31864 NL Summer.indd
Transcription
31864 NL Summer.indd
Well•Spring Services Summer 2015 Serving an Inclusive Population of Older Adults ACE Participants Are Sew Special The Adult Center for Enrichment is stitching up some activity! Recently we pulled out our sewing machines, knitting needles, and crochet hooks and started to see what we could create. Soon it was apparent that we have some natural designers in textiles! We have made lightweight quilts with a variety of fabrics and pieced them together in unique patterns and color combinations. Many of these are proudly displayed on beds at home. The positive responses received from peers quickly grew interest among other participants, and they decided that they wanted to give the sewing machine a try. Once the realization was made as to how quickly we could whip up a quilted masterpiece, we decided to try our creative talents on pillows. We have sewn many different sizes and designs, using them for decoration or rest. Some chose to sew long pillows for a family member’s hospital bed and others have given their projects away as gifts. The sky is the limit when putting together fabrics and trims for our projects. Participants have learned how to hem pants, repair tears, and even take in a waistline! We have one participant working on a dress that she has pinned and cut from a pattern. Participants are realizing that being able to sew is empowering. Since the sewing projects have proven to be a continuous avenue for socialization, creativity and self esteem; we decided to see what we could do with yarn. We have tried our hands at loom weaving and while one participant created beautiful hats, another participant has started crocheting. Recently we picked up some knitting needles and although this activity has challenged us, we are confident that we will soon have long beautiful scarves to match the hats. At its most basic, sewing requires us to focus both physically and mentally on a task. It’s hard to sew if you are not paying attention, and if you are concentrating on your sewing you can’t be worrying about problems or any other stressors. The hand-eye coordination is good for our brains and for keeping our fingers nimble. Having agile minds and bodies tend to make us feel more sharp and alert. A recent article published in the United Kingdom discussed how researchers found quilting benefitted people in ways that physical or outdoor pursuits didn’t, including improving cognitive, emotional and social well being. Another study suggests that knitting has a neurochemical effect on the brain. Sewing also brings positive benefits for older people, including those with dementia, as it is a familiar activity Continued on page 5 Inside This Issue President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . 2 PACE, Oral Health. . . . . . . . . . . 3 Resident Volunteers. . . . . . . . . . 4 The Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ACE, continued. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Caregiver Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Should I Stay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 A Note from Steve Fleming, President/CEO One of the pleasures of serving as CEO is having the opportunity to preview the articles of our Executive Directors and the wonderful work they and their organizations do to exceed the needs of an evolving population of older adults. Whether in the area of recreational therapy, oral health or volunteerism, our providers are at the forefront of aging services. It is in this spirit of collaborative leadership that I am pleased to announce the establishment of a Collaborative Affiliation between Well•Spring Services, Inc. and The Village at Brookwood, a continuing care retirement community located in Burlington, North Carolina and an affiliate of Alamance Regional Medical Center, a member of Cone Health, based in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Affiliation is designed to enhance operational outcomes, improve visibility in broader markets, establish mutual strategic interests and position the Village at Brookwood and Well•Spring for the future impacts of health care reform and the changing consumer. It is not, however, designed to be a merger; nor is there a change in governance structures. Our organizations will collaborate in the broad area of strategic planning and the operational areas of dining and marketing. Dan Cuthriell, Executive Director, and the Board of The Village at Brookwood have established a continuing care retirement community exemplified by personal attention to needs in an ideal location in the heart of Burlington. It will be a pleasure to meet the challenges that lie ahead with such a respected organization. The two communities share many traits, the most common being that The Village at Brookwood and Well•Spring are the only two CCRCs in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region to offer a full Lifecare contract that insures against the future, catastrophic cost of long term care. Another commonality is our relationship with Greensborobased Cone Health. The Village maintains a formal governance relationship with Cone, whereas Well•Spring’s is informal, with several current and past Board members in common. Well•Spring is also a partner with Cone Health, along with Advanced Home Care and Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, in the successful PACE of the Triad program which is referenced in this edition of our newsletter. I am extremely excited about this formal, but non-binding Affiliation as it will strengthen our organizations through collective efforts, while broadening the reach of our continuum of services. Each day I learn of new and inventive ways of delivering services to older adults, while also realizing Well•Spring Services, Inc. that the traditional reimbursement mechanisms are evolving before our very Board of Directors eyes. These times demand collaborative efforts. Well•Spring is honored to be Chair forging this new era with The Village at Brookwood and we look forward to David R. Howard working with Executive Director Dan Cuthriell , the Board and their Staff. Board Members Kenneth K. Boggs Carole W. Bruce Timothy J. Clontz Sally B. Cone Virginia Freyaldenhoven Paul H. Livingston, Jr. Susan L. McDonald MacArthur Sims Rick Williams Thomas E. Wright 2 Until next time. Steve Fleming Well•Spring Services, Inc. President and CEO PACE of the Triad Makes the Oral Health and Physical Health Connection This year, PACE of the Triad celebrates four years of caring for older adults who are “aging in place.” Each anniversary presents the opportunity to reflect on our impact to the community. One aspect in particular is the very positive impact on the oral health of our 166 participants receiving dental care through our collaboration with Access Dental Care. Access Dental Care is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide on-site, quality comprehensive dental services for individuals with special needs. Recently, the North Carolina PACE Association (NC-PACE) featured an article on the partnership written by Ellen Smith, PACE of the Triad’s Center Manager and Dr. Bill Milner, DDS, President of Access Dental Care. A link to the full article can be found at www.pacetriad.org, our website. Good oral health is important for everyone. It is especially critical as we age. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older Americans with the poorest oral health are those who are economically disadvantaged, lack insurance, and are members of racial and ethnic minorities. Being disabled, homebound, or institutionalized also increases the risk of poor oral health. We have helped many PACE participants make the oral health and physical health connection through our partnership with Access Dental Care which brings dental services to the PACE Center. Participants enjoy the convenience of receiving dental services while at the PACE Center and then are transported home following the appointment. Listed below are a few additional oral health facts from the CDC website (www.cdc.gov): • A small percentage of individuals 65 and older have their natural teeth. Missing teeth can affect nutrition because people without teeth or those who wear dentures will more often select soft foods over fresh fruits and vegetables. • The seriousness of gum disease increases with age and people at the lowest socioeconomic level have the most severe gum disease. • Per the CDC, oral and pharyngeal cancers, which are diagnosed in 31,000 Americans each year; result in about 7,400 deaths each year. These cancers are primarily diagnosed in the elderly and the prognosis is often poor. The survival rate for African American patients is only 34%. • Medications can cause dry mouth which causes individuals to be at greater risk for gum disease. • Painful conditions that affect the facial nerves are more common among the elderly and can be severely debilitating which can affect mood, sleep, and oral-motor functions such as chewing and swallowing. • Finally, neurological diseases associated with age, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and stroke also affect oral sensory and motor functions, in addition to limiting the ability to care for one self. Ursula Robinson, MSW, MHA PACE of the Triad Executive Director Resident Volunteer Program at Well•Spring Retirement Community April 12 – 18th was National Volunteer Appreciation Week and we felt it fitting to share with you how the Recreation and Well-Being Department has concentrated its recent efforts on expanding the Health Care Resident Volunteer Program. It is important for individuals to have opportunities to be helpful and to give to others. Residents love our socials, entertainment, art classes and more, but to truly live to one’s fullest, you need to give and not just receive. Resident volunteers are doing multiple jobs such as feeding the birds in the bird aviary; arranging the bingo chips and boards; delivering magazines to Rehab and other common areas; visiting Residents who need cheering up; handing out weekend brain fitness puzzles; reading to Residents with vision deficits; filling bird feeders outdoors; coordinating Bridge Club and Bridge Refresher Classes; writing letters and sending cards to brighten people’s day; providing a green thumb and helping to bring house plants “back to life” and Pru Collier feeding the birds in the Aviary in taking photos of Resident events and programs for the Digital Assisted Living signs for all to enjoy in Health Care. Residents in Willow Way with cognitive issues enjoy doing helpful activities such as serving refreshments, watering plants, cleaning vases, arranging flowers, wiping tables, washing dishes and sweeping the floor. Residents enjoy volunteering and even the smallest of jobs gives them purpose and reminds them that they are needed by others. Some complete the jobs independently, others need reminders and many need an employee or community volunteer to go with them and help them complete their tasks. Jennifer Cunningham, Director of Recreation & Well-Being shares, “The time and effort that it takes is truly worthwhile because we see the benefits first hand through the smiles on their faces, the pep in their step, the charge that they receive from seeing how they still can make an impact even though it may be just doing a little something.” Dr. Charlie Phillips volunteers by Coordinating our Bridge Club in Health Care and giving residents Bridge Refresher Classes. When asked why he volunteers, he replied, “I enjoy playing bridge and I like to see other people have the same joy I do. The more people we have to play bridge, the more bridge I get to play!” Volunteering increases socialization, decreases anxiety, improves self-esteem and much more. Dr. Charlie Phillips assists with a bridge hand. 4 K. Alan Tutterow Well•Spring Retirement Community Executive Director The Difference What difference do we make? How do we know we are successful? These are important questions we ask ourselves each and every day. They are important because the answers have a real impact on the lives of the family caregivers and older adults we serve who are frail and/or impaired. The Home & Community Based Services division of Well•Spring Services has developed self-report surveys out of a belief that each person we serve has the right to determine what he/she perceives their status to be. We ask the clients directly because no one else can truly tell another what defines quality for that person. The various offerings within Well•Spring Home & Community Based Services each have unique outcomes and indicators that help us determine if we are indeed making a difference and being successful. Caregiver Education is an excellent example. Between March and June of 2015 we convened 10 caregiver education events. These events covered topics such as Family Caregiver Communication: Holding a Family Meeting, Normal Aging vs. Dementia, and Navigating the Maze of Senior Care Options. The feedback we received from the caregivers that participated was overwhelmingly positive: 100% reported increasing their knowledge about the topic covered and 100% reported a strengthened ability to handle the stress of caregiving. The Adult Day Center, Group Respite sites, and Home Care program also produced some remarkable outcomes. For example, 92% of the caregivers utilizing the adult day center and group respite sites told us their loved one maintained or improved their medical condition since utilizing the services. This is remarkable because all of the participants receiving these services have a chronic illness from which they will not recover. A wonderful example from Home Care is 98% of our clients feel their needs are met and in a significant number of cases their needs are exceeded through our services. Not only do we strive to be the best, but to be better than our best every day. Chip Cromartie Well•Spring Services, Inc. Vice President of Home & Community Based Services ACE, continued that older adults often remember how to do, even if other activities have become more daunting. Besides the therapeutic effects of sewing and knitting, it is fun! We love it when we get our hands on new fabric and decide what we will create. We enjoy the process of seeing an idea become a finished project; but most importantly there is no greater satisfaction than to see a participant, as one did recently, sit down at a sewing machine and hear her exclaim, “Hotdog, I’m sewing!” Leslie Martin Adult Center for Enrichment Activities Coordinator 5 Caregiver Education Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a sixweek educational series designed to provide family caregivers with practical tools to care for themselves. This program helps participants reduce stress, improve self-confidence, change negative self-talk, communicate feelings, balance their lives, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate community resources. ACE offers this series in the fall and spring each year. At the end of the series, participants agree that the class content and connection with others are very beneficial. One caregiver shared that the program was a life changing experience: “I discovered the power of speaking positively to and about myself. I learned that I am not the last person that deserves my best care. I learned how by making time to refuel and recharge myself, I am better equipped to be present and caring for my family.” On June 10th, ACE held its first “Powerful Tools for Caregivers Reunion.” The event was designed as a self-care refresher and opportunity for classmates to come together again. Caregivers greatly enjoyed catching up and a delicious dessert bar from Born and Bread Greensboro. One caregiver said that it was “An excellent sanity check.” Another shared that she “LOVED seeing everyone and being reminded of all the ways I learned to practice self-care.” The 2015 fall series begins Thursday, September 24th and ends October 29th. Please go to the ACE website at www.ACEcare.org for more information and to register (advance registration is required to attend). Monthly Caregiver Support Groups Second Tuesday of each month 12:30 pm-2:00 pm First Baptist Church Room 112 1000 W. Friendly Avenue Greensboro, NC 27401 First Wednesday of each month 1:00 pm-2:30 pm 109 Penny Road High Point, NC 27265 6 Please join us if you would benefit from this series. You will receive “The Caregiver Helpbook” specifically developed for the class, and the discussions/ brainstorming in each class will help you take the tools learned and implement them in your daily life. Jodi Kolada Adult Center for Enrichment Director of Caregiver Education Should I Stay or Should I Go? Well•Spring Services, the University of North Carolina and Serve, Inc. are offering Should I Stay or Should I Go? This program is designed for citizens in the Triad region who want information on the best housing options to meet their health and lifestyle needs…now and in the future. This eight session program will also include information on financial planning and social engagement. Should I Stay or Should I Go? will be offered on consecutive Thursdays beginning September 17 through November 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The sessions will be held at Beth David Synagogue, 804 Winview Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410. The cost is $35 per person. September 17 - Aging in Place, Home Care and Adult Day Services September 24 - Aging in Place, Home Modification October 1 - Tour of the Adult Center for Enrichment October 8 - Financial Preparedness, Estate Planning, Trust Funds, Asset Preservation, Long Term Care Insurance October 15 - Overview of Continuing Care October 22 - Tour of Well•Spring Retirement Community October 29 - Remaining Active and Social November 5 - Panel Discussion For complete details and to register on-line, please visit www.servecenter.org/products/should-i-stay-orshould-i-go. Please contact Pat Levitin with UNCG at [email protected] with any questions you may have. Volunteer Opportunities Bingo caller, pianist, performer, arts & crafts... There are various volunteer opportunities available with Well•Spring Services and your time and efforts can make a huge difference in the lives of the individuals we serve. Adult Center for Enrichment - contact Taylor Randall at [email protected] or (336) 2824284 or Latoya McNair at [email protected] or (336) 545-5390. PACE of the Triad - contact Lucillia Davis at [email protected] or (336)550-4040. Well•Spring Retirement Community - visit our website at www.well-spring.org. HOME CARE www.well-springhomecare.org A member of Well•Spring Services, Inc. Well•Spring Home Care. The choice for Personal Assistance. Well•Spring Home Care is designed to provide older adults with the extra assistance that will help them maintain their independence and lifestyle in their private home. Our caregivers can provide a range of services from companionship to assistance with daily living tasks. Well•Spring Home Care’s Medication Management provides a comprehensive assessment and interventions to assist older adults in safe management of their medications. Contact us today for more information. 4100 Well Spring Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 • (336) 545-5446 7 Well•Spring Services Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Greensboro, NC Permit No. 308 4100 Well•Spring Drive Greensboro, NC 27410 Services, Inc. Retirement Community www.well-spring.org Phone: 336.545.5400 Fax: 336.545.5411 www.ACEcare.org Phone: 336.274.3559 Fax: 336.282.3020 United Way Community Partner 1471 E. Cone Boulevard Greensboro, NC 27405 www.pacetriad.org Phone: 336.550.4040 Fax: 336.540.4044 Home Care www.well-spring.org Phone: 336.545.5446 Fax: 336.282.3020 Well•Spring Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that serves an inclusive population of older adults. 4100 Well Spring Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410 Phone: 336.545.5400 Fax: 336.282.3020 www.well-spring.org
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