Maple Crest Newsletter Spring2016

Life

SPRING 2016

AT MAPLE CREST

The 6 Dimensions of Wellness In Action at Maple Crest

Look Inside Maple Crest’s New Rehab Center Highlighting Alzheimer’s & Memory Care

Greetings from the Maple Crest Health Center Administrator For the past 65 years Maple Crest Health Center has been dedicated to serving the seniors of the Benson neighborhood and greater Omaha. Maple Crest has seen many changes over the years, but never as many as we have experienced recently. We are excited about the new growth, challenges, and opportunities to serve our community created by the renovations.

As a part of the New Maple Crest, we are excited to introduce our completely redesigned Transitional Care/Rehab Center, named Thompson Towers. Each of the newly renovated private resident rooms offers a beautiful living space with full bathroom with shower. The new rooms provide residents with all the privacy and comforts of home during their rehabilitation stay. And just like home, residents, family and friends are encouraged to

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visit and spend time together using the new fully-equipped kitchen.

The renovated rehab center also includes a new therapy gym, featuring a team of professional physical, occupational, and speech therapists. In addition to the new rooms and therapy programs, the Thompson Towers Rehab offers a neighborhood lounge that is great for socializing, reading a book, or getting some much needed rest and relaxation.

Also included in the Maple Crest redevelopment is an expanded memory care area, redesigned common spaces and renovated resident rooms. Yes, in the last few years Maple Crest has undergone many changes, and we hope you take advantage of everything we have to offer.

We want to thank the residents, resident families and staff for their patience as we continue the renovation process and in the end we know you will be pleased. At Maple Crest we are committed to working together to provide exceptional care at the highest level.

Eugenie Ahounou, Maple Crest Community Administrator

New Peer Mentor Program Introduced at Maple Crest At Maple Crest, we understand our greatest asset is our caring and devoted staff. Maple Crest is dedicated to providing high quality care to every resident we serve. To ensure our reputation of exceptional care continues, Maple Crest has introduced a new Peer Mentor Program.

The mentor program gives experienced nurses and certified nursing assistants the opportunity to help guide new Maple Crest employees. In addition to helping new nursing team members become familiar with Maple Crest and perfect their craft, the mentors continue to provide leadership and support to team members beyond the standard training period.

Throughout the first year of employment at Maple Crest, mentees and mentors will meet periodically under the guidance of the Staff Development Coordinator. During this period staff members will be reviewed and given constructive feedback to promote exceptional customer service, safety, professional and technical growth. Evaluations will

Alison Stockamp, RN leading employee orientation

also focus on developing professional goals not only for the mentee, but for their mentor as well.

This program was developed to help transition new employees from a training environment into an independent self-directed work environment by teaching key problem solving and manage-

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ment skills while embracing the organization’s core values.

Our Staff Development Coordinator is excited about this new initiative, stating, “The Mentoring Program will allow our Maple Crest nurses and CNAs to pass their knowledge to new employees in order to continue providing excellent care to our residents not only today, but in the future as well.�

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Maple Crest & 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.

Researchers hope to discover an easy and accurate way to detect Alzheimer's before symptoms begin. Experts believe that biomarkers (short for "biological 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. A great deal of additional research needs to be done to validate the use of biomarkers as they are proposed in the new Alzheimer’s criteria and guidelines and 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.

At American Baptist Homes of the Midwest (ABHM), parent company to Maple Crest, we have redeveloped many areas of the community and greatly expanded our memory care center to accommodate the growing

demand. In fact, five ABHM communities have opened new memory care centers within the last 18 months.

In Wheat Ridge, CO, one ABHM 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.

Nearby, in downtown Denver, The Community at Franklin Park converted the top floor into a comprehensive memory care center. 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.

Maple Crest 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 Maple Crest’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.”

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The Six Dimensions of Wellness in Action Whole person wellness is one of the core principles of the Maple Crest 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 Maple Crest, we actively renew our commitment to wellness with programs and activities designed to promote the six dimensions throughout daily life.

Social

Maple Crest 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 by continuing to engage in

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learning, work, and volunteering throughout one’s lifetime. Maple Crest residents have plenty of opportunities to showcase talents take up hobbies and learn new skills. Lindsey McCoy, Maple Crest’s Activities Director states “residents attend activities from musical performances to educational presentations.

Activities range from cooking and crafting to gardening and games. All residents are encouraged to be active members within the community.”

Chris Curtis, Maple Crest’s Wellness Director states, “we offer residents wellness activities at all levels of care. These activities can have a very enormous impact, particular for those in the health care center who may not have engaged in a great deal of physical activity recently.”

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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 in every community and at all levels of care.

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A Photo Tour of Maple Crest’s

NEW REHAB CENTER

Thompson Towers As we welcome spring and summer, Maple Crest is excited to open a brand new rehab center with 21 private resident rooms. Each of the newly renovated rooms offers a beautiful living space that provides privacy and comfort during rehabilitation.

The recently completed center now offers: • 21 private resident rooms • New rehab gym • New common areas that includes a full kitchen • Lounge with fireplace And of course comprehensive rehab programs.

Call today to schedule your tour 402-551-2110!

SPRING :: 2016

Maple Crest Employee Spotlight:

Bri McCarthur Bri McCarthur began her career in health care 11 years ago when she became a CNA, but long before that Bri knew that she wanted to spend her career helping others. Growing up, Bri’s mother worked as a CNA. She recalls going to work with her mom and helping with resident activities. “Before I was old enough to get a job, around 12 or 13, I would volunteer with activity departments all over Omaha.” Today Bri’s experience has come full circle.

After serving Maple Crest’s residents as a CNA for two years, Bri was selected to join the Activity Team on January 1st, 2016. Bri is very excited to be a part of the Activity Department. When asked why she wanted to switch her focus from patient care to activities Bri said, “I jumped at the opportunity to be more hands on with this type of work, whether it’s doing a resident’s hair, assisting with games, or reading letters to them.”

Bri and the Activity Team spend their days assisting residents around the community, playing games, giving manicures, and calling bingo, a Maple Crest resident favorite. Bri says that she enjoys all the activities, but her favorite is Trivia. “Sometimes they know the answer and sometimes they don’t, but they give the greatest answers. It’s great to see how the world has changed from the one they grew up in.”

Every day, Bri enjoys the ability to serve the residents of Maple Crest.

Bri is working towards completing her education in Health Care Administration. Whether a resident needs a good book to read, music to dance to, or just a friend to talk with, Bri and the Maple Crest Activity Team are here to help.

...and Stay Up-To-Date on Maple Crest

www.Facebook.com/ MapleCrestHealthCenter PAGE :: 7

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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. Maple Crest residents enjoy visits to Benson neighborhood events, participating in book clubs, gathering for musical and educational events and of course ‘Huskers games.

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. Maple Crest 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 Maple Crest, 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.

MapleCrest.net

2824 N. 66th Avenue Omaha, NE 68104 www.MapleCrest.net

Maple Crest Health Center is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not-for-profit provider of senior health care since 1930.

Maple Crest 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 MAPLE CREST SPRING 2016

Now You Can Support Maple Crest Online Just visit Maple Crest’s website at www.MapleCrest.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.

Maple Crest is owned and operated by American Baptist Homes of the Midwest, a not for profit provider of senior health care since 1930.