Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
The Cedars growing outpatient program for those living in their homes with the early stages of dementia, Living Well with Dementia, is introducing a Memory Support Group for those with dementia and their family/friends. August 23 was our first group and proved to be a tremendous success. The facilitator, Lenora Trussell, did an outstanding job of discussing the goals of the program, some of the issues individuals find when living with dementia and current research aimed at slowing the progression of the symptoms. Lenora is a registered nurse who is also a story teller and educator, utilizing both facts and humor. She is an excellent speaker and facilitator – and we look forward to future support groups. The next group meets at The Cedars on Thursday September 13th at 4PM. For more information call 221-7150 or check our website for October’s meeting...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
With National Assisted Living Week upon us, The Osher Inn at The Cedars is embracing this year’s theme, “Art for the Ages.” The many special events we’ve scheduled for the week help us to say thank you to our residents, many of whom have made significant contributions to society as business people, civic leaders, firefighters, teachers, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Today The Osher Inn held its Resident Art Show which showcased our community members’ paintings, needlework, pottery, sculptures … and much more. As the week continues we have concerts, art shows, instructional workshops and a concert that promises to get our residents dancing! For more information about The Osher Inn and personalized assisted living, please call us at...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
The Cedars Retirement Community: CNBC.com Niche Retirement Community Just about every retirement community features activities and programs that emphasize wellness. The Cedars in Portland, Maine, is no exception. It emphasizes holistic wellness, which many baby boomers have pursued for decades. The community’s yoga program is taught by Jessica McKneally, who believes that yoga can help alleviate many of the health issues that older adults face. “Many of the chronic ailments associated with the aging process are the result of stress, imbalance and disconnection,”she says on the community’s website. “Relieving stress, cultivating balance in our lives and reconnecting to our self and others can go a long way towards establishing a healthier, happier, more sustainable...
Posted in our blog on by Angie& filed under Featured.
Help with Aging Parents: Three Tips for Getting a Good Night’s Sleep By Diane Vigue, RN, Resident Wellness Manager, The Osher Inn Public health professionals know that a good night’s sleep an essential aspect of health promotion and chronic disease prevention, especially for the elderly. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression, all of which threaten our health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome. It is also responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents, causing substantial injury and disability each year. More than one-quarter of the U.S. population report occasionally not getting enough sleep, while almost 40% of the elderly experience sleep problems, and nearly 10% suffer from chronic insomnia. Some of these insomnias may be due to the body not...
Posted in our blog on by Holly& filed under Featured.
By Beth Sheppard, Director of Development at The Cedars Meals at The Cedars are always a treat, but a recent dinner served to our board and members was especially good – and healthful. It included grilled swordfish, a variety of salads and grilled vegetables, and terrific turkey skewers done on the grill. I’d never heard of grilling turkey! When I asked our director of dining services, David Kessler, about it, he told me that turkey is low in fat, full of protein (both great for aging bodies!), and easy to grill. The trick is to use turkey tenders, which you can find in the grocery store, and to marinate them before grilling. Dave skewered bite-sized pieces of marinated turkey tender with chunks of red pepper, button mushrooms and pearl onions on wooden skewers (hint: soak the skewers in water for 30 minutes before you put the meat and veggies...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
According to Carol Worthington, editor of Healthy Aging Magazine and director Health Aging, it’s never too late to “re-invent” yourself. September is Healthy Aging Month, an annual health observance designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older, and we take healthy aging very seriously here at The Cedars! Worthington explains, “We need to draw attention to the myths of aging, to shout out “Hey, its’ not too late to take control of your health, it’s never too late to get started on something new.’ To get started, here are some ideas from Health Aging Magazine to help you think outside of the box: Back to School – through Osher Lifelong Learning (we provide the transportation!) or attend more lectures at The Atrium Dance Like There’s No Tomorrow – older adults getting regular physical exercise are 60% less likely to get dementia as it increases oxygen to...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
The Cedars is dedicated to incorporating wellness throughout our community – for our members, residents and staff. The opportunities to embrace wellness could not have been greater than at our annual Wellness Fair at The Cedars. Vendors from over 20 stations and organizations were there to share their knowledge and services with our community – and everyone indulged in healthy snacks, yoga classes, massage therapy and paraffin dips. Giveaways included a Kindle Fire, and various gift baskets to Dick Sporting Goods, The Cedars Spa and Healthy Eating and Cooking. The Cedars thanks the participating vendors who partnered to make this a great event: Acadia Insurance Harvard Pilgrim – information and cholesterol screening Guardian Dental American Heart Association Cancer Community Center 2-1-1 Maine US Foods Community Counseling Center Hannaford Scarborough Family Chiropractic Walgreen’s Blood Pressure Screening Hula Hooping Portland Maine...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
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,...
Posted in our blog on by Katharine& filed under Featured.
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...
Posted in our blog on by Angie& filed under Featured.
Help 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...
