6-Story Newsletter Template + Images

		Inside ElderHealth

In This Issue:

December 2004

•	ElderHealth Welcomes MultiCare Adult Day Health Participants

•	Media Attention Generates Scores of New Volunteers for ElderFriends

•	Nora's Corner: "I Can't Tell You How Much I Love Living ..." Where?

•	Exactly What IS Turkey Bowling?

•	New Photo Gallery Offers Peek Inside Gaffney House

•	Supporters Lift Holiday Spirits at ElderHealth

ElderHealth Welcomes MultiCare Adult Day Health Participants

On December 20, 2004, ElderHealth Northwest will welcome participants from MultiCare’s Auburn Adult Day Health Center. The center will close its doors on December 17, and 80 elders and adults with chronic conditions will be seeking other care options.

Some of the Auburn participants will transfer to MultiCare’s Tacoma Adult Day Health Center, but over 40 have been referred to ElderHealth’s Renton Adult Day Health Center (aka “Connection,” located on the Valley Medical Center campus).

“We’re doing everything we can to make the transition smooth and we’re looking forward to having them join ElderHealth,” says Site Manager Patti Dahlman.

The arrival of the new participants has also accelerated plans for the site’s developmentally disabled clients: In January, many of them will join a new evening program, tentatively scheduled for 4:00 – 8:00 pm weekdays.

PICTURED: Lise and Anna Start a Game of Horseshoes.

http://www.elderhealth.org/adult_day_centers.html#renton

Nora's Corner: "I Can't Tell You How Much I Love Living ..." Where?

by Nora Gibson, Executive Director

I recently married a wonderful man whose mother lives in a nursing home on Staten Island, New York. This “home” is a 596 bed facility (not unusual on the East Coast) that has a good reputation. In fact, my new mother-in-law has done very well since adjusting to moving there. She has gained weight and connected socially with other alert women who watch out for each other and enjoy spending time together.

Despite the “good care,” the home she lives in is still a very foreign environment. With close to 600 very frail people living there, a person visiting is overwhelmed by the profound levels of physical and cognitive disability. To quote Dr. Bill Thomas, this is truly an “old age archipelago,” or as a friend of mine put it, a “frail ghetto.”

I stood in the lobby and watched nurse aides rushing people in wheelchairs into a large activity room. I was surprised to watch a Catholic sister using a bar code scanner on the backs of the wheelchairs as people were wheeled into the room. This home serves a neighborhood of largely Italian and Irish families, so many of them held rosaries in their hands to pray the rosary together. You could hear the tones of a male voice saying prayers but it was pre-recorded. There was no human being leading this activity. It was surreal for me but clearly normal there. . . .

Read the Conclusion of Nora's Corner

http://www.elderhealth.org/noracorner.html

New Photo Gallery Offers Peek Inside Gaffney House

ElderHealth’s website has just been updated with photos of Gaffney House, our recently-opened supported living home on Seattle’s Capitol Hill.

Gaffney House is designed for people with chronic conditions (including moderate to advanced dementia) who require frequent supervision and significant assistance with activities of daily living.

For more information about respite care or long-term stays at Gaffney House, please contact Residence Manager Steve Emmer at (206) 838-1930, stevee@elderhealth.org.

Special thanks to The Art Institute of Seattle Commercial Photography Department, Student Studio, for providing the gallery’s images.

PICTURED: Founding Resident Lana in a Family Portrait.

On to the Photo Gallery!

Media Attention Generates Scores of New Volunteers for ElderFriends

ElderFriend’s Ninth Annual Thanksgiving Day Meal Program was a wonderful success! On Thanksgiving morning, 50 volunteers delivered full-course turkey meals to isolated elders living in King County. KING 5 News was on hand to cover the event and followed volunteer Andrea Harrington as she made a visit and delivery to a local elder.

The meals were provided through generous support from The Yankee Grill and Roaster, Ballard Blossom, Odwalla Juices, Whole Foods Market and the Bertschi School.

ElderFriends’ year-round “Adopt a Grandparent” program provided a holiday opportunity for volunteers to invite their elder friends to share the day with them and their families. A Seattle Times front page story, along with news segments on KOMO 1000 News Radio and KING 5 News, generated enormous interest in the program, prompting almost 100 interested volunteers to call or apply online.

ElderFriends has a list of elders waiting to be matched and is actively seeking new referrals for elders over age 65 living independently in King County that would like to have a friendly visit several times a month. Referrals can be made online at www.elderfriends.org or by calling Amy Astle-Raaen, Program Director, at (206) 224-3793.

Read the Seattle Times Feature Story about ElderFriends

Exactly What IS Turkey Bowling?

Inside ElderHealth previously reported on “turkey bowling,” one of the special activities offered at our south Seattle adult day health center. Several readers asked, “Exactly what IS turkey bowling?”

Bowling is one of ElderHealth’s therapeutic activities, involving a lightweight plastic bowling ball and set of 10 pins. In honor of Thanksgiving, we enjoy turkey bowling, where we keep the set of pins, but substitute the ball with ... a frozen turkey!

PICTURED: Edith releases the turkey for a strike!

http://www.elderhealth.org/adult_day_centers.html#south_seattle

Supporters Lift Holiday Spirits at ElderHealth

The holidays are a festive time at ElderHealth Northwest! Donors from local congregations and businesses provide gifts for each of our participants, many of whom would not receive a gift otherwise. These generous community members also provide much needed items for our activity programs.

The Seattle Times Wish List published on December 5th gives an opportunity for other community members to contribute to our adult day health centers and supported living homes. ElderHealth also needs a wheelchair scale, a PowerPoint projector, a DVD player, and garden tools. These items may be new or gently used.

To share in the joy of the holiday season at ElderHealth Northwest, contact Ginger Seybold at (206) 224-3790 or gingers@elderhealth.org.

PICTURED: Lufkin Contractors’ Measuring Wheel Needed for our Walking Programs.

See More Items on our Wish List

"Inside ElderHealth" is an occasional e-newsletter of ElderHealth Northwest, a non-profit organization providing innovative eldercare options since 1976.

Adult Day Health Centers * Supported Living Homes * Geriatric Care Management
In-Home Services * ElderFriends Volunteers

Copyright © 2004 ElderHealth Northwest

Click Here to Suggest a Story Idea or Give Other Feedback!