Franklin Park Newsletter Spring2016

Life

SPRING 2016

AT FRANKLIN PARK

The 6 Dimensions of Wellness In Action at Franklin Park

Highlighting Our New Memory Care Area New Employee Spotlight

The Community at Franklin Park, a Healthcare Tradition in Downtown Denver The Community at Franklin Park, located in the heart of downtown Denver, now offers residents a beautiful new memory care center with 11 private and five semi-private suites. The new memory care, along with additional improvements to other areas in building coming this summer, are just a few of the features and programs now available.

Franklin Park has been a staple in the Upper Colfax neighborhood of downtown Denver for more than 40 years. Residents of Upper Colfax and the surrounding area are able to take advan-

SPRING :: 2016

tage of the housing choices available on campus that include a nine story affordable housing apartment building, a health care center, complete rehabilitation therapy program and the new secured memory care center. In addition to the health care services, the views of downtown from our community are an added bonus for the residents.

As a not-for profit health care provider, the neighborhood has come to depend on The Community at Franklin Park and our mission, “to create a healthy Christian community that empowers older adults. We provide

choices for housing, service and technology that enrich body mind and spirit.” Today, with the significant improvements to our Community and more on the horizon, and the growing need for quality senior health care, our commitment to our mission has never been stronger.

If you would like to learn more about the health care and senior living choices available to you, I encourage you to visit our community, see the changes and meet the staff and residents. It’s is a new day and a new Community at Franklin Park. To set up you tour call 303-832-9323.

Franklin Park Employee Spotlight:

Dr. Romano N. Abuaba, MD When he was a young boy in rural Kenya, Romano Abuaba was not impressed by his first experiences with traditional local medicine. But when he eventually had cause to be hospitalized, he was instantly inspired by the kind of medical care he received.

With the odds stacked against him, Abuaba made his way into primary school, and then into medical school, excelling every step of the way. He realized his dream of becoming a doctor at the University of Nairobi in 2000.

Six years later, Dr. Abuaba’s wife secured a nursing job in Denver

and they moved to the United States. He was introduced to the IPC/Senior Care practice and managed a research project on transitions of care before going to New York in 2008 to complete his internal medicine residency.

In 2011, Abuaba became board certified in internal medicine and returned to practice geriatrics here in the Front Range.

“I believe that patients take care of themselves. The patients and their caretakers are the people who make the difference. When I can get them to understand and take ownership, then the

healing can take place,” Abuaba says.

Today, Abuaba enjoys spending his precious spare time with his wife and three young children (a daughter born in Kenya and American-born twins). He also loves doing fix-it jobs around the house. He follows soccer and basketball, and has quickly become an American football fan.

Franklin Park Employee Spotlight:

Michelle Weaver, MSN, ANP-C “I approach treating my patients holistically. Their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs all have to be considered. To me, that also means including the patient’s family members who are often a vital component of their day-to-day lives.”

Michelle Weaver is delighted when her efforts result in happier, healthier patients. She appreciates the opportunity to make a positive impact on her patients’ quality of life and overall wellbeing. True listening,

Weaver says, is an important part of building trust.

“Sometimes, no matter how busy you are,” she says, “you just have to stop, take a breath, and completely listen until they’re done telling you everything.” That’s good patient care.

Michelle comes from a cardiology background: She worked in a step-down intensive care unit and also managed outpatient visits for the head of cardiology at University Hospital here in

Take a Photo Tour Inside the Community at Franklin Park!

View an online photo booklet at www.CommunityAtFranklinPark.net

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Denver. She earned her BSN at Goshen College in Goshen, IN, and her MSN from The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. She has practiced nursing since 1999 and has been an ANP since 2009.

Michelle calls herself a “Big Time Soccer Mom” as she and her young son share a passion for soccer. Her ideal activity is an evening run—time to be alone, reflect on the day, and wind down. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, who are especially important to her since her family lives in Pennsylvania.

CommunityAtFranklinPark.net

Franklin Park & ABHM expand memory care in response to

A GROWING DEMAND As people live longer, healthier lives, their needs for healthcare and wellness services change.

Studies have shown that the older a person gets, the greater their risk for developing memory issues such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. The reality is that one in eight people age 65+ has Alzheimer’s disease and almost half of seniors 85 and older have been diagnosed with some degree of memory impairment. As the population of seniors increases dramatically every year, so does the demand for memory care services. Senior living communities all over the country are creating new memory care facilities to keep up with demand.

markers offer one of the most promising paths. A biomarker is something that can be measured to accurately and reliably indicate the presence of disease.

Several potential biomarkers are being studied for their ability to indicate early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Much additional research needs to be done to validate the use of biomarkers as they are proposed in the new Alzheimer’s criteria and guidelines. These studies are likely to take years or more to fully complete. As more is learned about Alzheimer’s disease, that new knowledge will be incorporated into the diagnostic criteria and guidelines as they continue to evolve.

Researchers hope to discover an easy and accurate way to detect Alzheimer's before symptoms begin. Experts believe that bio-

At American Baptist Homes of the Midwest (ABHM), parent company to The Community at Franklin Park, we’ve developed

a new memory care center and now offer 11 private and 5 semi private resident rooms. In fact, four ABHM communities have opened new memory care centers within the last 18 months.

Here in Wheat Ridge, CO, our sister community, Mountain Vista, recently unveiled a brand new building dedicated exclusively for assisted living memory care with 22 private memory care suites and an expanded program of support services.

Trail Ridge in Sioux Falls, South Dakota also expanded its existing assisted living services to include 22 private apartments in a new dedicated memory care wing. Wisconsin’s Tudor Oaks and Minnesota’s Thorne Crest have both undergone similar expansions, offering new memory care centers and services to meet the demand.

Franklin Park and ABHM memory care programs are based on our commitment to caring for the whole person and address each of the six dimensions of wellness. Families can be assured their loved one is safe and living to their greatest potential as a resident of The Community at Franklin Park’s memory care center.

“It was hard to admit my mom needed memory care,” one family member shared.

“It was more difficult for me to move my mom than it was for her to actually make the move. We are so relieved because she is so happy and having fun again.”

SPRING(short :: 2016 markers for "biological

an entire floor of the community

The Six Dimensions of Wellness in Action Whole person wellness is one of the core principles of The Community at Franklin Park and ABHM’s mission, “to create healthy Christian communities that empower older adults. We provide choices for housing, services, and technology that enrich body, mind, and spirit.”

One way our mission is carried out is through the Six Dimensional Model of Wellness developed by the National Institute of Wellness. The categories of social, vocational, spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional wellness help guide many of the decisions we make regarding the services, opportunities, and atmosphere that enable our residents to reach their optimal state of wellness.

At The Community at Franklin Park, we actively renew our commitment to wellness with programs and activities designed to promote the six dimensions throughout daily life.

Social

Franklin Park encourages residents to stay socially connected both in and out of the community. A Family-friendly campus makes it easy to maintain family bonds, while community events such as holiday parties and day trips foster strong social ties amongst residents in the community.

Vocational

Personal fulfillment can be found

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by continuing to engage in learning and volunteering throughout one’s lifetime.

Franklin Park residents have plenty of opportunities to showcase talents and learn new skills.

Jane Runge, The Community at Franklin Park’s Administrator states, “residents attend education seminars and presentations hosted at here at the Community. Topics range from financial and historical to gardening, canning and crafting demonstrations, where residents are often involved in the presentation.”

in every community.

T.J. Shirely, Franklin Park Wellness Director states, “we offer residents wellness activities at all levels of care. Residents, particularly those in the health center, often see significant changes in their physical abilities which improves their overall wellbeing.”

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Spiritual

In 2011, ABHM set out to cultivate a more robust Spiritual Services program for residents.

All ABHM communities adopted the Association of Professional Chaplains’ Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains in Long-Term Care, which gave us a template for establishing consistent programs in each community. Today, ABHM has chaplains at every community, and we continue to expand and improve our spiritual programs.

Physical

ABHM V.P. of Quality and Program Development Tim O’Brien states, “Being physically active gives us independence, confidence, and allows us to do the things we enjoy.” To help residents feel their best, ABHM encourages residents to remain as active and physically fit as possible and offers wellness activities

CommunityAtFranklinPark.net

Franklin Park Residents Provide Group Readings to Local School Children Two Franklin Park Health Center residents—George Moore and David Kirkpatrick—and one of the Independent Living residents have volunteered with The Rotary Club to participate in The Peaceful Schools Program by reading to Whittier Elementary School students about prevalent issues in today's young community.

The seniors have read to multiple classes about bullying, gossip, self image concerns, and

poor attitudes.

During each group reading, the seniors have asked insightful questions of their young audience, and have been impressed by the maturity and critical thinking skills that the second and third grade students have utilized during discussion.

George Moore

As an organization, we are delighted to be part of such an important and worthy program here in our community. We look

NOW OPEN:

David Kirkpatrick

forward to continued participation with these programs, and furthermore, we look forward to Peaceful Schools.

The Community at Franklin Park

SKILLED NURSING MEMORY CARE ■ 11 private and 5 semi-private rooms

The

■ Specialized memory programs

at

■ Private dining room ■ Accept Medicaid & Medicare

• Health Center • Rehabilitation Stays 1535 Park Avenue, Denver, CO 80218

303-832-9323 www.CommunityAtFranklinPark.net Mtn. Vista is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.

SPRING :: 2016

The Health Center Congratulates Mr. George Moore as this Quarter’s Wellness Champ!

The Health Center at Franklin Park’s new Wellness Program provides residents with a physical exercise program to build, measure, and maintain the strength to enjoy everyday activities. Mr. George Moore has participated in the Wellness Program from the beginning and has found that he greatly enjoys getting fit and socializing with his fellow residents.

When interviewing Mr. Moore, he expressed that his initial thought was to lose some weight and get in better shape. “I participate in the wellness classes six times a week,” he said. “I like how it breaks up my day and I can get exercise. I have friends there and it’s a social outlet for me.”

Mr. Moore’s initial assessment was conducted in May of 2014 and he received a strong evaluation. When he was recently re-assessed by our Wellness Director in a follow-up evaluation, it was determined that Mr. Moore has not only maintained his functional mobility status, but has also shown great improvement in certain target areas. For example, Mr. Moore’s chair stand exercise performance increased by 700% and his strength and endurance in the marching in place exercise has increased to 184% since May 2014.

The team at The Health Center here at Franklin Park are excited about seeing our residents gain strength, endurance, and mobility by participating in the new Wellness Program. This program not only maintains or increases physical endurance, but also helps with the overall mind, body, and spiritual wellness of our residents.

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Mental

Continuing to engage and challenge our mind with creative and intellectual pursuits as we age is vital to our wellbeing, helping to cultivate self-fulfillment and satisfaction. Franklin Park residents enjoy visit local points of interest, volunteering for various community programs, resident book clubs, gathering for musical and other community activities.

Emotional

For some people, aging can come with a variety of intense emotional and lifestyle changes that may cause stress. It’s important to have a compassionate support system in order to maintain emotional health and stability during challenging periods. Franklin Park staff, social workers, chaplain, and fellow residents all come together to create a supportive community that offers the freedom, comfort, and security that sustain us through life’s emotional moments.

In promoting the six dimensions of wellness at Franklin Park, we hope that our residents recognize the interconnectedness of wellness within the community. By living out the full potential of each dimension in their own lives, residents contribute to an environment and social network that supports wellness for the entire community.

CommunityAtFranklinPark.net

The Community At Franklin Park 1535 Park Avenue Denver, CO 80218 www.CommunityAtFranklinPark.net

The Community at Franklin Park is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.

Life

The Community at Franklin Park is a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living community. Our mission is to create healthy Christian communities that empower older adults. We provide choices for housing, services, and technology that enrich body, mind and spirit.

AT FRANKLIN PARK SPRING 2016

Now You Can Support The Community at Franklin Park Online Just visit The Community at Franklin Park’s website at www.CommunityAtFranklinPark.net and click on the “Foundation/Donations” button. Here you will find information about the many ways you can contribute and become part of our tradition of quality care and service.

Please visit us online and learn how you can donate today.

The Community at Franklin Park is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not for profit provider of senior health care since 1930.