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Creating a New Way to Pay for Senior Services in Minnesota

Yesterday's Minneapolis Star Tribune featured a discussion with editorial columnist Lori Sturdevant on the future of long-term care financing.  Participants included former U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger; LaRhae Knatterud, director of aging transformation for the State of Minnesota; Beth McMullen, health policy director for the Minnesota Business Partnership; Stacy Becker, consultant to the Citizens League; Deb Newman of Newman Long-term Care and myself.  You can read the full discussion here.

by origineight

Jim Klobuchar-Need Help? From Manila With Love

The problem with my computer could have been solved by any 11-year-old with the juvenile’s basic exposure to locking taskbars and unpin options.

No such rescue was at hand in my house. My wife was wading through the sharp elbows of her competitors at a book sale in Barnes and Noble. My granddaughter was occupied with her third hour trig class 1,500 miles away. Jeffrey my default high tech expert, was out of pocket repairing someone’s sub-woofer in the suburbs.

I was marooned and working against the clock to finish a project. I needed to do a couple of pages before leaving for a meeting bringing together a half dozen alleged problem solvers on how to deal with life when it turns sour. My only qualification was having survived 45 years in daily journalism. The computer manuals were worthless because this was a problem in the computer’s gadgetry. I couldn’t log on and had already exhausted my one defense—pulling plugs and re-plugging them after 30 seconds

Gloomily I dialed the company’s customer service department, knowing I was headed for probable gridlock. This didn’t work very often. The folks who build these things are in the computer business, not the telephone business. They want you to handle most of this stuff on line, which becomes a problem because (a) a lot of us were past puberty before discovering the miracles of Cookies and Browsers and (b ) Modems sounded like some thing you had to take twice before going to bed.

Being crafty, I got out a customer’s guide that gave me the phone numbers for the trouble department. The first voice answered, “Your call may be recorded for quality assurance.”
This was good. “Listen carefully because some of the options have changed.” More progress. I listened carefully. None of the options seemed to connect to the problem of a computer that wouldn’t start . I could go to billing or customer service. I could go to technical support, all of which sounded promising. I called. None of them connected to the problem of a computer that wouldn’t start A voice said there was heavy demand. “We’ll be with you as soon as a line opens.”I could wait a few minutes. I called again. The same. I told myself this is normal. Lots of people call. Fifteen minutes and I’m in. It could have been worse. “Listen carefully because some of the options have changed,” a voice said. “I’d done this three times and, as a change of pace I hit one of the number keys blindly. “Your opinions are valuable to us; if you like to comment on our service, please stay on the line and an agent will be with you shortly.”

Buoyed by this foothold of progress, I punched the requisite buttons and three minutes later a voice answered. “Welcome to the service department,” the woman said cheerfully, “what can we do for you?”

I explained the problem. I’m in Minnesota,” I said. “My name is Jim. Where are you?”

“ I’m in Manila,” she said pleasantly “My name is Melanie. I am your agent for today.” I said I thought Melanie was a lovely name and I described my problem. She began giving instructions, about things like modems, and outlets and yellow cords. Nothing stirred on the screen, We went deeper into the computer’s innards. I did plug-ins and hit buttons. Nothing happened. She suggested that I follow the trail of the yellow cord, which disappeared into the bowels of the wiring jungle under my desk: “ Melanie,” I said, “ it’s obvious that you know your job very well, but when you try to educate me I’m just not able to understand you’re technical talk because we accent the words differently. You have a fine voice and speak well and your English is good But I wonder if you could switch me to an office in the United States. I know your company doesn’t like to do this.”

Melanie laughed and said she could do that for me and told me to stay on the line. “What a find” I told myself, “a real problem solver.” Most of the American firms that set up call centers, in southeast Asia and Latin America, saving millions with cheaper labor, pretend to meet your request and shift you back to an American office. So I heard some transfer sounds and said, “I’m in Minnesota.” The voice on the other end sounded surprised. “Hello,” she said voice said. I’m in Manila. My name is Melanie.” Somehow somebody had rerouted the call back to Manila.

So I was left with my unresponsive plugs. I pulled one out for auld lang syne, put it back in the outlet—and every light in the computer came alive.

You need expert computer repair? Give me a ring.

by origineight

Building the Future of Senior Living in North Branch - Clayton Anderson's Legacy

Ecumen lost a feisty friend and benefactor when Clayton Anderson died last Friday. Clayton was 101. He served the North Branch area his entire life with his energy and personal resources, making North Branch a better place to live.

When he donated the land that would become Ecumen North Branch, long before he himself called it home, it was with a vision of this state-of-the-art senior living community in mind. Clayton made the future possible.

Godspeed, Mr. Anderson, on your next journey.

by origineight

CNN PHOTOS: Remembered: The Alzheimer's Project

Photographer Gregg Segal created "Remembered: The Alzheimer's Project," as a way to honor those living with Alzheimer's. The photos contain projected images from the subject's younger years, illustrating how we often forget who those with Alzheimer's once were. Click the link to see the images and learn about how the powerful images were created.

by origineight

Thank you! Together, We're Changing Aging.

Your voices were heard – on Give to the Max Day, we raised more than $5,000 in support of Ecumen and Awakenings!

A special congratulations and thank you to Kori Williams, the Ecumen donor who won a Golden Ticket of $1,000 towards Awakenings.

While Give to the Max Day is just once a year, we are grateful for the year 'round support from you and other Ecumen advocates.  Without your commitment to changing aging, we could not accomplish all we do to make living longer, living better. 

Again, THANK YOU!!! 

by origineight

Ecumen Academy of Lifelong Learning: Because you're never too old to learn!

It wasn't just the seniors in high school who returned to school this fall in Apple Valley.

So did a group of senior citizens. Or rather, school came to them.

Through an opportunity that was new this fall, 23 senior citizens took either one or two courses that Inver Hills Community College coordinated with staff at the Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley residence.

Read the full story about Ecumen Academy of Lifelong Learning at Apple Valley Patch.com. 

by origineight

Raise Your Voice. Change Aging. Give Together.

Today, YOU can be the change agent to make living longer, living better.  Here's what you need to know: 

• Giving began at midnight and goes until 11:59pm!
• GOLDEN TICKETS of $1,000 will be given to a random donor's charity every hour -- so any gift at any time can make a big impact! 
• Keep an eye on the Leaderboards -- prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 will be awarded to the top three nonprofits which received the most dollars in 24 hours.  Help us make that Leaderboard! 
• PASS IT ON!  Encourage your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to give to Ecumen!  E-mail, call, Tweet, or send a Facebook message -- just let them know!  

Make your voice heard for changing aging TODAY! 

http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Ecumen or www.ecumengiving.org

by origineight

Raise your hand. Change Aging. Give Together.

People are already thinking about changing aging. Just last week, Ecumen’s Awakenings project was featured on Kare 11’s Land of 10,000 Stories. Take five minutes to watch this incredible video – see the faces and hear the stories of Awakenings.

YOU can make change happen! Ecumen is participating in Give to the Max Day for the first time ever, encouraging our partners to stand with us for innovation in senior care.

Here is just one story among the many ways Ecumen is changing aging: 

This summer, on a Twin Cities golf course, Carri*, an Ecumen supporter, was telling her partner about Awakenings, Ecumen’s revolutionary new approach to Alzheimer’s care. As she described the incredible experience of residents shaking off the effects of archaic treatment and "awakening" to life once more, her friend’s eyes filled with tears. He cried as he described how his own mother had suffered from Alzheimer’s and experienced the very symptoms Awakenings works to eradicate. When she passed away, he had tremendous grief. He was astounded that a program like Awakenings now existed – and wished that his mother could have experienced it.

Change can’t happen fast enough. More people need to know about projects like Awakenings – projects that are literally changing aging and changing lives. When you participate in Give to the Max, you’re raising your hand for Ecumen and for change.

Raise your hand for changing aging on November 16! Visit www.ecumengiving.org for more information. 
*Name changed at the request of the donor

by origineight

Honor - Veterans Day 2012

Thank you to America's veterans! Following are just a few of the stories from Ecumen customers who have served our country.  We invite you to share your remembrances and tributes in the comments section below.

Mike Colallilo

Today in Duluth, one of the few living Medal of Honor recipients will be honored at Ecumen's Bayshore community. Only about 450 U.S. soldiers, sailors and pilots received the nation's highest combat award during the war. Mike Colallilo, pictured above with President Truman, received his based on his bravery and leadership on April 7, 1945. Here is an excerpt from a Minnesota Public Radio Story. You can read the full story here – it’s amazing.

"Lying on the ground, bullets and shells flying everywhere, Colalillo decided something had to be done. Even though he was a private, not in command, Colalillo rose up and yelled to the other soldiers to follow him.

The soldiers fell in behind some tanks and moved forward, firing as they went. Shell fragments hit Colalillo's submachine gun, making the weapon useless, and leaving him even more vulnerable.
"I jumped on the tank, and just hollered in the tank and told them, 'I lost my gun and I'm going to use your machine gun on the top,'" Colalillo recalls. "And that's when I started shooting all these positions where the Germans were."

Doris Brand

Doris Brand lives at Ecumen Point Pleasant Heights in Chisago City.  Among her neighbors at Ecumen Point Pleasant Heights are 30 other WW II vets.  She served in the Navy during WW II in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She played a substantial role in developing America’s air supremacy.

She attended Hunter College in New York City and then headed to boot camp.  Afterwards she was one of just 1,000 women nationally who became Link Trainer instructors. These were instructors who ran flight simulators to train pilots. After her training in Atlanta, where she learned how to fly planes, transmit morse code, and other skills, she trained pilots at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In a recent interview, she shared how some male pilots tried barrel rolls and loops in the simulator  to see if they could make her sick. They never succeeded. But she did succeed and, because of it, she helped our country succeed. 

Honor Flights

A number of Ecumen customers this year have taken Honor Flights to visit the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. Recently returning from one of those flights was Jim Reasoner (pictured at left) from Ecumen's Pathstone Living Community and Bill Spehar, Vince Flesness and Bob Huston, who recently passed away, took flight to D.C. from Ecumen Lakeshore.

Among the remembrances, Jim shared the following:  He was 19 years old, and married with two young daughters when he was drafted. He was involved in combat in the invasion of the Philippines. In addition to participating in heavy combat, he suffered from 26 attacks of malaria. After a 30-day hospital stay on the Island of Leyte, he rejoined his company in Yokohama, Japan, soon after it had been bombed.  He worked out of Tokyo. He recalls at the end of the War taking the USS U.S. Grant back across the Pacific to the U.S. with 5,000 other soldiers. Crossing below the Golden Gate Bridge, he and his fellow troops were welcomed by thousands of people and bands, and banners flying everywhere.

Another neat story added today by colleague Lori Olson; you can read the full stor in the comments below.

Thank you again to all veterans!  We invite you to share your thanks, remembrances and tributes below in the comments section.

by origineight

Ecumen Awakenings in the News

  Gary Babcock hadn't heard his father speak in two years, and watched as Melvin Babcock sat motionless, most often slumped in sleep, in his wheelchair. Melvin Babcock was living with Alzheimer's, and as his behavior became more and more agitated, caregivers increased his antipsychotic medications in effort to "restrain" him. That was before Melvin became part of Ecumen's Awakenings program at Ecumen North Branch.

  "When I heard him tell my mom, 'That was our son Gary,' as I walked away, I couldn't believe it," said Gary. "And now he's wheeling around the place, stopping at neighbors' doors to say hello."

  You can view a poignant news feature about our Awakenings initiative that recently aired on KARE 11 TV, by clicking here. What the feature video won't tell you is that Melvin is now on his third pair of biking gloves. 

  Ecumen's Awakenings initiative is underway in all of our 15 care centers in Minnesota. Find our locations at ecumen.org. You can join us in changing aging by donating to Ecumen Giving on Minnesota Give to the Max day, November 16. 

by origineight