LIFE Senior Services LIFELines newsletter - Spring 2023

ISSUE 3/SPRING 2023

LIFELines LIFE SENIOR SERVICES

YOUR GUIDE TO LIFE; YOUR LIFELINE TO OTHERS

celebrating 50 years of life! >> PAGE 4 ISSUE 3/SPRING 2023 1

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A Note from

EILEEN BRADSHAW

Fifty years ago…its kind of hard for me to remember what was happening, so I googled.

The number one song that year was Tie A Yellow Ribbon, by Tony Orlando and Dawn. The Chevy Monte Carlo was the most popular car; Maud and Kung Fu topped the television charts; and, LIFE Senior Services was born. It started out as Tulsa Senior Services but evolved as the service area expanded to surrounding communities.

Over the last half century LIFE has helped thousands of seniors and their caregivers as they navigated the challenges and opportunities of aging. Programs like the Vintage Magazine, Senior Line, Medicare Assistance, Tax Assistance, and caregiver support groups were created as needs emerged. Throughout its history, LIFE has remained nimble in its approach to aging.

As we embark on the next fifty years, the Roma Berry Center for Seniors will afford us a great new opportunity in which to meet the changing and diverse needs of seniors. Located in a former Tulsa Public School building (which, coincidentally opened the same year LIFE was founded), the

LIFE

Roma Berry Center will provide space for our LIFE PACE clinic, an expanded Adult Day Health facility and an expanded Active Senior Center. Space for case management and volunteer opportunities will round out the offerings at the site. We hope to complete construction by year’s end.

I am excited about the new campus and the ways we will be able serve there, and I remain enthusiastic about the ongoing work at our many other locations. I am very proud to be a part of LIFE and its legacy of innovative, personalized service.

Happy fiftieth LIFE- here’s to the next 50!

Best, Eileen Bradshaw, President and CEO LIFE Senior Services, Inc. and Affiliates

by the numbers

COUNTING ON VOLUNTEERS

Thank you to our generous donors and devoted Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) volunteers. As a result of your support, area seniors receive MAP consulting services at no cost to them whatsoever. From October 17 to December 6, 2022, 29 MAP volunteers gave:

1,263 hours to help 2,885 seniors save over $940,000 on rx costs. that’s nearly one million dollars saved in 2022!

To someone on a small fixed income, every dollar saved means the world. The MAP program works thanks to your generosity and that of our incredible volunteers. Supporters of LIFE make the world a better place, a million times over.

LIFELines Publishing Team: Rochelle Dowdell, Kelly Kirchhoff, Greg Raskin, Lauren Zeligson 2 LIFELines

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Celebrate LIFE | Solid Gold 50 GOLDEN YEARS

With LIFE Senior Services celebrating 50 golden years of preserving independence and meeting the needs of our aging population, honorary chairs Denise and John Redmond look forward to sharing this Solid Gold milestone event with you.

QR code below. The lucky winner does NOT have to be present to win.

Celebrate LIFE Solid Gold, Friday, June 16, 6:00 p.m., Cox Business Convention Center

Celebrate LIFE, the annual gala event, supports the valued community programs that lift seniors, families, and caregivers through the aging process. Whether it’s a simple, “Where can I find” call to the SeniorLine, or the medical and social services, social engagement, and case management at an Adult Day Health Center, or the Vintage Guide to Housing and Services, LIFE has been on call for 50 years. Celebrate LIFE with us.

In addition to incredible live auction items, you can also win the trip of a LIFEtime! One winner will choose ONE of four fabulous trips. Purchase raffle tickets for $25 each or five for $100 on our website. Look for the “Support LIFE” tab on top and navigate to Celebrate LIFE or use the handy

For more information, or to purchase tickets or sponsorships, contact Rickye Wilson (918) 664-9000, ext. 1213 or rwilson@lifeseniorservices.org.

You can enjoy dinner, drinks, dancing, and auction and raffle items. And, back by popular demand, Celebrate LIFE will strike up the band…on a Friday night no less. Yes, you can put on your dancing shoes and not worry about a weekend alarm clock.

A WORD FROM OUR HONORARY CHAIRS “We are both long-time advocates for older adults. After attending our very first LIFE Senior Services event, we were touched how LIFE serves the Tulsa community. The LIFE Senior Services team works tirelessly to address so many of the challenges facing older adults in the Tulsa area. We know they fill critical gaps and are simply an amazing organization. Join us at the fabulous Celebrate LIFE event which helps provide the necessary funding to sustain the important work of LIFE Senior Services. You will not find a better cause or group of people to support. We hope to see you there.” - DENISE & JOHN REDMOND

Consider a gift of $50 or more to successfully start LIFE Senior Services on the next 50 years of serving area seniors, families, and caregivers.

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A Pivot Towards Growth and Service

BILL MAJOR, LIFE’S SECOND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bill Major and Rod Nordstrom

Bill Major with Henry Zarrow, Judy Kishner, and community leaders

Bill early in his career

Most emerging organizations at some point find themselves at a crossroad that either leads to vitalization or decline. A significant pivot for LIFE Senior Services occurred in 1991 when Bill Major took the helm as the second executive of the agency.

funding.” With that realization, and knowing his staff needed proper tools to propel the organization, Bill focused on expanding the development and marketing departments as well as increasing the quality and visibility of LIFE’s publications.

First becoming aware of Tulsa Senior Services (now LIFE) as a consumer, Bill utilized the case management program while caring for his grandmother.

Bill noted, “The Vintage Newsmagazine existed at the time, but with increased funding came vastly improved quality for the magazine. The Vintage Guide to Housing & Services started as a flip document; its success came from aggressive ad sales and a more comprehensive approach to the information.”

Those expansions were also critical to the survival and strengthening of the ADH program. During his tenure, Bill worked to grow and expand the offices and programs into three new state-of-the-art facilities, including in north Tulsa and Broken Arrow.

When Bill began his professional engagement at LIFE, the organization ran almost exclusively on government funding sources. He immediately recognized the need to expand the financial base and provide fresh faces, ideas, and programs. “When I first started, the organization was in the back of the F&M Bank building on Harvard and they were using plywood for partitions.”

“The Adult Day Health program existed at the time but was in real financial trouble. The only way to improve the program was to increase

In 1994, Bill also turned his attention toward affordable housing for low-income seniors, an achievement which cemented his legacy.

“At first we didn’t know what we were

HIGHLIGHTS DURING BILL MAJOR’S LEADERSHIP AT LIFE SeniorLine began taking calls to assist seniors and caregivers. The volunteer program, was created and case management services expanded to include Medicaid reimbursement

1991 Bill Major assumed the role of Tulsa Senior Services Executive Director.

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1993

1995 Vintage Housing was created to provide affordable senior housing. LIFE also completed a $1 million capital campaign and moved into a new centralized facility with expanded ADH.

Tulsa Senior Services first fundraising gala, In the Doghouse (now Celebrate LIFE) was held.

1997

1998 Tulsa Senior Services received the 1998 Award for Nonprofit Management Excellence from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits.

50 years of service Steven Anderson from Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, Bill Major, Kelly Vandever

Groundbreaking in Broken Arrow

Bill then and now

getting into as we ventured into the right model for senior housing.” But, he noted two significant factors when the decision was made to delve into congregant housing. “First, a social setting offers a boon for seniors’ wellbeing. Second, it is an effective and efficient method for delivering services.” Currently, LIFE’s Vintage Housing oversees 18 affordable senior apartment complexes.

With many changes occurring in senior care over the years, Bill is encouraged to see significant increases in current Alzheimer’s funding. “I give Bill and Bob Thomas a lot of credit for advancing that agenda on a national stage.”

TSS completed the capital campaign to build two new Adult Day Health Centers, and upgrade the existing Central facility.

2000

Bill currently serves as the Executive Director for the Zarrow Family Foundations. Looking at the historical arc of Tulsa’s aging population, he said, “During the time I was at LIFE, seniors represented about 10 percent of the residents.

That figure is now somewhere close to 15 percent and is the fastest growing segment of our community. LIFE Senior Services is the most effective senior-focused organization in our community. Their vast array of services works with seniors where they are in order to maintain their dignity and independence for as long as possible.

LIFE initiated Independent Case Management Services to individuals not eligible for the ADvantage program (through Medicaid).

2002

Adopted the name LIFE Senior Services (Love, Independence, and Family Enrichment) and tripled the capacity of essential services by opening two new Adult Day Health Centers.

2003

Expanded LIFE’s Medicare Prescription Assistance Program.

2007

2009

LIFE received its first Champion of Senior Health Award for Medicare Prescription Assistance.

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A Day in the LIFE:

TERRY BRUCE, ADH NURSE

“i want to be the best nurse i can be and hopefully make a difference in their lives.”

Kathy Staats, an ADH Participant, and Terry Bruce

It’s all in the details. Terry Bruce recently helped avert a potential emergency when she noticed a patient at an Adult Day Health (ADH) site experiencing shortness of breath, a possible sign of congestive heart failure. “I want to be the best nurse I can be and hopefully make a difference in their lives.” As an onsite ADH nurse, Terry has trained herself to remain observant of details.

A natural caregiver, Terry immediately fell in love with the medical profession. She began her career at LIFE as a CNA. “I loved working at LIFE, but wanted to do more.” She temporarily left to pursue her LPN credentials, and returned to work as a site nurse. Currently working on prerequisites to become an RN, Terry remains committed to help even more.

Her work at LIFE diverges from former positions at other long-term care facilities with much higher patient to staff ratios. Terry loves having the ability to interact and genuinely get to know

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her patients at LIFE. Often, she can sit, draw, and talk to them. “The work is so rewarding.”

Through her career, Terry has witnessed the rewards and challenges of working in senior care, in particular with dementia patients. Terry observed “Family members miss their loved ones. Caregivers often just need a support system where they can vent their frustrations.

Everything takes longer. For instance, just asking someone to wash their hands, they may end up standing at the sink because they forgot what they are supposed to do. That makes being a primary caregiver a 24/7 job. That’s what we are here for, to provide that relief. That’s what I love about ADH.” “One of my patients remained my pen pal for the two years I was getting my LPN license. She reminds me of my grandmother. Whenever I see her, I see my grandmother.” Terry pours her heart into her work and into the relationships she builds with patients. You can’t teach that level of care.

The Spice of LIFE Donor Profile GINNY SCHULTE

“... I have friends in other states and they have nothing like this. It’s so unique, it’s wonderful.”

Before Ginny Schulte started her many years serving and supporting LIFE, her mother needed information about independent living facilities. Naturally, Ginny sought help from LIFE. Live counselors and the Vintage Guide to Housing & Services offered just the right information. Since then, Ginny has served on the board and the development committee. Her family business, Southwood Landscape and Garden Center, hosts the annual Friends for LIFE event. She recently served on the successful Senior Campus capital campaign committee.

Ginny also provides generous financial and volunteer support.

Helping people register for COVID vaccines provided Ginny one of her greatest volunteer satisfactions. “So many people didn’t have access, the ability, or a family member to help them navigate the enrollment technology. I felt so good doing that for them; we got a lot of people their first vaccines.”

Ginny has LIFE’s phone number memorized to share with people. “LIFE is a tremendous resource for getting information about any aspect of growing older. They have the knowledge and the ability to help. I have friends in other states and they have nothing like this. It’s so unique, it’s wonderful.”

Take a look at some of the programs you support through LIFE. SENIORLINE: The first place to call with questions about aging services or situations.

(918) 664-9000.

VINTAGE HOUSING: Comfortable and affordable community-based housing for seniors with limited resources.

ADULT DAY HEALTH: Nationally accredited centers provide safe, cost-effective care, health monitoring, and flexible daily enrichment activities for seniors and other adults in a safe, friendly, and supportive setting.

CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: Assesses needs and coordinates a personalized social, economic, and environmental support plan which enables seniors to remain safely at home.

ACTIVE SENIOR CENTERS: Offer a variety of social, creative, educational, and fitness activities supporting healthy aging, staying active, and sharing time with friends.

VOLUNTEERS FOR LIFE: Provides meaningful volunteer opportunities to seniors and retirees throughout our community.

LIFE PACE: Provides care and comprehensive, integrated support services for qualifying individuals. PACE’s unique team-based approach results in positive health outcomes and dramatically reduced hospitalizations.

TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP): The only such site in Oklahoma, the program provides assistance with free tax preparation and filing February – April to qualifying individuals.

MEDICARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MAP): Oklahoma’s most comprehensive counseling service, helping beneficiaries understand and navigate Medicare Part D.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION: Opportunities for the entire community with online and in-person options. Topics include: legal issues, wellness, caregiving, and more.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT: Provides family caregivers counseling and support to help enhance coping strategies and improve quality of life through the aging process.

PUBLICATIONS: LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine, published monthly, and LIFE’s annual Vintage Guide to Housing & Services, Oklahoma’s most comprehensive guide to senior resources, have both won National Mature Media awards.

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groundbreaking

LIFE’S SENIOR CAMPUS ROMA BERRY CENTER FOR SENIORS

Tulsa Mayor GT Bynum

LIFE President & CEO Eileen Bradshaw

Community partners break ground.

On a bright spring-like morning, LIFE hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Senior Campus. Addressing the audience was Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, Melanie Stewart, president of LIFE’s board of directors, Jim Dietz, board and capital campaign committee member, and Eileen Bradshaw, LIFE’s CEO. Collectively, they highlighted the impact the new center will have and thanked the individuals, foundations, businesses, and community partners who brought shape to the vision.

The Roma Berry Center for Seniors will host three cornerstone programs of LIFE in addition to other LIFE services and includes gardens, walking trail, and outdoor programming space.

The adjacent brand-new activity center will feature space for line dancing, special events, and of course pickleball.

LIFE’s Senior Campus is projected to open in JANUARY of 2024. We can’t wait. See you there!

LIFEseniorservices.org 8 LIFELines

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