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Cedar Community: Life the way is should be. The way you want it.

When it comes to considering the benefits of Senior Retirement Community living, we find two parties most likely to do the necessary research: the potential senior residents themselves and the key family members of those seniors. Many times, the oldest daughter becomes a significant researcher/decision-maker.

The first step in this important research is simply understanding the terms/definitions used by the providers of senior retirement communities. So here is a very basic list of those terms and definitions:

AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging): A national association of not-for-profit senior care organizations devoted to senior issues advocacy and member education. Headquartered in Washington DC. (See: www.aahsa.org)

ADLs (Activities of Daily Living): Bathing, eating, grooming, dressing, toileting, and other usual day-to-dat activities.

Administrator: Licensed director of a clinical health care facility or organization.

Adult Day Care: Structured programs including social activity and interaction with health related programs, services and therapy for seniors, generally for up to 8 hours per day.

Alzheimers: A progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of function and resulting in death. Universal syptoms include memory loss and confusion.

Ambulatory: Ability to walk freely and without assistance.

Assessment: May include physical, cognitive and emotional evaluations performed by a qualified health care professional.

Assisted Living: Housing and supportive services, generally provided in an apartment setting.

Caregiver: The primary person in charge of providing care.

CBRF (Community Based Retirement Facility): A senior care facilty providing supervision and supportive services to people unable to live independently but do not require nursing home services. They allow five or more unrelated adults to reside in a CBRF and individuals may receive up to 3 hours of nursing services per week.

CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities): A ‘full service’ retirement community providing a wide variety of services and levels of care including: Independent Housing, Assisted Living and skilled nursing services.

CCRC’s without Walls: An array of health care services for seniors provided in the private homes of seniors.

Congregate Housing: Generally senior apartments with the availability of activities and meals focusing on social interaction.

Dementia: The loss of intellectual functions (memory, thinking and reasoning) stemming from a variety of neurological diseases or conditions.

DME (Durable Medical Equipment): Assistive equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, ‘hospital’ beds, lift chairs, etc.

Geriatric Case Management: Professional assistance from a trained advocate assisting a senior in a variety of areas.

HCBS (Home and Community Based Services): Senior services provided in private homes of seniors and for the wider community.

HIPAA: The ‘Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’ of 1996. Amoung other things, assures privacy of health information.

Home Health: Can be either ‘medical’ and/or ‘non-medical’ care services for individuals in their private homes.

Hospice: End-of-life medical care services with specific protocols to comfort the dying and their families. Service costs are generally covered by Medicare in the final 6 months of life. Hospice can take place in private homes and/or in institutions.

Independent Living: Residential living for seniors that promotes activities, wellness, and social interaction. No or limited health care services are provided.

Medicaid: Public assistance programs giving funds to medical providers assuring health care for people of limited or no financial means.

Medicare: A federal health insurance program, generally for those 65 and older and those with disabilities, providing physician services, therapies, home health care and hospice care.

Not-for-Profit (or Non-profit): Organizations created to provide services and charitable assistance. Generally church affiliated, not-for-profits have no individual owners or investors and depend on support of donors and sponsors.

Palliative Care: Focus is on providing medical ‘comfort’ care and assistance to those with chronic disease.

Skilled Nursing Care: 24 hours of skilled nursing care for more medically acute patients.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF): Nursing home care providing 24 hours of skilled nursing care, activities, meals, therapies and multi-level services.
RCAC (Residential Care Apartment Complex): An RCAC has at least 5 apartments and may provide up to 28 hours per week of services such as housekeeping, personal assistance, dining, nutrition and medication management. 24-hour emergency services are also available. Each apartment has a lockable entrance.
Rehabilitation: Therapeutic care for persons requiring intensive physical, occupational or speech therapy.

Respite: Overnight stays providing people with temporary services.

Senior Apartment: Age restricted multi-unit housing for those 62 years and older who are able to care for themselves.

Senior Center: A place organized to provide activities, education, meals and social interaction for seniors, generally located in villages, towns and cities.

Support Groups: A facilitated gathering of caregivers, family, friends or others affected by a common condition or disease for the purpose of futher education and emotional support.

WAHSA (Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services for the Aging): An association of not-for-profit senior care and retirement organizations located in Wisconsid design to provide education and advocacy for both seniors and membe providers. Headquatered in Madison, Wisconsin (See www.wahsa.org).

Good Planning!

The most important aspect of adjusting to retirement is good planning for a smooth transition. The authors of Retiring on Your Own Terms suggest a “retirement rehearsal.” Consider their rehearsal plan:
1. Practice living on your estimated retirement income, after business expenses.
2. Start developing some of the retirement activities you think will interest you. There are contacts to make and research to do, whether you have in mind volunteer work, further education, or a second career.
3. If you plan to move, learn everything you can about your prospective new home. It’s not likely that you will be able to move repeatedly, nor would you want to, so spend time, if you can, in the new community, during the off-season if there is one. Talk to people who live there; keep looking for disadvantages. You already know the advantages because they’re what attracted you in the first place.
4. Strengthen relationships outside the business environment — with family, friends, and neighbors.
5. Check how long it takes you to do various activities around the house or yard that you look forward to doing in retirement. You may think there are enough chores to keep you busy forever, but you’ll probably zip right through them in a few weeks and then have to start looking for something else to keep you occupied.
6. As important as working out a viable financial future is the planning you and your spouse can do in anticipation of your retirement. Couples who have lived together in the evenings, on weekends, and during vacations for virtually all their married lives don’t necessarily find it easy, especially at first, to be together all day, every day. You and your spouse might want to talk together about seemingly minor potential irritants.
* Source: Wis. Assoc. of Homes and Services for the Aging, Madison, WI

You have heard the phrase that says, “Sometimes we cheat ourselves!” I am sorry to say that I witness the meaning of this phrase on a regular basis. Let me explain.

I have had many opportunities to provide tours to seniors who have shown some interest in seeing our independent homes or apartments; our assisted living apartments; and, our health and rehabilitation center. All of our staff who conduct tours of our facilities, try to learn about the needs and interests of the prospective senior and even those of their families. The best housing is one that provides the least amount of restrictions to the lifestyle of the senior, but also best provides the proper environment, services and programs to meet the individuals needs.

The “needs” usually fit into several categories. These might include: security; nutrition; physical comfort; medications; medical procedures; therapy; hygiene; social interaction; cognitive activity; recreation; and, spiritual. Cedar Community provides a dynamic array of living and care environments that can effectively meet the needs of most seniors.

I remember a past situation in which a single widowed male, who lived alone came to see our Cedar Bay Assisted Living apartments. He was in his late 80’s and was having difficulty living alone. He specifically had trouble making meals and depended on a meals-on-wheels daily delivery. This was the only meal of the day for him. Bathing happened irregularly. The washing of his clothes seldom was done. His medication regime was erratic at best. After viewing a Cedar Bay apartment, he became happy and more animated. He talked about how nice life might be for him if he lived here. The family was so pleased, because this man, their dad seemed so pleased to consider these new wonderful options and possibilities. Cedar Bay had an opening. The price was affordable. The future was hopeful!

Unfortunately, this story does not end as one might predict. On the ride back home, this senior complemented the family for finding such a nice place . . . and then he said, “Some day I’ll probably live there, but certainly NOT now, not until I need it!”

You see, this is a fine example on how we cheat ourselves! Time after time, this is what happens. When we next see this gentleman it will not be on his terms, it will be the result of a disaster. Maybe he will fall or break a hip or have a stroke. His move will more likely be to the health care center, which is fine, but he will have missed those months or years continuing to live alone in his home in a less than safe and dignified state. He will have lost the opportunity for maximum independency while receiving good food, fun, friends, activities, security, and quality health care. Instead of him making the decision for a brighter future, he is allowing circumstances to make the decision for him. Remember, by NOT making a decision, we ARE making a decision . . . that decision? Let circumstance guide my life rather than let me guide my life! We cheat ourselves by avoiding making good and appropriate decisions.

If you know of someone in a similar situation, share this article and encourage people to NOT cheat themselves to a better and more secure life!