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JENNIFER KIERSKY BLAIR Chief Editor/Production Copyright 2012 Kiersky Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Kiersky Publishing Senior Guidebook to Western Washington is published quarterly by Kiersky Publishing, Inc. The opinions, advice or statements expressed by contributing writers don’t reflect those of the editor, the publisher or of Kiersky Publishing Senior Guidebook to Western Washington. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher. It is your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information, opinion, advice or other content contained herein. Furthermore, Kiersky Publishing, Inc. makes no representations and, to the fullest extent allowed by law, disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to, warranties of merchantability and fitness for particular purposes regarding the suitability of the information; the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the content, services or products advertised herein. The content published herein may include inaccuracies or typographical errors.
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More Than Enough – Donna Vande Kieft Magnetic Loop Assistance for the Hearing Impaired – Jack Richardson Back to the Waltons – Kellie Moeller The Life Legacy Project – Steve Motenko Fun? You Should Ask! – Barbara Koshar Think Before You Speak – Jennifer Blair The Medicine in Mushrooms – Jodie Buller Timing Your Trip – Rick Steves When Is It Time? – Jane Meyers-Bowen A Dignified Diagnosis of Dementia – Joanne Maher Caring Faces Is It Time for a Mental Health Tune-Up? – Andrew Schorr Directory
ADVERTISERS Front Cover Mirabella – Seattle Back Cover ERA Living: Aljoya – Mercer Island; Aljoya Thornton Place – Seattle/Northgate; Ida Culver House – Broadview/Seattle; Ida Culver House – Ravenna/Seattle; The Gardens at Town Square – Bellevue; The Lakeshore – Seattle; University House – Issaquah; University House – Wallingford/Seattle
Front Inside Cover Garden Court Retirement Community – Everett Back Inside Cover Zoe Kiersky Centerfold 16 Rosewood Courte – Edmonds 17 Edmonds Landing – Edmonds
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Mirabella – Seattle
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Silverado Senior Living Bellingham; Silverado Senior Living Everett
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ERA Living: Aljoya – Mercer Island; Aljoya Thornton Place – Seattle/Northgate; Ida Culver House – Broadview/Seattle; Ida Culver House – Ravenna/Seattle; The Gardens at Town Square – Bellevue; The Lakeshore – Seattle; University House – Issaquah; University House – Wallingford/Seattle Holiday Retirement: Bridge Park – Seattle; Capital Place – Olympia; Cascadian Place – Everett; Evergreen Place – Renton; Fernwood at the Park – Normandy Park; Parkway Chateau – Bellingham; Peninsula – Gig Harbor; Point Defiance Village – Tacoma; The Garden Club – Bellevue; Willow Gardens – Puyallup CRISTA Senior Living – Shoreline; Crista Shores – Silverdale Radiant Senior Living: Ashley Pointe – Lake Stevens; La Conner; South Pointe – Everett Leisure Care: Fairwinds Brighton Court – Lynnwood; Fairwinds Brittany Park – Woodinville Fairwinds – Redmond Island Hospital – Anacortes Allied Health Advocates – Seattle Bastyr Center for Natural Health – Seattle SeniorGuidebook.com PatientPower.info Alzheimer’s Association – Seattle
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
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More Than Enough by Donna Vande Kieft, Hospice Chaplain, Providence Hospice of Snohomish County
Comedian and author, Al Franken, says, “I’m good enough...I’m smart enough...and doggone it, people like me!” I have reached an age and stage in my life and career as a hospice chaplain, where I want to believe this is true for me. I would also like to encourage others to believe it for themselves. My mantra has become “More Than Enough.” Our culture and media reinforce our inner feelings that we are not enough – we’re not smart enough, we’re not thin enough, we’re not healthy enough, we don’t do enough, we don’t have enough...on and on it goes. We aren’t enough is the big lie we hear and tell ourselves. We want to do more, be more and have more (even though our closets and garages are full). I listen to caregivers and to young moms. They reinforce the quip, “Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving.” As caregivers, parents, spouses, friends, and clinicians we often feel that we don’t do enough for our loved ones. Taking care of people is hard work and there will always be more we think we could/should do. Even in the workplace, productivity and efficiency are high values, and we often feel like we haven’t done enough. When we’re doing our best, it is “More Than Enough.” There are many stories of devoted family members and caregivers who share a similar tale – wondering after their loved one dies what more they could have or should have done for them. It is a daunting and difficult part of the grief process for caregivers. One of the hospice teams on which I serve was assigned to a patient who I will call George. He was well into his journey with dementia when he was referred to hospice, and it appeared that he would have six months or less to live. His devoted wife, Mary, and son, David, were providing his care in the home that George and Mary had lived in for many years. David lived next door and was there as much as possible to assist with George’s care. George continued, as so many folks with dementia do, with a very slow decline. Our team knew that because he was getting so much love, attention, and good care in his home – right where he wanted to be – that he might just want to stay longer than six months...and, he did. 4
It was exhausting for Mary and David to provide George’s 24-hour care needs; slowly moving through the process where little by little he lost his functionality. They continued to feed him, bathe him, toilet him, talk to him, and love him. They tried to stimulate him with wheelchair rides outdoors on nice days, visits with family and friends, and a hospice volunteer to give a few hours’ respite here and there. When the care needs just seemed to become too overwhelming for Mary and David, the hospice team invited them to consider placing George in a nursing facility or adult family home. They allowed us to talk about those options, but they decided to soldier on at home with George. They knew that is what they all wanted – to see through his end-of-life process in the home that he loved, and cared for by people he loved. It was not easy, but they did it! George lived longer than expected, and there is not a thing that George’s family could have done differently to make it easier or better for him. While Mary and David both know that to be the truth, there remained the nagging question of “What more could we have done?” The answer, of course, is you have both done far more than enough. It is the task for caregivers in their grief process to reconcile that they did MORE THAN ENOUGH in providing care for their loved one. Sometimes at the end of life, it is the patient who feels that “not good enough or haven’t done enough in this life” feeling. The task for the patient, family, and care team is to coach the patient to believe that he/she is MORE THAN ENOUGH. Made in the image of the divine, God looked upon creation, including humankind, and said,“It is good. It is very good.” Paraphrased, you are certainly good enough, but better – YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH! We all need to hear and integrate that message. It seems NOW is the time to start telling ourselves the truth, and that is we are enough – more than enough!
Donna Vande Kieft is Hospice Chaplain at Providence Hospice of Snohomish County
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Adventures with Installation of Magnetic Loop Assistance for the Hearing Impaired by Jack Richardson In 2010, the Anacortes Senior Activities Center (ASAC) Foundation board authorized funding to install a magnetic loop transmitter system. These systems are designed to improve the quality of reception of electrically transmitted audio for personal hearing aids, worn by the hearing impaired. Before retiring, I was an electrical engineer at Honeywell, who developed sonar systems. So, as a board member, I seem to be frequently picked for these kinds of assignments. However, as you will see from the following narrative, my technical background was of little use in getting loop systems installed in our Senior Center, but my people skills were greatly put to the test. A loop system is similar to a hi-fi amplifier that drives speakers. In a loop system, however, the amplifier drives a coil of wire encircling a room. This wire generates a low frequency magnetic field that couples to a “T” coil in hearing aids. So, when an audio signal – voice or music – is applied to the amplifier input, the loop couples these audio signals directly into hearing aids in use by hearing-impaired located within that room. The advantage of this type of system is that there is no echoing from hard surfaces, and background sounds (noise) are minimized for the hearing-aid user. There are reports that this year U.S. sales will include T-coils in 89 percent of hearing aids. Europe has led the U.S. in loop installations, with their average being 90 percent. It appears though, that here in the U.S., we are beginning to close the gap. Conceptually, the loop systems are simple devices. They have straightforward technical specifications needed to size both the power amplifier and the loop, which cover the physical area for hearing-impaired usage. Physical area can vary from a small system that loops a chair and sofa for television viewing, up to auditoriums that serve hundreds of people. As in hi-fidelity sound systems, there are many opinions about a system’s performance, from the user’s point of view. It was decided early on that the ASAC had to involve the end user of our proposed equipment throughout its specification, procurement, installation, and testing. Fortunately, there is a Hearing Loss Association Chapter that uses the ASAC as their meeting place, so we asked for and received much help from them in configuring and testing our system. As a result, the majority of the ASAC loop system users have been very satisfied with the performance of the system. It was discovered that many gathering places for hearing impaired people in the Pacific Northwest are already “looped.” These include many churches, city meeting rooms, and other meeting places that the hearing impaired use. Many airports in Europe have loops installed in their public areas, so that hearing impaired people can hear any announcements being made. Locally, in 6
Anacortes, there has been a “spin-off” that has resulted in three other facilities being “looped.” For the Anacortes Senior Activity Center, the board decided to loop two rooms: a 650 square foot meeting room, and a 2440 square foot “multipurpose” room. It took several weeks of effort to get to that decision point. It required learning the suppliers of such equipment, and developing rough cost figures. Suppliers are generally located in Europe. However, we found a U.S. supplier whose vendor is located in Spokane, Washington, along with other agents located primarily in the mid-West. It turns out that there are some regulatory standards that had to be met, for any system we would consider. These are International Electrotechnical Commission IEC 60118-4 ed 2.0 Electroacoustics-hearing aids, and the American Disabilities Act. We discovered that by working with a knowledgeable vendor/installer, our effort in studying and understanding these requirements was minimized. Once we got through all the steps of funding approval, performance definition, vendor selection, equipment interfacing requirements (the system can be driven from microphones, computers, a multimedia system, etc.), physical location definition, and testing requirements, the installation went very smoothly. It took approximately one and a half days, with two people working, to complete the installation of both of the ASAC rooms. The hearing-impaired users are very happy with the equipment, and we hear nothing but good things: “The Senior Center loop is a wonder!” “We did a small test drive and it was fabulous.” “First time I have heard all of the voices via microphone.” “The music is crisp, and I can pick out the instruments.” So, in retrospect, this was a very satisfying experience. I hadn’t expected to become involved with so many people to complete what initially looked like something as simple as setting up a high-fidelity music system. Ultimately though, the help I received and the can-do attitude of everyone involved, enhanced the quality of the ASAC facilities and capabilities for serving the senior citizens of Anacortes.
Audio Loop Solutions, Inc. is located at 1912 N. Division, Suite #102 Spokane, WA 99207 For more information you can contact Douglas Christenson at 509-868-0400, or Brenda Drake at 509-328-6731. You can also visit http://www.hearingloop.org/ or http://www.ovalwindowaudio.com/ for more information.
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Bridge Park West Seattle | 206-938-6394
Capital Place Olympia | 360-357-9922
Cascadian Place
Fun, stress-free, and all-inclusive. The way retirement living should be.
Everett | 425-339-2225
Evergreen Place Renton | 425-226-3312
Holiday Retirement communities make retirement living simple and enjoyable by taking care of life’s daily details, allowing residents to focus on what’s most important to them.
Fernwood at the Park Normandy Park | 206-242-1455
The Garden Club From three chef-prepared meals served daily to live-in managers available 24/7, we provide everything seniors need to live healthy, safe and stress-free lives.
Bellevue | 425-643-7111
Parkway Chateau Bellingham | 360.671.6060
And with all of the many benefits included in one monthly fee, retirement living at a Holiday Retirement community is an incredible value. Call today to schedule your complimentary meal and personal tour! Welcome to Holiday. Welcome home.
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Peninsula Gig Harbor | 253-858-4800
Point Defiance Village Tacoma | 253-759-8908
Willow Gardens Puyallup | 253-848-4430
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“Back to the Waltons” Intergenerational Trends in Senior Living by Kellie Moeller Growing up, my sisters and I would tease each other at night and annoy our parents who were eagerly anticipating a quiet evening, by calling out from our bedrooms “goodnight John Boy”, “goodnight Mary Ellen,” “goodnight Grandpa”...followed by peals of laughter. The intergenerational banter caught our attention from “The Waltons,” a TV series about an intergenerational family living together in one house during the Depression era. Now, thirty years later, this intergenerational trend is emerging once again. Families facing economic challenges have joined forces with their senior parents, by melding three generations into one household. What we are noticing is a growing reversal from the isolation of seniors, to an integration of the ages across the nation. The U.S. Census Bureau’s population survey discovered that 5.3 percent of households in the United States are multigenerational and, in 2007, 6.2 million grandparents had at least one grandchild living with them under the age of 18. The integration of generations, although very enriching, can bring its own set of challenges. Sarah, who is caring for her mother at home says, “I really appreciate that my mom has a direct influence in the lives of my three children...but I worry about her because she is alone all day while I am at work and my kids are at school. I would like to have Mom close enough to be involved with our family, but she needs her own friends and a sense of joy and purpose outside of our home.“ Many people that consider downsizing to a smaller home or moving to an active adult retirement community, will base their decision on how close they can be to the grandchildren. Why do they want to be so close? It is estimated that 72 percent of grandparents say their role is “the single most important and satisfying thing” in their life. 90% are more than happy to break out the brag book on any occasion, and talk about what their little ones (and grown-up ones) are doing. In 2010, CRISTA Senior Living was awarded the Intergenerational Shared Site Excellence Award, in recognition of its excellent programming. It integrates King’s Schools’ students with Senior Living residents, who reside on the same campus. With more than 600 seniors and 1,100 students (K-12) sharing the same 55-acre site, Senior Living residents volunteer in the schools and become mentors to the students. At the same time, King’s High School students are able to build relationships and participate in activities with seniors through the “Connections Club,” performing musical events, or even working part-time in the dining room. Debbie Mercado, a graphic artist who works at CRISTA Ministries, enrolled her son at King’s Elementary School, which is across the street from her office. The nearness allows her to easily join in on special events at the school. Additionally, Eulene Dorr, Danny’s grandmother and resident at the newly remodeled Cristwood Park retirement community, picks Danny up after school. Danny spends the afternoon playing, finishing homework, and interacting with Eulene and her Cristwood Park friends, while Debbie finishes up her workday. 8
Stepping off the elevator recently, 8-year-old Danny greeted a resident and chirped, “They all know me!” Eulene keeps busy with events as a professional pianist, her photography, and the many meaningful friendships with other residents. However, her most important role is the one she plays in the life of her grandson. “I don’t know what I would do without him,” she says, as her “living brag book” brings joy both to her life and the other seniors living at Cristwood Park. “It is such a win-win-win situation,” says Debbie.“I’m sure it is no accident that we’re all on the same campus. I love my work at CRISTA, my son gets a great education at King’s, and my mother gets to pour into Danny’s life while also serving in important ways in her own community at Cristwood Park. I love watching Danny’s interaction with the seniors, and he loves all the attention!” Like the Waltons, CRISTA Senior Living has been enjoying intergenerational banter for a long time...over 60 years! If you find yourself living on the beautiful forested campus someday, then you might just hear for yourself “goodnight grandpa.” Intergenerational is not just a trend at CRISTA Senior Living. If you would like more information or a visit, contact us on the web at www.cristaseniors.com or call 206-546-7565.
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
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The Life Legacy Project by Steve Motenko
If we are to prepare for the future, we should listen to the voices of The Greatest Generation. Their stories should be preserved and cherished as reminders of all that we owe them and all that we can learn from them. – Tom Brokaw, The Greatest Generation What will you be remembered for when you’re gone? What will be your life’s legacy? These are questions few of us stop to consider. Thanks to a photographer’s passion to contribute, they’re the questions that have been echoing down the halls of Garden Court Retirement Community in South Everett; and the answers are turning aging “seniors” into honored “elders.” Take Francis “Brick” Leever, for example. He is 88, and if you met him you might just think of him as an old guy living in a retirement community. What you wouldn’t know about him is one of his life’s legacies – as a bomber pilot in World War II, repeatedly risking his life to save the world from Hitler. It’s legacies like these that Seattle photographer Erica Sciarretta wanted to bring to light – literally –“to celebrate the lives of seniors,” as Sciarretta put it. So she enlisted her mom, Karen Motenko, Garden Court’s Executive Director. “It was important to me to do something my Mom could be involved in.” Motenko was happy to oblige, and “The Life Legacy Project” was born. Sciarretta’s vision: first, to create photos that depicted Garden Court residents in whatever endeavors they saw as their life legacy. For example, taking Brick Leever to Boeing’s Museum of Flight to be photographed in front of the airplane he used to fly. Ultimately these photos will be shared in every way possible, beginning with a calendar to give to Garden Court residents at the holidays. At first, it felt like pulling teeth to get residents to volunteer. Sciarretta said, “People didn’t consider their lives worthy. They didn’t think they had an important enough story to tell. When we finally got the residents to sit down one-on-one with us, we got some incredible stories. I discovered that people have many layers to their lives, like Bob Otto – a pilot, prisoner of war, veterinarian, father, and author.” 10
Still, Motenko noted, “When I asked them to be in a photo shoot, you could almost see the wheels turning in their head...‘Nobody cares about me; I’m too old to get my picture taken.’ Once they started the photo shoots though, you could just watch them going back to that time; you could see them come to life. It was so touching. They needed a chance to feel valued again.” Case in point: Betty Lou Clark, who joined eight other former nurses in a shoot at Everett’s Providence Hospital. She stopped by Motenko’s office later – still wearing the nurse’s cap she’d been photographed in.“I’m on top of the world,” she gushed. “You don’t know what you’ve done for my self-esteem. I didn’t think anybody cared.” Motenko said each photo shoot brought her to tears. “Sometimes we’re asked how or why we want to work with seniors,” she reflected. “We do it because it is an honor to be with them at this stage in their lives. We do it because they share their triumphs, their life challenges, their wisdom, their sense of humor, and the wealth of their experience. They show the rest of us how to age gracefully.” As Sciarretta was planning The Life Legacy Project, she also hooked up with a videographer, Casey Sjogren, who immediately volunteered his support. The result: a video overview of the project, posted on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thelifelegacyproject), as well as on the Garden Court website (www.gardencourtretirement.com). “This project has brought me so much joy,” Sciarretta commented. “I want to keep it going; the possibilities are endless.” Next steps (as of this writing) included a gallery showing – something to involve residents’ families and everyone who participated in the project – plus ongoing shoots and videos monthly in 2012. Sciarretta said she wants to figure out a way to do something similar in other retirement communities. If you have ideas for how she might expand The Life Legacy Project, contact Erica Sciarretta through her website – sorellaphotos.com. In creating this project, Erica Sciarretta is creating a legacy of her own. What will be your life legacy?
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
Western Washington’s Finest Retirement & Assisted Living Communities
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La Conner Retirement Inn 204 N. First Street • La Conner WA 98257 360.466.5700 • www.laconnerretirementinn.com
South Pointe 10330 4th Avenue West • Everett WA 98204 425.513.5645 • www.southpointe-al.com
Come by for a free lunch and tour. Featuring independent retirement apartments and cottages with licensed assisted living A complete range of personal support and care services • Cozy, home-like environments Proudly managed by Radiant Senior Living www.seniorguidebook.com
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Fun? You Should Ask! A few tips for choosing the right retirement community by Barbara Koshar When visiting his favorite restaurant, my dad can’t help but tell the waitress a goofy joke or two. At the grocery store, he sometimes stops to coo at a baby just for the joy of watching a little one giggle. My sisters and I smile, and sometimes we even sigh and roll our eyes (although, we’re all closer to 50 than 15). He may still like to make silly faces, but that’s just Dad. At 83, he’s not ready to be a seriously grumpy old man, and that playful spark of his is a quality I cherish. I believe my dad agrees with Oliver Wendell Holmes who stated, “Men do not quit playing because they grow old: they grow old because they quit playing.” So, what promotes happiness and a playful attitude? Research has shown, that seniors who move to retirement communities often benefit from a happier and higher quality of life. It’s simply wonderful to feel secure, be surrounded by pleasant and caring people, and enjoy a variety of fun and engaging activities. Yet, many people are not familiar with today’s independent retirement communities because they are a relatively new concept. Most are for those 62 or older, but realistically folks in their mid-70s and 80s move in when they no longer want to cook and clean, tire of maintaining their homes, or have become isolated and alone. Many retirees will also move to be closer to their children. Most communities offer comfortable apartment homes or cottages, with various amenities. The rent typically includes meals, utilities, weekly housekeeping, scheduled transportation, and social activities. The price of community living may seem high at first glance. Yet, a cost comparison between maintaining a family residence and moving to a retirement community may be surprising. Many seniors maintain and heat large homes when they are only using a few rooms. They may pay professionals to do housekeeping, yard work, and home maintenance. Ultimately, help with transportation and daily tasks may be necessary as well. Living in a community offers simplicity, opportunities to socialize, and peace of mind. There are many choices when deciding where to move. Location, amenities, and costs all need to be carefully considered. I believe, however, you should take fun seriously too. Why grow old, when you can stay young in the right surroundings? When visiting retirement communities, I suggest you observe the people you meet and ask yourself these questions. 1 Is the staff friendly and accessible? Ask how long staff members have worked there, and look for a low turnover rate. You benefit when surrounded by people who are professional, pleasant, and enjoy their work so much that they stay. 2 Will you enjoy socializing here? Take the time to chat with a couple of residents. 3 Are some of your favorite hobbies on the activities list? Is there something new and fun you’d like to try? Ask if you can meet the activities director and arrange a visit during an event, activity, or class that interests you. 4 Ask if there is a guest suite for temporary stays. If so, pack a bag and spend a night or two. It will allow you to experience the personality of the community, and help you decide if it’s the right retirement option for you. When not busy providing great service at local Fairwinds Retirement Communities, Barbara Koshar writes, enjoys photography, and sometimes she playfully annoys her teenage daughter by singing silly songs in the car. bkoshar@leisurecare.com © 2011 Barbara Koshar 12
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
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Think Before You Speak by Jennifer Blair
Every Wednesday I have a standing lunch date..with my Grandmother. During my visits I take the opportunity to unwind while we munch on egg salad sandwiches, or a hearty soup she lovingly created. My Grandmother excitedly relives the past week since we last saw one another. I anxiously listen, knowing that sprinkled in with her grocery list items and who won that week’s card game, there’s sure to be an interesting story she’ll get around to sharing. This week’s tale involved a trip to a currently popular handbag store. A friendly sales associate greeted my grandmother, “May I help you?” My grandmother said she was looking for a purse that could be used on an everyday basis. The sales woman then suggested that she look on a table that displayed many of the bags that, “the Grandmothers and older ladies have been purchasing.” Now, mind you, my grandmother will be 85 years young in a few months. However, she is very vain and does not like to be labeled as an “older lady.” So, in her very tactful manner, she proceeded to reprimand this young sales clerk. “It is extremely inappropriate for you to assume that all older women will want to buy the same items, and it might have just cost you a sale. Do yourself a favor and don’t tell the customer what they want to buy, let them judge for themselves.” My grandmother said that the sales woman disappeared for a good 20 minutes, while she continued to browse the merchandise. The young woman then sheepishly reappeared, obviously attempting to avoid my grandmother. So, my grandmother either felt bad that she was too hard on her, or just decided to give her one more shot to redeem herself. “I believe I’ve found a purse that I will enjoy, would you like to take this sale?” The young sales associate admitted that she had been hiding in the back of the store, because she was deeply embarrassed, and realized what a big mistake she had made. She said that my grandmother “had truly taught her a valuable lesson, not only at her job but in life”. She realized she needed to be more mindful of people’s sensitivity and more importantly, “THINK BEFORE SHE SPEAKS!” As my grandmother retells it, they then began to have a very lovely conversation and became quite friendly. So much so, that my grandmother left with a 20% discount for her next purchase. As we finished up our lunches and tidied the kitchen, I offered to pick some things up at the store for her. She said, “If you don’t mind I’d like to join you.” Of course, I welcomed her company. We headed out the door, with my grandmother proudly showing off her newest purchase.
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SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
w w w.islandhospital.org
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She’s always been there for you. Now it’s your turn. www.seniorguidebook.com 16
Caring for the Memory Impaired
Call us, we can help. 425.673.2875 www.rosewoodcourte.com 17 SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
EDMONDS LANDING Gracious Retirement & Assisted Living Catered Living ~ Boutique Lifestyle
• Olympic Mountains Views • No Buy In - No Lease • Free Health Club Membership Included • Free Transportation to Doctor’s Appointments • Walk to Shops & Downtown Edmonds
425.744.1181 180 Second Avenue South • Edmonds • www.edmondslanding.com
The Medicine in Mushrooms: Bioremediation for People and the Planet by Jodie Buller
The definition of pharmacology is: a book containing a compilation of pharmaceutical products with their formulas and methods of preparation. That being said, we are living in a pharmacopoeial age. Researchers have developed a multitude of synthetic versions of plant medicines, and we’ve learned that the natural world is a wealth of healing life. Human beings can greatly benefit from understanding their properties. We’ve interacted with plants for thousands of years; traditional healers of all cultures went to the plant kingdom to help their patients heal. We’re mostly all familiar with the story of aspirin, and duly impressed with the pharmaceutical strides of the last century. The industrial age has brought its own consequences to the health of human beings. The packaging and the processing of synthetic products can often poison the environment where they are created, and the people who interact with them. It is in this context that mushroom medicine is beginning to surface as a remedy among doctors and researchers, for compromised personal and environmental health. Paul Stamets has been a mycologist for over 30 years, and has written six books. His 2008 TED talk from his latest book, Mycelium Running; How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, went viral on social media outlets. Dr Andrew Weil and raw foodist David WoIfe are also advocating that we pay more attention to the healing properties of mushrooms, and so Westerners are beginning to understand the fungi family. Many mushrooms are medicinal – shiitake and maitake may be the most familiar to those of us who like to make Asian stir fry dishes, while reishi, chaga, and other tree mushrooms are gaining traction in western alternative medicine. The Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes or Coriolus Versicolor) is one of the “newest” ancient remedies to “hit the stands,” so to speak, as a wide spectrum healer. Chinese medical doctors call Turkey Tail yun zhi, and they use it to treat inflammation, respiratory, digestive and urinary tract infections, ailments of the liver, and to boost general immune support. In Japan, PSK – one of the active components in Turkey Tail – has been approved as an anti-cancer drug with 20 years of research behind it. Turkey Tail fights cancer in a few ways: by inhibiting the growth of the cancer cells, and by “stimulating a host mediated response” of NK cells, a type of anti-tumor white blood cell. Turkey Tail has also been found to regenerate bone marrow, and offer pain relief in cancer patients. 18
The ABM (Agaricus Blazei Murrill) mushroom from the mountains outside of Sao Paolo, Brazil is also known as a powerhouse cancer fighter. Both Turkey Tail and ABM showed most significant results in studies of cancer patients who were undergoing traditional chemotherapy and radiation treatments. It significantly increased disease-free survival rates,“with few if any side effects and no immunosuppressive activity.” (Sagakami et al 1993) Turkey Tails (Trametes or Coriolus Versicolor) are common throughout the northern forests of the world, in both the eastern and western hemispheres. They are generally a bit tough and chewy, so most often boiled for a long period and used daily as a tea. Those pictured are versicolor, meaning varied rings of green, orange and purple, reminiscent of the tail of a wild turkey. While the Turkey Tail is a beautiful mushroom, it is the mycelium, the invisible network that supports the fungus and holds the surrounding ecosystem together, that gets people excited about the potential for healing the natural world. Paul Stamets calls mycelia “tenacious soil magicians – a gateway species that opens the door for other biological species.” Mycelia build soil and act as Earth’s “natural internet;” a biologically successful model of pathways that channel nutrients and information between plant species. Used as medicine, they produce strong antibiotics, effective against flu viruses, smallpox, malaria, and HIV. They also have insecticide properties against carpenter ants, fire ants, and termites. Mycelium also has bioremediation uses – decomposition is the fungi’s primary role in the ecosystem. Fungi will degrade or sequester toxins in soil – eventually breaking down contaminants into carbon dioxide and water. Stamets worked with Patel Labratories in Bellingham on a diesel soaked soil experiment – 6 weeks later the inoculated pile sported hundreds of pounds of oyster mushrooms, and light live soil that germinated seeds and supported new life. Using the above as an example, it is safe to assume that as a metaphor for healing in the world and in the body, mushrooms are made of powerful stuff.
For more information, please contact the Skagit Valley Coop at 360-336-9777 or visit their website at www.skagitfoodcoop.com
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
My AHA Moment? ...when I realized I needed an ally in managing my health care experience.
My Personal Health Advocate ...attends medical appointments with me ...translates medical jargon and tells me what I want to know ...knows how to help me ask questions about diagnosis, treatment & care
AND is always on My Side.
Call Us for More Information 206-377-3000 or Toll-Free 1-877-377-9780 or visit www.ahadvocates.com About Allied Health Advocates (AHA) AHA is a private health advocacy company in Seattle WA, dedicated to helping people efficiently manage their health care. AHA Advocates are trained nurses who assist patients and their families who are navigating the health care system. www.seniorguidebook.com
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Timing Your Trip: Travel Throughout the Year by Rick Steves
In travel-industry jargon, the year is divided into three seasons: peak season (roughly mid-June through August), shoulder season (April through mid-June and September through October), and off-season (November through March). Each has its pros and cons. Peak-Season Strategies Except for the crowds and high temperatures, summer is a great time to travel. The sunny weather, long days, and exuberant nightlife turn Europe into a powerful magnet. Here are a few tips to minimize the crowds and help keep your cool: Seek out places with no promotional budgets. Keep in mind that accessibility and promotional budgets determine a place’s fame and popularity just as much as its worthiness as a tourist attraction. For example, Geneva is big and famous – with nothing special to offer the visitor. The beaches of Greece’s Peloponnesian Peninsula enjoy the same weather and water as the highly promoted isles of Santorini and Ios, but are out of the way, under promoted, and wonderfully deserted. Hit the back streets. Many people energetically jockey themselves into the most crowded square of the most crowded city in the most crowded month (St. Mark’s Square, Venice, July) – and then complain about the crowds.You could be in Venice in July and walk six blocks behind St. Mark’s Basilica, step into a café, and be greeted by Venetians who act as though they’ve never seen a tourist. See how the locals live. Residential neighborhoods rarely see a tourist. In Florence, for instance, most tourists stick to the small section of the city covered by the ubiquitous tourist maps. Wander beyond that, and you’ll dance with the locals or play street soccer with the neighborhood gang. Plan your museum sightseeing carefully. Avoid museums on their monthly free days, when they’re most crowded. Being that many Parisian museums are closed on Tuesday, nearby Versailles is open, and predictably crowded. So, it follows that Parisian museums are especially crowded on Monday and Wednesday. For some top museums, you can reserve your visit in advance to avoid the lines entirely. Be aware of the exceptions. Although Europe’s tourist crowds can generally be plotted on a bell-shaped curve, peaking in July and August, there are odd glitches. For instance, Paris is relatively empty in July and August, but packed full in June (conventions) and September (trade shows). In much of Europe (especially Italy and France), cities are partially shut down in July and August, when local urbanites take their beach breaks. You’ll hear that these are terrible times to travel, but it’s really no big deal. Tourists are basically unaffected by Europe’s mass holidays. 20
Shoulder Season For many, “shoulder season” – generally April through mid-June, September, and October – combines the advantages of both peak-season and off-season travel. In shoulder season, you’ll enjoy decent weather, long-enough daylight, fewer crowds, and a local tourist industry that is still eager to please and entertain. Off-Season Europe Every summer, Europe greets a stampede of sightseers. Before jumping into the peak-season pig pile, consider a trip during the off-season – generally November through March. The advantages of off-season travel are many. Off-season airfares are often hundreds of dollars cheaper. With fewer crowds in Europe, you’ll sleep cheaper. Many fine hotels drop their prices, and budget hotels will have plenty of vacancies. Off-season adventurers loiter all alone through Leonardo da Vinci’s home, ponder in Rome’s Forum undisturbed, and kick up sand on virgin Adriatic beaches. Off-season adventurers enjoy step-right-up service at banks and tourist offices and experience a more European Europe. But winter travel has its drawbacks. Because much of Europe is at Canadian latitudes, the days are short. It’s dark by 5:00 p.m. The weather can be miserable – cold, windy, and drizzly – and then turn worse. Off-season hours are limited. Some sights close down entirely, and most operate on shorter schedules, with darkness often determining the closing time. Winter sightseeing is fine in big cities, which bustle year-round. However, it’s more frustrating in small tourist towns, which often shut down entirely. To thrive in the winter, you’ll need to get the most out of your limited daylight hours. Start early and eat a quick lunch. Tourist offices close early and opening times are less predictable, so call ahead to double-check hours and confirm your plans. In the winter, most hotels are empty and charge less. To save some money, arrive late, notice how many open rooms they have (keys on the rack). Let them know you’re a hosteler (student, senior, artist, etc.) with a particular price limit, and bargain from there. Regardless of when you go, if your objective is to “meet the people,” you’ll find Europe filled with them 365 days a year.
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
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When Is It Time? by Jane Meyers-Bowen
Seniors many times ask each other-when is it time? When is it time to move from your home to a retirement community? There are many signs, although they can be very subtle when indicating that the time has come. Before we explore the above, however, let’s understand what home and community mean, are fantasized to mean, or even feared to mean. Home usually transcends a structure; it’s living in a familiar place where many important things happen, warm memories are made, and moments of joy are held close. However, as family members move out, friends move away or pass away, and neighborhoods turn over – it isn’t the loss of the structure people grieve but the loss of a way of life. Community living can be very misunderstood either by not ever experiencing it or experiencing it in a way different than Retirement Community Living. Examples of community living include living in the dorms at college, or in the barracks in the service. Many fear the loss of privacy, loss of control over their schedule, or a sense of a loss of independence. Retirement living is very much committed to keeping seniors as independent as possible. In doing so, seniors tend to stay healthier and live richer lives emotionally. Social scientists perceive homes and communities as human structures more than physical structures. As the old saying goes, Home is where the Heart Is! People yearn for a place where they are safe, where they are accepted (warts and all), where they have privacy and their own space, to just be themselves. Neighborhood communities offer identity, safety, and shelter, to support those during times of trouble. Happily, they serve as places to celebrate with the joy of new babies, returning servicemen and women, graduations, new businesses, and more. However, some neighborhood communities can deteriorate just as homes do. They change from a solid high-functioning place where neighbors exchange goods, services and support. Communities suffer from what is called the broken window phenomenon. Research shows that when a home falls into disrepair there is a correlation with increased crime in the greater neighborhood. However, a senior’s social community can deteriorate as seniors become isolated, detached or invisible, as friends with a common life stage disappear. Many seniors experience this in another way. The weight of home ownership can become a burden and a worry. So many will sell their family home and “invest” in a condo as a solution. Usually within a year, seniors sell their condo because they didn’t find “community.” Unfortunately, they lost financially as well, paying the cost of buying/selling and closing costs; not to mention that in today’s market there is the loss of equity too. We under-estimate the value of our social community. For example: we may not call our neighbors our friends, 22
but they may provide a source of information, safety and belonging, that our most intimate friends who live three states away cannot provide. So when is it time? Signals can be purely physical, with a loss of weight, report of falls, wearing slippers rather than shoes, change in sleeping and eating habits, unkempt appearance, increasing physical health issues, loss of strength, balance, hearing and changes in eyesight are just a few examples. Socially, it may be death of a spouse, fear of being alone, friends passing away or moving away that represent a risk to their well-being. Seniors can show some vulnerability by struggling with managing money, the bills or home repairs, or increasing number of dents in the vehicle! Friends and family may complain about seniors dropping out socially – not attending church, family get-togethers, or activities with friends. Additionally, the communities they have lived in for 60 years have become marginal, which expose seniors to being targets of crime. Just one issue doesn’t represent the whole picture, but standing back and looking at a number of changes can indicate it is time. Most seniors do not go to their families and say, “it’s time!” Usually it is left to the family to initiate the discussion. Recently, a family we were working with finally decided to go talk to Mom and Dad. Once they broached the topic, their parents said, It’s about time you brought this up! Families many times wait too long. It is a very sad thing to witness, as a senior experiences a high level of anxiety, confusion, and frustration. Even though it can be uncomfortable, it is fairer to give seniors a chance to build a new, high quality of life for themselves, while they are still healthy enough and interested in doing so. Jane Meyers-Bowen is the marketing director for Garden Court Retirement Community. For more information contact her at 425-438-9080, or visit www. gardencourtretirement.com
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
A Dignified Diagnosis of Dementia by Joanne Maher, MSW
Principles for a Dignified Diagnosis offers insights from people living with Alzheimer’s disease, on how to improve that experience when interacting with the medical community. “The face of Alzheimer’s has changed in recent years and the Principles for a Dignified Diagnosis adds a voice to that face,” said one Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s support group participant, who is a doctor and was diagnosed at age 48. “It is important that we not only tell clinicians we want a dignified diagnosis, but also teach them what that means.There is a lot we can learn from each other.” The Principles for a Dignified Diagnosis include the following: ■ Talk to me directly, the person with dementia. I am the person with the disease, and though my loved ones will also be affected, I am the person who needs to know first. ■ Tell the truth. Even if you don’t have all the answers, be honest about what you do know and why you believe it to be so.
■ Give me tools for living with this disease. Please don’t give me my diagnosis and then leave me alone to confront it. I need to know what will happen to me, and not only about medical treatment options, but also what support is available through the Alzheimer’s Association and other resources in my community. ■
Work with me on a plan for healthy living. Medication may help modify some of my neurological symptoms, but I am also interested in other recommendations for keeping myself as healthy as possible through diet, exercise, and social engagement.
■
Recognize that I am an individual and the way I experience this disease is unique. This disease affects each person in different ways and at a different pace. Please be sure to couch your explanation of how this disease may change my life, with this in mind.
■
Alzheimer’s is a journey, not a destination. Treatment doesn’t end with the writing of a prescription. Please continue to be an advocate – not just for my medical care, but also for my quality of life as I continue to live with Alzheimer’s.
■ Test early. Helping me get an accurate diagnosis as soon as possible, gives me more time to cope and live to my fullest potential, and to get information about appropriate clinical trials. ■ Take my concerns seriously, regardless of my age. Age may be the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s, but Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging. Don’t discount my concerns because I am old. At the same time, don’t forget that Alzheimer’s can also affect people in their 40s, 50s and 60s. ■ Deliver the news in plain but sensitive language. This may be one of the most important things I ever hear. Please use language that I can understand and is sensitive to how this may make me feel. ■ Coordinate with other care providers. I may be seeing more than one specialist. So, it is important that you talk to my other providers to ensure you all have the same information. This helps to identify changes early on, and avoids having to unnecessarily repeat any tests. ■ Explain the purpose of different tests and what you hope to learn. Testing can be very physically and emotionally challenging. It would help me to know what the purpose of the test is, how long it will take, and what you expect to learn from the process. I would also appreciate the option of breaks during longer tests, and an opportunity to ask questions.
“I always believe that Alzheimer’s patients should be told the truth and remember who in the room is the actual patient. My general approach to both diagnosis and management of Alzheimer’s disease, is to try to maintain patients’ dignity and autonomy as long as possible,” said Elaine Peskind, M.D., Associate Director, University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease, and the physical, emotional, and social implications of the diagnosis need to be considered throughout the journey.”
Joanne Maher, MSW, is the Director of Programs and Services for the Alzheimer’s Association, Western and Central Washington State Chapter. For more information on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, visit www.alzwa.org or call 800.272.3900. www.seniorguidebook.com
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CARING FACES
Fairwinds Brighton Court – Lynnwood Julianne Thal Sales Advisor 425.775.4440
Vineyard Park – Bothell Susan Brennan Community Admissions Coordinator 425.485.8920
The Cottages – Mill Creek Jennifer White Administrator 425.379.8276
Spring Estates – Kenmore From left: Rachel Shepard Business Office Director Gale Browne Executive Director 425.481.4200
Rosewood Courte – Edmonds Sylvana Rinehart Executive Director 425.673.2875
Mirabella – Seattle Brent Martin Marketing Director 206.254.1441
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SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
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25
Is it Time for a Mental Health Tune-up? by Andrew Schorr
One of the most under-recognized health conditions is depression in seniors and the elderly. We spend so much time worrying about heart problems, stroke, and cancer that we overlook mental health. There’s a lot more to think about than memory loss, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. So many of us are understandably conservative with our financial resources, and defer our big plans to see the world until we are retired. Unfortunately, health events may intervene and prevent us from ever taking that big trip. It just becomes too taxing or too far from the doctors we trust, to be gone for long stretches of time. Although, it is not always our physical health that is the limiting factor, but mental health. I recognize that many seniors see this as an uncomfortable area of medicine to discuss. However, the fact is that millions of Americans receive medication and/or counseling for depression, and the treatments work. Certainly, depression can follow treatment for a serious illness or the loss of a loved one. Sadly, many seniors never seek treatment for it, and their doctors may not recognize the signs. Often times, lethargy is chalked up to “old age.” When in fact, the real factor for the slow down could be caused by depression. Depression is a real illness that can steal your dreams of vibrant senior years, and today’s treatments can often give you that vibrant life back. A common symptom of depression is anxiety. When we see someone who is edgy and irritable we may think they are just getting “set in their ways,” but is it something else? Again, treatments are available that really can help. Wouldn’t it be a shame if you’d beaten back cancer, recovered from a stroke, or survived a heart attack, and then couldn’t enjoy life because life just didn’t feel like living? Too many people are in that boat. So, here’s my advice: consider making an appointment with your doctor and asking about a mental health evaluation. It will not only measure just how sharp your memory is, but whether anxiety or depression could be affecting you. Some doctors can give you a simple questionnaire to fill out to see if further examination is necessary. The point is, put this on your health radar and if there are indications something may be amiss, get treatment. You and your relationships with loved ones deserve it. For more on this topic visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.nami.org Here’s wishing you the most enjoyable senior years possible! I always welcome your comments. You can send them to me via email at questions@patientpower.info 26
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
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Andrew Schorr’s Patient Power is a unique resource geared to bring expert perspectives to individuals with serious illnesses and the people who care for them. Designed to empower patients, help them regain health, and take control of their lives, Patient Power is home to hours of audio and video programming with leading medical experts, hosted by medical journalist and leukemia survivor, Andrew Schorr. For more information about Patient Power, please visit us on the web at:
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A memor y change that affects daily life is 1 of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer ’s disease. Recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward doing something about it. For more information, and to learn what you can do now, go to alz.org/10signs or call 80 0.272.390 0.
©2011 Alzheimer’s Association. All Rights Reser ved.
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SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
DIRECTORY SNOHOMISH ARLINGTON Olympic Place Retirement & Assisted Living Community 20909 Olympic Place Arlington WA 98223 360-435-8440 EDMONDS Aegis of Edmonds Assisted Living/ Alzheimer’s Memory Care 21500 - 72nd Ave West Edmonds WA 98026 425-776-3600 Edmonds Landing Assisted Living 180 Second Ave South Edmonds WA 98020 425-744-1181
Garden Court Retirement Community Independent and Assisted Living 520 - 112th Street SW Everett WA 98204 425-438-9080 Emeritus at Seabrook Independent and Assisted Living 11333 3rd Place W Everett WA 98204 425-347-0372
Scriber Gardens Independent & Assisted Living/Wellness Services 6024 200th Street SW Lynnwood WA 98036 425-673-7111
Silverado Senior Living Everett Dementia Care Community 524 - 75th Street SE Everett WA 98203 425-348-8800
Sunrise of Lynnwood Assisted Living/Alzheimer’s Care 18625 - 60th Ave W Lynnwood WA 98037 425-771-7700
South Pointe Independent, Assisted Living 10330 4th Avenue West Everett WA 98204 425-513-5645
MARYSVILLE Grandview Village Retirement & Assisted Living 5800 - 64th Street NE Marysville WA 98270 360-653-2223
Rosewood Courte Assisted Living/Alzheimer’s memory impaired only 728 Edmonds Way Edmonds WA 98020 425-673-2875
Washington Oakes Retirement and Assisted Living 1717 Rockefeller Ave Everett WA 98201 425-339-3300
Sunrise of Edmonds Assisted Living/Alzheimer’s Care 750 Edmonds Way Edmonds WA 98020 425-673-9700
GRANITE FALLS The Village Independent Living 302 North Alder Avenue Granite Falls WA 98252 360-691-1777
EVERETT Bethany at Silver Crest Assisted Living/ Nursing Home Adjacent 2131 Lake Heights Drive Everett WA 98208 425-385-2335
LAKE STEVENS Ashley Pointe Independent and Assisted Living 11117 - 20th Street NE Lake Stevens WA 98258 425-397-7500
Cascadian Place Retirement / Independent Living 3915 Colby Avenue North Everett WA 98201 425-339-2225
LYNNWOOD Aegis of Lynnwood Assisted Living 18700 44th Avenue West Lynnwood WA 98037 425-712-9999
Clare Bridge Silver Lake Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 2015 Lake Heights Drive Everett WA 98208 425-337-6336 Emeritus at Silver Lake Assisted Living 12806 Bothell-Everett Highway Everett WA 98208 425-338-3227
www.seniorguidebook.com
Fairwinds – Brighton Court Retirement/Assisted Living 6520 - 196th Street SW Lynnwood WA 98036 425-775-4440
Clare Bridge Lynnwood Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 18706 - 36th Ave W Lynnwood WA 98037 425-774-3300 Chateau Pacific Assisted Living / Memory Care 3333 - 148th Street SW Lynnwood WA 98037 425-787-9693
Merrill Gardens at Marysville Independent & Assisted Living 9802 - 48th Dr NE Marysville WA 98270 360-312-1968 MILL CREEK Mill Creek Gardens Assisted Living/ Alzheimer’s memory impaired only 13200 - 10th Dr SE Mill Creek WA 98012 425-379-8276 Merrill Gardens at Mill Creek Independent and Assisted Living 14905 Bothell Everett Hwy Mill Creek WA 98012 425-341-4057 MONROE Merrill Gardens at Monroe Independent and Assisted Living/ Alzheimer’s Memory Impaired 15465 - 179th Ave SE Monroe WA 98272 360-243-0036 MOUNTLAKE TERRACE Mountlake Terrace Plaza A Merrill Gardens Community Independent and Assisted Living 23303 - 58th Ave W Mountlake Terrace WA 98043 425-954-3850
MUKILTEO Harbour Pointe Independent and Assisted Living 10200 Harbour Place Mukilteo WA 98275 425-493-8555 SNOHOMISH Sunrise of Snohomish Assisted Living/Alzheimer’s Care 1124 Pine Ave Snohomish WA 98290 360-568-1900 STANWOOD Josephine Sunset Home Assisted Living/Nursing Home Adjacent 9901 - 272nd Place NW Stanwood WA 98292 360-629-2126 Merrill Gardens at Stanwood Independent & Assisted Living/ Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care 7212 - 265th Street NW Stanwood WA 98292 425-312-1972 Stanwood Community & Senior Center Independent Living 7430 - 276th Street NW Stanwood WA 98292 360-629-7403 Warm Beach Senior Community Independent & Assisted Living/ Skilled Nursing 20420 Marine Drive Stanwood WA 98292 360-652-7585 SKILLED NURSING CARE Aldercrest - Edmonds 425-775-1961 Bethany at Pacific - Everett 425-259-5508 Bethany at Silver Lake - Everett 425-338-3000 Delta Rehab Center - Snohomish 360-568-2168 Edmonds Rehab and Healthcare –Edmonds 425-778-0107 Everett Rehab and Care Center Everett 425-513-1600 Everett Trans. Care - Everett 425-258-7552
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Forest View Trans. Health Center –Everett 425-258-4474 Josephine Sunset Home Stanwood 360-629-2126 Lynnwood Manor Health Center Lynnwood 425-776-5512 Madeleine Villa Health Care Marysville 360-659-1259 HCR Manor Care - Lynnwood 425-775-9222 Marysville Care Center Marysville 360-659-3926 Merry Haven Health Care Center Snohomish 360-568-3161 Parkway Nursing Center Snohomish 360-568-8566 Regency Care Center at Arlington - Arlington 360-403-8247 Regency Care Center of Monroe Monroe 360-794-4011 Sunrise View Convalescent Center - Everett 425-353-4040
SKAGIT ANACORTES Fidalgo Care Center & Rosario Assisted Living Assisted Living/Skilled Nursing/ Secured Dementia Care/Rehab 1105 27th Street Anacortes WA 98221 360-293-3174 Cap Sante Court Retirement 1111 32nd Street Anacortes,WA 98221 360-293-8088 Chandler’s Square Retirement / Assisted Living 1300 “O” Ave. Anacortes WA 98221 360-293-1300 BURLINGTON Creekside Retirement Community Retirement / Assisted Living 400 Gilkey Road Burlington WA 98233 360-755-5550 LA CONNER La Conner Retirement Inn Independent, Assisted Living 204 North First Street La Conner WA 98257 360-466-5700
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MOUNT VERNON The Bridge Assisted Living/Hospice 301 S LaVenture Mount Vernon WA 98274 360-416-0400 Highland Greens Senior Apartments Affordable Senior Apartments 3100 N 30th St Mount Vernon WA 98273 360-848-8422 Highland Greens Cottages Senior Residences Village Court @ 3200 N 30th St Mount Vernon WA 98273 360-540-1438 Salem Village II Senior Residences 2601-2617 N LaVenture Rd Mount Vernon WA 98273 360-540-1438 Salem Village Apartments Affordable Senior Apartments 2619 N. LaVenture Rd Mount Vernon WA 98273 360-428-5662 Life Care Center of Mount Vernon Assisted Living/ Skilled Nursing/ Rehab/Alzheimer’s 2120 E Division Mount Vernon WA 98274 360-424-4258 Logan Creek Retirement/Independent Living 2311 E Division Mount Vernon WA 98274 360-428-0222 Mountain Glen Retirement/Assisted Living 1810 East Division Mount Vernon WA 98274 360-424-7900 SEDRO-WOOLLEY Birchview - A Memory Care Community Assisted Living/ Enhanced Adult Residential Care 925 Dunlop Ave Sedro-Woolley WA 98284 360-856-1911 Country Meadow Village Retirement & Assisted Living 1501 Collins Rd Sedro-Woolley WA 98284 360-856-0404
Life Care Center of Skagit Valley Skilled Nursing 1462 West SR 20 Sedro-Woolley WA 98284 360-856-6867
WHATCOM BELLINGHAM Alderwood Park Licensed Skilled Nursing 2726 Alderwood Bellingham WA 98225 360-733-2322 Bellingham Health Care & Rehab Licensed Skilled Nursing/ Specialized Care 1200 Birchwood Bellingham WA 98225 360-734-9295 Cordata Health Care & Rehab Center Licensed Skilled Nursing 4680 Cordata Parkway Bellingham WA 98226 360-398-1966 Emeritus at Fairhaven Assisted Living 2600 Old Fairhaven Parkway Bellingham WA 98225 360-647-1254 Highgate House Assisted Living/Specialized Care 151 & 155 East Kellogg Bellingham WA 98226 360-671-1459 Highland Care Center Licensed Skilled Nursing 2400 Samish Way Bellingham WA 98226 360-734-4800
Rosewood Villa Retirement/Assisted Living 702 32nd Street Bellingham WA 98225 360-676-9193 Shuksan Health Care Center Licensed Skilled Nursing 1530 James Street Bellingham WA 98225 360-733-9161 Silverado Senior Living Bellingham Dementia Care Community 848 W Orchard Dr Bellingham WA 98225 360-715-1338 Spring Creek Retirement & Assisted Living 223 E Bakerview Road Bellingham WA 98226 360-756-2301 St. Francis Extended Health Care Licensed Skilled Nursing 3121 Squalicum Pkwy Bellingham WA 98225 360-734-6760 Summit Place at Mt. Baker Assisted Living 2901 Connelly Ave Bellingham WA 98225 360-738-8447
ISLAND
The Leopold Retirement & Assisted Living 1224 Cornwall Ave Bellingham WA 98225 360-733-3500 Merrill Gardens at Cordata Retirement/Assisted Living/ Alzheimer’s 4415 Columbine Dr Bellingham WA 98226 360-312-3542 Mt. Baker Care Center Licensed Skilled Nursing 2905 Connelly Ave Bellingham WA 98225 360-734-4181
Parkway Chateau Retirement / Independent Living 2818 Old Fairhaven Parkway Bellingham WA 98225 360-671-6060
FREELAND Maple Ridge Assisted Living Community 1767 Alliance Avenue Freeland WA 98249 360-331-1303 OAK HARBOR Harbor Tower Village Retirement & Assisted Living 100 E Whidbey Ave Oak Harbor WA 98277 360-675-2569 Home Place Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 171 SW 6th Ave Oak Harbor WA 98277 360-279-2555
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
Regency on Whidbey Assisted Living, Independent Cottages, Harbor Care 1040 & 1045 SW Kimball Dr Oak Harbor WA 98277 360-279-0933 & 360-279-2224
BOTHELL Aegis of Bothell Assisted Living / Memory Care 10605 NE 185th Street Bothell WA 98011 425-487-3245
Summer Hill Retirement and Assisted Living 165 SW 6th Ave. Oak Harbor WA 98277 360-679-1400
Chateau at Bothell Landing Independent & Assisted Living 17543 102nd Ave. NE Bothell WA 98011 425-485-1155
KING AUBURN Auburn Meadows Assisted Living/Memory Care 945 22nd Street NE Auburn WA 98002 253-333-0171 BELLEVUE Aegis of Bellevue Assisted Living / Memory Care 148 102nd Ave SE Bellevue WA 98004 425-453-8100 The Bellettini Luxury Apartment Homes in the Heart of Bellevue / 62+ 1115 108th Avenue NE Bellevue WA 98004 425-450-0800 Brighton Gardens of Bellevue Assisted Living & Alzheimer’s Care 15241 NE 20th Street Bellevue WA 98007 425-401-0300 The Garden Club Retirement / Independent Living 13350 SE 26th Street Bellevue WA 98005 425-643-7111 The Gardens at Town Square Independent, Assisted Living, Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 933 111th Avenue NE Bellevue WA 98004 425-688-1900 Sunrise of Bellevue Assisted Living & Alzheimer’s Care 15928 NE 8th Street Bellevue WA 98008 425-401-5152 Wynwood Bellevue Assisted Living Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 1640 148th Ave SE Bellevue WA 98007 425-373-1161
www.seniorguidebook.com
Life Care Center of Bothell Assisted Living/Skilled Nursing 707 228th Street SW Bothell WA 98021 425-481-8500 North Creek Retirement & Assisted Living 907 201st Place SE Bothell WA 98012 425-483-8927 Riverside East Retirement & Assisted Living 10315 East Riverside Drive Bothell WA 98011 425-481-1976 Vineyard Park at Bothell Landing Independent & Assisted Living Community 10519 East Riverside Drive Bothell WA 98011 425-485-8900 BURIEN El Dorado West Retirement & Assisted Living 1010 SW 134th Street Burien WA 98146 206-248-1975 COVINGTON Covington Place Retirement Apartments 26906 169th Place SE Covington WA 98042 888-548-6609 FEDERAL WAY Foundation House Independent Living Personalized Assisted Living 32290 1st Avenue S Federal Way WA 98003 253-838-8823 ISSAQUAH Aegis of Issaquah Assisted Living / Memory Care / Hospice 780 NW Juniper Street Issaquah WA 98027 425-526-6037
University House - Issaquah Independent &Assisted Living 22975 SE Black Nugget Road Issaquah WA 98029 425-557-4200
Merrill Gardens at Island House Independent & Assisted Living 7810 SE 30th St Mercer Island WA 98040 206-204-5421
KENMORE Spring Estates - Kenmore Assisted Living / Memory Care 7221 NE 182nd Street Kenmore WA 98028 425-481-4200
Sunrise of Mercer Island Assisted Living & Alzheimer’s Care 2959 76th Avenue SE Mercer Island WA 98040 206-232-6565
KENT Aegis of Kent Alzheimer’s / Memory Care 10421 SE 248th Street Kent WA 98030 253-479-1768 Farrington Court Retirement / Assisted Living 516 Kenosia Avenue Kent WA 98030 253-852-2737 KIRKLAND Aegis of Kirkland Assisted Living / Memory Care 13000 Totem Lake Boulevard Kirkland WA 98034 425-823-7272 Aegis at Totem Lake Retirement / Assisted Living / Memory Care 12629 116th Avenue NE Kirkland WA 98034 425-814-2841 Kirkland Lodge Assisted Living 6505 Lakeview Drive NE Kirkland WA 98033 425-803-6911 Madison House / Totem Lake Retirement / Assisted Living 12215 NE 128th Street Kirkland WA 98034 425-821-8210 Merrill Gardens at Kirkland Independent & Assisted Living 201 Kirkland Avenue Kirkland WA 98033 425-285-7743 MERCER ISLAND Aljoya Mercer Island Continuing Care Retirement Community 2430 76th Avenue SE Mercer Island WA 98040 206-230-0150
NORMANDY PARK Fernwood at the Park Retirement / Independent Living 17623 First Avenue S Normandy Park WA 98148 206-242-1455 REDMOND Aegis of Redmond Assisted Living / Memory Care 7480 West Lake Sammamish Parkway NE Redmond WA 98052 425-883-4000 Fairwinds – Redmond Retirement / Assisted Living 9988 Avondale Rd NE Redmond WA 98052 425-558-4700 Peters Creek Retirement & Assisted Living 14431 Redmond Way Redmond WA 98052 425-869-2273 The Marymoor Retirement & Assisted Living 4585 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway NE Redmond WA 98052 425-556-9398 RENTON Evergreen Place Retirement / Independent Living 1414 Monroe Avenue NE Renton WA 98056 425-226-3312 The Lodge Retirement / Assisted Living 1600 South Eagle Ridge Drive Renton WA 98055 425-793-8080 Merrill Gardens at Renton Centre Independent and Assisted Living 104 Burnett Ave S Renton WA 98057 425-243-2941
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SEATTLE Aegis at Northgate Memory Care 11039 17th Avenue NE Seattle WA 98125 206-440-1700 Aljoya Thornton Place North Seattle Continuing Care Retirement Community 450 NE 100th Street Seattle WA 98125 206-306-7920 Ballard Landmark Retirement/Assisted Living 5433 Leary Ave NW Seattle WA 98107 206-782-4000 Bridge Park Retirement/Independent Living 3204 SW Morgan Street Seattle WA 98126 206-938-6394 CRISTA Senior Living Independent / Assisted Living / Skilled Nursing / Rehabilitation / Memory Care 19303 Fremont Avenue North Shoreline WA 98133 1-877-639-3292 Faerland Terrace Assisted Living / Alzheimer’s Care 1421 Minor Avenue Seattle WA 98101 206-624-7637 Ida Culver House, Broadview Independent, Assistsed Living, Skilled Nursing, Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care 12505 Greenwood Avenue N Seattle WA 98133 206-361-1989 Ida Culver House, Ravenna Independent & Assisted Living 2315 NE 65th Street Seattle WA 98115 206-523-7315 The Lakeshore Independent & Assisted Living 11448 Rainier Avenue S Seattle WA 98178 206-772-1200 Merrill Gardens at Northgate Independent and Assisted Living 11501 15th Avenue NE Seattle WA 98125 206-388-2989
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Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne Independent and Assisted Living 805 4th Ave N Seattle WA 98109 206-438-9270 Merrill Gardens at West Seattle Independent / Assisted Living 4611 35th Ave SW Seattle (West) WA 98126 206-701-6093 Merrill Gardens West Seattle Admiral Heights Independent and Assisted Living 2326 California Ave. S.W. Seattle (West) WA 98116 206-204-5400 Merrill Gardens University Village Independent & Assisted Living 5115 25th Ave NE Seattle WA 98105 206-452-3170 Mirabella Independent, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing & Memory Care 116 Fairview Ave N Seattle WA 98109 206-254-1447 Northgate Plaza A Merrill Gardens Community Independent & Assisted Living 11030 5th Ave NE Seattle WA 98125 206-388-5061 Remington Place Retirement 3025 NE 137th Street Seattle WA 98125 206-367-0369 the Stratford at Maple Leaf Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care 9001 Lake City Way NE Seattle WA 98115 206-729-1200
WOODINVILLE Fairwinds – Brittany Park Retirement / Assisted Living 17143 - 133rd Ave NE Woodinville WA 98072 425-402-7100 The Creekside A Merrill Gardens Community Independent Retirement Community 18200 Woodinville-Snohomish Road NE Woodinville WA 98072 425-286-8974
KITSAP BREMERTON Bay Pointe Assisted Living 966 Oyster Bay Court Bremerton WA 98312 360-373-9904
Merrill Gardens at Puyallup Independent and Assisted Living 123 4th Avenue NW Puyallup WA 98371 253-200-9783 Willow Gardens Retirement / Independent Living 4502 6th Street SE Puyallup WA 98374 253-848-4430 TACOMA Merrill Gardens at Tacoma Independent & Assisted Living 7290 Rosemount Circle Tacoma WA 98465 253-617-0100 Point Defiance Village Retirement / Independent Living 6414 N Park Way Tacoma WA 98407 253-759-8908
Marine Courte Memory Care 966 Oyster Bay Court Bremerton WA 98312 360-373-9904
CLALLAM
SILVERDALE Crista Shores Independent, Assisted Living 1600 NW Crista Shores Lane Silverdale WA 98383 1-800-722-4135
PIERCE GIG HARBOR Merrill Gardens at Gig Harbor Independent and Assisted Living 3213 45th Street Court N.W. Gig Harbor WA 98335 253-590-4972 Peninsula Retirement / Independent Living 3445 50th Street Court NW Gig Harbor WA 98335 253-858-4800
University House, Wallingford Independent & Assisted Living 4400 Stone Way N Seattle WA 98103 206-545-8400
Sound Vista Village Retirement & Assisted Living 6633 McDonald Avenue Gig Harbor WA 98335 253-851-9929
SHORELINE Aegis of Shoreline and Callahan House Independent, Assisted Living and Memory Care 14900 & 15100 First Avenue NE Shoreline WA 98155 206-367-6700 and 206-417-9747
PUYALLUP Clare Bridge Puyallup Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care 8811 176th Street E Puyallup WA 98375 253-445-1300
PORT ANGELES Park View Villas Retirement & Assisted Living 1430 Park View Lane Port Angeles WA 98363 360-452-7222 SEQUIM Dungeness Courte Alzheimer’s Care Community 651 Garry Oak Drive Sequim WA 98382 360-582-9309
OTHER Capital Place Retirement / Independent Living 700 Black Lake Boulevard Olympia WA 98502 360-357-9922
SENIOR guidebook – bridging generations
ZOE KIERSKY • Our Friend & Companion • 1997 - 2011
THE RAINBOW BRIDGE Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent; her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together... – Author unknown
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