Happy birthday to us!

Posted by Katharine

Happy birthday to us!  Twenty-one years today – on August 11, 1991 to be exact –we moved into our beautiful new campus on Portland’s Ocean Avenue. Kathryn Callnan, now president and CEO of The Cedars, was then the director of nursing and orchestrated the move.

Swan Colpits, then director of recreational therapy, and longtime Board member Charles “Cuddy” Cohen help resident Edna Zeeman move into her new home in August 1991.

“We had 62 volunteers, just on the nursing side that day,” remembers Kathy. “One volunteer for each resident.” The volunteers stayed with them all day from the time they left the Jewish Home for Aged on Munjoy Hill until they settled into the new facility, which was then called Cedars Nursing Care Center.

Other volunteers, including a group from the Cedars Auxiliary, helped welcome the residents to their new home, served meals, and made the whole operation go smoothly. 

 

Kathy Callnan with sisters Jaime Shapiro Berg and Jill Shapiro on move in day.

Kathy Callnan with sisters Jaime Shapiro Berg and Jill Shapiro on move in day.

       

Move in day 1991
Staffer Nancy Bloch and volunteer David Cohen assisting a resident with the move.

 
   
 

 

 

 

Best Retirement Community: Social Networking, Skype and Seniors

Posted by Katharine

Michael Michaelson, volunteer at The Atrium

The Cedars has been enjoying the internet more than ever this summer, thanks to the help of volunteer Michael Michaelson. An upcoming freshman in high school at Wayneflete in Portland, Michael has been visiting members in our retirement community every Thursday morning since June.
 
During his time here, he busily runs from one apartment to the next assisting members and leaving them quite pleased. For instance, he connected one member to skype so she could talk with her daughters who both live in Italy. Another member proudly announced that, because of Michael’s tutelage, she not only knew when her mouse needed new batteries, but she was able to change them herself. Other members are accessing e-mail and FaceBook for the first time – and love it!

Michael explains that his work with seniors is quite rewarding.  When he saw the “huge” need for seniors to connect on the internet, he immediately thought of the seniors at The Cedars.  This is not Michael’s only volunteer work, however.  In addition, Michael spends around 40 hours per week recruiting volunteers for Equality Maine.  He can be seen canvassing for signatures and pledges at the local farmers market and his Portland neighborhood.  Thank you, Michael for your time, expertise and enthusiasm – we wish you well!

Health and Wellness: Helping Seniors Live Well With Dementia

Posted by Katharine

"Living Well With Dementia" program participants at The Cedars

Program participants Bob and Dan work on a “brain gym” exercise designed to strenghthen cognitive connections.

 A diagnosis of dementia — from Alzheimer’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, or mild to moderate Multi-Infarct Dementia used to be mean “the end” of meaningful life for afflicted seniors. A new program offered at The Cedars proves, however, that life not only goes on — it can be rich in meaning, independence and dignity.

The Cedars’ new community-based outpatient program, “Living Well With Dementia,” designed for seniors with a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia, was the focus of the 2012 Annual Membership meeting on August 1.

The program combines meaningful activities with specialized fitness, rehabilitation and therapeutic services to help these seniors thrive. Support for caregivers is also provided. The program involves:

  • Assessment – A thorough, caring and professional evaluation of your loved one’s motor and processing skills, balance, medication management, communication skills, stress levels and support systems.
  • Intervention – The very best occupational, physical, and speech and language pathology services targeted to memory issues.
  • Wellness – A regular, half-day program of the very latest in dementia rehabilitation and wellness services, with a 1:6 staff to client ratio.

After a short video (to see it, click here), program director Lisa Clark described the first group of participants, calling them “the bravest people I know.” A member of the group talked about how the program has helped him make friends with people who understand his situation, and the parent of one of the participants described how the program has helped her family.

Cedars Executive Director Angela Hunt pointed out that, while the program doesn’t provide a cure, it is an important way for those fighting a diagnosis of dementia to maintain quality of life and wellness. “We believe so strongly that preserving dignity and independence is just as important as preserving memory function,” said Hunt. “This program is an important addition to our continuum of senior living options.”

The Cedars is partnering with researchers at the University of New England to track results of the program, and hopes to pursue grant funding in the future.

For more information about the “Living Well With Dementia” program, contact April MacDonald, 207-221-7150.

Health and Wellness: The Truth About Cataracts

Posted by Angie

Mother and daughter visitingHelp With Aging Parents: The Truth About Cataracts
By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager at The Osher Inn, assisted living at The Cedars

Did you know that 20.5 million older Americans have cataracts, one of the most curable causes of vision loss?

A cataract is clouding of the eye’s normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. Cataracts form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if one does grow and begin to affect your vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.

According to The American Academy of Opthamology, new techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients. Each year there are more than 1.6 million of these delicate eye surgeries performed in the United States.

There are no drugs or exercises that make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Lasers are used in follow-up procedures, if needed. Cataract surgery is often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient’s vision is profound.

So how do you know if you have a cataract?  Some people notice a blurring in their vision, double vision in one eye or fading or yellowing of colors. When older patients mention sensitivity to glare or bright light or trouble driving at night, this may be caused by cataracts. Frequent changes to glasses or contact lens prescriptions, also warrants an evaluation for cataracts.

Cataract surgery, although quite safe, is still surgery. If cataracts aren’t yet affecting your quality of life, you may feel that surgery is not needed. The only person who can really decide when is time to have them removed is you, under the care of your doctor. 

The Cedars Retirement Community: Holistic Wellness through Water Aerobics

Posted by Katharine

The Cedars commitment to wellness can be seen throughout the community, from tai chi instruction for members to yoga classes for staff.  A particular program that is gaining increased popularity is our water aerobics or “Aquazcize” as we refer to it.

Sharon Leddy-Smart, Director of Lifestyles at The Atrium independent living, is also a personal trainer, triathlete, and mother of five – and touts the benefits of water aerobics for the senior population.  The Atrium’s pool is considered therapeutic as it is heated to over 87 degrees Fahrenheit.  Sharon’s classes focus on coordination, mobility, balance, range of
motion and core stability.  “It’s great for people dealing with arthritis because it’s no-impact, and the heat helps warm the joints to allow for greater range of motion.”  Member Florence Strauss explains that “it is the only time I can walk pain-free, when I’m exercising in the pool.”

Sharon states that the water is so soothing and inviting that you don’t feel like you’re exercising, until it’s over and you know you had a great workout.  “We have so much
fun, everyone is always laughing”.  For further information about wellness at The Cedars, contact Sharon Leddy-Smart at sleddy-smart@thecedarsportland.org.

 

Best Retirement Community: Visits at Skilled Care, Part III

Posted by Angie

Mother and daughter visiting

Help with Aging Parents: Four More Ways to Make the Most of Visits – Part III

By Melanie Desjardins, Manager of Care Coordination at The Cedars

The third part of our series on making the most of a visit with a loved on at The Cedars, senior living community. For more help, contact our Care Coordination department.

1.   Have grandchildren bring or send along artwork, papers  or projects from camp or school.  The delight that many residents get from seeing the works of children is wonderful – and the children benefit as well, receiving input and kudos from older adults.

2.  Plant and take care of an indoor/outdoor garden cart. Our outside patio is beautiful this time of year. Talk to the Life Enrichment staff for this activity.  In addition, taking a leisurely stroll through our community pathways provide a great opportunity to enjoy the flora.

3.  Do crossword or jigsaw puzzles together.  The neighborhoods all have large tables suitable for pondering over a large puzzle – and the conversations that take place during this activity are often nostalgic and fun.

4.  Give your loved one a gentle hand massage with nice-smelling lotion.  This is a great way to connect in a non-verbal way – our staff can help you with some simple pointers for giving a pleasant massage.

5.  Bring your pet in for a visit. (Please make sure you have completed a “Pet Health Certificate,” which is required before you may bring any pet to The Cedars) The benefits of pet therapy are great – see our prior blogs for the specifics!

Call us at 207-221-7100 with questions.

Retirement Communities: Caregivers of People With Dementia

Posted by Katharine

Living Well with Dementia: Caregivers of People with Dementia-Part I

by Lisa Clark OTR, Program Coordinator of Living Well with Dementia

In a recent issue of “OT Practice” from the American Occupational Therapy Association, an article is featured about the needs of caregivers for people with dementia.  Occupational therapists are uniquely skilled at considering needs of caregivers because of their orientation toward staying healthy through activity.  Activity for health is important for the person with dementia as well as the caregiver.

The Living Well with Dementia Program offers evaluation, recommendations and individual or group treatment for people with memory issues.  Caregivers are an important support for people dealing with memory loss. 

In addition, there are some helpful hints for caregivers, making their work with their loved ones a little easier.  Sometimes these seem to be the opposite of what one might think is the best care technique.  Decreasing stress on the part of the person with memory issues, in turn helps the caregiver manage more easily.  Some positive strategies include:

  • Make sure information is very simple and concrete — less confusing to the person with dementia
  • Frequently, following along with the story the person with dementia is talking about is much more effective than correcting and trying to re-orient them.  Arguing or trying to reason with the person can be very stressful for them
  • Work on finding a pleasurable activity (preferably a simple one) that the person who is agitated can be re-directed to.
  • Use as many positive words of encouragement as possible.  Avoid constantly reminding the person that she/he has memory problems.

For additional information about our Living Well With Dementia outpatient program, call us today at 207-221-7100.

 

Retirement Community Living: Lending a Hand to Developing Countries

Posted by Katharine

Gloria with Elizabeth McClellan of Partners for World Health

Recently a member of The Atrium at The Cedars retirement community had looked into donating some expensive medications that she had paid for herself but no longer needed, and that had not yet expired.  She had asked her physicians – who did not have any suggestions.  After contacting Elizabeth McLellan at Partners for World Health, she immediately accepted Gloria’s generous offer and brought them to the warehouse one afternoon in May. Here is a photo of Gloria with Elizabeth, after touring the huge warehouse full of medical equipment and supplies.  That day, United Way was there volunteering their time to help sort and pack the supplies.

Did you know that in the United States, we throw away billions of dollars of perfectly good medical supplies every year?  Elizabeth McClellan, founder of Partners for World Health in Scarborough, Maine, faced this reality as a nurse in Portland’s largest hospital every time she worked.  She explains that medical supplies or medications are ordered by physicians, paid for by insurance companies, and then often never used.  These supplies either stayed in the hospital room after the patient went home, or in the medicine cabinet after the medication was no longer needed – and then thrown away.  She was concerned about the environmental waste and the fact that developing countries around the world are in desperate need of clean, new medical supplies.

Elizabeth McClellan wanted to do something about this and teamed up with local medical practitioners to form Partners for World Health.  Now, those medical supplies are picked up at the hospitals, or donated directly by individuals to the warehouse in Scarborough where they’re sorted and shipped off to third world countries. Join Gloria in gathering your unused medical supplies to help those in need.

If anyone would like more information about making donations or volunteering with Partners for World Health, check out their website at www.partnersforworldhealth.org.