Best Senior Living Community: Angie Hunt

Posted by Angie

Angie Hunt, Exec. Dir. at The Cedars
Best Senior Living Community — Angie Hunt
Posted by Angela Hunt, RPT, MS, Executive Director, The Cedars

Just the other day, at the 9th Annual Cedars Auxiliary Golf Tournament, an elderly gentleman came up to me and said, “You probably don’t remember me, but you treated me and my wife at the Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center. Your staff was so kind and compassionate and we are both doing so much better because of the great care we received. Thank you so much for what you do!”
My name is Angela Hunt and I am Executive Director at The Cedars. I oversee the daily operations of the Hoffman Center, home of the Sam L. Cohen Rehabilitation Center (39-bed short-stay rehabilitation) and the Skilled Care Center (63 long-term care beds). I also oversee 30 assisted living apartments at The Osher Inn.
You might think that this is a tremendous responsibility, but working with competent and professional staff certainly helps. I love my job so much that I have been at The Cedars for a total of 12 years.
Most people who know me might say that I am always looking to develop and improve our programming for seniors. I like the challenges that the field of healthcare provides me. But, the real reason I do what I do is because of the relationships fostered with patients, residents, family members and staff.
Artist Flavia Weedn once said, “Some people come into our lives and quickly go, some stay for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same.” I am very blessed that working at The Cedars gives me the opportunity to not only to leave but also to receive many footprints. And that’s the reason I do what I do!

The Benefits of Assisted Living

Posted by Katharine

As we celebrate National Assisted Living Week at The Cedars with an active calendar of resident and family gatherings and events, it gives us the opportunity to reflect on the positive effects that The Osher Inn assisted living has had on the community and those we serve since opening just three years ago. 

Assisted Living is the perfect option for seniors needing assistance with one or more of their activities of daily living (ADL’s) such as bathing, dressing and grooming.  In addition, most assisted livings provide help with medication management, assuring that the medications are in-house and are being administered to the residents at the right time.  Staff is on site 24 hours per day providing personal support with ADL’s and medications.  A registered nurse works with the residents’ physicians to assure their medical needs are being met.

 Seniors enjoy three meals per day at assisted livings in a social environment.  Although amenities vary among communities, The Osher Inn offers many interesting and varied programs and excursions taking place every day for our residents such as fitness classes, concerts, lectures, and trips to local restaurants.  All resident have access to our salon and day spa and fitness studio.  Check out our Life Enrichment Calendar.

 All of these services are provided in a private setting – at The Osher Inn, each resident has their own apartment where they bring in their furnishings from home.  Some assisted living residences have shared rooms, however, depending on the program.

 The philosophy of assisted livings is to support their residents while encouraging them to maintain as much independence as possible.  Once the resident needs more extensive assistance with their ADL’s, skilled care (also known as nursing home) may be the best option for them.  At The Cedars, our full continuum is available for residents if they need more supportive care or a short-term stay in our RehabilitationCenter.

 Call us today to find out if assisted living is the right option for you or your loved one.

 

 

 

Mazel Tov, Russ and Bea Bornstein

Posted by Katharine

Russ and Bea Bornstein
Russ and Bea Bornstein celebrated 66 years of marriage last week at The Osher Inn. 
Mazel Tov, Russ and Bea! 

9th Annual Auxiliary Golf Tournament

Posted by Katharine

Golfers at Cedars Auxiliary Golf TournamentSupporting Our Seniors: The 9th Annual Cedars Auxiliary Golf Tournament

By Beth Sheppard, Director of Development at The Cedars

You’d think that a golf tournament would be all about high scores, sponsorships and prayers for good weather. But I’ve learned that the tournament run by the Cedars Auxiliary is all about…family.

There were sister acts: former Tournament Chair Roz Siegel and her sister Judy Brams (daughters of Charlotte Siegel, who lives at the Osher Inn and who is herself a longtime member of the Auxiliary) played together. So did Ron Lessard Jr. of Interim Healthcare, one of our Silver Sponsors, and his dad, Ron Lessard Sr. Then there was the D.A.R. Inc. team that included Executive Director Angie Hunt, her husband Col. David Hunt, and her brother, Vincent Palangie.

Before the tournament even started, incoming Auxiliary President Suzie Berzinis and her daughter Hannah – herself a Jr. Auxiliary member and granddaughter of Hole Sponsors Betsy and Alan Levenson – stuffed 100 goodie bags for the golfers.

Perhaps our favorite family team, though, was Team Bornstein: Russ Bornstein, who lives with his wife Bea at the Osher Inn, golfed with three of his grandsons: Nathan Bergeron (son of Deborah Bernstein Bergeron and Norman Bergeron), and Ben and Gabe Bornstein, sons of Joe and Debbie Bornstein. Said Nathan, “We had a great time. And for a 93-year old my grandfather can still hit ‘em straight.”

The final scores were:

1st Place Gross: Team D.A.R., Inc. with a score of 57.

1st Place Net: Team Interim Healthcare with a score of 60.

2nd Place Net: Team Siegel with a score of 66.

3rd Place Net: Team Storage Realty with a score of 59.

Thanks to all of our wonderful sponsors:

Course

Val Halla Golf and Recreation Center, Cumberland

Platinum Sponsor

Wright Express

Silver Sponsors

Black Bear Medical, Bramlie Corporation, Capozza Tile & Floor Covering Center, Charlie’s Motor Mall, Geriatric Medical, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Interim Healthcare, Kelly, Remmel & Zimmerman, Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, Marcus, Clegg & Mistretta, Inc., Omnicare of Maine, Port Printing Solutions, SironaHealth

Luncheon Sponsors

Jesse & Julie Purves – Ameriprise, Cathy B. Cohen & Diane Dussault, Tee Sign Sponsor, Port Printing Solutions

Hole Sponsors

www.acadiabenefits.com, Rena & Michael Becker, Eleanor Brainin & Eric Kolben – UBS, Cognitive Therapy Associates, LLC, D.A.R., Inc, E. Perry Iron, Jim & Katie Freilinger, Patricia & Gregg Garson, Susan & Arnold Garson, Elizabeth & Sidney Geller, The Goodman Law Firm, P.A., Hartford Mutual Funds, Betsy & Alan Levenson, Bruce Munger – Merrill Lynch, Nelson & Small, Inc., Orthopaedic Associates, Smart Landscaping, Charles S. Wolfe & Assoc., Inc.

Breakfast Sponsors

Tim Horton’s, Maine Mall

Goody Bag Sponsor

Edward Jones,Westbrook

Giveaway Sponsors

Akari Hair Salon, Justin Alfond, Diane Boucher, Coca-Cola, Cathy B. Cohen, Delano Associates, Eclips Hair Salon, Edward Jones-Westbrook, Fran Fritzsche-Jensen, Renee Givner, Golf and Ski Warehouse, Gorham Country Club, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Higgins Beach Inn, Candy Henriksson, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, Charlotte O’Connor, Orthopaedic Associates, Portland House of Pizza, Portland Pie Company, Westbrook, Scrubadub Auto Wash Centers, Inc, Skillins Greenhouses, The Shipyard Brewing Company, Susan Steinkeler, Stroudwater Auto, UNUM, Val Halla, Winter People

And thanks to our great volunteers:

Fran Fritzsche-Jensen, Co-chair, Nancy Ravin, Co-chair, Prudy Andrew, Co-chair, Rene Becker, Hannah Berzinis, Suzie Berzinis, Ginny Ecklund, Dee Emple, Jodi Freedman, Renée Givner, Candy Henriksson, Hilary Rapkin, Roz Siegel

Visits II

Posted by Angie

Father and daughter visitingHelp with Aging Parents: Four More Ways to Make the Most of Visits – Part II

By Melanie Desjardins, Manager of Care Coordination at The Cedars

Have you ever thought, “What can I do with my loved one on this visit”? Well, here are some more ideas for your visit:

  1. 1. Go shopping from catalogs and/or the Internet and buy something new.  Remember there is a computer located in the Life Enrichment room for residents to use.
  2. Play cards.
  3. Make a special scrapbook celebrating your loved one’s lifetime or show already-made family scrapbooks, etc.
  4. Read newspapers and magazines aloud to keep them in touch with the world.  Reading the local newspaper is a great idea.

 Remember, a visit doesn’t have to be long to be enjoyed!

Life in the Neighborhood

Posted by Angie

Cedars Resident with C.N.A.

Relationships bloom in the Cedars' neighborhood.

Culture Change

Ask any one, undergoing a culture change in any organization is a hefty task.  But, moving away from the old institutional model of long term care to a more person-centered approach is a tremendous journey, one that is a profound philosophical change.   Today there is a big movement underway in healthcare to shift patient and resident experiences.  In order to promote improved quality of care, more and more nursing care facilities are embracing the philosophy and values of culture change.  The old institutional model of long term care is being replaced by a person directed or person centered model of care.  This culture places the resident and their family at the heart of the organization.   The underlying values support individuality, consistent staff, self determination, dignity and homelike atmosphere.  At The Cedars we are doing just that! We are placing emphasis on developing positive relationships with our residents and their families.  We are basing daily long-term care decisions on the residents’ needs, preferences and expectations.  Such decisions like; when to wake up, bathe and what to eat are being determined by the residents. This culture change has empowered our residents and their families to have more control and actively participate in their overall healthcare.

In our search to improve the quality of care to our residents The Cedars has embraced the “Neighborhood”.  The “Neighborhood” model of care incorporates a home-like atmosphere with a central dining and activity space.  Our residents personalize their rooms.  Resident centered care is a core component of the “Neighborhood”.  Life stories, a comprehensive narrative about the resident’s life, assist the staff in knowing the residents and providing the appropriate care.  All our residents have a unique and powerful story to tell about their lives. Our life stories are kept in a special notebook for all our staff to review.    “Neighborhood” living encourages one-on-one care and empowers our employees to get to know the residents better as individuals and thus better meet their unique dining, social and health care needs.  This model of care promotes dignity, choice and independence of our residents and we feel it is the key to a successful “Neighborhood”. If you should want more information regarding culture change, person centered care or “Neighborhood” please contact us.

Angela Hunt, RPT, MS

Executive Director