Thorne Crest Newsletter Fall 2016

FALL 2016

AT THORNE CREST

Preparing for the Age Wave at Thorne Crest Today’s Senior Living Defying Expectations Memory Care Provides Peace of Mind for Families and Residents

Preparing for the Age Wave at Thorne Crest Today’s growing senior population is redefining what it means to age and what they expect from senior living. 60,000 Minnesotans will turn 65 every year from now through 2030. To put that number in perspective, think of it as comparable in size to building a new city to be populated solely by seniors each year. By 2020 there will be more seniors in Minnesota than school-aged children. If the student population grew as rapidly as our senior population, we would need 1,200 new classrooms and 1,200 new teachers every year.

In order to keep up with this rate of growth, Minnesota will need 25,000 professional caregivers to enter the field over the next decade. This is an exciting prospect as it means we are liv-

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ing longer and healthier lives, yet it is not without some concerns. We must start making preparations now in order to meet the needs of this growing population and provide the services they will expect to receive.

At Thorne Crest, we are acutely aware of these upcoming demands and have begun to make our own preparations. One way Thorne Crest has adapted is by offering a comprehensive range of lifestyle and care options that address the needs of the Baby Boomer generation now entering retirement age. Activities such as fitness and wellness programs, improved and expanded nutritional offerings, and a busy schedule of social events support the independent lifestyles that many Thorne Crest residents lead.

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Thorne Crest also offers multiple levels of care all on one campus, which is ideal for couples who may have different health care needs. This arrangement makes it easy for loved ones to remain close with assisted living, the health center or memory care, just a short walk down the hall.

The changes in the community and what we offer can easily be seen in the recent completion of our community renovations.

These changes enable Thorne Crest to meet the growing demand of today’s seniors, enhance the care we offer, increase the range of services and amenities, improve the skills of staff through continued education and create an environment that ensures residents live life to the fullest.

Today’s Senior Living Defies Expectations The idea of moving into a senior living community can often be daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. In recent years, as the baby boomer generation has begun reaching retirement age, senior living communities have transformed from the once heavily stigmatized “nursing home” model to become places where active, independent seniors thrive, enjoying access to abundant amenities, activities, and social outlets.

To meet the growing demand for amenity-rich senior housing options Thorne Crest and other ABHM communities have introduced a number of renovations and new community features that include wellness centers, beauty parlors, bistros, fitness programs, communal gardens, spiritual services, landscaped grounds for walking, theaters, expanded dining options and more. A good example of this “new senior living community” is Tudor Oaks, an ABHM community located in Muskego, WI. Tudor Oaks recently unveiled the new Glenn Goethel Sports Complex, which includes Bocce ball, putting greens, and an outdoor seating area with a pergola, all of which was entirely donor funded.

In addition to adding community amenities, many ABHM communities have also completed recent apartment renovations, featuring open floor plans, stainless steel appliances, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. To further expand resident services, within the last 18 months five ABHM communities PAGE :: 3

have opened new memory care centers, Thorne Crest included, which offer private memory care suites and expanded support services.

Crystal Ferley, 93, can’t say enough positive things about her independent living apartment at Thorne Crest, an ABHM community located in Albert Lea, MN. “It’s beautiful and well maintained,” she says. “I lived in my house for 50 years and loved it, but it was not hard at all to make the transition because my new apartment was as nice as my house ever was. I love my apartment.”

Even more important than the amenities are the social opportunities that life in a senior living community makes available. Social connections are crucial for our emotional and psychological well-being throughout our lives, but are particularly important as we age. Loneliness and isolation can even have adverse consequences on our physical health, accelerating cognitive decline and increasing the risk of vascular, inflammatory, or heart disease.

After losing her husband last year and spending a stint in

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Thorne Crest rehab, Crystal realized a permanent move to the Community was in her best interest. She says that the social, welcoming atmosphere of the community was just what she needed.

“There comes a time when you know you need the help, and I knew I did.” Crystal continues, “I had some doubts about the idea of moving to a senior community, but it feels like one big family here. It wasn’t hard at all to get acquainted with people. You can be as involved in the community as you want to be and still feel like you always have someone who cares. You never need to be lonesome.”

Many seniors feel apprehensive about making the transition to a senior living community, but Crystal has some wise advice: “It’s all about your attitude. If you have a positive attitude, you’ll have a positive experience.”

The senior living community at Thorne Crest has been transformative for Crystal’s own life. “I can’t tell you how good it is for me to be here,” she says. “I’m really happy.”

Call now to learn how you can save up to $25,000 on your new Thorne Crest apartment home!

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Residents an Finding Peace of

Memory Seniors are living longer and more independently than ever before, however, with longer life comes an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia. Sufferers of these diseases face a progressive decline in cognitive and physical capabilities, resulting in the gradual loss of independence and eventual need for intensive daily care. To meet the growing need, senior living communities all over the country have been adding additional facilities and services dedicated to memory care, making a clear difference in quality of life for seniors—and their family members.

When Mary Brockington – a resident at The Community at Franklin Park in Denver, CO; a sister community to Thorne Crest – was first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she still lived at home with her husband Fred.

Initially her family took care of her at home, but eventually it became clear that she needed professional care.

According to her daughter, Caralynne, Mary had reached this point before moving to Franklin Park. “She would start packing everything and would start to try to go home—but she was home,” Caralynne describes. “She didn’t want anyone’s help, but we re-

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alized that it might start getting dangerous and we wanted to keep her safe.”

A relative with memory loss can be a constant source of stress for family members, caregivers, and loved ones.

Each day is fraught with communication challenges, difficulties performing routine tasks, and the risks associated with confusion and forgetfulness—such as the tendency to wander away and become lost.

Before settling into Franklin Park, Mary first moved into another facility. However, it soon became clear that she required more advanced services than they could provide. Her family moved Mary to Franklin Park, where she has her own private room and receives one-on-one care from nursing staff.

nd Families f Mind Through

y Care The move to Franklin Park has been a wonderful experience for both Mary and her family members. “I try to visit every day,” Caralynne says, “but I call to check in on the days that I can’t go myself. The staff are diligent about keeping us posted on how she’s doing that day and her o v e r a l l progress.

They have all been very personable and seem dedicated to their work.”

Because social interaction plays an important part in managing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Franklin Park, Thorne Crest and the other ABHM communities provide extensive activities and programs designed to connect and engage with memory care residents. By keeping loved ones involved with favorite hobbies and activities, caregivers and family members can help them improve mood and memory—and possibly even slow the process of cognitive decline.

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Mary, a lifelong social butterfly, is certainly seeing the benefits of staying active at Franklin Park. “During our visits we sit and talk, we sing songs, and we pray,” says Caralynne. “We choose our activities based on her mood, but we have been able to continue many of the activities she used to love. She’s been adjusting well to the community. She seems content.”

The support Franklin Park, Thorne Crest and all ABHM communities provide isn’t limited to residents. Caralynne and her family have been attending a monthly support group at Franklin Park throughout Mary’s time there. “Ever since she was first diagnosed, we have been going to seminars to learn more about the illness,” says Caralynne. “The speakers at Franklin Park have been really helpful in educating us about what has been going on with our mom. It makes our journey a little easier to understand what she’s experiencing.”

For more information about Thorne Crest Memory Care call Karen Anderson at 507-373-2311.

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Our Cars and Ourselves: Wellness From the Inside Out The car you see pictured here is a 1966 Volvo P1800 owned by a retired school teacher in Long Island, Irv Gordon. This car has had only one owner and is still running—with over 3,000,000 miles on the odometer. Irv holds the record for most miles driven by a single owner of a noncommercial vehicle. How did he do it? Simple: Irv took great car of that car, from the inside out.

Human wellness is a lot like Irv’s Volvo.

You’ve probably owned several cars throughout your lifetime.

How many of those made it to 3,000,000 miles? What about 1,000,000? We put a lot of wear and tear on our cars, and to keep them running smoothly requires a lot of upkeep. We fill them with gas, change the oil, replace parts when necessary and schedule annual tune-ups.

Imagine if you didn’t do any of that. When a problem occurred, you just parked the car in the garage instead of having it checked out. Would the problem go away? Of course not.

Eventually you’ll find that the motor has seized, the tires are flat and the bearings are rusted.

In Irv’s case people often ask how he kept his car running so well for so long. His answer contains wisdom that applies to our personal wellness: “When your car makes a funny noise, don’t ignore it. The longer you wait, the greater the potential for damage.”

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Take care of your body from the inside out Many people spend a great deal of time and energy on their exterior, but when we experience internal aches and pains, we tend to ignore them and hope they’ll go away on their own.

However our bodies work much like a car and ignoring aches and pains often just intensifies the problem. When you experience muscle weakness, balance problems, or vision issues get it checked out. You can also turn to the Thorne Crest Wellness team. The Wellness program can give you the tools and opportunities, at all levels of care, to help you stay as active as possible for as long as possible.

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At Thorne Crest our fitness program offers individual assessments and group classes that teach techniques to improve balance, strength and flexibility. We can also provide you with nutritional recommendations that can help keep you going much like Irv’s Volvo.

To schedule a free assessment or get more information about our Wellness and fitness programs please feel free to contact me and we can create a program that works for you – remember 3,000,000 miles or bust.

~ Leah Atz, Wellness Director & ACSM Certified Health Fitness Specialist

Living Options for those with Dementia Diagnosis According to the Alzheimer’s Association, someone in America develops symptoms of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia every 66 seconds. Dementia is a broad category of brain diseases that cause longterm loss of cognitive ability severe enough to interfere with a person's daily functioning.

As a progressive disease, dementia causes a person’s ability to care for themselves to slowly deteriorate. Spouses and family members can provide a great deal of support, but the task of caring for someone with dementia can become a job that is both physically and emotionally taxing. Typically the progression of the disease and the demands of the individual exceed the capa-

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bilities of family caregivers and they seek full-time care to ensure the safety and well-being of a loved one.

At this point there are several care options that families can explore. One option is to work with a Home Health Agency and hire a nurse/caregiver to come to your loved one’s home and provide daily care. A second option is to consider moving your loved one to a senior living community with an appropriate memory care program that meets their needs.

At Thorne Crest we recently created a brand new memory care center with 9 private resident rooms and welcoming common areas for all to enjoy. All meals and activities are included and

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staff is on-site 24/7 to provide care and security, ensuring residents are safe and comfortable.

If your loved one’s dementia is more advanced, a third option is a memory care in a skilled health care center. Here, residents receive an intensive level of care provided by nurses who manage and monitor residents 24/7.

Family and residents can choose between private or semi-private rooms that are often located in a secured area of the campus for their safety and well-being.

If you know someone living with or caring for someone with dementia or related memory care concerns and is looking for care options, please feel free to contact Thorne Crest at 507-3732311.

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1201 Garfield Avenue Albert Lea, MN, 56007 Phone 507-373-2311 ThorneCrest.net

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

AT THORNE CREST

FALL 2016

Thorne 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.

Save up to $25,000 on a Thorne Crest independent living apartment home!* Featuring the latest in home design: FALL 2016

New “Life

at Thorne Crest”

newsletter inside!

FALL 2016

AT THORNE CREST

Preparting for the Age Wave at Thorne Crest Today’s Senior Living Defying Expectations Memory Care Provides Peace of Mind for Families and Residents

• Open Floor Plans • Granite Counter Tops • Stainless Steel Appliances • Tiled Walk-in Showers…& Much More!

Ask about our 100% refundable entry fee! *Limited time offer. Call for details.

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