Ecumen Receives National Award for Excellence in Dementia Care
Ecumen received national recognition as winner of the LeadingAge Excellence in Dementia Care Award presented March 17 at the Great Minds Gala in Washington, D.C.
The award honors Ecumen Awakenings™, a care program that emphasizes managing dementia without highly sedating drugs. Residents, their families, doctors and care staff all work together to replace traditional drug therapies with individualized techniques that reduce anxiety and difficult behaviors while improving quality of life.
The award was presented by LeadingAge, a national association of nonprofit aging services providers. It recognizes extraordinary leadership in the quest to improve lives of those touched by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Between 2010 and 2013, Ecumen Awakenings achieved a 97% reduction in the use of psychotropic medications, decreasing dosage or discontinuing use of more than 1,000 of these potentially harmful drugs.
Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota addressed the gala attendees by video and recognized Ecumen as a leader in healthcare innovation. Klobuchar has introduced legislation to increase federal support for Alzheimer’s research and provide tax credits to caregivers.
Shelley Matthes, RN, Ecumen director of quality improvement, and Maria Reyes, RN, manager of Awakenings, accepted the award. “I often tell my colleagues that when we know better, we do better” Matthes said. “Awakenings is an evolution of many wonderful, intelligent, kind people who put their heart into this work to learn, to do better, so people’s lives are better.”
Reyes told the gala attendees: “Awakenings exists because of an incredible team of people across Ecumen who have a passion for making lives better. They are doing that work as I speak.”
“Alzheimer's Disease affects more than 5 million people, many of whom are cared for by our members or informal caregivers,” said Larry Minnix, LeadingAge's president and CEO. “We hope that the examples set by this year's honorees highlight the work that is being done to care for those affected while we search for a cure.”
Ecumen shared the stage with country music entertainer Glen Campbell and his family, who received the Senator William Proxmire Award for their advocacy for research, education and support related to Alzheimer’s disease since 2011, when the disease was diagnosed in the country singer. The award is named for the late U.S. Senator, who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Ecumen Awakenings has received media attention for its innovative approach to dementia care from the Washington Post, The New York Times, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and KARE11-TV.
Honoring Verna Bloom, Age 104, at Ecumen-Managed Sunnyside Care Center
Everybody wants to know Verna Bloom’s secret. She’ll tell you being 104 years old “surprises” her because she has “no secret of any kind.”
“Every day is a gift from God,” Verna is fond of saying.
The staff at Ecumen-managed Sunnyside Care Center in Lake Park, Minn., where Verna lives, has some insight into her longevity. “Verna is always smiling and has a gracious heart,” says Laura Boreen, the resident services director. “She is always thinking about and caring for others.”
Verna was born on a farm near Audubon, Minn., in Becker County, March 22, 1910, and was one of eight children. Growing up, she milked cows and worked around the family farm.
Verna met her husband Willard, nicknamed “Chubby,” when she was 22. He would come to Lake Park on his motorcycle and take her on rides. When she was 24 they got married and had two children.
She and Willard owned a hardware store in Lake Park, where she was the manager. She also cut and styled hair for many years and enjoyed playing the piano.
When she was in her 70s, after Willard died, she would go to Chicago for extended periods to babysit for her grandchildren, who gave her the nickname “Big V.”
Verna stays active crocheting baby blankets for her great-great grandkids, and she never misses a Friday Bingo game. And she is always smiling.
Sunnyside Care Center will be serving cake and ice cream this Saturday to celebrate. And the Detroit Lakes Tribune has featured a story about her.
Ecumen honors Verna Bloom. Happy 104th Birthday.
Changing Aging: Retired Boomers Opting for Adventure and Service
Baby boomers hitting retirement age are anything but retiring. Fitter and more active than their parents, members of this generation are returning to their youthful wanderlust. Adventure travel and mission trips are becoming more popular than cruises and European shopping trips. Washington Post reporter Tara Bahrampour chronicles this trend toward highly active retirement focused on memorable and challenging experiences.
Great Minds Gala Video: Ashley and Shannon Campbell Perform Tribute to their Father
Ashley and Shannon Campbell, children of legendary country music singer Glen Campbell, gave a stunning performance to cap last night's Great Minds Gala in Washington, D.C. Campbell was honored at the Gala for his and his family's efforts toward continued research, education and support for those living with Alzheimers. Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2011, after which he and his family decided to launch a Glen Campbell goodbye tour, giving him a chance to connect with family, friends and fans through music.
Thank you to Leading Age for sharing the video on their Facebook page.
The Great Minds Gala recognizes LeadingAge members and individuals who have exhibited extraordinary leadership in the quest to improve lives of those touched by Alzheimer's and other related dementias. Ecumen was also an award recipient at the event.
Washington Post Highlights Ecumen Awakenings™
Ecumen Awakenings™ is in the national spotlight as the recipient of the Excellence in Dementia Care award from LeadingAge, a national association of nonprofit aging services providers. Washington Post Reporter Tara Bahrampour interviewed Ecumen nurses Shelley Matthes and Maria Reyes about the history, methods and success of the program in this Q & A in the Post.
Ecumen Bethany Awards Scholarships for Long-Term Care Education
Seven staff members at Ecumen Bethany Community in Alexandria, Minn., received spring semester scholarships totaling almost $7,000 to continue their educational goals in the long-term care career field. An Alexandria Echo Press story highlights the program.
Reassuring Study: “Senior Moments” Don’t Mean Dementia for Most People
A new German study suggests that memory lapses associated with aging may not lead to dementia for a majority of people. Only about 20 percent of those in the study who had “senior moments” developed Alzheimer’s or other serious brain-related disorders. HealthDay reports on the study, which also shows that over time 42 percent of participants with mild cognitive impairment actually returned to normal mental functioning.
Ecumen Bethany Community’s Rehabilitation and Outpatient Therapy Gets Chuck Back in the Boat
Chuck woke up one morning paralyzed by a rare nervous system disorder that required long hospitalization, followed by in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation at Ecumen Bethany Community in Alexandria, Minn. Chuck recalls how Ecumen therapy staff supportively pushed him toward his goal of being able to climb into a boat and go fishing. “If the staff wasn’t so good,” he says, “the result wouldn’t be so good.”
Chuck tells his story in the video below:
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A Must-Read: Washington Post Brings Caregiving Crisis Front and Center
If you’re not already a caregiver to a loved one, chances are high you will be one day. The constellation of issues you are, or will be, facing are daunting. And even if you’re never in this role, the looming crisis is sure to have major societal effects that will impact everyone.
The Washington Post recently took an in-depth look at caregiving and published “Caregiving: A Special Report” highlighting the current and future issues Americans face as more people live longer and there are fewer younger people and fewer financial resources to take care of them. The Post held “Caregiving in America” forums in Chicago and Seattle and interviewed experts in all aspects of the caregiving crisis.
As former First Lady Rosalynn Carter puts it: "There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."
Travel writer and TV host Rick Steves in a video interview offers a heartfelt plea for action: “As our society becomes more successful… living longer and out-living our brains or bodies… loved ones are taking care of loved ones… It’s a big issue that people don’t talk about so much… but there’s so much power and passion and affluence in our society. If we can’t deal with this in a smart and honest way, it’s sort of an embarrassment for our whole society. The caliber of a great nation is how they deal with seniors…”
The Post’s report is comprehensive — full of information that honors and empowers caregivers and takes on the rapidly emerging personal and societal issues. Both printed and online versions are available at the links below:
Ordean Foundation Awards $11,000 to Ecumen Lakeshore’s Home Delivered Meals Program
The Ordean Foundation has awarded $11,000 to Ecumen Lakeshore to support its Home Delivered Meals program for homebound seniors in Duluth, Minn.
“We’re very grateful for the Ordean Foundation’s support,” said Duane Battisti, the meals program coordinator.
Battisti said the Home Delivered Meals program runs at a deficit since many participants cannot afford to pay for the meals, and foundation support helps keep the program viable. He said home delivered meals at little or no cost help many seniors remain self-sufficient and live in their own homes independently.
The program provides more than 15,000 meals annually to low-income seniors who are homebound, handicapped or in rehabilitation, Battisti said. The meals are prepared by the professional kitchen staff at Ecumen Lakeshore, then packed and delivered by almost 100 volunteers.
The Ordean Foundation has been helping Duluth residents and institutions through charitable giving for more than 80 years. It began in 1933 through the estate of pioneer merchant and banker Albert Ordean, helping families with food, clothing and shelter during the Great Depression. The foundation currently supports a wide range of programs in areas such as social and human service programs, children and you, community development, higher education, health and medical research and arts and culture.