Choosing a Senior Living Community: 5 Important First Impressions

Posted by Katharine

When starting the search for a senior community for either yourself or your parent or loved one, first impressions are  key to finding the best fit.  Here are some tips to keep in mind when making your initial visits.

1. Do you like the community’s location and outward appearance?

Is the community convenient to restaurants, shops, symphony, theater, physicians, hospitals and pharmacies?  Does it connect you to opportunities beyond the campus that allow for enjoyment of a larger community?  Are the grounds and building well maintained, with plenty of gardens and walking trails?

 2. Are you welcomed with a warm greeting from the staff?  And does the staff address residents by their names, interacting with them during the tour?

Is it easy to connect with both the residents and the staff?  You want to make sure that the staff not only provides excellent services, but also gets involved with the residents and their families – getting to know the residents’ histories and accomplishments.  It should be a welcoming, positive place where people want to be.

 3. How accessible is the medical community and health services?

Does the community have a continuum of services should you ever need them?  These services include assisted living, rehabilitation for short term stays, and skilled nursing care.  What is the reputation of the health care services?  Is the rehabilitation staff contracted, or are they employed by the community – and do they offer outpatient services to all residents?  Is the community embracing culture change in their skilled care – and does the staff receive frequent education and training?

 4. Do you notice the residents socializing with each other and do they appear content?

Does the size of the community allow for the residents to get to know each other, encouraging that sense of family to develop?  Is there a wellness program offering classes and private training in a fitness studio?  Are their learning opportunities through book groups, guest lecturers, brain fitness?  Are the arts alive and well, with concerts, performances and trips to area cultural events?  Are the residents involved in directing the programs and events?

 5. Is the community convenient for frequent visits by family and friends?

Is the community located in a central location, not only near the local amenities but also near in-town offices as well as suburban communities?  This convenience allows for the opportunity for your family to enjoy the community – pool, entertainment, dining – and for you to easily visit them and stay involved in their lives.

Find out how The Cedars measures up for assisted living at The Osher Inn or independent living at The Atrium – call for an appointment today.  207-221-7100

Round-the-Clock Care for Seniors: The Cedars After Dark

Posted by Katharine

“We let families visit whenever they want. All they have to do is ring the doorbell, just like home.” —HANNAH TEMPLE, RN, The Skilled Care Center at The Cedars

THE CEDARS is a bright and bustling place during the day, but the compassionate care and sense of community don’t stop when the sun goes down. In fact, they don’t even slow down. It gets quieter, but The Cedars still hums with activity after dark.

“Part of creating a homelike environment is letting residents and patients create their own schedules,” explains Hannah Temple, RN, Evening Shift Supervisor. “We have early risers and we have night owls—and we take the very best care of both.”

EVENING SHIFT

An admitted night owl herself, Hannah has always loved working evening shift. Hannah and her team begin working at 3PM, helping residents get ready for dinner, socialize in the evening and prepare for bed.

“It’s one of the busiest nursing shifts,” she says. “We give residents so much choice over when and where they eat their meals and snacks. There are movies and popcorn, card games and visits. Bathing and dressing, dispensing medications, just holding someone’s hand for a bit. The time just flies.”

Dining Services clean up the kitchens and the receptionists switch over the phones at eight. Environmental Services pack up by nine. NorDx picks up the last delivery, and a hush descends over the neighborhoods.

“The Cedars doesn’t have set visiting hours,” explains Hannah. “Couples can watch a favorite TV program together in the evening, like they used to do at home. Adult children can visit after they’ve tucked their own kids in bed.”

NIGHT SHIFT

“Night shift gets so much wonderful one-on-one time with our residents,” Hannah says. “Some of our seniors are real night owls! Staff are always fixing midnight snacks, having a quiet conversation or playing a hand of cards with our seniors. And just as the night owls are turning in, our early birds start to wake up and we’re ready to help with their morning routine.”

Early risers enjoy the smell of hot coffee and waffles drifting down the halls. Sunlight floods the lobbies and day rooms. Another day at The Cedars has begun.

 

Rehabilitation at The Cedars: Focus on Occupational Therapy

Posted by Katharine

At The Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center at The Cedars, we have over 40 physical, occupational and speech therapists that provide rehabilitative therapy to our short term patients, long term residents, and outpatients living in the Portland area. Brian DesPres, Director of Rehabilitation at The Cedars and an occupational therapist Himself, describes the role of an OT as restoring balance in the patient’s life by helping patients return to their optimal level of functioning in self-care. 

Balance in self-care is a combination of caring for our bodies through bathing, dressing and grooming, and as well as through the reintegration of leisure activities into our lives.  During the initial evaluation with patients, the OT asks about prior level and immediately starts to problem solve in order to get that patient home safely.  The therapy goals are often achieved through purposeful activities where the OT incorporates basic tasks with strengthening, fine motor or balance exercises.  Examples may include bathing and dressing, preparing a meal in the kitchen, or playing the piano.

Specific areas of concentration for Occupational Therapists include fine motor skills and working with cognition.  Fine motor tasks involve writing, using utensils, sewing or knitting.  Brian describes the joy patients exude when they’ve discovered they can resume a favorite skill or pastime, “oh my, I can do this again!” Completing assessments and teaching compensatory strategies to patients experiencing memory loss is another area of expertise in the OT tool kit. Memory books, for example, often provide tremendous assistance in helping to navigate through the day.

For more information on Occupational Therapy at the Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center at The Cedars, please call 207-221-7100.

The People in the Neighborhood: Life Enrichment at The Cedars

Posted by Katharine

“To make The Skilled Care Center truly feel like home, we have to know what ‘home’ means to each person … we want to recreate their world as mush as possible.”
– Nick Viti

THE CEDARS holistic approach to skilled care nurtures mental and spiritual well being, not just physical health. Embracing person-centered care and transforming nursing wings into close-knit, thriving “neighborhoods” is one way The Cedars achieves this level of holistic wellness. Our Life Enrichment programming is another.

Our Life Enrichment team engages residents in rich and meaningful activities while fostering a true sense of community. Nick Viti, an occupational therapist, is thrilled to have the opportunity to lead it. As our new Manager of Life Enrichment, Nick provides one-on-one occupational therapy to residents while creating and customizing programming to reinforce and enhance that therapy. “Because I’m in the therapy gym with residents, I know their strengths and challenges firsthand. I don’t have to design one activity to fit all. I get to design an activity for one person.”

Nick began working with students and adults with behavioral disabilities after graduating from college. “Finding ways to adapt environments and activities to allow my clients to experience success in their lives was so rewarding,” he remembers. “I knew that feeling was what I wanted from my career.”

Nick went back to school to earn his occupational therapy degree from the University of Southern Maine. For his senior project, Nick helped create a ‘sensory room’—a space with visual, tactile and auditory tools to help overstimulated or under-stimulated residents with dementia restore their sensory balance. After graduation, Nick applied his ideas in a real-world setting while working with dementia patients at an Augusta nursing home.

Nick loved the work, but he wanted something more—to truly get to know residents, develop personalized therapeutic goals for them, and create meaningful, enjoyable daily activities that reinforced those goals. Our holistic approach to wellness was just what he was looking for, and he brought his passion for innovative, person-centered care and his in-depth knowledge of dementia treatment to The Cedars in 2013.

“I wanted to work here because The Cedars mission and vision is so broad and forward-thinking,” he explains. “I hadn’t heard of any other nursing home doing the kind of culture change The Cedars has embraced.”

Nick works closely with nursing, dining, activities and housekeeping staff to keep everyone’s focus on individualized care. Together, they customize each resident’s daily routine to honor that resident’s personal preferences, life history and customized care plan.

“The Life Stories are where we start,” Nick says.  “To make The Skilled Care Center truly feel like home, we have to know what ‘home’ means to each resident. Were they a part of a large family, or an only child? Did they have a 9-5 job, work the night shift or stay at home? We don’t want to force them into new habits or routines. We want to recreate their world as much as possible.”

Angela Hunt, Chief Operating Officer, enthusiastically agrees.  “Person-centered care lets us put living at the forefront, while medical and nursing issues are quietly and competently addressed in the background,” she says. “Just like home, our residents get to choose when they get up, when and where they want breakfast, what they want to eat … their days are filled with choices. After all, there’s nothing typical about anyone’s ‘typical day.’ It’s as special as they are.”

“It’s challenging to offer so many choices,” she continues. “But choices are the key to creating dignity and empowerment.”

So is variety and surprise. “We don’t want schedules to feel rigid,” Nick explains. “If every week repeats the same schedule, even favorite activities start to feel stale. We let residents lead the way and we let ourselves be inspired by what’s happening indoors, and out.”

For Nick and his team, just like home isn’t a slogan – it’s a mission.  “Nick gets it,” Angela says with a grin. “The Cedars is so lucky to have him.”

For more information on Skilled Care at The Cedars, call 207-221-7000.

 

 

Maine Jewish Film Festival: Free Senior Screening

Posted by Katharine

The Cedars is pleased to continue sponsoring the MJFF’s Free Senior Screening. This year, the documentary, Essential Link: The Story of Wilfred Israel will show at the Portland Museum of Art on Wednesday, March 13 at 2PM. Dessert reception to follow. There is no cost for seniors to attend, but you must get tickets by calling the MJFF at 207-523-3422 or emailing filmfest@mjff.org.

Here is the scoop: The Essential Link: The Story of Wilfred Israel / Documentary / 2016 / Israel / Hebrew, German w/ Eng ST / 82 min

Documentary / Dir: Sam Pollard / USA / 2017 / 100 min Free Senior Film

Why is the story of retail businessman Wilfred Israel, who saved 15 times more people than Oskar Schindler, largely unknown? The owner of Berlins largest department store played a key role in the Kindertransport program and helped save tens of thousands of Jews . Filmmaker Yonatan Nir (My Hero Brother – MJFF 2017) takes us on a revealing journey into Wilfrid Israels life and the reasons for his disappearance from history.

For information about living options at The Cedars and The Atrium independent living at The Cedars, contact us at 207-221-7100.

 

Stressful to Successful: Downsizing Seminar

Posted by Katharine

After many years of living in the same home, Downsizing can be a very real dilemma for many – especially those who are considering a move to a retirement community. In fact, the reason many people don’t take action is that they don’t know what to do with their all of their ‘stuff’!

To help overcome some of the stress of downsizing, The Atrium is offering a free seminar: “Stressful To Successful:  Helping Parents Downsize”.  It’s taking place on Wednesday, February 27, from 5-6 pm. Angie D’Amours, Marketing Representative will offer tips to anyone who may be working with someone who wants to declutter, or who would like to declutter themselves, so that they can easily make a move to a more worry-free, secure home with opportunities for growth and community.

Join The Cedars to start the conversation: working toward a common goal, deciding what to keep, and how to donate or dispose of what they no longer need. Q&A to follow.
FMI and RSVP please call 207-221-7100.

Researching Bold New Ideas with the Portland Wheelers

Posted by Tracy

The Cedars Learning Community™ Continues to Advance Senior Care

DO YOU REMEMBER THE RUSH of freedom that filled you the first time you rode a bike? Residents at The Cedars were able to revisit that feeling as part of a new research project on mental health in collaboration with the University of Southern Maine graduate program in Occupational Therapy and the Portland Wheelers.

The Portland Wheelers are familiar faces on our campus. These hardy cyclists volunteer to take mobility-challenged seniors on regular rides on specially equipped tandem bikes. While these rides are always popular at The Cedars, the students at USM were looking for a correlation between regular rides and improvements in depression (a common affliction in later life). A positive correlation would encourage other senior living communities to offer similar programs.

For the purposes of this research study, seniors with a history of depression were treated to regular rides over the course of six weeks. They completed an eight-point survey prior to and after each ride. The Cedars clinical staff also performed an evaluation based on the Geriatric Depression Scale, which measures externally observable changes in key indicators.

The program also provided Mood and Behavior assessment data gathered on all residents each quarter as required by federal regulations. The results were promising. Residents felt the rides were time well spent 99% of the time, and declared the ride enjoyable 93% of the time. Resident moods did show improvement after the rides and neither a patient’s age or level of dementia seemed to affect their perceptions. Almost all riders showed fewer indicators for depression after completing the Portland Wheelers program. While this sample size will not support speculation about the durability of the effects or allow generalization to a larger resident population, these promising results reinforce the value of this program and our commitment to researching advances in
healthy aging!

For more information on Life Enrichment at The Cedars, contact Nick Viti, OTR/L, Life Enrichment Manager at 221-7000.

 

Rehabilitation Therapy at The Cedars Senior Living Community

Posted by Katharine

Rehab TeamAre you anticipating a short-term, inpatient rehabilitation stay in the near future?  If so, The Cedars Rehabilitation Team would like to provide you with some insight into the experience.

As patients enter the rehabilitation process, we recognize that they are not feeling as “whole” as they had been; they’re suffering a loss of health and may be uncertain about putting trust into the rehabilitation team.  This key team consists of physical, occupational and speech therapists, nursing staff, dietician, physician and care coordinators who are all there to assess your needs and arrange a treatment plan with you.  The medical staff largely focuses your medical issues – the reason you were admitted to the hospital. While the therapists concentrate on helping you get back to “doing.”

Sometimes returning to your prior level of activity comes in phases where you need to learn compensatory strategies during an interim period.  For instance, as some patients heal from surgery they need to avoid bearing weight on one leg, and the therapists teach you tools to help be as independent as possible. 

These therapy sessions are a wonderful opportunity.  Patients learn home exercise programs and healthy habits.  Family members who are providing assistance at home will also be part of the therapy as well.  And we’ve had some patients who work specifically on regaining the ability to return to a favorite hobby or activity.  One patient focused on arm and shoulder exercises so he could reach the plants in the greenhouse where he lives at The Atrium at The Cedars.  And another worked with Occupational Therapy through a hand injury to re-learn how to play the piano.

At The Cedars Rehabilitation Center, we strongly believe that the most successful rehabilitation experiences come from patients who “self-advocate” by sharing with the team what they need to become “whole” again.  For more information on short-term rehabilitation please contact Brian DesPres, Manager of Rehabilitation Services at bdespres@thecedarsportland.org.org or 207-221-7000.

 

Are You Ready to Live 100 Years?

Posted by Tracy

Tips from Kathryn Callnan, The Cedars President and CEO, on active, healthy, rewarding aging.

Drawing from her life experience as a nurse and as the leader of the largest not-for-profit senior living community in northern New England, Kathy offers her best advice on preparing for and making the most of your later years:

  • Plan on living to the age of 100.
    Find the best providers for healthcare, rehabilitation, long-term care and assisted living. Decide where you would like to receive care in the event you are hospitalized.
  • Don’t assume that you’ll always be able to live at home.
    Determine if you will be happier and better cared for at home with services or by moving to a community. Then do your research, tour communities and get on a waiting list.
  • Talk with your children and let them know what you want before something happens.
    Do you want to live near them or stay where you are?
    Where would you want to receive care should you need it?

Senator Collins Celebrates Groundbreaking at The Cedars

Posted by Katharine

Portland, ME – Today, U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Aging Committee, delivered remarks at The Cedars Retirement Community’s groundbreaking ceremony in Portland.  Cedars is starting a new project that will accommodate the evolution of the care model towards the household model of care delivery and private rooms for residents.

“For nearly 90 years, The Cedars has helped Maine seniors live their lives to the fullest,” said Senator Collins during her remarks.  “From independent and assisted living to rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, expert staff and dedicated supporters have upheld the traditional values of community while responding to emerging needs and advancement in care.”

“Working together, in Washington and in communities across the nation, we are building a shared vision for aging that is centered on health, wellness, and community,” continued Senator Collins.  “Thank you for your dedication to this important cause.”

“We are thrilled to have Senator Collins with us today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Sam L. Cohen Households at The Cedars. As a long-standing advocate for seniors and healthcare in our State, she understands the challenges of our expanding, older population,” said Kathryn Callnan, President and CEO of The Cedars.  “The Household Model will help The Cedars address the work-force crisis and create home for seniors by dramatically expanding our ability to provide innovative, person-centered care.”

The project will convert existing rooms from semi-private to private, which will displace 40 beds.  Those beds will be added to the new building, along with 20 more beds in what is described as an “assisted living memory care household.”  The shift to private rooms will be made by creating “houses” of 20 beds each.

The Cedars is a comprehensive not-for-profit senior living community that offers a full continuum of senior living options for every stage of life, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Care.

As the Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee, Senator Collins has been a strong advocate for our nation’s seniors.  Last year, Senator Collins chaired a series of Committee hearings to examine the growing epidemic of isolation and loneliness on older Americans. 

In addition to this serious problem, Senator Collins secured a $425 million increase for Alzheimer’s research in the funding bill for the upcoming fiscal year.