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Saturday, February 27, 2010
The challenges of aging on and off Block Island
By Judy Tierney The phrase “aging gracefully” is an oft-repeated one, but there is little graceful about aging. Like “accurate estimate” and “jumbo shrimp,” aging gracefully is an oxymoron. Many older people say they would like to “age in place” in their own homes. Provided one’s health is good, aging in place is easy. But physical and/or mental frailties may at some point create the need for help with chores and meals, or with personal tasks like dressing and bathing. On Block Island, only limited home care services are available, and without family nearby or in the household, aging in place can become as difficult as riding on the ferry in eight-to-ten foot waves. The Block Island Times spoke with home care nurse Mary Donnelly, R.N., for 52 years the island’s home caregiver, and to Dr. Paul Mann and Linda Closter, R.N., at the Block Island Health Center (BIHC) for pointers on aging in place and how to know when it’s time to look at other options. Maintaining good health is key to aging in place. Dr. Mann says the Block Island Health Center can help by manag-
Mary Donnelly, R.N. is one of two, Block Island, home caregivers.
ing the care for chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, between specialist appointments. “Coordination of care is one of the primary functions of family practice. Specialists like cardiologists are interested in your heart, but do not get into other issues,” Dr. Mann notes. “Patients need someone to coordinate the various specialists’ care, such as medicines, overall activity level, and diet.” Instead of seeing a mainland specialist for 15 minutes, he says, a patient can save a trip off-island and, especially in winter, spend more time discussing all of his or her health issues with either Dr. Mann or Dr. Janice Miller. Mary Donnelly makes home visits for post-hospital care, and to check on patients being treated for an acute problem. She gets referrals from hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and our physicians. When help in the home is needed, such as for showering or bandage-dressing changes, or monitoring medications, Donnelly evaluates and provides shortterm care. The Narragansett Visiting Nurse Association (VNA), she says, will send physical therapists over for home visits, and island volunteers offer rides and do small occasional chores. In addition, the BIHC has hospital beds and walkers to lend. Donnelly can help patients search for home care aides. Right now, she says, there are only two people on the island working as home caregivers, and sometimes staying on the island is not the best option. Both Mann and Closter point out that it is particularly worrisome when someone lives alone and has unstable balance, which can lead to falls. Coming to the realization that a better, safer setting is needed is a wrenching decision. Often family members have to
serve as the observing mirrors for their loved ones.
Leaving home — what are the options? The Times visited a number of mainland nursing homes and residential facilities that offer care for medical/surgical rehabilitation, long-term residential care, and independent and partially assisted living. At least in the facilities visited, the old custodial model of nursing home care is a relic of the past. They are much more user-friendly compared to the institutions our grandparents were placed in, when a nurses’ station was positioned at one end of a dingy, urine-tainted hallway, and residents’ rooms opened along that corridor, furnished with hospital beds, small dress-
ers and a plastic coated easy chair. All of the facilities visited by the Times reporter were clean, cheerful and full of activity. Rooms were furnished with at least one or two pieces of the resident’s own furniture, like an easy chair, a small desk, or a dresser. All of the facilities even had Nintendo Wii’s, especially the bowling game, for residents’ use. Each focused on serving a slightly different population. Some aimed at physical rehabilitation, others had dedicated Alzheimer’s units, still others covered a continuum from independent living through assisted living to total care. Costs at some were covered by Medicare/Medicaid; others were either self-pay or could be covered by long-term care insurance. See Aging, Page 4
10 Warning Signs of Alzheimers 1. Memory Loss That Disrupts Daily Life- One of the most commons signs of Alzheimer’s is memory loss. Asking for the same information over and over and relying on memory aides like keeping constant notes are common signs of Alzheimer’s. 2. Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems- They often have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. 3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks at Home at Work or at Leisure- They will have trouble driving to a familiar locations or remembering the rules to a familiar game. 4. Confusion with Time or Place- They may forget where they are or how they got there. 5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images- They may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room or they may not realize that it’s them in the mirror. 6. Problems with Words in Speaking or Writing- They may have trouble following a conversation as well as finding the right word. 7. Misplacing Things- They may put things in unusual places and they may accuse others of stealing. 8. Decreased or Poor Judgment- May use bad judgment when dealing with money and they may pay less attention to grooming. 9. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities- They may remove themselves from social activities or projects. 10. Changes in Mood and Personality- They may become fearful, suspicious, depressed or confused. They may become easily upset in places where they are out of their comfort zone. Courtesy of The Carriage House at The Elms
Page 2 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES February 27, 2010
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New Gastroenterology procedures at The Westerly Hospital By Steven Yolen, M.D. In something that you might expect to see in a James Bond movie, a futuristic way of performing endoscopies is now being done at The Westerly Hospital. Called “video capsule endoscopy,” the procedure is used to help diagnose patients suffering from obscure gastrointestinal bleeding, iron deficient anemia, suspected Crohn’s Disease, or other suspected disorders of the small intestine. And it’s all happening with the aid of an imaging chip embedded in a capsule that is about the size of a large pill. Patients who are candidates for video capsule endoscopy prepare by having a liquid diet the day before the procedure. On the morning of the procedure, patients are hooked up to eight EKG-like pads that are placed on their abdomen. These pads are then hooked up to a recording unit, which is slightly bigger than an old Sony Walkman radio, and which is worn around the patient’s chest in what looks a little like a “fanny pack.” The patient then swallows the pill size video capsule with some water and is sent home until the afternoon.
What happens next is something that even James Bond might consider beyond imagination. Once swallowed, the capsule, which contains a lens, imaging chip, transmitter and antenna, begins to capture images of the small intestine at a rate of two images per second. These images are transmitted to the recording unit worn by the patient. At the end of the eight hours, the patient returns to the Hospital to return the recording device and to have the pads removed from their abdomen. The patient is then discharged after which the images captured on the recording device are downloaded to a computer workstation essentially to create a video of 50,000+ images for the gastroenterologist to review. The capsule is later “passed” by the patient when he or she goes to the bathroom. Video capsule endoscopy is seen as the “gold standard” for evaluation of the small intestine, is easy to perform, is noninvasive and low risk, and is reimbursable by most insurers. Although not as futuristic as video capsule endoscopy, two other new gastroenterology procedures also being
practiced at The Westerly Hospital are impedance manometry and impedance pH manometry. Manometry is a test that is commonly given to patients who have difficulty or pain with swallowing, or who have heartburn or chest pain. Impedance manometry measures the movement of material moving up or down the esophagus, while impedance pH manometry measures whether or not a patient may
Founded 1970 Founding Publisher: Dan Rattiner 1970- 1982 Founding Editor: Margaret Cabell Self 1970- 1982 Publishers Peter and Shirley Wood 1982 - 1997 Jeffrey McDonough 1997 - 1999 Bruce and Peggy Montgomery 1999 - 2006 Fraser and Betty Lang 2006 - present The Block Island Times is a member of the New England Press Association, The Rhode Island Press Association, The Block Island Chamber of Commerce, and the Westerly Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce. It is printed on 100% recycled paper by Mass Web Printing, Worcester, Mass, and distibuted by Special Delivery, Inc.
Steven Yolen, M.D. is Immediate PastPresident of The Westerly Hospital Medical Staff and a Board Certified Gastroenterologist with Gastroenterology Specialists, Inc. in Westerly.
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Co-Publishers...............Fraser Lang/Betty Rawls Lang Ocean Avenue, Box 278, Block Island, RI 02807 Phone: (401) 466-2222 Fax: (401) 466-8804 e-mail: mail@blockislandtimes.com webnews: www.blockislandtimes.com
have reflux disease. Both tests are extremely helpful in determining a diagnosis and potential course of treatment for patients with esophageal disorders.
Reporters............... Judy Tierney, Stephen Yolen, M.D., Jennifer Torbett, D. M. D. Copy Editor................................................... Jean Taber Office Manager................................... Shane Howrigan Production....................Christopher Izzo of CRI Design Advertising........... Betty Rawls Lang, Shane Howrigan Advertising Design.... George Donnelly, Sue Filippone
The Block Island Times is published weekly at the newsstand price of 50¢. Publisher is Manisses, Inc., PO Box 278, Ocean Avenue, Block Island, RI 02807. Yearly subscription, $65, $40 for half-year. Periodical postage is paid at Block Island, RI 02807, and additional offices. USPS #003-204. Postmaster: Please send address changes to The Block Island Times, Box 278, Block Island, RI 02807.
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February 27, 2010 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES Page 3
Wakefield Prescription CenterA Family Business 597 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield, RI (near the post office) 789-9791 It was a refreshing surprise to learn that Wakefield still has a family-owned drug store. The Wakefield Prescription Center, owned by pharmacist brothers Marc and Joel Rittner, offers customers the personal care that comes with family businesses. Opened by their father 58 years ago, the pharmacy’s concept has always been discounted prices and quality, Marc Rittner told me. There is even a sign in the store that says they will match competitors’ prices, or beat them. “My dad worked for two years with no day off when he opened, 14-hour days,” Marc said, recalling his childhood, when Wakefield Pharmacy had cash registers with a crank and film was mailed away to a lab to be developed. “I’ve seen the sacrifices along the way. This is our home. We get to know people in the community, see their children grow…we treat everyone as part of the family.” The brothers are bucking the trend toward corporate ownership, expanding for the third time in the pharmacy’s history with a brand new building under construction across the street from their current location. The new building will be finished in May, Rittner said. He is particularly pleased with the parking area, which will be user friendly for older folks. It was designed so there is no curb to trip on between the parking spaces and the sidewalk. The pharmacy offers prescription service, over-the-counter remedies and greet-
ing cards (at 50 percent off list price) just like other drug stores do. But they also carry hospital equipment and surgical items, everything from wheelchairs to shower seats, for sale and for rent. Unlike most stores dedicated to supplying these aids, they are open for weekend and evening pickup. Wakefield Prescription Center does not have an old fashioned soda fountain counter, but it does have other services which could be a time-saver for Block Islanders running errands sandwiched between boat runs. Customers can drop off and pick up their dry cleaning, do their photocopying and faxing, and leave packages for UPS shipment. There is also a full-service photo shop. The Rittners make prints from digital images, process filmA, restore old pictures, change VCR tapes into DVDs. Bargain hunters will find several aisles of dollar items. Rittner changes them frequently, but when he took me through, there were clothespins, calculators with large print-sized buttons, and lint rollers, to name just a few. For those of us who can’t wait for island candy stores to reopen in the summer, the pharmacy devotes a wall to candy bins, among them Swedish fish, caramel creams, very cherry, and caramel creams. Block Islanders are being offered a unique service there. The pharmacy will mail medications to island postal boxes in a priority pack. Right now, they are providing the service free of charge.
Moving prescriptions is easy Joel in front of their new building, located right across the street from their current location. Inset photo, Wakefield Prescription Center owners Marc and Joel Rittner.
It only takes one phone call to move prescriptions to Wakefield Prescription Center from another drug store. Wakefield’s pharmacists will do all the legwork for you by calling the other pharmacies to ensure an error-free transfer. Call them at (401) 789-9791.
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Page 4 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES February 27, 2010
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Proper dental care is more then just for appearance By Jennifer Torbett, DMD One of the first things people notice when they meet you is your smile. Your smile is more than a first impression. Maintaining this smile is important for proper speech, chewing and general health. It is important to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning, and to have the required dental x-rays and exam by the dentist. The cleanings are important because they ensure that the gums, teeth, and supporting bone and soft tissue are healthy. The x-rays will detect any cavities or infections of the teeth or underlying bone, possibly even cancerous masses. The exam by the dentist will detect any other problems with the gums, tongue, or palate, as well as confirm cavities found on the x-rays. If your mouth is not healthy, this can lead to other issues with your general health, such as heart conditions, pre-term or low birth weight babies, or nutrition concerns. Certain conditions can often be diagnosed in the mouth before it is possible to diagnose them in other parts of the body. Diabetes and certain cancers are examples.
Aside from seeing your dentist for regular visits, you should feel comfortable seeing him or her for emergencies or if something just doesn’t seem right with your teeth, a change in your bite or anything that doesn’t appear normal with the gums. You can do your part at home too. Brush at least twice daily and floss once daily. Limit your intake of juice, soda, sports drinks, and hard or chewy candies that coat your teeth in sugar. Certain foods, though seemingly healthy, can wreak havoc on your teeth. Dried fruits, granola and citrus fruits are good examples. If you are unable to brush after eating any of these, try to rinse with water or chew sugar free gum to “clean” your teeth. Proper dental care is a collaborative effort between the dentist, the hygienist, and the patient. Everyone working together will ensure your smile stays healthy and white.
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Aging
Continued from Page 1 Some facilities are strictly rentals, with a monthly fee; others require a partially refundable fee when residents move in as well as a monthly charge. One confusing aspect of the emergence of the many varieties of assisted/independent living facilities is just what the monthly base price includes. When visiting a care residence, consumers need to ask for the basic monthly price and what it covers. Usually weekly housekeeping is included in the bill, but some facilities limit laundry service to weekly washing of linens, while others wash clothing too. There may be one meal a day included in the price, or three. Personal assistance, like dressing, bathing, and medication administration, is almost never included in the base price, except in a facility that is a nursing home. Find out how much added assistance will cost, should you require it in the future. Couples looking for a studio or apartment together may be subject to an extra initial charge for the second person as well as the regular monthly fee. To assess how frequently they raise their prices, ask for the last two times they increased them, and by how much per month. Also, check on the kind of caregivers they offer, especially at night. If you can fall at home, you can fall elsewhere. Is there an R.N. on the night shift, an LPN, an aide, or an in-house trained helper? Do residents get hauled off automatically to the local emergency room for assessment, or can someone on the premises differentiate between a resident who might have injuries and one who definitely does not?
A list of Rhode Island’s assisted living facilities is on the web at www.retirementhomes.com/homes/rhode-islandassisted-living.html. Medicare ratings of nursing homes are on the internet also, at the official site for Medicare, www.medicare.gov. A summary of family and resident ratings can be accessed from the Rhode Island Department of Health site: www. health.ri.gov/chic/performance/nursinghome.php.
Scallop Shell Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 981 Kingstown Rd, Peace Dale, RI 789-3006 My first view of The Scallop Shell Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Wakefield as I drove up was the bright red, yellow and blue climbing apparatus of a preschool playground. I thought perhaps I’d taken a wrong turn, but then spotted a sign indicating parking for the Scallop Shell. While I waited inside near the front door for the administrator, Neil Mahoney, a group of preschoolers trooped through the halls, led by their teacher. Mahoney later told me the building houses a nursery school as well as the nursing home. The group I saw was picking up the school’s mail, but they also come in to sing with residents, and participate in art sessions with them. Director Mahoney told me The Scallop Shell has been a family-owned business for 58 years, first by his father and for the last 39, by him. Many staff members have also worked there more than 20 years. Social worker Kelly Cookson is the newest, with only an eight-year tenure! Continued on next page
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Wakefield Prescription Center 597 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone 401 789-9791 fax 401 789-9977
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Medical Office: (401) 466-2974 PO Box 919 Administrator: (401) 466-2125 6 Payne Road Fax: (401) 466-5476 Block Island, RI
Block Island Health Services, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501-(C)-3 corporation. The Block Island Medical Center is licensed in Rhode Island as an organized ambulatory care facility. Physicians are board certified family medicine practitioners
(401) 789-3006 981 Kingstown Road Peace Dale, RI 02879-3021
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From the left: Scallop Shell social worker Kelly Cookson, Director Neil Mahoney and Director of Nursing Lynn McCall R. N. Inset photo, Block Islander Helen Slate has lived at Scallop Shell for nearly two years.
Continued from previous page “We work as a team,” said the Director of Nursing Lynn McCall, who has been at the Scallop Shell 33 years. “I stay here because of the team atmosphere.” Mahoney, who comes to work with his black lab Sasha, echoed that thought, explaining, “Everyone here works for the good of the residents. It’s a staff that wants to be here…to take care of these people.” The Scallop Shell can accommodate 72 residents in private and semi-private rooms. Although it can care for those with late stage dementia, there is no dedicated dementia unit, and therefore they do not
February 27, 2010 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES Page 5 admit people with early dementia. The facility offers total nursing care for long-term, rehabilitation, and respite stays. There are visits from physicians, physical, occupational and speech therapists, and psychiatric clinicians. Transportation to appointments off site is provided as well. Social worker Cookson conducts admission interviews with McCall to make sure the Scallop Shell can care for the people it admits. The facility has to meet the person’s nursing care and rehab needs. Mahoney proudly showed me the Scallop Shell’s ratings on a survey of nursing home families and residents conducted by the state of Rhode Island. His facility was rated three stars — the top rating — by both families and residents on quality of care, quality of life, quality of services and overall satisfaction. “We are considered one of the top quality places in the state on all surveys [including federal ones],” Mahoney said. As my visit concluded, Cookson said she had a question for me. Did I know Helen Slate from Block Island and would I come say hello to her? I’d met Slate, but did not know her as well as I do her son, Les. I said I would be happy to say hello, if she didn’t mind. When we got to her room, Helen was hard at work at her computer, writing. She appeared to be well cared for and happy. We recognized each other, and she told me that though I had moved over to Block Island full time five years ago, I
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South Bay Manor in South Kingstown near the University of Rhode Island campus, is one of 89 properties owned by the Horizon Bay company in Tampa, Fla. There’s nothing corporate about its appearance, though; the apartments facing its parking lot look more like a campus apartment complex than a retirement home. Director Kyle Ellis, who has a degree in social work and a background in hospitality as well, has managed South Bay for 20 years. The facility offers three levels of care: independent living, assisted living, and a licensed nursing home, including end of life care. “We want to keep people as independent as we can,” Ellis said, “but they never have to leave as they progress.” He says their niche is de-institutionalization. “Though residents get services they would only get in a nursing home, we don’t have that environment.” As Ellis led me through the common areas, including a greenhouse where residents with green thumbs care for thriving plants, he emphasized the cottage-like feeling of the facility. The dining room
South Bay Manor Director Kyle Ellis with his father, Phil Ellis, in Phil’s apartment. Inset photo, The green house is maintained by South Bay residents. overlooks a wooded area. Hand-painted murals of nautical and pastoral scenes brighten the hallway walls, and the local artist who painted them offers art classes to the residents. Because they are close to the University of Rhode Island, South Bay Manor enjoys pharmacy and nursing student volunteers. There are also visits from nursery school students for intergenerational activities. I asked Ellis to show me a typical apartment. He thought for a moment, and then offered to take me to see his parents’ unit. There I met his dad (his mom was out) in a three-room apartment with a Continued on next page
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would never be considered an islander. Even she wasn’t, she said, though she had lived here for many a year. We all thought that was very funny, especially Cookson who was not versed in island lore.
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401.596.4630 • 22 Elm Street, Westerly, RI 02891 www.elmsassistedliving.com
Page 6 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES February 27, 2010
Bob Elmer, director of The Elms, with dining room manager Betty Walker. Inset photo, Nurse’s aide Joyce Gantiek assists a resident of The Carriage House with her meal.
Continued from previous page small kitchen, a living room and a bedroom, all filled with the couple’s own furniture. Mr. Ellis showed me his electric keyboard, which he learned to play in recent years, and the electric typewriter on which he still writes. Then Director Ellis resumed his role as social worker. Would I also stop in to visit a Block Island resident? Downstairs we went, to the room of former summer resident Charlotte Neil Collins. Collins was able to bring her own bed, couch and desk to her private room. On her desk was a framed picture of her Block Island house. We chatted about the island, and found we had mutual acquaintances. Ellis says South Bay is moderately priced. The independent living base price includes weekly housekeeping and all meals, with a menu of traditional New England fare. Unlike many other facilities, the main meal is offered in the evening, not at lunch. Services such as medication assistance, showering and personal assistance reminders are given at the assisted living level, and added in as needed. Residents can participate in in-house activities, such as bridge, billiards, or current events, or engage in outside pursuits, either on their own, or as a group on the facility’s bus. Ellis told me his mother joined the local Y, and drives herself there.
The Elms 22 Elm St, Westerly, RI 596-4630 Housed in a bright yellow turn-of-the20th-century Victorian mansion, The Elms
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is thoroughly modern in the kind of care it offers. The family-owned facility has independent and assisted living, and a specialized cottage for dementia patients. Director Jerry Elmer has supervised The Elms for 13 years, and he has a handson approach, greeting residents by name in the hallways, giving a hand-squeeze or an arm around a shoulder as needed. Elmer emphasized the personal nature of his care, even as to food choices. “If someone says, ‘I like Cheerios,’ Betty will get them,” he tells me as we look at the dining room. Betty is his dining room director, and she will run down to the local market to pick up the extras people request. “We’re privately owned, not corporate,” Elmer explanied. “I can provide our residents with more services for less money without compromising those services.” The Elms has 74 suites for independent/assisted living. The base price for independent living includes three meals daily, weekly housekeeping, laundering of linens, and transportation and activities. Additional assistance comes à la carte. Activities the day I visited were listed on a board and included aerobics, art, a performance by a one-man band, and an evening movie. Elmer mentioned there is an evening cocktail hour; and residents who are ambulatory can walk one block downhill to reach downtown Westerly. One resident, he recounted, called The Elms “a cruise ship that doesn’t move.” He showed me a studio suite, with the resident’s furniture brought from his home. The suite has a living room-bedroom area, a sink, and a full bathroom with a shower. A deluxe suite was larger with a corner exposure, three closets and a small refrigerator. But the highlight of my tour was Elmer’s offer to take me into the dementia cottage, a separate building located on the other side of the property. The cottage can house 30 people. There is always a waiting list, and across the driveway from it, a second cottage is under construction. Elmer punched in the code on the keypad (the cottage is always locked), and escorted me in. We entered a large room with a dining room table, easy chairs and couches, and a kitchen separated from the dining area by a long counter. The room opened to other common sitting areas. Patient rooms were located off the common areas on three sides. There were no
long, narrow corridors. Each resident could walk directly from his or her bedroom to a lounge and through the other lounges in a rectangular route. Music played softly in the background, but the cottage was otherwise hushed. Although one or two residents did approach us to say a few words, there is little spontaneous conversation among the residents. The director of nursing at the cottage, Carolyn Collin, R.N., whose title is Nurse Manager, has been there nine years. Previously, she worked in geriatric psychiatry in Providence. Collin says, “Coming to work, you leave your own reality and enter someone else’s [here].” The philosophy, according to Elmer, is to not subdue residents with chemical or medical restraints. The facility is designed for Alzheimer’s patients. If they want to pace at night, they can. If they want to eat or bake at 2 a.m., they are accommodated. The cottage is staffed by an R.N. and two aides on the night shift. Like other places I visited in Rhode Island, family is important at The Elms. “We not only adopt our residents, we adopt their families,” Elmer said.
StoneRidge 186 Jerry Browne Rd, Mystic, CT, (860) 572-4494 StoneRidge retirement community is located in Mystic, Conn., a few miles past the entrance to the Mystic Aquarium. Unlike the other communities surveyed, StoneRidge has an upfront charge they call “an entrance fee” as well as a monthly charge. The entrance fee is 75 percent refundable to the resident or her/his estate, and even more is returned if a newcomer decides to leave within a specified time period. The apartments are full-sized with complete kitchens — ovens and cooktops or full ranges, refrigerators with freezer space, dishwashers, and ample cabinet space. The largest is 2,000 square feet, with two bedrooms and a den, and two bathrooms; the smallest, at 800 square feet, has one bedroom. Each unit, small or large has a patio or balcony. For the small unit, prices start at $193,000 with a monthly fee of $2,444 for one person. The entry price and the monthly fee increase with the size of the apartment, and a second person is an extra $915 a month regardless of apartment size. Area Sales Director Kathy Hamel em-
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401-466-8500
Dr. Maryann Simonelli
The pool is one of the many amenities enjoyed by residents of Stoneridge. Inset photo, Jean Davis, a familiar face to Block Islanders, enjoys the extensive library. phasized that StoneRidge is a community that provides a continuum of care, from independent living through assisted and total care. It is geared to ages 62 and over; and some residents still hold outside jobs. This kind of community, Hamel explained, is for people who plan ahead. Although StoneRidge can care for residents as their need for services increases, new residents come when they are still independent. Asked who would come in so far ahead of need, she replied that people who are tired of home maintenance needs, who want more socialization, and who want to plan for the time when they might need more assistance are the target population. As more assistance is needed, residents can add in-home care in their apartments, available in 15 minutes increments. This, Hamel says, can save them money. The facility also has Avalon, a 40bed skilled nursing center, on site, and the Cottage for memory care, both discounted for StoneRidge residents. The monthly fee for independent living includes one meal a day, or 30 meals a month, at one of the three dining rooms. For those who are accustomed to late dining, the evening meal is served until 7:30 p.m. A free continental breakfast is offered daily in the pub. Weekly housekeeping and flat linen service are also included. The apartment wings converge in the center of the complex at a full-sized clubhouse, complete with libraries, fitness center, small convenience store, art studio and computer lab. There is a heated inContinued on next page
By appointment at the Block Island Medical Center
James G. Stuart, DO, Internal Medicine The Offices of Lathrop Insurance
“We cover our entire community with great care.” Group Health Insurance offered through Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of RI and United Health Care.
Jeffrey L. Christian, MD, FACS, General & Vascular Surgery Edsell C. Bernardo, MD, Internal Medicine Paul Bourguignon, MD, General & Vascular Surgery
Tel: 401-596-0174 Fax 401-596-2266
85A Beach Street, Westerly, RI 02891 401-596-2525 www.lathropinsurance.com
Office hours by appointment 46 Wells Street Westerly, Rhode Island 02891
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Dr. Paul Trombly DMD, DAAPM General Dentist
401-862-2713
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Continued from previous page door pool kept within 3 degrees of the air temperature, and Hamel pointed out that the smell of chlorine is conspicuously absent. That is because it is maintained with ultra violet ray technology. Next to the buildings is a 100-acre tract of land with trails owned by the local land trust. Hamel said walkers can also stroll on sidewalks all the way to the town of Mystic. There is a myriad of opportunities for socialization, both on the premises and off. Former Block Islander Jean Davis, whom I ran into in the library while waiting for Hamel to start my tour, had just returned from a cruise aboard the QE2 with other residents. As we passed the clubhouse’s convenience store, I spotted another Block Islander, Jane Lohr, volunteering there. The size of the complex makes it more like a small town than a closed retirement setting. There even is an auditorium for live entertainment. Hamel brought me into the bistro, the Mariners Grill, for lunch, where I was pleased to see the menu had a nice selection of sandwiches, salads, and hot meals, both healthy and “naughty.” It took me only two seconds to select my heart unhealthy hot pastrami on rye. Hamel lingered a little longer before selecting cardiac-friendly fish. Life Care Services, the company that owns StoneRidge, is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and had developed or managed over 80 similar communities. According to Hamel, that gives them the experience and knowledge to run the community well. Right now, there are also opportunities to buy into the community because a new wing has just been completed. Once
February 27, 2010 BLOCK ISLAND TIMES Page 7 those are sold, prospective residents will have to wait until an apartment opens by attrition, which in other communities has resulted in long waiting lists.
Apple Rehab Clipper 161 Post Rd, Westerly, RI (401) 322-8081 Watch Hill Care & Rehab 79 Watch Hill Rd, Westerly, RI (401) 596-2664 | Apple Rehab is a Connecticut corporation with 26 rehabilitation centers in Connecticut and two in Rhode Island: Apple Rehab Clipper and Watch Hill Care and Rehab, both in Westerly. Due to time constraints and the boat schedule, I was unable to visit these two, but did speak with an administrator at each. Four years ago, a new wing devoted to rehabilitation needs was added on to the Watch Hill Care and Rehab, known before Apple took it over as the Watch Hill Rest Home. Janice Higgins Rissler, who has been in charge of admissions and marketing there for three years, says Watch Hill Care and Rehab is “beautifully appointed… very bright…and looks out over Babcock Bay and the Pawcatuck River.” Higgins Rissler grew up in the area and is familiar with the medical world, having grown up in a family with five generations of ownership in a local pharmacy. With those close roots, she especially touts the use of Watch Hill Rehab’s dining room for community meetings and functions by local groups. The dining room is at the end of the new wing, with a panoramic view of the water and the sunset. In warmer weather, an outdoor deck adds to the non-institutional feeling. There is a rehabilitation gym in the
The entrance to Apple Rehab welcomes residents to its spacious facility. new wing, with in-house staff as well as therapists from AllStar Therapy. Every discipline is represented, from physical therapy to occupational and speech therapies. The gym even has a Nintendo Wii, which can be used as part of therapy with or without staff. “The Wii makes it less arduous,” Higgins Rissler says. Corporate parent Apple Rehab has the goal that all its facilities will be preparing 93 percent of their food in their own kitchens, according to Higgins Rissler. They are also in the process of developing an offhour room service menu at Watch Hill. “We are trying to develop our stay so people have a renewed sense of service as “customers,” Higgins Rissler explained. I asked her about the nursing care at Watch Hill. Recently the facility’s nursing care received “a deficiency-free survey” from the state, Higgins Rissler told me, adding that the facility provides good care. “That’s what people come here for, nursing care,” she said.
Watch Hill’s sister facility, Apple Clipper, also focuses on rehabilitation. Director Carol Kenihan says the building was constructed fifteen years ago with rehab in mind. “We do a lot of [rehabilitation of] hips, knees, shoulders, and hands,” Kenihan said. She said they even have “repeaters,” people who have one hip repaired and rehab there, then come back after the second hip is repaired. “We are well known in the community and have a long- standing reputation.”
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What sets StoneRidge ess ing welln m o c p u ur 494 Attend o all (860) 572-4 C seminar. details! for more
What sets StoneRidge apart from other senior living communities? With its focus on choice, control and flexibility, our unique community gives you the opportunity to enjoy a lifestyle that suits your needs and priorities. • Flexible dining to choose where and when you want to dine— without having to adhere to a set schedule or location. For those wanting an intimate setting, we offer our Chart Room with a cozy fireplace and antiqued tin ceilings. For casual, bistro-style fare, the Mariner’s Grille is a favorite option. Or, enjoy a delicious meal in our formal dining room. • While we take care of everyday tasks, you can participate in a wide variety of social, recreational and 47224
apart? cultural activities—all planned and designed by residents and coordinated by a social activities director. Enjoy a music performance in our state-of-the-art auditorium, or take in a great game on our HDTV in the pub.
• Outstanding on-site amenities create opportunities for rewarding experiences, healthy pursuits and convenient living. Take a water aerobics class in our indoor, heated pool, exercise your green thumb in our gardening areas, or enjoy our walking, biking and hiking paths. StoneRidge also offers conveniences like an on-site salon and country store so you don’t have to leave the community to take care of errands.
local events in and around Mystic, and excursions to area sites and parks. • Your days are truly maintenancefree at StoneRidge. Weekly housekeeping services are arranged around your needs and schedule. Interior and exterior maintenance is also included for large or small projects. We’ll even hang a picture or change a light bulb for you. • StoneRidge is also an exceptionally secure choice with round-the-clock security. You’ll also find financial security with our Return-of-Capital™ Plan, which assures that 75% of your entrance fee will be returned to you or your estate no matter how long you live at the community.
Most importantly, StoneRidge is the only ContinuingCare™ community in the area. Our program assures you a continuum of quality, longterm health care. Learn why StoneRidge is a great place to call home and an easy place to lock and leave, by requesting our free information package today. Call (860) 572-4494 today to arrange for a free lunch for two in our Mariner’s Grille. Residential apartments start at $193,000.
• Scheduled transportation is available to area shopping centers,
186 Jerry Browne Road • Mystic, CT 06355 • (860) 572-4494 • www.StoneRidgeLCS.com
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Apple Rehab Clipper & Apple Rehab Watch Hill New Names, Same Great Teams, Same Exceptional Care!
Under existing management we’ve changed our names to reflect our commitment to providing unparalleled short term rehabilitation services designed to meet the needs of today’s short term rehabilitation patient. You’ve got a life to live...
We’ll get you back there!
Specializing in:
• Short Term Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Post Surgical Care • Medical Management
Because Experience Matters!
APPLE REHAB APPLE REHAB Clipper
Watch Hill
161 Post Road Westerly, RI 02891 401.322.8081
79 Watch Hill Road Westerly, RI 02891 401.596.2664
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