Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Will Our Next President Be a Caregiver?

Wonder what the Presidential candidates' experiences are with caregiving? Find out in this AARP long-term care interview.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Aging is a Business and Economic Issue, Part 2

Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts recently wrote an article about aging as a business and economic issue.The economics of aging also are impacting religious communities. For example:Catholic archdioceses across the country are holiding fundraising appeals for the Retirement Fund For Religious. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, where the fund is housed, estimates that by 2023 religious orders could face more than $20 billion in unfunded retirement liabilities. Some other interesting stats:- $2 billion to $9 billion: That’s how the gap between assets available for the cost of living and health care for senior religious has grown in the last two decades. It’s expected to continue growing.- $1.6 billion: The projected annual cost of care for senior priests and nuns. Compare that with the combined Social Security benefits of all retired religious: $184 million per year.- 37,000: Number of Catholic religious in the U.S. past age 70.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Long-Term Care and The Presidential Candidates

Wondering what the Presidential Candidates are thinking about aging services and long-term care? (It’s kind of unreal that they’re not thinking more when you look at the age wave.)Read this post at the AAHSA Future of Aging blog.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Three Cool Things in Senior Housing

Three cool things in senior housing coming over the Changing Aging' transom: 1. Green Development: More communities are embracing senior housing development that’s beneficial to people and the environment. For example, The Residences at Creekside in Lakewood, CO, which opened earlier this year have a ton of solar power and other environmental friendly features (and it’s a cool looking building, too). 2. Purpose Workshops: The Purpose Project of the University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality and Healing helps people answer the question, 'Why Do I Want to Get Out of Bed Today? That’s important because it’s essential to successful aging. Augustana Homes of Minneapolis is holding Purpose Project workshops. 3. Avenidas Village in San Francisco: This village is not a place but the latest membership program that helps people stay in their own homes by providing support - everything from the medical to the mundane. This type of senior housing will no doubt continue to arise across America.You can read about other senior housing trends in our newest white paper.If you have other things to add to this list, please do so.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

10 Tips for Successful Aging

Posted by Patricia Montgomery, Director, Vitalize! Wellness Centre, at Parmly LifePointes, an Ecumen CommunitySuccessful aging is about the ability of a person to take control of one’s own wellness, but not just physical wellness, also their social, spiritual, intellectual, vocational, and emotional wellness. This isn’t about running marathons or swimming 1,000 laps. Rather, successful aging or vital aging or healthy aging or what you’d like to call it underscores the fact that we can have an impact on our outlook, our wellness, and how we live at every stage of our life. I’d like to share 10 tips for successful aging from Dr. Roger Landry, a preventive medicine physician and a consultant to Ecumen’s Parmly LifePointes.


Please share your tips … . 1. Use it or lose it. Keep developing skills.Somehow as we age, we attribute lost ability to getting old, rather than being out of shape or out of practice.2. Keep Moving. Use your body.Physical activity is the closest thing to a fountain of youth -even just 30 minutes of walking a day can reduce the risk of many problems.3. Challenge your mind.Our mental function depends on neural highways, which we need to use and grow with courses, learning a language, and word games to keep us sharp. We are two times less likely to get dementia if we stay physically and mentally active. 4. Stay connected to friends and family.We need human interaction to thrive. Cherish family, rebuild friendships, join clubs and stay open to meeting new people.5. Stay colorful and creative.This is my personal favorite! If we follow our hearts desires, we will not get 'old'.6. Beware of the threats.Work to eliminate disease - smoking, obesity, diabetes. Work with your doctor to care for any conditions that you are experiencing or are at risk for.7. Eat for the long haul. Eat a balanced diet and drink lots of water. This is so common sense, but we all struggle with nutrition. What do you need to change in your lifestyle to stay committed to good nutrition?8. Have children in your life. They keep us young.If you do not have children in your life, find some at schools, church, or organizations like Big Brother and Big Sisters.9. Be needed. Nurture the world. Volunteer. Any activity that gives us a sense of nurturing someone or something - even plants and pets - is beneficial.10. Laugh. Humor is the mainstay of life, and stimulates the immune system. The most common trait seen in people ages 100 years or older is a sense of humor and optimism.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

The Future of Aging Services and Yelp

Do you yelp?Yelp is one of a growing number of websites where real people (customers) give real feedback on the real service (or lack thereof) they receive. If they love the service they get, they rave. If the service stinks, they let you know that, too. If the reviews are good, it’s the best possible, most authentic, least expensive advertising.Here’s an example of what someone yelped about regarding Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis: AWESOME HOSPITAL!!!This hospital as a whole is absolutely FANTASTIC!!!Many eons ago when I lived in MN (made & raised there!) I was hospitalized for several days.The entire staff was spectacular!My doctors were competent and did not have an ounce of arrogance in their souls!The entire team of nurses who cared for me were wonderful with their caring & compassionate manner.Every single one of the many nurses assigned to my care truly took pride in their profession and provided the utmost in quality care!Kudos to this hospital- you set a good example for other hospitals to follow!Here’s another one regarding the Veterans Administration Hospital:A well run facility; one of the best V.A. Hospitals in the country. I worked for them a few years ago, and it was very gratifying to see how organized and efficient they were. From the hospital to the oncology dept, to their clinical research dept, to the records office. Well trained and dedicated public employees doing their best to helps veterans and their families. It’s amazing what the government can do when it’s well funded and ran by dedicated and competent people.A Tool for the Aging Services ProfessionThere were just a couple of posts for health care; none for aging services. What a great tool for long-term care providers (or any business) to let their customers do the talking and then promote that talking. And, conversely, if it’s bad talking that’s happening, what an opportunity to do something about the problems they’re raising, so customers have a reason to say something nice.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

UK’s Long-Term Care Revolution

Putting People First. It shouldn’t be revolutionary, but it is. Putting People First is the name of a program announced in the United Kingdom to pay for long-term care.Seniors who qualify for government aid will be given money to pay for their own care. They will have the right to decide how and where they spend the cash. According to the London Observer: Under the initiative, being rolled out next April, seniors or their chosen relatives will set up bank accounts into which government will pay money into their accounts after they’re means tested. The individual or their chosen relatives will then be able to shop around for the best packages of care … UK social care minister Ivan Lewis said: 'This is the end of a paternalistic and controlling culture and the beginning of a new way for older people and those with disabilities to be in charge of their lives. Some may decide to spend money in unconventional ways; others may find making these choices very hard. We’ll have to face these challenges as they arise, but we know this is the right thing to do. The more power

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Aging and How to Change the World

If you love topics of seizing what’s next, innovation and entre/intrepreneurship, check out Guy Kawasaki’s blog How to Change the World. Guy spoke a few years ago at Mary Furlong’s Baby Boomer conference. Both were great.Guy (a California hockey nut; he needs to come to the real State of Hockey- The Land of 100,000 Rinks and 10,000 Lakes) isn’t in the changing aging business, but many of his blog’s insights can be adapted to it. Innovation knows no boundaries.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Senior Housing Trends and Aging and Technology

We’ve added new white papers in our successful aging resource library. This is an evolving online resource by Ecumen for senior housing and aging services professionals and others interested in aging and creating more livable communities. The new papers look at trends in senior housing development and how technology is changing aging. You’ll also find our Age Wave Study of baby boomers and senior housing development tips.We invite you to share links to other such resources in the comments section below.

by origineight

Senior man and woman having coffee at table seen through window

Aging Services and Moments That Take Your Breath Away

Posted by Katie Lundmark, administrator of Ecumen-managed Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, Minn.


I recently came across these words by comedian George Carlin. I’ve shortened them a bit … I think there are some very good insights for all people in here, but especially those of us who are in aging services. As I reflect this holiday season, we who work in aging services are very fortunate to work in a profession that has many moments each week that take your breath away. The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life. We’ve added years to life not life to years (My Note: We’re changing that at Ecumen). We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

by origineight