maine underfunds nursing homes by $40 million dollars each year, ” John says. “This forces nursing homes to carve out funds from Medicare or private pay to provide acceptable care for their residents. If they can’t, they close.”

These closures disproportionately affect Maine’s rural communities—and leave seniors in those communities without options. Maine’s strict medical eligibility requirements restrict access to home nursing, leaving seniors and their families to shoulder the burdens of aging in place. “The State of Maine needs to stop relying on nursing homes to meet our obligation to rural and low-income elders,” John explains. “Everyone needs access to quality long term care.”

Leading Age, a large nationwide coalition of aging services providers, agrees. “John’s dedicated work toward making way for a more transparent and equitable State reimbursement system and his unrelenting focus on improving access to the highest quality services possible is why Leading Age Maine and New Hampshire is proud to show the appreciation of its members with this Special Advocacy Award,” Denise Vachon, Leading Age Board of Directors and Executive Director of Park Danforth, declared at the award ceremony.

The Cedars thanks the LTC Commission for its service and congratulates John Watson on his well deserved recognition by Leading Age.

 

Summer at The Atrium

Posted by Katharine

Join us the afternoon of Wednesday August 6

Jazz duo: Vocalist Julie Thompson and Guitarist Neil Lamb

FMI and RSVP 207-221-7100

Healing Leads to a Homecoming: The Skilled Care Center at The Cedars Retirement Community

Posted by Katharine

The PochebitsWHEN Mary Carol Pochebit began experiencing increasingly severe medical and mobility issues, she and her husband, John, faced a difficult choice. They wanted to stay together in the home they had shared for over 50 years. But Mary Carol needed more assistance with the activities of daily living than John could provide, and more acute medical care than she was eligible for at home.

“We have a big, close family,” John explains. “But only one of my sons lives close by. I couldn’t even get Mary to her doctor appointments without calling him.”

Like many seniors, the Pochebits had many apprehensions and misconceptions about nursing homes like The Skilled Care Center at The Cedars. Today, they are so glad they didn’t let those fears keep them from finding Mary the care she needed. Because Mary had a customized care plan from our medical director, 24/7 support from our nursing team, and access to state-of-the-art physical and occupational therapy, she is walking again. She is thriving again. And she is back home again.

That’s right—Mary’s health improved so much in long term care that she was able to return home to John and her beloved dog, Barley. “It was the therapy and the nurses that did it,” she says happily. “And Dr. Marino—Dr. Marino saved my life.”

Dr. Marino, of Maine Medical Geriatrics, creates customized care plans for all residents. “I listened to Mary and her family to find out what was important to her,” he remembers. “She needed a full assessment with a fresh set of eyes.”

Dr. Marino felt Mary’s health issues stemmed from the 26 medications she took every day. “It’s hard to differentiate a true medical condition from the side effect of a prescription when you’re a doctor seeing a patient during a quick office visit,” he explains. “You can fall into the trap of prescribing new drugs to treat side effects of old drugs. At The Cedars, we have the advantage of carefully observing residents over time to better calibrate care.”

Everyone agreed to a care plan that would lower Mary’s dosages while increasing her physical and occupational therapies. “Except I didn’t want therapy,” Mary adds. “I’d been in the I.C.U. at Maine Medical Center after getting the flu. I almost died. I wouldn’t get out of bed!”

But Robin, Mary’s occupational therapist, wouldn’t give up. “I kept saying no, not today,” Mary recalls. “And one day she chose an outfit and she told me I was going to get up and we were going on a walk. Robin’s confidence and care changed everything! Because of Robin, I’m walking again.”

After several months of skilled, one-on-one rehabilitation and diligent nursing care, Mary was mobile, taking only 11 prescriptions and feeling like herself again. She even began spending weekends at home with John!

“She wanted to go home permanently,” says Dr. Marino. “The Cedars has successfully transitioned patients from nursing care to assisted living, and we never stop working diligently with all our patients to recover and restore as much independence as they can achieve. But I have worked in nursing homes for ten years, and Mary is the first person living in a nursing home that I’ve seen get strong enough to go back home.”

Today, Mary maintains her independence with daily assistance from a home nurse and loving care from John, who can’t believe their luck. “I thought I’d lost her,” he says emotionally, beaming at Mary. “We’re so close, you know. I love her like the dickens. It’s so good to have her home, looking like a young chick again.”

“It’s good to be home,” Mary agrees softly. “That’s what I dreamed about. The Cedars made my dream come true.”

 

Summer at The Atrium

Posted by Katharine

Join us at The Atrium for a Presentation with

Historian Jerry Wiles on Maya Angelou

Thursday July 17

FMI please call 207-221-7100

Summer at The Atrium

Posted by Katharine

Join us at The Atrium at The Cedars on June 25 for a concert with

Michael Beling and Saxophonist Bill Street

For more information or to RSVP, call 207-221-7100

Assisted Living at The Cedars – Residents Knitters Reach Out

Posted by Katharine

What do you do when you hear about someone in need?  At The Osher Inn, assisted living at The Cedars, a group of more than six residents dusted off their knitting needles and joined forces to help.  A few months ago, a few residents at The Osher Inn heard of a man receiving services from VNA Hospice – who just couldn’t stay warm. They didn’t miss a beat and gathered their friends at The Osher Inn to create a blanket as a donation to hospice.

“It took around three months, with more than six of us working on it”, the group explained.  None of the knitters had picked up needles in years, but they jumped back in willingly.  “Fingers change over the years,” one knitter explained, “the needles are slippery and they didn’t used to be!” Another resident, who owned a yarn store in Portland for many years, says that using wooden needles makes it easier.  The result of their work is a beautiful blanket full of color that can be washed and dried at home.

Now that they’ve made their donation, the group looks forward to finding another project.  “It gets easier, the more you do it,” said another resident.  In the meanwhile, these many hands have provided a hospice patient with a much needed warm embrace.

Open House at The Atrium at The Cedars

Posted by Katharine

Join us Thursday June 12 from 2-4PM for our

Almost-Summer Open House at The Atrium

Find out all that Independent Living has to offer

Meet our Members and Enjoy Refreshments in our Courtyard

RSVP 207-221-7100