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In This Issue:
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May/June 2006
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Reflections on ElderHealth Fundraiser: Breakfast at the Ballpark
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Three Wishes' P.K. Beville to Present at Caregiver Conference
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American Society on Aging Journal Features ElderHealth Supported Living
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ElderHealth at Home Provides Help and Companionship
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Buchanan Place Receives Little Visitors
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Seeing the Difference: How to Choose an Adult Day Center
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by Nora Gibson, Executive Director
Okay, so I got to meet Edgar Martinez. That was a thrill but even more exciting was to hear him speak about his grandparents who raised him. They taught him respect for elders (and others) and how to focus. He mentioned how grateful he was to have had a major league career because he could help them when they needed it, and he didn’t know what would have happened to them if he hadn’t had the resources.
Another high point: Art Thiel’s thoughtful words about the challenge of being an only child and a single man whose father had passed away. His mother had Alzheimer’s disease and was living in what he thought was a nice place. He described the chilling feeling he got when he received a call from a caregiver at the place his mother was staying, telling him there was abuse going on and that he must get his mother out of there. A relative of his stepped in and took his mother into her house and cared for her.
We then saw a clip from “Brave New Home: Changing the Culture of Nursing Home Care,” a documentary on quality in long-term care settings. It features one of our supported living homes, Buchanan Place. After the clip a man took the podium—so moved he could hardly speak—who said he was so grateful that his father-in-law could live there.
It was an emotional morning. As my mother said, “You had people crying three times, Nora—the men, too.”
We started with a world-class baseball player and ended with a world-class response from our supporters who gave more generously than ever before. My thanks to all of you.
If you missed the breakfast, you can still make a contribution by following the link below.
PICTURED: Former Mariner All-Star Edgar Martinez (Photo: Fayme Way/Sarah Hastings)
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The following is an excerpt of a story on innovative housing options (including ElderHealth Northwest’s supported living). Reprinted with permission from Generations, IXXX, 4, 58, Winter 2005-2006. Copyright © 2006 American Society on Aging, San Francisco, California. www.asaging.org.
A Place Called Home: Not-For-Profit Organizations Provide Innovative Housing and Services For Older Adults
By Sarah Mashburn
Across the United States, not-for-profit providers of aging services are experimenting with ways to use senior housing as a platform for services. These programs enable elders to live more independently at a lower cost. Innovations include unique space designs, wellness programs, and evidence-based approaches to caring for people with dementia.
ELDERHEALTH NORTHWEST FACILITIES
At ElderHealth Northwest, a not-for-profit aging-services provider in Seattle, Washington, caregivers designed two supported-living homes where residents could receive the care and services they need. Buchanan Place and the Gaffney House, situated in two of Seattle’s urban neighborhoods, are designed to meet the specialized needs of older adults in a homelike setting. In addition to receiving substantial medical care, residents participate in daily-living activities like raking leaves or setting the table. The goal of these homes is to provide elders with a place where they can live their lives and avoid entering a skilled nursing facility.
Buchanan Place is home to twelve low-income residents who require substantial assistance because of cognitive or physical impairment. . . .
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Friends of the Children is a nationwide program that connects society’s most vulnerable young people with paid, professional mentors for 12 years. At-risk children are selected in kindergarten and enrolled in the program until high school graduation.
For the last two months, Rob Collins and two elementary school boys have been making bi-monthly visits to Buchanan Place, ElderHealth Northwest’s supported living home in Columbia City. Rob feels that by exposing the children to older adults he is able to teach his kids the importance of developing the social and emotional skills necessary to maintain relationships, demonstrate interpersonal responsibility, and function in diverse social settings. At the same time, Rob’s program also benefits elders who might otherwise have little interaction with the youngest generation.
The program also teaches the children to be respectful, proud of themselves and their experiences. According to Rob, “After visiting Buchanan Place, it’s obvious that the children feel good; my hope is that after a number of visits that feeling will stick with them.” Rob recounts how, after a particularly receptive visit, he went to tell a teacher how a child enjoyed his Buchanan Place experience. As Rob walked into the classroom he quickly learned that the class had already been informed by the student; “There was no one left to tell!”
Buchanan Place and Gaffney House are community-based supported living homes—places for elders where families often visit and intergenerational experiences are not uncommon. Rob hopes that he’ll be able to continue his Buchanan Place visits for a long time.
For more information about Friends of the Children click on the photo.
PICTURED: Mentor Rob oversees Davon playing ball with Buchanan resident Francis.
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Challenges in Caregiving: Giving Care, Taking Care
Monday, June 5, 2006
Tukwila Community Center
Preregistration deadline (fee discount): May 22
This day-long conference is designed to provide current, practical skills and resources that community caregivers can use in their daily routines. The conference is intended for:
• Family Caregivers (spouses, adult children or other relatives)
• In-home Caregivers (home care aides, individual providers)
• Adult Family Home Providers
• Adult Day Care or Assisted Living Facility Staff
• Geriatric Mental Health Service Workers
P.K. Beville, this year’s keynote speaker, is a nationally-known author, consultant, and educator. Her program, Second Wind Dreams, helps elders to realize their dreams and has been featured on television’s "Three Wishes." P.K. is sure to inspire and entertain while sharing specific strategies on the issues of caregiving. In addition, she’ll give workshops on managing the challenging behaviors of persons with dementia.
Other workshop sessions focus on topics such as managing medication, planning healthy meals and transfer skills.
The conference is sponsored by Aging and Disability Services Administration, ElderHealth Northwest, AARP Washington, Korean Women’s Association, National MS Society – Greater Washington Chapter and numerous community organizations.
The registration fee for individual caregivers is $25, which includes workshops, box lunch and refreshments. The fee for agency-based caregivers is $50.
Registration forms are available now and space is limited - so don't delay! For more information or to receive a full brochure and registration materials, please call 1 (800) 422-3263 or follow the link below.
PICTURED: P.K. Beville
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For nearly two years ElderHealth Northwest has been offering in-home services throughout King County. These services are an invaluable resource for those who need assistance in the home. For participants like Judy, ElderHealth at Home is “truly a godsend.”
Judy attended ElderHealth’s downtown adult day health center for nearly 14 years until she started with in-home services last June. “They’re all great people at ElderHealth,” Judy says.
Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Judy moved to Washington with her parents in the early 1960s. She began working as a waitress, and soon afterwards met Dale, a tool grinder for Boeing. In 1963 they were married. Later, Judy spent some time in Michigan before settling on the East Coast. In 1971, she moved back to Washington because “the weather in Pennsylvania was too severe.” After her husband passed away in 1992, she started attending ElderHealth on her doctor’s recommendation.
At the time, ElderHealth was the only adult day health center with the facilities to support Judy’s medical conditions. She instantly fit in, and was soon interviewing for the Wizard, a participant newsletter. Not long afterward, she discovered her natural artistic abilities. With the help of our sponsors, ElderHealth presented her with a solid oak easel at a Christmas celebration. Assistant Director Dave Budd, himself an artist, says that Judy has “an innate artistic eye, and paints with the talent of van Gogh.” She continues to paint from her home in West Seattle.
Our homecare program provides clients with non-medical assistance such as personal care, housekeeping, and help to appointments. We strive to make the best possible match between caregivers and clients, something that helps to ensure high quality care and foster friendly companionship. Program Director Jesse Rogers says that “It’s truly a win-win situation. Our clients are able to remain living in their own homes while receiving help and companionship from someone they enjoy being around.”
To find out more about ElderHealth at Home, contact Jesse Rogers at (206) 224-3795, jesser@elderhealth.org.
PICTURED: Judy at the adult day health center.
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[Editor’s Note: This is second in a three-part series]
If you've decided on ElderHealth Northwest's adult day services, it’s time to learn a little bit about the day center nearest you. Most often, it’s the geographical location that determines which center the individual will attend.
Every one of our ElderHealth sites is distinct in that they all provide specialized services. For example, all of our centers offer memory loss programs, holiday/birthday parties, and support groups; however, there are a few sites which offer unique programs.
Our Downtown Seattle site has the Heads Up Program, designed for younger adults (ages 18-59) with acquired brain injury. The program offers physical rehabilitation, health services and cognitive skill building.
In addition to being open on the weekends, our South Seattle branch offers multilingual support groups. Also offered at this location is Memory Care and Wellness Services, a new collaborative project for persons with moderate-to-severe dementia that can be tailored to the needs of each participant.
Our Renton (aka “Connection”) adult day health center has two sessions: serving (mostly) older adults in the morning program, and a popular “Get Active Program” in the afternoons. The program provides adults with developmental disabilities a chance to enjoy access to an ever-increasing array of group activities, in addition to nursing and rehabilitative therapies. GAP is also available at our North Seattle and South Everett sites.
In addition to an adult day health center in South Everett, ElderHealth offers residents of Snohomish County the DayBreak Senior Respite Program, a specialized program for older adults with memory loss. Located in four community churches, DayBreak offers a safe, nurturing environment for seniors experiencing memory loss, as well as a break for family members, giving them an opportunity to run errands and go to appointments.
ElderHealth Northwest offers a variety of funding options, including, Medicaid/COPES, Respite Program, Veteran’s benefits, long term care insurance, sliding scale and full private pay. Whatever the situation, ElderHealth will work hard to remove financial barriers.
All of our adult day health programs help frail elders and disabled adults maintain or improve their physical, social and cognitive functioning. Nursing and rehabilitative services, along with innovative social programs, help our participants spend their days in a safe environment and their nights with the ones they love.
Next month: ElderHealth in Action--Making the Transition
PICTURED: Eddie, adult day health center participant.
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"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 © 2006 ElderHealth Northwest
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