Top 5 Blog Posts — March 23
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
New Study Finds a Threat to Longevity Just as Powerful as Obesity
Most people know that strong social relationships contribute mightily to good health and longer life. But researchers at Brigham Young University were surprised to find that loneliness and social isolation are just as much a threat to longevity as obesity.
Ecumen-Managed ‘The Classic at Hillcrest Greens’ in Altoona, Wisc., To Open in Early July
Construction of The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., is well underway, and the new senior living community managed by Ecumen plans to open in early July. The new community, located at 2455 Sawgrass Place in Altoona, includes 99 rental apartments for people 62 and older — 63 designated for independent or assisted living residents and 36 for memory care residents.
Ecumen’s Abiitan Mill City Project Building Momentum
Ecumen’s new Abiitan Mill City development planned for downtown Minneapolis is gaining momentum as potential residents are making priority commitments and final city approval is pending in two weeks.
Common Drugs Proving Harmful to Aging Brains
Common drugs, like sedating antihistamines such as Benadryl, are proving to be especially toxic to the aging brain. Recent research has linked several widely used drugs to lowering brain function and contributing to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
This Painfully Realistic Dementia Simulation Lets You Feel What It’s Like
A recently patented program lets caregivers experience firsthand what it’s like to have dementia. Watch how this Virtual Dementia Tour quickly builds empathy by vividly simulating the deep sense of confusion associated with dementia. ABC News reporter Cynthia MacFadden tells about the “12 minutes that changed by life.”
You can read these articles and more at ecumen.org.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 105th Birthday Verna Bloom
Everybody wants to know Verna Bloom’s secret. She’ll tell you being 105 years old “surprises” her because she has no big secrets to longevity — except maybe a positive attitude. “Every day is a gift from God,” Verna is fond of saying.
How To Begin Your Senior Housing or Services Search
Perhaps you’re seeking senior housing, supportive services or in home care, or maybe all three. Learn more about how to make your search work best for you.
1. Identify what’s most important to who you are as an individual and how you live.
Before you begin your search, we encourage you to determine what’s most important to you in terms of who you are as a unique individual. This will help you find the senior housing and/or service partner who will most empower you to be you. Following are key questions to help you hone in on that.
- What are your passions?
- What do you love to do?
- What qualifies as a “great day?”
- What are your “wants” and what are your “needs?”
- What hesitations or fears do you have about moving to a new home or inviting services into your existing home?
- Who are the kinds of people whom you most like to be around?
- What are supportive services you think would be most helpful to you in supporting you in how you desire to live?
2. Tap your intuition and take a look ahead.
None of us have crystal balls – or at least ones that can tell us the future. But tapping intuition and looking ahead a bit, you can best match your needs and desires with housing and service options that can make life easier and more enriching. For example, an independent living or assisted living community that has “a la carte” supportive services that you can add as you need them could prevent having to move again. Or, if you know that the home in which you live now is where you want to be, you could choose at-home services that can diversify with your needs.
3. Write down what you’ve learned about yourself.
By answering questions above, and taking a look ahead, you’ve developed your own personalized criteria list to compare and contrast options to find the fit that’s best for you.
4. Identify potential matches with what’s important to you.
Now you’re equipped to see what locations or services potentially match your preferences. This will help you determine who you want to meet with in person and interview. The internet search engines Google (www.google.com) and Google news can help you see what other information is available on the location. For example, if the location has been in the news – for good reasons or bad – that may show up in an online search. Also, it’s important to see who owns the site or service so you can learn about that organization.
5. Conduct interviews and tours to get an up-close view and feel.
The tour and interview process will help you compare your personal preferences with what you’re seeing, hearing and perceiving. If you’re not moving from your existing home, but seek home services where you live now, we suggest that you also visit the home services’ office, so you can get a feel for what they’re like in their home environment. We’ve also provided portable comparison lists you can take with you for various housing and service options.
New Study Finds a Threat to Longevity Just as Powerful as Obesity
Most people know that strong social relationships contribute mightily to good health and longer life. But researchers at Brigham Young University were surprised to find...
Top 5 Blog Posts — March 16
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
Common Drugs Proving Harmful to Aging Brains
Common drugs, like sedating antihistamines such as Benadryl, are proving to be especially toxic to the aging brain. Recent research has linked several widely used drugs to lowering brain function and contributing to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
A Housekeeper at Ecumen North Branch Helps Rebuild a Remote Philippines Village
Halfway around the world in the tiny tropical Philippine barrio of Navitas on the island of Panay live about 150 elderly poor who have an angel looking out for them in North Branch, Minn. Her name is Luz Pedersen, who works as a housekeeper at Ecumen North Branch.
Photographic Evidence: Age Doesn’t Have To Slow You Down
The stereotype that growing old means slowing down gets a strong rebuttal from a Russian photographer who has recorded the exploits of seniors accomplishing amazing feats.
Thank You, Chuck Zimmerman, For Changing Aging
After more than 35 years at Ecumen, Chuck Zimmerman retired last week. He has been a leader in changing aging, presiding over countless transformations in senior care as an administrator at three of Ecumen’s largest campuses, a regional operations director for 15 years and most recently the head of the purchasing department.
Ecumen-Managed ‘The Classic at Hillcrest Greens’ in Altoona, Wisc., To Open in Early July
Construction of The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., is well underway, and the new senior living community managed by Ecumen plans to open in early July. The new community, located at 2455 Sawgrass Place in Altoona, includes 99 rental apartments for people 62 and older — 63 designated for independent or assisted living residents and 36 for memory care residents.
You can read these articles and more at ecumen.org.
Ecumen-Managed ‘The Classic at Hillcrest Greens’ in Altoona, Wisconsin To Open in Early July
Construction of The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., is well underway, and the new senior living community managed by Ecumen plans to open in early July. The sales office, located at 1316 Cypress Drive in Altoona, is now open and taking early deposits.
Residents at Ecumen Pathstone Living Find Their Inner Writer
With a little encouragement, a group of residents at Ecumen Pathstone Living have put their memories on paper and amazed their instructors with the beauty of their writing.
The residents are participating in a writing workshop partnership between Pathstone and Minnesota State University’s Good Thunder Reading Series.
In today’s Mankato Free Press, Feature Editor Robb Murray writes about the program and the people who have reached deep inside themselves to find and share what matters most to them.
Photographic Evidence: Age Doesn’t Have To Slow You Down
The stereotype that growing old means slowing down gets a strong rebuttal from a Russian photographer who has recorded the exploits of seniors accomplishing amazing feats.
In his Age of Happiness photo project, Vladimir Yakovlev vividly captures people in their later years accomplishing great things. Go to The Age of Happiness Facebook page to have your stereotypes soundly shattered. Or for a quick glimpse of Yakovlev’s work, go to this article in the Huffington Post.
.Photo by Vladimir Yakovlev
Common Drugs Proving Harmful to Aging Brains
Common drugs, like sedating antihistamines such as Benadryl, are proving to be especially toxic to the aging brain. Recent research has linked several widely used drugs to lowering brain function and contributing to increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
Called “anticholinergic” drugs, they lower neurotransmitters and cause sedation. These drugs are in many allergy medications, painkillers, bladder control drugs and muscle relaxants, and some are widely available over-the-counter.
Dr. Leslie Kernisan, a San Francisco geriatrician writing for Next Avenue, offers a guide to drugs to avoid for those with memory problems or dementia.
Ecumen Century Club: Happy 103rd Birthday Alice Stehlik
Ecumen honors Alice Stehlik, a resident of St. Mark's Living in Austin, Minn., who is 103.