Living Smart Inaugural Issue

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the Security

Welcome to livingsmart

WWelcome to the first issue of Living Smart, a SmartLife VIA Willow Valley publication. We are delighted to share this inaugural issue with you.

“Aging in place” is a term that is used for remaining in your own home during your retirement years. In Living Smart, we hope to tell you more about how SmartLife is a trusted plan for this lifestyle. It is a sound investment for the future that can help protect your financial assets against significant loss and provide you and your loved ones with peace of mind.

SmartLife is a true Life Plan at Home program serving Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, and York Counties. It is an innovative, membership-based plan that gives you the security of continuing care in your own home — while continuing your current lifestyle. You have the security of knowing you are covered if your healthcare needs change. Your SmartLife membership includes Lifecare, which means that assets are protected because your monthly fees are not increased if you were to need an increased level of care.

When needed, SmartLife’s personal Lifecare Coordinators arrange for your care in your own home or with providers in your local area. This takes the burden off of spouses, other family members, or loved ones who might otherwise have to make these arrangements for you. Instead, they are free to support you in their own way.

In Living Smart, we look forward to introducing you to some of our Members who can tell you in their own words why they chose SmartLife as their trusted plan in retirement. We hope you find their stories as inspiring as we do. Each has a unique lifestyle that warrants them aging in place in their own homes during retirement. SmartLife allows them to do this with confidence.

You’ll also learn about some of our dedicated and compassionate Team Members who help make it possible for our Members to achieve this retirement lifestyle goal — all while providing peace of mind for the future.

Thank you for allowing Living Smart into your home. We hope you enjoy it, and we look forward to sharing future issues with you.

With kind regards, SmartLife VIA Willow Valley

On the Cover

SmartLife Member Timothea Kirchner reads to her granddaughter at home. Read more about Timi on page 5.

Contents

“That’s what sets SmartLife apart. And I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

Meet Jerry and Fay Shultz, carrying on their tradition of family gatherings at home thanks to SmartLife.

SmartLife Member Timothea Kirchner is aging in place with a secure plan for her future. See how SmartLife is a gift for both herself and her loved ones.

Manager of Lifecare Coordination Megan Henderson exemplifies the mission of SmartLife VIA Willow Valley.

SPOTLIGHT

We are honored to call Dr. Clark McSparren a SmartLife Member. Read more about his lifetime commitment to the health of his community.

When the unimaginable happens, SmartLife is there. From in-home and skilled care to meals, errands, and housework, we help Members focus on healing, not red tape.

SmartLife: A Family Affair

for Jerry & Fay Shultz,

Members since 2014

WWalk into Jerry and Fay Shultz’s house in Willow Street, and one of the first things you notice is the full wall of family photographs. They cover decades of Shultz family events: vacations, graduations, parties, holidays, and more. As the years have gone by, the family has grown, and that growth is depicted in those photographs of the Shultzes’ three daughters, and now seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, with another on the way.

Jerry and Fay Shultz have lived in the Willow Street area all their lives. They’ve been married 61 years and raised their girls here. Their grown daughters relish in recreating the Shultz family legacy with their parents through frequent family gatherings.

Family is truly the joy of the Shultzes’ lives, and you can hear that joy in Fay’s voice as she talks about spending precious time with their grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. “We have a lot of family in the area, and we have a lot of family events — celebrations, the holidays. I just love it. I love having everyone here in my own home all together,” she says.

As time went on, the Shultzes assumed they would need some kind of plan for future supportive care. When they witnessed how a family’s nest egg could quickly be depleted with the skyrocketing costs of private pay care, they knew their plan would also have to be financially smart. And they wanted their plan to not only handle care for them as they aged, but also allow them to stay in their own home, continuing to host all those festive family gatherings for as long as they wanted.

SmartLife VIA Willow Valley, a true Life Plan at Home program, was the perfect fit for the Shultzes. Jerry and Fay continue their current lifestyle in their home with the security of knowing they are covered if additional care is ever needed. Their assets are also better protected with the program’s Lifecare coverage because fees are not increased due to a need for an enhanced level of care.

Because SmartLife is under the Willow Valley Communities umbrella of brands, Jerry and Fay had even more confidence in their decision. Jerry’s parents and Fay’s mother were all Residents of Willow Valley Communities, and they

remember the excellent service and care they received. The decision to join SmartLife, recalls Jerry, was a “no-brainer.”

Jerry and Fay say their family is very happy with their decision to become SmartLife Members. In fact, Jerry’s brother, Colin, and his wife, Judy, also joined in 2014. “We enjoy our home,” says Colin, “but yet, we wanted the assurance of Willow Valley Communities’ conveniences and healthcare if we need it.”

“My three daughters are so glad we have SmartLife,” adds Jerry. “Should something happen to me, it would not be my wife’s job or my daughters’ job to take care of me. It would be SmartLife’s job. The personal care we receive from SmartLife is so much better than just a plain old policy through an insurance company.”

He summarizes, “Only when something happens do you realize you’re not going to live forever, so you better have a trusted and financially smart plan in place. When SmartLife came, it was the answer. We knew we were going to join SmartLife and stay in our home.”

We have a lot of family in the area, and we have a lot of family events — celebrations, the holidays. I love having everyone here in my own home all together.

Jerry Shultz (L) with his brother, Colin

Fay Shultz (R) with her sister-in-law, Judy Shultz

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing to Age in Place

RReal estate experts through history have often used the cliché “location, location, location” when describing the three most important factors about a property’s value. But today, three more reasons should be added to that list: security, security, security.

You may think location is the most important factor in determining your next home, but peace of mind for your future should also weigh heavily in your decision. For individuals nearing retirement, this consideration of future security is especially true. Health issues and supportive care needs can easily wipe out hard-earned savings and other assets in a short period of time.

SmartLife Member Timothea Kirchner has a full, rich life. Semi-retired, Timi is a former teacher and county administrator. She does some consulting with governments and is also on the board of the Lancaster Downtowners, a network of people who share a common passion for downtown Lancaster. However, she recently moved out of Lancaster City to Landisville in order to be close to her son and his daughters, her granddaughters.

Though Timi’s first consideration in her move was location, she also was wise enough to know she needed a secure plan for her future. Timi remembers when her mother had a massive stroke and she and her siblings had to take care of her

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father and her mother who had done no pre-planning for such an event. “It was an awful experience for me and my siblings,” she recalls, “and I don’t want to be that memory for my granddaughters. I wanted a plan.”

Timi, who is single, met with her financial advisor for ideas. The advisor suggested that Timi join SmartLife VIA Willow Valley.

With her SmartLife membership, if Timi would ever need supportive care, SmartLife will coordinate her needs. This is especially meaningful to Timi, who says, “I just want my son to be my son, not my caregiver.” She also says her son remembers when his grandparents were ill and the tremendous burden that put on his mother and his aunts and uncles. When Timi joined SmartLife, her son told her, “I can’t thank you enough.”

“SmartLife is a gift for him as well as for myself. I can really live life without having to worry. I have tremendous peace of mind,” Timi explains, reflecting on what her membership in the program means to her. “I feel like my parents are looking down on me, saying, ‘Good for you.’”

I can really live life without having to worry. I have tremendous peace of mind.

“I want my son to be my son, not my caregiver. SmartLife is a gift for him as well as for myself.”

Meet Megan Henderson

SmartLife’s Manager of Lifecare Coordination

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Manager of Lifecare Coordination Megan Henderson, who has been with Willow Valley Communities since 2006, joined SmartLife VIA Willow Valley in 2014. A native of Lancaster County, she has more than 15 years of experience working with seniors in a long-term care setting. Megan earned her master’s degree in social work from Millersville University and her BSW from Shippensburg University. She has completed internships in mental health and with seniors in different settings. During her time at Willow Valley Communities, she’s won the Circle of Excellence Award in 2010 and the Team Spirit Award in 2013.

Megan oversees the entire Lifecare Coordination department — truly the heart of the SmartLife program. It is the Lifecare Coordination department that Members call when their situation has changed or if they need assistance.

If a SmartLife Member’s status changes, SmartLife Lifecare Coordinators will assist in determining what services are needed. This could be meal delivery, a home healthcare nurse, non-medical caregivers, or therapy. “We coordinate everything,” Megan explains. “This removes stress from the Member and their loved ones so the Member can concentrate fully on getting well without having to deal with care logistics.”

Megan says that absent membership in a comprehensive program like SmartLife, the services Lifecare Coordinators arrange typically fall upon a spouse or an adult child. Instead, her team takes care of all the phone calls, arrangements, and paperwork, thereby alleviating the stress and burden on Members’ families and loved ones. Lifecare Coordinators

have the experience to get the job done, set everything up, and not get bogged down by confusing logistics.

“Family relationships remain intact and don’t morph into a caregiving role. A spouse remains a spouse, and a son or daughter remains a son or daughter.” Megan says she loves seeing that. “Very often we use Connections at Home VIA Willow Valley for non-medical care, so the services are really easy to arrange and seamless.”

But Megan doesn’t sit around waiting for the phone to ring. She proactively reaches out to SmartLife Members to see how they are doing or simply just to catch up. She’ll visit them in their homes or, if needed, in the hospital. Megan says checking in and getting to know the Members and their families is what she enjoys most about her job.

And she’s learned that SmartLife Members appreciate that as well. Megan recalls an experience where one Member was sitting on a panel discussion during a SmartLife event. The Member spoke glowingly about her to prospective Members and explained how she saw Megan as a trusted friend.

“I was really very touched by that comment,” Megan says. “But it’s so true! I’ve been with SmartLife for over eight years, and over that time, I’ve gotten to know our Members and their families quite well.”

“That’s what sets SmartLife apart,” Megan emphasizes, and then adds with a big smile, “and I wouldn’t have it any other way!”

I’ve been with SmartLife for over eight years, and over that time, I’ve gotten to know our Members and their families quite well.

SmartLife provides the security

Dr. McSparren needs to remain focused on his community.

Member Spotlight

Dr. Clark McSparren, SmartLife Member since 2018

DDr. Clark McSparren Jr., MD, is a long-standing, respected pediatrics specialist and a founder of Lancaster Pediatric Associates. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1959, he embarked on an exemplary career as a renowned pediatrician spanning more than 60 years. His dedication to his beloved city of Lancaster and the health and well-being of Pennsylvania’s children cannot be overstated.

While a practicing pediatrician, Dr. McSparren served as Chief of Pediatrics for a local hospital for five years, Medical Director of CAPs Lancaster City and the Lancaster County Head Start program for 12 years, and he co-founded the Lancaster County Committee on Child Abuse. He also served as an instructor for medical students and pediatric residents during this time.

After retiring from private practice, Dr. McSparren increased his volunteering for the School District of Lancaster, where he provided free, accessible medical care in their schoolbased clinics for students in need. Under his leadership, this program expanded beyond elementary to the middle and high school grades as well.

Dr. McSparren also led the successful campaign to build the 17-bed Seraph-McSparren Pediatric Inpatient Center at Lancaster General Hospital. The beautifully designed, stateof-the-art, 20,000-square-foot pediatric inpatient unit opened in September 2019.

Dr. McSparren was recently named FAAP Pediatrician of the Year for 2021 by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP). Prima Theatre held a virtual roast for Dr. McSparren, where a scholarship was named on his behalf for high school seniors wishing to pursue studies in the creative arts.

Currently, Dr. McSparren serves as Co-Chair of Willow Valley Communities’ “This is Personal” Capital Campaign Communications Committee for a world-class memory support center the senior living community is developing. He also serves on the campaign’s Executive Committee. Dr. McSparren is featured in Willow Valley Communities’ video presentation about the Memory Care Center, where he shares his unique experience as a caregiver for his late wife, Ethelmae.

Seamless Support

Through an Unexpected Medical Event: A Member’s Story

TThinking about the possibility of needing supportive care in the future isn’t likely to be at the top of anyone’s list of things that are enjoyable. But now, perhaps more than ever before, it’s imperative to go beyond thinking about it. It’s important to also have a secure, trusted plan in place — especially during challenging times.

Andrew Solodky, Manager of Marketing and Sales for SmartLife VIA Willow Valley Communities, understands how difficult it may be to imagine the eventuality of life’s unknowns. He understands the apprehension. At the same time, he wants seniors to understand how having a secure, trusted plan for the future can offer peace of mind, as well as protect their family and their hardearned assets.

When Andrew talks to prospective SmartLife Members, he explains how SmartLife VIA Willow Valley is that kind of plan. It is an innovative, membership-based, true Life Plan at home program. SmartLife Members enjoy their current lifestyle at home with the security of knowing continuing care can be arranged if ever needed. The SmartLife membership includes Lifecare, which

means that assets are protected because monthly fees are not increased because of a need for an increased level of care. Members have the peace of mind of knowing they are covered if their healthcare needs change.

But while Andrew can certainly explain the facts about SmartLife VIA Willow Valley, he believes one of the best ways to understand the way the plan works is through Members’ experiences. Here is one SmartLife Member’s story and how SmartLife’s care component provided muchneeded assistance during an unexpected medical event.

• On January 4, a SmartLife Member experienced concerning symptoms. The Member made one simple telephone call to SmartLife, and automatically, a seamless flow of care processes and professionals was put into motion.

• The SmartLife Care Coordinator immediately arranged for home caregivers to assist the Member.

• The Member’s symptoms escalated quickly over the next three days. Subsequently, the Member was

temporarily admitted to the hospital on January 7. Three weeks later, on January 28, the Member was discharged. However, thanks to SmartLife, instead of having to return home to recover alone, the Member was admitted to skilled nursing care at a local continuing-care retirement community for continued care.

• On February 5, after just nine days in skilled care, the Member’s health insurance ended coverage, but the Member was not fully recovered. Instead of having to pay out of pocket for care that was still needed, the Member’s SmartLife benefit commenced, and the daily cost of skilled care was covered by the program.

• On March 9, the Member was discharged from skilled care to their home. But, as their recovery continued, they still required care. The SmartLife coverage continued. The Care Coordinator again arranged for in-home supportive care, meals, as well as help with errands and light housework. The Member requested assistance first for three hours a day, seven days a week, and then, by April, the Member felt that their care could be decreased to four days a week. By the end of April, the Member felt well enough to choose to decrease their care again to seven hours a week, then soon recovered fully.

Without SmartLife, this Member’s scenario would likely have been very different. They would have had to arrange for all their care themselves, and after their insurance coverage ended, pay the daily rate for care services out of their own pocket.

SmartLife VIA Willow Valley Members have the peace of mind of knowing that one simple telephone call to SmartLife takes care of everything. SmartLife arranges all needed services: skilled care, therapy, meal preparation, light housekeeping, errands, and even pet or plant sitting. SmartLife Members don’t have to navigate the myriad of red tape that is so often involved with arranging for enhanced care or assistance. And, importantly, SmartLife Members’ families and loved ones also don’t have to take on this burden.

SmartLife VIA Willow Valley is a true Life Plan at Home program, so Members know exactly how much any needed enhanced care will cost in the future. There are no surprise costly daily fees for skilled care — fees that can quickly wipe out a family’s assets. SmartLife offers peace of mind for everyone so that the focus can stay on the Member and him or her getting better — even through a devastating illness.

“ Without SmartLife, this Member’s scenario would likely have been very different.

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Living the SmartLife

SmartLife VIA Willow Valley is a true Life Plan at Home 60+ program serving Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, and York Counties. It is an innovative, membership-based plan that gives you the security of continuing care in your own home as you enjoy your current lifestyle. SmartLife VIA Willow Valley membership includes Lifecare, which means that your assets are protected because monthly fees are not increased if an increased level of care is needed in the future.

SmartLife VIA Willow Valley is part of the Willow Valley Communities family of brands and follows the same exemplary standard of excellence that Willow Valley Communities has been providing to seniors for nearly 40 years.

To learn more about how to live smart, visit SmartLifeWV.org/Living.