Join us for an informal, interactive discussion of senior living choices.
Friday October 5, 2012 at 11AM
RSVP to 221-7100
Yom Kippur
A Blessed Yom Kippur to All from The Cedars Community
Services at The Cedars September 25 and 26 at 3PM
Call 221-7000 for more information
Best Retirement Community: Resistance Training for Seniors
The residents and members of The Cedars are embarking on their second session of Resistance Training at The Atrium. Sharon Leddy-Smart, Lifestyle Coordinator and Personal Trainer, has completed the progress measurements following the first 12-week session, and the results are encouraging!
Given that this program was new to so many, the response and interest were better than expected, and all of the participants report that they have seen improvements. The comments at our recent Member Meeting include:
- Overall sense of feeling better and having more energy
- Improved muscle strength and endurance
- Sleeping better
- Improved posture due to an increased awareness of sitting and standing up straight
- Increased range of motion and flexibility
Sharon enjoys working with seniors and sees herself as a catalyst for our members and residents to feel better through exercise. During the third week of September, she conducted the Fullerton Fitness Assessments on all participants and we’re looking forward to seeing those results. The next 12 week session is under way – stay tuned!
Best Retirement Community: Empathy in Patient Care
Today, The Cedars Retirement Community shared an interesting study on our FaceBook page which we found in the Huffington Post titled, “Doctor Empathy Linked With Better Patient Care”. We are proud to say that the benefit of empathy in patient care has been at the core of The Cedars community and mission. Interestingly, this emphasis is gaining traction beyond the nursing field. At The Cedars, students from the University of New England are starting a year-long learning experience with our community called their Interprofessional Geriatric Education Program (IGEP).
Joe Wolfberg, M.S., Site-Coordinator for IGEP is hopeful that these scheduled interactions with our elder teachers will provide opportunities for clinical excellence, compassion and most certainly, empathy. This week, Physician Assistant and Pharmacy students are starting at The Atrium, independent living and in coming months they will spend time with seniors at The Osher Inn, assisted living and then at the Skilled Care Center.
The article in the Huffington Post sites a statement from the researchers: “our health care delivery systems must implement systematic change at the practice level to create an environment that supports mindful practice, encourages transparent and clear communication among clinicians, staff, patients, and families, and reduces professional isolation.” The Cedars is proud to contribute to this vital practice
Senior Living Options at The Cedars
Please join us on October 5, 2012 at 11AM
for an informal and interactive discussion of senior living choices.
Light lunch to follow.
Pease RSVP to 207-221-7100
Memory Support Group
Thursday September 13th at 4PM
Support group for those in the early stages of dementia
and their family and friends
For more information call 207-221-7150
Best Retirement Community: Memory Support Group at The Cedars
The Cedars growing outpatient program for those living in their homes with the early stages of dementia, Living Well with Dementia, is introducing a Memory Support Group for those with dementia and their family/friends.
August 23 was our first group and proved to be a tremendous success. The facilitator, Lenora Trussell, did an outstanding job of discussing the goals of the program, some of the issues individuals find when living with dementia and current research aimed at slowing the progression of the symptoms. Lenora is a registered nurse who is also a story teller and educator, utilizing both facts and humor. She is an excellent speaker and facilitator – and we look forward to future support groups.
The next group meets at The Cedars on Thursday September 13th at 4PM. For more information call 221-7150 or check our website for October’s meeting time.
Best Retirement Community: Celebrating National Assisted Living Week
With National Assisted Living Week upon us, The Osher Inn at The Cedars is embracing this year’s theme, “Art for the Ages.” The many special events we’ve scheduled for the week help us to say thank you to our residents, many of whom have made significant contributions to society as business people, civic leaders, firefighters, teachers, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
Today The Osher Inn held its Resident Art Show which showcased our community members’ paintings, needlework, pottery, sculptures … and much more. As the week continues we have concerts, art shows, instructional workshops and a concert that promises to get our residents dancing!
For more information about The Osher Inn and personalized assisted living, please call us at 207-221-7150.
The Cedars: CNBC.com Niche Retirement Community
The Cedars Retirement Community: CNBC.com Niche Retirement Community
Just about every retirement community features activities and programs that emphasize wellness. The Cedars in Portland, Maine, is no exception. It emphasizes holistic wellness, which many baby boomers have pursued for decades.
The community’s yoga program is taught by Jessica McKneally, who believes that yoga can help alleviate many of the health issues that older adults face.
“Many of the chronic ailments associated with the aging process are the result of stress, imbalance and disconnection,”she says on the community’s website. “Relieving stress, cultivating balance in our lives and reconnecting to our self and others can go a long way towards establishing a healthier, happier, more sustainable life.”
Getting a Good Night Sleep
Help with Aging Parents: Three Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep
By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager, The Osher Inn
Public health professionals know that a good night’s sleep an essential aspect of health promotion and chronic disease prevention, especially for the elderly.
Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression, all of which threaten our health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. It is also responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents, causing substantial injury and disability each year.
More than one-quarter of the U.S. population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, while almost 40% of the elderly experience sleep problems, and nearly 10% suffer from chronic insomnia.
Some of these insomnias may be due to the body not receiving sufficient oxygen during the night. However, new methods for assessing and treating sleep disorders bring hope to the millions suffering from insufficient sleep. Ask your physician if you may need an evaluation for a breathing disorder that interferes with your sleeping.
Here are some tips for getting a good night’s sleep:
- Get some activity every day – just move your body. Walking, using the fitness gym according to your physician’s order, stretching safely on a daily basis, all these can assist you in a thorough night’s rest.
- Eat right, limiting caffeinated drinks late in the day, minimizing sweets before bed, taking any diuretics according to your doctor’s order – generally not too late in the afternoon.
- Have (and stick to) a “bedtime routine”.
Sufficient sleep is not a luxury — it is a necessity — and should be thought of as a “vital sign” of good health.
For more information visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention online.