Time of Your Life North Kitsap - Time of Your Life - Spring 2017

life

The time of your

Spring 2017

YOUR GUIDE TO MATURE LIVING, HEALTH, FINANCES AND LIFESTYLE

26th annual

Older Americans C O N F E R E N C E Wednesday, May 10 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Grace Point Church, 8278 State Highway 303, Bremerton

FREE TO THE PUBLIC • SPACE IS LIMITED (See page 3 for more details)

SPONSORED BY

Liberty Shores

SENIOR LIVING

Harbor House

MEMORY CARE

A S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E B A I N B R I D G E R E V I E W, N O R T H K I T S A P H E R A L D, C E N T R A L K I T S A P R E P O R T E R , A N D P O R T O R C H A R D I N D E P E N D E N T

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

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Kitsap Older Americans Conference marks 26 years

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

T

Albert Carbo, who had been a pharmacist in Washington state for the past year, has been in the field since 2006. He has taught pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin. He will tell seniors what to watch out for when taking their medications.

Carbo said some times with older patients, they will see more than one doctor, and those doctors won’t know what medications the others have prescribed.

“As pharmacists, we do what we can to help coordinate medications,” he said. “We help seniors know if they are taking something that may interact with something else they’ve been prescribed.”

He also said they watch out for “medication cascade.”

“That’s when patients are prescribed a medication, but because of the side effects, they have to be prescribed another medi-

life

The time of your

Spring 2017

YOUR GUIDE TO MATURE LIVING, HEALTH, FINANCES AND LIFESTYLE

Copyright 2017 Sound Publishing

Albert Carbo

Contributed photo

cation for the side effects,” Carbo said. “We watch out for that and try to find other ways to manage side effects.”

In general, seniors are careful about their medications, but have lots of questions. Carbo said he and other pharmacists encourage them to ask questions and be “an advocate for themselves.”

“Seniors can be over medicating,” he said. “People assume that pharmacists want patients to have more medications. But that’s not the case. We want to see that the patient gets the right medications.”

Because he works in a community clinic, he deals with people of all ages. He sees seniors often, and sees that some of them can’t afford their medications.

“We have a referral system and, in most cases, we can help them find the right prescription plan or find help,” he said. “Or we can look for a generic form of the medication that is less expensive and more costefficient.”

He said pharmacists can’t give specific advice on insurance, but they can give

when I talk to patients. Pharmacists take pride in the profession because we get to help people and we treat patients like they are family.”

Jennifer Calvin-Myers will speak about navigating the Medicare system. She is the volunteer coordinator for the SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) program sponsored by Kitsap County Aging & Long Term Care division.

Additionally, she supervises Senior Information & Assistance and the Family Caregiver Support Program for the division at Kitsap County. She is a licensed social worker with experience providing social work services for three years at a local nonprofit and volunteering at the Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas, prior to starting her work at Kitsap County two years ago.

She will give an overview of the available Medicare benefits including the financial savings program preventative Medicare benefits.

“SHIBA is the place where people who See CONFERENCE, Page 4

OH, TO BE YOU AGAIN.

Regional publisher : Terry Ward General manager: Donna Etchey Special publications editor : Leslie Kelly Sales representatives: Josh Jakola, Stephanie Lavin, Marleen Martinez, Bill McDonald, Mary Mollahan, Ariel Naumann, Marion Rhiabi Creative services: Mark Gillespie, Kelsey Thomas, John Rodriguez, Vanessa Calverley

For information about upcoming special publications, call 360-779-4464.

Quality short-term therapy services to help you get back to what you love.

360.876.8035 | 2031 Pottery Ave. | Port Orchard, WA 98366 LifeCareCenterOfPortOrchard.com

89563

his year’s Older Americans Conference will be from 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, May 10 at the Grace Point Church, 8278 Highway 303, Bremerton.

It will include five speakers. They are • Palliative Care, by David Bucher, MA, CSW, of CHI Franciscan; • Communication Across Generations, by Jan Harrison, of JHarrison Solutions; • The Alphabet Soup of Medicare, by Jennifer Calvin Meyers, of Kitsap County Aging & Long Term Care; • Situational Depression and Anxiety, by Leatha Goar, MA, DMHP, CCTP, from Kitsap Mental Health Services; • Medication Management by Albert S. Carbo, doctor of pharmacy at Peninsula Community Health Services.

Each presenter will speak to participants and will answer questions.

advice in general, such things as looking for answers on Medicare.gov.

As for making sure seniors take their medications, he knows of several helpful things.

“We can load their medications into the boxes that are marked for the day of the week,” he said. “That is pretty labor-intensive for us and if there is a caregiver, that’s something that they can do.”

Other ideas include apps on smart phones that remind them when to take their medications, alarm clocks, or magnets on the refrigerator with check lists that the person can mark off when they’ve taken their meds.

“Another thing seniors can do if they keep their medicines in the vials, is turn the bottle upside down after they’ve taken the medication that day,” he said.

Although Carbo started out studying anthropology, he found he liked talking with people. He switched to pharmacy and is glad he did.

“I get to help people on a day-to-day basis with the practical side of science,” he said.

“And I like teaching, and I do that every day

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Conference Continued from Page 3

are on Medicare, or who are approaching Medicare age, can go to get their questions answered,” she said. “When they call, they will get a real, live person who will take their question. Then, within two days, usually the same day, someone in their local area will call them back with an answer or information.”

That number is 1-800-562-6900.

Calvin-Myers said she is surprised at the number of people who don’t know that there are resources available that can help them, she said.

“We can help them with Medicare questions, with information about supplemental insurance and Advantage plans if they wish to purchase additional insurance,” she said. “We can also help screen callers to determine if they are eligible for savings programs that can help pay for their health care.”

Some callers are calling for friends or family members and that’s OK, she said.

“We are able to help family or friends who are calling on behalf of someone else,” she said. “Sometimes we get calls from people who live in the state and are calling for someone who is moving to Washington from elsewhere. It can be challenging when you move to make sure your healthcare is in place.”

Callers also call because they’ve seen something on TV or read something in the newspaper and are worried about Medicare cuts.

“With the Affordable Care Act, there were some built-in protections against higher Medicare costs,” she said. “If the Affordable

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

Care Act goes away, Medicare will stay, but the future benefits of Medicare may change.”

One of the reasons why Calvin-Myers went into social work is that she likes working with people.

“I want to help them understand social service programs and how to navigate them and find the resources to meet their needs.

I’m really an advocate for people so they’ll know about resources.”

On her own time, Calvin-Myers enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling with her husband and spoiling her two cats.

Leatha Goar will speak about situational depression and anxiety in elders.

“I believe (it) to be a function of multiple stressors which we all face,” Goar said.

“This common ground can provide a sense of normalcy around emotional compromise brought on by changes in which one can find support and comfort.”

Some causes of depression and anxiety in older adults are environmental, she said.

“And social demands and norms that do not match a person’s long developed belief system and sense of self, including physical capabilities that diminish as we age,” she said. “Seeking help is a challenge for anyone, but especially for our elders who are so accustomed to caring for themselves and, for many, a lifetime of caring for others.”

Loved ones can encourage elders by volunteering to assist with projects, inviting elders on outings to assist in errand running, and noticing differences in mood, attitude and demeanor while offering encouragement and support, Goar said.

Goar is supervisor of the Kitsap County Crisis Response Team which provides mental health support for those in crisis throughout Kitsap County. The organization serves all age groups and has a variety of specialists on the team including a geriatric mental health specialist with whom counselors rely for consultation.

Goar has a master’s degree in transpersonal psychology with clinical experience in mental health crisis management and trauma recovery.

“As with all mental health services, there is a serious shortage of resources in Washington state to support those in need,” she said. “The prospect of more reductions in funding will continue to hamper our ability as a community to serve those who most need assistance.”

Goar has extensive training in the treatment of trauma and has been certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional since 2014. Her specialty is examining workplace trauma and developing professional resiliency for long term health in the social service fields.

David Bucher, Palliative Care manager for the Franciscan Health System, will speak about palliative care at the “consumer level.”

“I will help people understand what palliative care is and how it is different from hospice care,” Bucher said. “I’ll help them know where palliative care is available and how it can be paid for.”

According to Bucher, palliative care is specialized, relationship centered care for people with serious illnesses. It is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness — whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a team of health care professionals working together with a patient’s primary healthcare providers to provide an extra layer of support, appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be given with curative treatment.

Palliative care originated in hospitals, Bucher said, when it became clear that dying patients were not aware of the choice they had about their care in their final days, months, or weeks.

“This was a seen as a opportunity to create a different kind of care for those who didn’t want aggressive medical care and who wanted something different, care to keep them comfortable.”

Boucher began his medical career in a New York City hospital in the 1980s, working with HIV/AIDS patients.

“By the time we were seeing these patients, they were already dying,” he said.

“We found that they didn’t have what they needed to make their own decisions about their care.”

Hence, palliative care became something that medical professionals began to learn and use.

Although he deals with dying patients everyday, he remains optimistic.

“We never give up on helping those folks,” he said. “We know they can have meaningful years, months, even weeks until they die.

This work is quite hopeful, not sad.”

Palliative care is just good communication and good medicine, he said.

“When you see what’s possible for people to achieve at the end stage of their lives, it is quite hopeful.”

Boucher has been affiliated with three health care systems in Washington state since moving here in 1992. Currently his work with CHI Franciscan Palliative Care services includes working with inpatient teams at six hospitals and an outpatient team that makes home visits in Kitsap, Pierce and King counties.

Bucher has been a health care professional for 28 years and 25 of those years have been in the field of hospice and palliative care. He has had leadership roles in three hospice programs in the Puget Sound area and serves on the Washington State Hospice

MAY 5, 2017

and Palliative Care board of directors.

Jan Harrison, owner of JHarrison Solutions, a consulting practice that specializes in helping organizations clearly define new directions, will speak about “communication across generations.”

“The key (to communication) is simple, but challenging,” Harrison said. “It is this: Use the communication style and vehicle that the other person is most comfortable

Jan Harrison

Contributed photo

with. For example, I email some people, text others, phone others, and a couple I need to talk with face-to-face or I never get a response. For some I go into great detail.

For others, it’s ‘just the facts, ma’am.’”

If you use the other person’s preferred style, you’ll be more successful, she said.

At the conference, she’ll be talking about understanding, mostly.

“Why those other generations are different; what shaped them into the work habits, motivations, and communication styles they each prefer,” she said. “In other words: What planet did they come from?”

She is a facilitator, trainer, change agent, a pioneer in the field of crisis management and has worked with clients in 49 states (she’s still waiting for Louisiana to call) helping all types from the Girl Scouts to Mötley Crüe.

She works primarily in the Northwest now and has worked on economic development issues during the past five years, watching trends to figure out how organizations can use them to their advantage.

One of her favorite areas of study is that of interactions among co-workers, she said.

“I’m crazy about understanding people and am an expert in helping teams figure out how to work with multiple generations and not go crazy themselves,” Harrison said.

To register for the conference, call 360337-5700.

MAY 5, 2017

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

It’s like a family at Anderson Dental and Denture

best because the doctors here do good quality work. We tell them they can have confidence in the work they have done.” – Minjee Fitzpatrick, dental assistant.

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

I

t doesn’t matter what day it is, what dental concern you have, or whether you are a new patient or a familiar face, you’ll always be welcome and appreciated at Anderson Dental and Denture Center in Poulsbo. Here’s how the staff puts it:

“Our patients are family. We really care for our patients and are careful to address not only their dental needs, but recognize their emotional as well as their financial concerns. Our employees always go the extra mile. As bosses, Wanda and I try to be thoughtful and take care of our employees, too. We try to be generous and we recognize birthdays and holidays. And employees bring their kids to visit because we are a family.” – Bruce Anderson, D.P.D.

“I had a rough time going to the dentist in Indonesia where I grew up. Dental care there was rough. I am privileged to study here in the U.S. and to work here.

It’s a blessing to treat and restore people’s smiles in a safe and comfortable environment. We try to make people feel better about themselves.”– Martin Messah, D.D.S. “We’ve always been a family-oriented business. Our patients are part of our family and we treat them like family. We don’t want to be the typical dental office that looks so sterile. We want to look like a home so people will be more relaxed because often times dental treatment can seem traumatic.”– Wanda Anderson, office manager.

“Our patients become like family. I’ve been here 11 years and I love keeping up with the patients. It’s also a wonderful

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The staff at Anderson Dental and Denture is like a family and they treat their patients like family, too.

Leslie Kelly photo place to work. When I needed time off because of a family matter, someone filled in for me. And when another employee needed to be gone, I came back from maternity leave to help out. I brought my two-month-old son with me and everyone was OK with that. I even named my son – his middle name – after (Dr.) Bruce. He’s like a grandpa to my kids. Here, we’re a

family and we step up for each other.” – Vickie Thacker, front desk/financial.

“I like talking with the patients. You build a relationship with them and it’s so good to see them when they come in. I enjoy the team I work with here and I like that the work is fast pace. It is easy to tell the patients they are getting the

“I love that it is a family atmosphere here. The staff is so friendly. I’ve just been here since last October and I already feel like I am one of the family. I’ve been in dentistry for seven years and it’s been a great career. My husband just retired from the Marines and I’ve been able to work no matter where we were stationed.

We love Poulsbo and I am loving getting to know the patients here.” – Michelle Zamora, dental assistant.

Anderson Dental and Denture Center is at 19410 8th Ave., Suite 102, Poulsbo, 360-779-1566, www.andersondenturedental.com.

Agency on Aging works to connect seniors with services Kitsap County Aging and Long Term Care, or ALTC, is a division of Kitsap County Human Services Department and is the locally designated Area Agency on Aging for Kitsap County. ALTC was created through the collaborative action of citizens, aging- network service providers and the Kitsap Board of County Commissioners in 1980.

An ALTC Advisory Council, with representation by citizens from all three commissioner districts, make recommendations as to programs and services provided by the agency, and advocates with elected officials regarding the interests and needs of older adults and adults with disabilities living in Kitsap County.

The ALTC’s mission is to work independently and through community partnerships to promote well-being of older adults and adults with disabilities.

Nationally, 10,000 individuals a day cel-

ebrate their 65th birthday.

ALTC has 20 subcontracts with local providers for various services to support older persons, as well as 30 Medicaid supportive subcontracts to assist those served through the Medicaid Long Term Care program.

“ALTC is available to answer questions and help people make decisions that will positively affect their lives,” said Stacey Smith, administrator.

“We provide unbiased information and referrals to local services that support citizens making informed choices, experience positive outcomes, and connect to local resources. Often, there are relatively simple and low-cost options available to help people remain living in their own homes and communities. We’re here as a free resource for Kitsap residents to get the information they need as they make important life decisions.”

ALTC’s Senior Information & Assistance Program expects to assist more than 1,500 people in 2017.

Community Living Connections is a specifically-designed local resource database of services to older persons. Other in-house programs include the Family Caregiver Support Program, which helps individuals taking care of family or friends, expected to serve at least 300 caregivers this year.

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) anticipates providing approximately 1,750 consultations to local community members for free information on Medicare options and cost savings programs. Last year SHIBA volunteers helped Kitsap residents save a combined, estimated $170,000 in premiums and prescription co-payments.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman, which expects to assist 2,500 people residing in nursing homes, assisted living or

adult family homes throughout Kitsap County. Last year, the Long Term Care Ombudsman program provided 3,600 volunteer hours to the citizens of Kitsap.

The Medicaid Long-Term Care Case Management Services assists individuals with disabilities over the age of 18 years, eligible for Medicaid and independently living in the community.

On any given day, ALTC serves over 950 individuals throughout the county through this program.

ALTC also operates a Title V Senior Community Services Employment and Training Program for individuals over the age of 55 years interested in re-training and seeking employment.

“If any of these services interest you or could assist you to continue to live See AGENCY, Page 7

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

Care for Sun Damage & other Skin Conditions Robert LaBelle, Port Angeles As an avid outdoorsman with a longtime career in construction, Robert has experienced continued sun exposure throughout the last 40 years. One day about 10 years ago, Robert noticed a dark spot on his left cheek. He had it removed shortly thereafter, but the sample was never sent out for biopsy testing. After another 5 years the spot reappeared, and then another spot developed a few centimeters beside the first one.

Over time the two spots began merging together, and at that point Robert knew he needed this dealt with properly.

He made an appointment with his primary care doctor, and was then referred to a dermatologist in Port Angeles. Upon seeing the dermatologist, Robert was referred yet again to another office – still without any biopsies performed. His next visit was with a plastic surgeon in Silverdale, and then he was ultimately referred to Bainbridge Skin Surgery.

After being bounced from one clinic to another over a matter of months, Robert met Dr. Whitaker at Bainbridge Skin Surgery and received a biopsy the same day. The moment he walked in the room, Robert knew he would get the help and care he needed. Once the results of his biopsy came back they were hastily sent to the dermatopathologist for further studying, to assure an accurate diagnosis. Just a few days following the biopsy performance, Robert finally got an answer as to what the spots were and how they would be treated.

Robert had Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. He returned to Bainbridge Skin Surgery within 5 days of his diagnosis for a full removal of the melanoma.

Although Robert had no family history of melanoma, years of sun exposure put him at an increased risk for skin cancer. Being a deep rooted Washington resident Robert didn’t think sunscreen was necessary, even though much of his time was spent outside.

Nowadays, applying sunscreen with a 30 or higher SPF is part of his daily routine.

Robert sees Dr. Whitaker every 3 months during his first year post-surgery for a full skin exam. So long as no signs appear of new discoloration in these exams, Robert will only need to visit twice a year after the first year has ended.

“I have never been taken care of so well in my life. They show so much care and compassion.

After my surgery, Dr. Whitaker personally called me after hours to check how I was doing.

I’ve never had a physician do that! They are very personable there and make you feel like you matter. They are quick to get you in the room. Never have to wait and their follow up is great.” - Robert

Dr. Whitaker MD, Bainbridge Skin Surgery Duane C. Whitaker MD, a board certified dermatologist, founded Bainbridge Skin Surgery and Consultative Dermatology in 2015. Specializing in Mohs Surgery and reconstructive surgery for skin cancer for over 30 years, Dr. Whitaker is recognized as a leader in his field. He has held numerous leadership positions including President of the American College of Mohs Surgery, Professor of Dermatology,

and the Fellowship Director at the University of Iowa as well as the University of Arizona.

Committed to physician education, Dr. Whitaker has trained over 22 Mohs Surgeons and over 150 Dermatology residents in his career. He has published over 100 articles and chapters on the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer and continues to lecture nationally, most recently at the Mayo Clinic.

Prior to becoming a physician, Dr. Whitaker was a decorated combat infantry officer in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge as well as the Bronze Star with Oakleaf Cluster for Valor. He continues to advocate for the access and quality of care for Veterans, and is proud to have established the first Mohs Surgery service at the Veterans Hospital in Arizona.

Having made a home on Bainbridge Island for over 10 years, Dr. Whitaker wanted to bring Mohs Surgery and his extensive background in dermatology to Bainbridge Island and Kitsap County. He approaches patients with great compassion and individualized treatment, as well as education to maintain health and prevent disease, so as to provide the highest level of surgical and medical care.

Dr. Whitaker continues to be active in many community service organizations and fundraisers.

He also donates his time toward local education, and has been a youth mentor to help students with their future goals of obtaining a career in the health care field.

Duane Whitaker, MD Specializing in Mohs surgery.

271 Wyatt Way NE, Suite 108, Bainbridge Island, WA 206-317-6911 info@bainbridgeskinsurgery.com www.bainbridgeskinsurgery.com

MAY 5, 2017

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

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Stafford Healthcare: Generations of experienced care

by Karin Stewart, who has been on our team for more than 27 years and is knowledgeable about all aspects of senior care. Karin makes her residents her first priority and is passionate about providing excellent customer service.

Stafford Suites Assisted Living Community provides a safe, warm, caring environment and offers a full range of services for seniors to enjoy. Executive Director Denise Hoyt, RN, has been in her role since the doors opened 19 years ago.

At Stafford Suites residents can choose from private studio, one, or two bedroom apartments. They receive three delicious meals a day served restaurant style in the dining room, weekly housekeeping, a full

range of activities directed by a full-time activity director, qualified nursing staff onsite 24/7, a full-time nurse wellness director, scheduled transportation to medical appointments, a full service salon in house, diverse library, gift shop and many other amenities.

Resident independence, freedom of choice and respect are all hallmarks of the Stafford Suites philosophy of caring.

Stafford Healthcare at Belmont, under the direction of Administrator Robert Washbond, and Stafford Healthcare at Ridgemont, under the direction of Annette Crawford, provide professional skilled nursing and rehabilitation services for those needing a higher level of care. They are staffed with exceptional professionals; RNs,

LPNs, therapists, social services staff, dieticians, chefs and direct care staff.

They provide a high level of skill and expertise in caring for seniors and specialize in assisting them to achieve the highest level of health and functioning possible.

They are at the forefront of innovative techniques, therapies and technology in the ever-changing and challenging healthcare field. Both skilled nursing facilities have a physician on-staff who provides direct care and oversight of the healthcare team and plan of care. Both communities offer shortterm rehabilitation care in our state of the art Transitional Care Units.

Our teams of physicians, nurses and therapists collaborate to provide rehab and nursing services to assist clients to return to their previous living environments with improved health and functioning as quickly as possible. In addition, there is longterm care available for those who require this higher level of personal and medical care on a more permanent basis. Both of our skilled nursing facilities are rated as 5 Star by the Centers for Medicare Services.

All of our communities share a strong history of performing very well in the Washington State DSHS Survey process and are known for exceptional quality care. We strive to be good neighbors and community members. We are members of the Bremerton, Belfair and Port Orchard chambers of commerce, the Rotary Club of Bremerton and the Kiwanis Club of Port Orchard among other regional and county organizations.

We are compassionate healthcare professionals who treat you like family. Come visit one of our communities soon and experience the difference our tradition of family values can make in the lives of seniors.

Caregiver Support Program, the State Senior Citizens Services Act, and Kitsap County, as well as individual and community donations.

At a glance: Aging and Long-Term Care program service numbers for 2017: Information and Assistance & Community Living Connections: 1,500 individuals served.

Family Caregiver Support Program: 300 caregivers served; 6,000-plus hours of respite care for 56 caregivers; 100 counseling sessions; free trainings to 140 individuals; 25 individuals received home-delivered meals, legal services or durable medical equipment.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman: 500 investigations or interventions; 2,500 individuals served; 3,600 volunteer hours.

Medicaid Long-Term Care Case Management Services: 950 individuals served.

Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA): 1,750 direct consumer contacts for assistance.

Title V Senior Community Service Employment & Training Program: Provides training and employment opportunities for 12 eligible participants.

Congregate Meals: 31,000 meals for 775 individuals.

Home-Delivered Meals: 41,500 meals for 370 individuals.

Kinship Caregivers Support Program: Support for 60 caregivers raising other family members’ children.

Mental Health/Substance Abuse

Counseling: 575 hours of counseling for 70 individuals Senior Drug Education: Four to eight community events providing expert information regarding the safe use of prescribed medications for older adults and their caregivers.

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program: 580 individuals each receiving about $40 worth of fresh food and produce.

Legal Services: 410 hours of (noncriminal) legal services for up to 150 individuals.

Kitsap County Division of Aging and Long Term Care, Givens Community Center, 1026 Sidney Ave., Port Orchard, 360-337-7068 or 360-337-5700.

BY STAFF AT STAFFORD HEALTHCARE

S

ince 1945, the Ostrom family has been privileged to serve older adults in a unique and special way.

Our success stems from old-fashioned values that have been instilled within the culture of each community. Local, family ownership drives an experience that sets us apart from facilities run by national corporations.

The hallmark quality of all of our communities is in making each guest feel like they are valued and respected members of our family.

Our mission is to serve. We are a group of highly skilled professionals who serve with expertise and compassion. We offer first-rate accommodations with attention to detail at every level.

Our organization is built on a philosophy of caring. This philosophy is at the heart of everything we do. We are focused on results and we achieve those results by adhering to timeless operating principles and values. We have a proven track record of excellent customer service and are proud of our history of consistent, professional care provided in all of our locations.

We provide several levels of senior care in Kitsap County; Ridgemont Senior Apartments in Port Orchard are independent senior retirement apartments, Stafford Suites Assisted Living Community in Port Orchard provides full-service assisted living apartments, and our two skilled nursing communities are Stafford Healthcare at Belmont in Bremerton and Stafford Healthcare at Ridgemont in Port Orchard.

Ridgemont Senior Apartments provide individual private apartments, one hearty meal per day, weekly housekeeping services, activities and scheduled transportation. The Senior Apartments are managed

Agency

Continued from Page 5 independently, give us a call,” Smith reiterated. “Folks don’t realize ALTC is their local free resource. They have contributed to our existence their entire working lives. Now, we are here to support them in their golden years.”

ALTC purchases services from private and public agencies and arranges for service delivery for individuals who meet eligibility requirements. ALTC utilizes a variety of state, federal and local funding sources including the Federal Older Americans Act, Medicaid, the National and State Family

The caring staff at Stafford Healthcare celebrated the holidays with their residents last December.

Contributed photo

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

It’s Spring: Time to spruce up your connections

By MEGAN NIGHTINGALE

Audiologist at Peninsula Hearing Inc.

S

pring time is here and is usually the time we start thinking about clearing up the yard, preparing the gar-

den and spring cleaning the house.

It is also a great time to think about reconnecting with family and friends at a barbecue or a family camping trip. If the latter has been a source of contention in the past due to a hearing issue, we have some great new hearing devices that have been recently introduced that are very exciting.

If you currently wear hearing devices, but find it difficult to understand people over the phone or in background noise, we have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the new Oticon Opn hearing devices, especially in regards to these two issues.

Being able to hear your grandkids over the phone or skyping in on a tablet is a great way to stay connected to family who do not live nearby. However, it can be very

Megan Nightingale

Contributed photo

difficult with a hearing issue. The Oticon Opn devices really helps by being directly connected wirelessly to any Apple iPhone or iPad device (must be iPhone 5 and iPad

4 or newer).

The sound is crystal clear and one can enjoy these conversations without bothering anyone else.

The sound quality and performance in background sound alone is enough to highly recommend the Oticon Opn devices, but they are also the first hearing devices to be directly connectible to the Internet.

For example, the Opn hearing devices can be programmed to send a text message to a person’s cell phone to alert when the hearing device’s batteries are getting low. This is really important if the person with the issue lives in a nursing home or is a small child. Also, if you misplace a device, the can be located with your cell phone.

If you have already been fitted with the Oticon Opn devices, but would like to learn more about the connectivity features of the Opn hearing devices, Peninsula Hearing offers monthly classes on all the great things you can do with Opn hearing devices in our Opn Café. Enjoy coffee, tea,

fresh baked treats and learn all about the connectivity features of the Opn devices.

Email us at info@peninsulahearing. com or look on our website or Facebook page to find out when the next Opn Café classes are. We provide this service free of charge to any and all members of our community who have Oticon Opn devices.

You do not have to be a client of Peninsula Hearing to come to the class.

We also have an exciting new completely in the canal hearing device for those who like a practically invisible solution to a hearing issue. Phonak has come out with a new hearing device (their smallest daily wear device yet) made from titanium. This means a very rugged, very small device that sits comfortably inside the ear canal and can be used with any phone (cell or land line) without a special ear piece. This device is so new we are just learning what it can do.

Call us at 360-697-3061 or 800-540-8698 to find out more about this exciting new offering.

Helpful advice for those with aging family members

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

I recall the first time I realized my mother was not the 35-year-old school teacher that I always knew.

I’d stopped by her place to update her on a medical appointment I had, a follow-up to my back surgery. She asked how my hip was doing.

In that moment, I knew that she had lost a couple of years, that she had confused my back surgery with a hip replacement I’d had years before.

I made some excuse and left. I sat in my car and I cried.

Experiences like this are common, says Lou-Ann Lauborough, a license clinical social worker with more than 28 years experience in geriatrics and aging issues.

And what’s at the root of them is “anticipatory grief.”

“You begin to recognize that things are changing,” Lauborough said. “You know mom won’t be like she use to be and that she can’t do the things she use to. You know that the roles are changing — that she no longer is taking care of you, but instead, you are now taking care of her.”

It’s a life transition, she said, and it signals the next phase in your loved one’s life,

and in your’s.

A first step is to recognize that things are changing. Have “the talk” with your loved one is the next step.

“That talk about telling Dad he should no longer drive – it’s not easy,” Lauborough said. “When you see that physical or mental decline it is necessary.”

Making sure your aging family member has been seen by his or her physician, and getting a good diagnosis is important, she said. Determining if they have normal aging, or if they have dementia or Alzheimer’s is crucial.

“When you find things like, your loved one is falling more, or mixing up medications, that’s when you need to be able to talk to them about what’s going on,” she said.

Establishing a plan of care for them is the next step.

But just as important is taking care of yourself.

When parents and other loved ones age, often times you become the caregiver, Lauborough said.

“Self-care is something that any caregiver needs to do,” she said. “If you have friends or family, it’s important to be able to talk to them about what you are going through,” she said. “If you don’t do that, you

won’t ever realize that many other people are going through similar situations.”

Reaching out to others, such as those at your church or spiritual organization, is another alternative.

“And some physicians are really good at listening and they can be helpful,” Lauborough said.

There are support groups in many communities that also can help.

“I tried that when I was caring for my mother,” Lauborough said. “The first time I just sat at the back of the room and listened.

But I found myself scooting up farther and farther and really being able to talk about what I was going through. These people really understood.”

And through the group she was able to learn how others dealt with situations, and use those suggestions in her own life.

When times arise where your loved one remembers things differently than you do, or when you know they are wrong, what should you do? Lauborough suggests not getting into an argument.

“Live in their world,” she said. “Don’t ask them to live in your’s. Realize that this is really your issue, that you are asking them to remember things they can’t. What’s most important is to enjoy the present moment

and just being with each other.”

If your loved one mixes up the dates, or forgets what they were suppose to do, she suggests that you don’t make a big deal of it.

“Just tell them what day it is,” she said.

“Don’t make them feel like they have made a mistake.”

Remember that if your loved one is aware that they are aging, and that their mind is slipping, they, too, are frustrated and even scared.

“It’s anxiety-producing,” she said. “And that can be sad. That anxiety can lead to other physical issues. So just accept that things are changing and help them to be OK with it.”

As we age, and as we move into the caregiver role, we, too, recognize that we will someday be at the point that our loved one is now, Lauborough said.

“Really, our aging parents and loved ones are role models for us,” she said. “We are facing that we will lose our parents and at the same time we know that we, too, will face death some day.

“This end-of-life time makes us think about the purpose of life and we have to come to terms with that. Those are very See GRIEF, Page 13

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

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12

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

Physical therapy can be the cure after an injury

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

H

aving moved to Poulsbo from Florida, Kay Bass, 64, wasn’t used to freezing rain. One morning in February, she was walking across a street, but despite being careful, she fell in the crosswalk.

“I thought it was dry, but it was really icy,” she said. “I fell in the hurdle position, right on my sit bones. And I was wearing a backpack so I had additional weight on me when I fell.”

Instantly, she knew she’d done something to her back.

“People were wanting to help me up, but I just wanted to sit there for a moment and get my bearings.”

When she did get up, she knew she was going to be sore. But she was on her way to Seattle and had things to do that could not be put off.

“There was no going home,” she said. “And that night, I was sore. I had trouble bending forward and I couldn’t roll over in bed.”

She decided to give it a couple of days to see if the pain and soreness improved, but it didn’t. So she sought out physical therapy.

“I knew my insurance would allow me to be seen by a physical therapist, and then the PT could request a prescription for treatment from my doctor,” Bass said. “I saw Kara (Bermensolo, DPT) and after a thorough evaluation, she said I should go to my doctor and request an X-ray.”

Bass did that, also receiving an MRI, and it was confirmed that she had a compression fracture of a vertebra.

Her orthopedic specialist told her that the fracture would heal on its own and that she needed to return to physical

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Kara Bermensolo, left, demonstrates an exercise for patient Kay Bass following a injury from a fall. Bass received physical therapy for her back.

Leslie therapy.

“Kara worked with me and gave me exercises that she knew would not result in any more injury,” Bass said.

“Gradually, I’ve been able to increase my activity, but it’s been a long haul.”

Having been very active prior to the injury, Bass has not yet returned to her normal weight-lifting routine or rowing. But she has been able to increase the length of her workouts, just not the intensity.

“I am lifting weights again and walking my normal amount of time,” she said. “It may take six to eight months to heal completely.”

She’s now doing her exercises on her own, and recently returned to check in.

She knows that if soreness after a workout remains after 24 hours, she needs to back off a bit.

“I can tell when I’ve overdone it,” she said.

Overall, she has found physical therapy, and the care she received at Kitsap Physical Therapy, rewarding.

“If Kara hadn’t sent me to the physician, I could have done more damage and been down longer, or even had to have surgery,” she said. “The care I received has been wonderful. The physical therapy has helped so much and they’ve been so reassuring.”

Physical therapist Kara Bermensolo, PT, DPT, CLT, PHC, Kitsap Physical Therapy, Poulsbo, saw Bass about a

week after she fell and was injured.

Because Bass had insurance that allowed her to see a physical therapist before seeing her primary care physician (Direct Access), which has been the law in Washington State since 2005, Bass got a jump on her condition. She didn’t have to wait to see her physician and then be referred to physical therapy.

Bermensolo’s first actions were to take a patient history, including details of the fall and of her routine health.

This also included what medications she takes and any conditions she had previously been diagnosed with. When Bass said she had osteopenia, that raised a “yellow flag” with Bermensolo.

“I know that people with osteopenia are more susceptible to bone fractures,” said Bermensolo. “I checked her range of motion, her strength and I took a look at where she had pain along her spine.”

At each pressure point along the spine, she applied minimal pressure to try to re-create the pain. She discovered that at her mid-back there was pain with very little provocation.

Because of that, Bermensolo decided Bass should be seen by her primary care physician of record, who then sent her for an X-ray and an MRI. “It showed that she had a compression fracture (at mid back),” Bermensolo said. “When Kay heard that, she began to worry. We talked on

the phone and I assured her that in her case, with training and proper movement, she would most likely be able to return to her normal lifestyle without surgery.”

An orthopedic specialist was consulted and determined that she didn’t need surgery and that the fracture would heal on its own. To speed that process along, Bass returned to Bermensolo for physical therapy.

Together, they came up with a treatment plan that included once a week visits for two weeks, then once every other week for a month. She recently had her final visit. In all, she saw Bermensolo for eight sessions.

The therapy included education about pain including the fact that where a person feels the pain may not be the place it originates from.

“Kay was feeling pain in her low back on the right side,” Bermensolo said. “But the injury was actually at mid back.”

They worked to strengthen her core by doing isometric exercises such as banded chest presses and banded lateral chest pulls.

“This was to engage the back muscles without moving the body,” Bermensolo said. “Because of her fracture, we wanted to selectively restrict her movement until the fracture healed.”

Next, Bass advanced to neutral isometric activity such as walking and swimming. She did both activities prior to her fall and wanted to get back to her normal amount of activity.

She began with walking about a mile, and added two minutes each day, until she was back up to two miles, and then three miles. Then she added in swimming, adding laps each day.

“Her activity was paced in small achievable chunks,” Bermensolo said.

“We had to retrain the body and the brain that walking wasn’t something that causes pain.”

Bass also added in functional movements like squats, getting down on all fours, and planks. For an injury like Bass’s, normal recovery time would be from six to eight weeks. But with her osteopenia, Bermensolo said it can take up to 12 weeks.

“She’s been very successful,” said Bermensolo. “Healing is very individual.

In Kay’s case, she did all the right things and was patient with her recovery.”

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

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Everyone needs a guide on their accidental safari

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

R

ichard Tizzano wants to take you on a journey. Perhaps a safari.

As an expert in elder law and finance, Tizzano knows the routes. And he knows the forks in the road.

“You’re going along just fine on your journey and all of the sudden something happens,” Tizzano said. “You fall and break a hip. Or you find that you have a serious medical condition.

“You find yourself in that ‘foreign country’ and you need a guide to keep from getting eaten by the lions and tigers.”

The safari metaphor is the theme of a book he is writing on how to keep on track in life, when things happen. He plans to release this book this summer.

The idea for the book came about after he realized that there are some people who will never attend one of the free seminars he gives on elder law and estate planning.

The Accidental Safari is Tizzano’s book that will be out this summer.

Contributed

“It dawned on me that there are other ways to get this information into people’s hands,” he said. “And that’s what this book is about.”

Expected to have from eight to 10 chapters, Tizzano is about two-thirds of the way through writing “The Accidental Safari.” It will address the pitfalls of the aging journey and give information on how to get back on track.

“When you get ‘kidnapped’ in that ambulance and end up at the hospital, but after observation, you aren’t admitted, it’s impor-

Richard Tizzano

Contributed photo

tant to know things,” he said. “If you aren’t admitted to the hospital before being transferred to a nursing or care facility, Medicare won’t pay. Just knowing that little tidbit could someday help you.”

The book will also address housing options.

“Can you add a ramp and stay in your home,” he asked. “Or do you need assisted living or nursing care? The book will show you ways to adjust your income to meet your needs.”

And it will offer other places to look for help.

“Do you qualify for veterans benefits, Medicaid, or other social services,” he asked.

Another subject in the book is elder orphans.

“These are the people who, for whatever reason, are older and alone,” Tizzano said.

“Their spouse has died. Or they were never married. They never had kids. They are all by themselves.”

Because of their social skills or their desire to stay to themselves, they have no one to help them through the many roadblocks or aging.

“These are the vulnerable adults that the laws are written for,” he said. “There are cons out there who will fool them and they need someone to be watching out for them.”

As individuals, we can check on that elderly neighbor who lives alone. But Tizzano said there’s safety in numbers.

“Sometimes the person will have issues, and may have dementia, and not understand that you are trying to help,” he said. “Pretty

soon the neighbor is accusing you of taking all his money. When you work with someone else by your side, it reduces the risk of this.”

He suggests that community organizations, nonprofits and church communities work at identifying elder orphans and helping them along their journey of aging.

Another idea he’s looking at is a television show like “those shows where they fix up the old houses,” Tizzano said.

“People will watch these shows, and if we had a elder housing show that followed a couple through downsizing, or through an illness or injury that caused havoc in their world, we could teach viewers ways to handle these situations.”

Viewers would become aware of these situations, and know what to do, when in real life, they won’t address the issues, he added.

The theme of his book – a safari -– was somewhat based on the need to navigate aging and an actual safari he took in 2008.

As a part of a church organization, he and his daughter who was 10 at the time, did missionary work in Uganda. They helped

build an orphanage for children and then went on a safari.

“I found the three-day trip into the wilderness to be stretching myself. There was so much to take in. But this journey was planned and I decided to be there. Can you imagine if someone just dropped you in the middle of the Mgahinga without a guide? We all need help when we are put in unfamiliar surroundings. We need help knowing what to do.”

Grief

Continued from Page 8 deep issues.”

Those with spiritual influences seem to do better with death, she added.

Lou-Ann Lauborough has offices in Port Orchard and Silverdale. She has a master’s degree in social work with specialized training in aging and health care. She can be reached at lou-ann@lauborough-counseling.com.

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

Acupuncture clinic experiences steady growth

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

I

t’s been 19 years since Robert Doane opened the Acupuncture and Wellness Center in Poulsbo.

Since that time, the clinic has grown to become the largest Chinese Medical Clinic in the United States, helping more than 27,000 individual patients over the course of 300,000 patient visits.

And now, Doane’s method of acupuncture, distal needle acupuncture (DNA), is being franchised under the name of Modern Acupuncture.

Within the past six months, 300 clinics have signed on to open throughout the United States and another 400 are expected to be pre-sold by the end of the year. The first 400 clinics are set to open by 2020.

Doane is known worldwide for his distal acupuncture method and his unique method of pulse diagnosis, which he calls MPD (Medical Pulse Diagnosis). Chinese Pulse Diagnosis is considered to be the most accurate way to detect patterns of ill health by reading subtle signs of distress within the body, Doane said.

“The art of pulse diagnosis involves interpreting the flow of blood through the radial artery at the wrists. In the

Robert Doane, longtime Poulsbo acupuncturist, is working to franchise his clinics under the name of Modern Acupuncture.

Contributed photo hands of an expert practitioner, the pulse can reveal many of these common health concerns,” he said.

During a treatment, very thin, solid, hairlike needles are inserted at specific points on the body. In Chinese these points are called “neural nodes” (or JIE, in Chinese) and the stimulation of these nodes affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems. It triggers the release of the body’s internal chemicals such as endorphins and enkephalins, which have pain-relieving properties.

“If you have pain that is lingering or is not being treated by other modalities, then acupuncture offers a time-tested, very reliable method of pain relief,” their website states.

Use of the distal needling technique produces instantaneous pain relief often described as “turning off a light switch,” Doane said, enabling practitioners to instantly and effectively treat pain. This style of acupuncture also helps to create a treatment matrix for some of the more difficult conditions which are resistant to other types of treatment.

While this method differs from most traditional acupuncture treatments, it’s about 90 percent effective.

Acupuncture is a therapy, he said, and takes a series of visits to address an issue. Chinese medicine differs from Western medicine in that it treats chronic conditions.

“Western medicine is very good at treating trauma,” he said. “It’s good for acute medical problems. Chinese medicine can’t compete with that. But Western medicine struggles with the treatment of chronic conditions. They define them as incurable and say they can only be managed with the life-long use of drugs.

“Chinese medicine, however, can result in better outcomes for chronic conditions and is aimed at trying to fix them, rather than managing them with drugs.”

What Doane and the practitioners he trains do, is address the blood flow in the body.

“Chinese medicine actually defines health as highly oxygenated, highly nutritious blood, coursing unimpeded through our vascular system,” he said.

“Any obstruction of the flow of nutrients to the vascular system will lead to malfunction and necrosis. Thus, in Chinese Medicine obstructed blood flow is the main ideology of disease.”

With good blood flow, the body will repair itself, he added.

Another aspect of his work is in Chinese herbal remedies.

“Chinese herbology uses herbs in concert to treat multiple disorders at the same time,” Doane said. “Our pharmacy contains many proprietary herbal formulas designed to increase both blood flow and vitality. Herbs can be very powerful,

but to be effective they must be prescribed based on a proper diagnosis and administered on an individual basis.”

They also focus on postural therapy which keeps patients from having to come back to the clinic more than needed.

“Our goal is to create a situation where our patients can stand on their own two feet and don’t have to go to doctors all their lives,” he said.

While Chinese medicine is still not recognized by some in Western medicine, Doane thinks that time will come.

“We will get there,” Doane said.

“Unfortunately in the U.S., Chinese medicine has become associated with an energy medicine. But nothing could be further from the truth.”

That happened he said, when in the 1930s, the French misinterpreted “qi” (pronounced CHEE) to mean energy, when it really means “the essence of air.”

“And this essence of air is attached to the blood flowing through the vascular system,” he said. “Qi really equals oxygen.”

A stigma stills exists about “energy work,” he said, and until this mistranslation is understood, Chinese medicine, especially acupuncture, will be subject to scrutiny.

Doane travels throughout the world teaching his acupuncture method. He will address the largest Chinese medicine forum in the world in Germany in May. As an East Asian Medicine Practitioner (EAMP), he teleconferences with patients in Europe, Canada, Australia and other countries almost daily.

His staff conducts more than 100 free demonstrations of the pulse method annually throughout Kitsap County.

“I am extremely thankful and appreciative of the wonderful people in Kitsap County who have made this clinic such an enormous success,” he said. “We’ve acquired an international reputation of significant stature, and it stems from that local support. As a result, I am now routinely treating patients from China, Japan, Europe, Canada and Alaska and, of course, other places throughout the U.S.” The center is at 18870 8th Ave NE, Suite 108, Poulsbo, phone: 360-394-4357.

The website is www.acupuncturewellness.net.

MAY 5, 2017

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

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TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

MAY 5, 2017

Liberty Shores in Poulsbo is a friendly, active place

By LIBERTY SHORES STAFF

A

ny first time visitor pulling down the driveway at Liberty Shores Assisted Living and Harbor House Memory Care Communities realizes immediately that they have come to a place that obviously appreciates and honors the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Prominently and aligning with the U.S. Flag are five flag poles, displaying the service flags for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Both Liberty Shores and Harbor House have had the privilege for the past 19 years to take care of aging veterans and the formal display of the flags pays allegiance to that dedication.

The communities are typically the home-setting for from 10 to 14 veterans at any given time and recognizing them for their service to the country has been a paramount honor for the staff here at Liberty Shores and Harbor House.

The Fireside Room, which offers a breathtaking vista of Mount Rainier, also has one wall dedicated as Wall of Honor, showcasing various frames with photos of veteran residents stemming from their service time as well as a present-time photo with a listing of assignments and accomplishments. The present display of flags around the gazebo was dedicated during a special ceremony with the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Memorial Day in 2014.

This is an active place, and you can do it all or you can do just what you want; entertain guests, take in some live entertainment, watch TV with friends in the home-like Bay Room, which has a kitchen and snacks, or enjoy a glass of wine on the expansive deck overlooking the bay.

How about venturing out on a mystery drive?

Once a week, activity director Erica Applewhite picks a secret destination in Kitsap or Jefferson County and doesn’t reveal the location until residents are loaded on the bus. Amazingly, we have quite a few adventure seekers who live here, so they don’t seem to be daunted by not knowing where they will go until buckled in to their seat, Applewhite said.

When so much of our daily routines can be ordered or programmed, it’s sure nice to have something that’s a mystery.

Administrator Sigrid Howard added, Most seniors have such extended lives today. We want to provide a level of ser-

Liberty Shores, located in Poulsbo, offers comfortable private and semi-private rooms at its Harbor House Memory Care center.

Leslie Kelly photo vice that accommodates those active lives.

The beauty of this place sets the tone for the quality of living Liberty Shores and Harbor House strives to provide: personal care with a holistic team approach designed to address all physical, mental, social and spiritual needs; respect for who residents were and who they are today; integrity in every facet of services and care; dignity as the ultimate goal in providing care, while preserving and respecting the dignity of residents; and exceeding residents and families expectation.

Liberty Shores offers familiar amenities and services. Studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments are each outfitted with a mini-kitchen with refrigerator and microwave. Each apartment has a call-light system to alert staff when a resident needs assistance, and each unit has cable service available. Apartments are furnished with the residents personal belongings.

Three meals a day are served restaurant style, with choices from daily specials, accommodation of special dietary needs, and a made-to-order salad bar.

Other services include housekeeping and linen services; free use of laundry facilities; transportation for shopping, scheduled medical appointments and community events; programs coordinated by an activities director; recreation and exercise areas; a beauty salon and barber shop; and a 24-hour bistro-type snack bar stocked with nutritious snacks and

drinks.

Howard said additional services set Liberty Shores apart: 24-hour onsite licensed nursing staff; 24-hour, seven-daya-week admissions; full-time restorative care coordinator, offering customized exercise programs to help residents maintain, restore or obtain their highest level of physical abilities; Wander Guard support, to provide enhanced security for residents with early stages of memory loss; full-time social worker on staff to provide emotional and interpersonal support to residents; BlueStep, an Electronic Medical Charting system that can be accessed by physicians, medical staff and families from a secure, private log-in; and Family Connect, an online informational page which allows families real-time updates on their loved one’s health, activity and social well-being.

All told, Liberty Shores and Harbor House employs more than 100 – that’s almost one employee per resident.

The staff are striving every day to give residents a life where they have all the freedom that they desire as they age. The average age of residents is 90 years old.

People are retiring later in life and living longer. Many are able to live at home longer now than in years past.

The only way you can be successful in elder care is to continually adjust to the changing times.

“Residents do not adjust to you; you need to adjust to them,” Howard said.

She realizes that Liberty Shores will be adjusting again as the Baby Boomers start to arrive. They want to preserve their younger lifestyle.

HARBOR HOUSE MEMORY CARE Harbor House, located adjacent to Liberty Shores, offers comfortable private and semi-private rooms, which are furnished or can be furnished with the residents personal belongings.

Harbor House Memory Care has three floors and combines security in housing and health care to aid in residents comfort and ensure their health and safety. Its design is focused on comfort and familiarity to allow residents to maintain their independence and privacy.

Personal rooms are outfitted with photos of family and friends, while common areas and memory stations encourage individual and group activities.

A highlight of the first floor: a theater room, with theater-style seating, coffee shop, and Memory Lane style visiting area for before or after the film. Adorning the walls are movie posters from Hollywood’s “Casablanca” era.

Comfortable couches offer a peaceful respite location as well. A fireplace at the end of the hallway on first floor offers again a peaceful ambiance, encouraging residents to sit in the comfortable overstuffed leather chairs.

Activities are scheduled seven days a week, including board games, Bible studies, exercise classes, day trips and other special outings.

Outside, the courtyard features gardens where residents have grown plants and vegetables that have won awards at the Kitsap County Fair.

Harbor House Alzheimer’s Community also offers daycare and respite care for all stages of dementia patients, seven days a week.

AN INVITATION TO VISIT Howard said prospective residents of Liberty Shores or Harbor House are invited to take a tour and enjoy a complimentary lunch.

We know you will applaud our standards and see why we have been recognized for exceptional customer service and quality care, she said. We offer a comprehensive selection of living options and support services. We encourage and support aging in place and have the staff and services to make it happen.

MAY 5, 2017

TIME OF YOUR LIFE SPRING EDITION

17

Saving family histories for future generations

By LESLIE KELLY

lkelly@soundpublishing.com

W

hen Mary Ann Wright was younger, she’d drive her mother from their home state of Tennessee to Texas so that her mother could visit her sister.

“These two would sit for hours and just tell stories about what life was like when they were growing up,” said Wright, who is president of the Puget Sound Genealogical Society. “What did I do? I sat there and read a book. I should have been recording their conversations.”

But that’s a common oversight.

Many families have “those stories” that get told over and over when family gathers. And like Wright, most of the time, nothing gets recorded or written down until it’s too late and the elder generations have past.

Wright has done something about that in her family, and has suggestions for others who want to keep their family histories.

She volunteers her time in the Genealogy Room at the Sylvan Way location of Kitsap Regional Library, 1301 Sylvan Way, in east Bremerton.

The room is filled with books to aid anyone wanting to study their genealogy. And during library hours, members of the society are on hand to help patrons with their search.

But even if you don’t have time to use the library for research, anyone at anytime can begin the process. Wright says to begin with yourself.

“Write down your memories,” she said. “Write about what life was like when you were a child.”

Then, she said, interview your siblings and cousins, and any living family members of the generations that preceded you.

“They’ll have different memories of those family times and that summer barbecue,” Wright said. “But by gathering all the information, you’ll get a better picture of the event.”

When interviewing older family members, it is important to remember to do it in steps.

“They will get tired,” she said.

“So plan to do it over time. And go with specific questions that will spark memories.”

The society has a list of possible topics and questions. An example, talk about the sugar coupons that were

Saving family history means finding old photos and identifying the people in them. Older relatives can help with that.

Contributed photo given out during World War II. “Something specific like that will get a flood of memories,” she said.

“How did they have a birthday cake when there was a limit on sugar?”

And keep technology simple. If you are recording or videotaping the interview, try to come with as little equipment as possible.

“If you just flip on a micro-recorder and lay it on the table, soon, everyone will forget that it’s there and the conversation will just be normal,” Wright said.

Take it in small pieces. At one interview, ask about the person’s youth. Then, at the next ask them about their adulthood, she suggested.

“And bring family photos,” she said. “You may not know who’s in the photo and there may be nothing written on the back of it. So be ready to ask your family member and write the names down.”

If you are interviewing several family members at the same time, be ready for their memories to be different.

“Sometimes, that’s what fills in the details,” Wright said. “Don’t be concerned that they may differ on how things happened. We all have different perspectives.”

Family Bibles are also good sources of names and dates, she added.

Most importantly, once you have

the information, do something with it.

If it’s recorded, download a computer program so you can keep the video or voice interviews on your computer, and then back them up with a copy on a hard drive, a flash drive, disk, or maybe all three.

If gathering these memories sparks a real desire to research your family history, the society has paper pedigree charts and family group sheets that can get you started and keep you organized.

“There are things like this online, too,” she said. “But sometimes, some people like to start by just writing things out on paper.”

There are many online programs to choose from when researching, including Ancestory.com, Findmypast.com, Fold3.com, and AmericanAncestory.org. Some have fees, but Wright said any member of the society can use the library’s version of Ancestry.com at the library without cost.

There are also online sources to keep your own family information such as Legacy, Roots Magic, and Family Tree Maker.

“Most of these offer a free trial,” Wright said. “So try them and find the one that you are most comfortable with.”

Wright knows that many people think they don’t have time to record

family memories or research their family tree. Like Wright, some older adults will think about it once their family is grown and they are retired.

“But you can do small things that won’t take a lot of time any time,” she said. “Even the Boy Scouts now have a badge where they research their genealogy.”

Start small and build on it. And if you need help, join the society which meets monthly and has speakers who talk about genealogical subjects. The group also has classes on the first Tuesday and the last Saturday of the month. To register call 360-475-9172.

To find out more, go to www.KRL.org.

And most of all, don’t be afraid of what you might find.

“We like it when we find relatives who were in trouble with the law or who died tragically,” she said. “There’s much more about them that’s been written down. My great-grandfather was a traveling salesman and died in a train disaster in Arkansas. When I went looking I found information about that head-on train collision in three newspapers. I found the name of the mortuary where he was taken and I contacted that mortuary. In their records was a statement that told how much the suit cost that he was buried in and what was paid for the casket.

“You just never know what you may find.”

About Puget Sound Genealogical Society

PSGS began in 1973 and its history is detailed on their website, www. pusogensoc.org. PSGS entered into a partnership with Kitsap Regional Library in 2011, based partly on a shared vision of life-long learning, educational opportunities and access to research services, and moved the society’s research collection into the Sylvan Way location for a grand opening in January 2012.

Society members serve as volunteers in the Genealogy Center during regular Sylvan Way hours and are ready to assist anyone who comes in with questions about getting started or what to do next. Current membership is 166 but has been as large as 200.

Membership is $15 per year.

18

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Spring Brings A New Community of Friends My mother came from a very large close-knit family.

Every summer she organized our family reunion consisting of her sisters, brothers, and their children. She would cook wonderful meals and the kitchen would fill the house with wonderful aromas.

Mom no longer hosts the reunions since Dad had passed away. At the last gathering she looked extremely tired.

The family thought it would be best if we found her a new home where others could keep her company and occupied throughout the days. Somewhere that would take care of her the same way she had taken care of us all those years. We did not just want anyplace to be her home but a place where she had activities, warmth, care and most importantly love. We decided that Liberty Shores & Harbor House in Poulsbo would be the new home that would be perfect for mom.

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