Senior Health in Lincoln – June 2022

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services established the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to advance independence, integration, and inclusion throughout life. ACL recently honored Older Americans Month in May, with this year’s theme being “Age My Way”. The theme encouraged older adults and their family to explore the many ways seniors can continue to be an active part of their communities.

Below is short summary of the history of Older Americans Month, taken from the ACL website (acl.gov):

“When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million living Americans had reached their 65th birthday. About a third of older Americans lived in poverty and there were few programs to meet their needs. Interest in older Americans and their concerns was growing. A meeting in April 1963 between President John F. Kennedy and members of the National Council of Senior Citizens led to designating May as ‘Senior Citizens Month,’ the prelude to ‘Older Americans Month.’

“Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country, in particular those who defended our country. Every President since Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation during or before the month of May asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities. Older Americans Month is celebrated across the country through ceremonies, events, fairs, and other such activities.”

Older Americans Month may be officially over until next year’s observance in 2023, but we want to keep the momentum rolling by sharing even more about senior health. We spoke to several reputable senior living services throughout the Lincoln area, and industry experts have provided lots of wonderful advice, thoughts, and recommendations on how older adults can best manage their health as they age.

Senior-Specific Fitness

A good place for seniors who have questions about or want to increase their fitness is Right Foot Forward Fitness (rightfootforwardfitness.com), which offers programs for all ages. They have a selection of tools and resources to help seniors reach their ultimate fitness goals.

“Seniors, who we refer to as Masters Athletes, have oftentimes reached a stage in their life where they desire to travel more, see more, just plain do more,” shared Owner Jeff Madsen. “Sometimes they find that they are starting to struggle physically to keep up with their plans and busy life. Walking long distances, up stairwells, and other things that weren’t challenging before start to become challenging. That’s where we can help. It’s very possible for seniors to increase their balance, proprioception (knowing where your body is in space), strength, and endurance, utilizing safe and effective exercises modified specifically for their needs.”

Balance and coordination are learned innately in childhood, but they are also skills that can be developed and strengthened. Right Foot Forward Fitness offers a Personal Training Track specifically designed for seniors. It starts out with a focus on balance and foot movement, both laterally and vertically. With their trainer, seniors work on increasing proprioception using specially designed drills.

“The exercises are not intimidating, but they are very effective!” said Jeff. “We have worked with folks who have gone from being unable to get up off the floor without first crawling to a wall or piece of furniture, and increased their strength and balance to the point where that is no longer necessary. From there, we can start working on dramatically improving movement patterns, abilities, and most importantly, confidence. There’s nothing more gratifying than watching someone go through this process—you can see the confidence in their physical abilities building from week to week!”

Jeff also explained that physical training is often essential after a hospital visit to recover strength. Health setbacks or surgeries can cause it to be difficult to return to a truly active lifestyle.

“However, you don’t have to accept diminished physical capabilities as your ‘new normal,’” Jeff reminded us. “Find someone who will hold you accountable, has programming designed specifically for you, and understands your goals. As a senior or Masters Athlete at Right Foot Forward Fitness, you are capable of so much more! Believe in yourself and go for it!”

Personalized Pharmacy Services

When it comes to prolonging seniors’ ability to remain healthy and in their own homes, one of the most crucial pieces of the puzzle is comprehensive medication management. Nebraska LTC Pharmacy (neltcpharmacy.com) offers some unique free services (including house calls!) for their customers to help keep them healthy, home, and out of the hospital.

“We have a patient care coordinator who will come to your home and gather all of your medications, then the pharmacist will conduct a medication review to ensure the medications do not interact poorly with each other,” said Owner Shannon Hammerschmidt. “We will contact any of the doctors involved with your care and convey any concerns to ensure that everyone involved is on the same page. We will put the medications into packaging that is extremely easy to use, and we will deliver the medications right to your door. When you are taking the right medications at the right time, it will help eliminate unnecessary trips to the hospital and keep you home safe and sound.”

As a locally owned company that provides a wide array of services in the Lincoln and Omaha areas, Nebraska LTC Pharmacy provides individualized patient care that increases safety and prolongs clients’ independence at home. They strive daily to differentiate themselves from big-box chain stores and pharmacies.

“We also provide free delivery in the Lincoln or Omaha areas,” Shannon said, “and we will ship medications for clients outside of our delivery areas. We will communicate with your doctors to ensure a safe and effective medication regimen tailor-made for you, and we also provide a variety of other miscellaneous services, like environmentally safe disposal of medications, on-site vaccination/injections, and providing incontinence supplies and nutritional supplements. Here at Nebraska LTC Pharmacy, everything is about YOU!”

Stay Social!

When it comes time to find the perfect place for your senior loved one to live, the process and multitude of options can be overwhelming. How can you truly find the “right” place? This is where Oasis Senior Advisors (oasissenioradvisors.com) steps in. They work to find the perfect fit for your loved one’s senior housing that will keep them healthy and living a comfortable life. Franchise Owner Beth Friesen went into detail about how selecting the right senior housing for your loved one can impact much more than their physical health:

“Wellness is all the things – it’s exercise, eating right, getting rid of bad habits, and adopting better ones,” explained Beth. “But wellness goes far beyond the physical. Without emotional health, the physical isn’t enough. When we help people find the right senior living community, we trust that their physical needs will be met. But often where the real magic happens is in the connections they make. The increased opportunities for socialization and community with their peers augments the benefits of their physical needs being met.”

Beth shared with us some information about a study conducted at Brigham Young University that revealed that the two most important factors for aging and aging well were socialization and a social support system. As we age, continuing to develop these critical components of a healthy lifestyle become even more important.

“We often say assisted living is more about retaining much of our independence versus losing it,” said Beth. “While that seems quite counter-intuitive, is has borne out to be true. By increasing the regularity of healthy and nutritious meals, medications, and exercise, plus incorporating additional socialization and support, we have seen our seniors thrive and truly enjoy life!”

Professional Caregiving Services

If you have a senior loved one who experiences an accident that affects their daily routine, but it may not be serious enough to require rehabilitation care, there are in-home services available. Hiring home care to help with the basics that an individual can no longer handle themselves can make a big difference in the quality of life or healing process for your senior loved one. If you find yourself looking for living assistance services, these are a few outstanding local businesses that we would recommend.

Home Care Partners (homecarepartnersofnebraska.com) offers caregiving services that would be beneficial to your loved one’s mental health. Caregivers prepare meals, manage laundry, help with light housekeeping, coordinate needed household tasks, and assist in medication reminders. In addition to at home help, their caregivers will assist with shopping trips, running errands, medical appointments, and socializing activities to enhance quality of life. To help serve seniors’ physical health, Home Care Partners offers recovery care to assist with transition to home preparations, rehabilitation reminders, communication between the care team regarding health status, and provide support to reduce the risk of re-hospitalization.

“It is beneficial to start thinking about care for your parents long before they need it,” shared Managing Partner Karla Frese. “This will give you and your parents time to prepare emotionally, physically, and financially. Begin the discussion by saying that you know they are in good health, and will be for a long time to come, while also encouraging them to think about what you should do when they get older. It might be difficult for your parents to accept that they are aging, but avoiding the topic could lead to being unprepared when action is needed.”

Karla explained that in order to prevent, delay, or minimize health challenges later in life, seniors should engage in healthy lifestyles such as healthy diets and exercise. This is directly correlated to reducing or delaying the likelihood of developing chronic illnesses and diminishing the progression of chronic health problems. Planning in anticipation of future care needs has also been found to diminish the adverse effects of chronic illness and social losses on the psychological well-being of older adults. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle is likely to serve preventive functions by reducing stress, planning ahead is likely to have a positive impact when a care plan is in place if a crisis should arise.

“As your parents age, they face challenges that you may not know how to address,” said Karla. “One way to help determine the need for assistance is through an assessment. Home Care Partners can help lead you through this process. We will discuss the results with your family and offer practical assistance, such as information about caregiving needs and services as well as suggestions for home modifications to provide better safety and security.”

Visiting Angels (visitingangels.com) offers comprehensive home care that is customized for seniors based on their individual needs and preferences. Their dedicated and reliable caregivers have helped thousands of older adults live happily and safely in the comforts of home while providing their families with peace of mind.

“Home care services provide an array of help in many categories,” Owner Natalie Leon shared. “They can aid in simple housekeeping, like cleaning, dusting, and doing the laundry. Hygiene and grooming are fundamentals that should be kept up with for a person’s health and dignity. A home care service provider can assist in this regard, which can boost a patient’s morale.”

Things that may have once been a part of the everyday routine can become a daunting task for seniors, and essential errands – such as picking up groceries or visiting the pharmacy – can’t be skipped. Caregivers with Visiting Angels can help seniors with these errands, including carrying in bags from the vehicle or meal prepping.

“One of the unique things about our services is our Fall Prevention Program,” Natalie shared. “Falls are a huge risk for seniors, with one in three seniors experiencing a serious fall every year and more than 75% of dangerous falls occurring in or around the home. Falls can seriously change the course of life for seniors, and greatly impact their day-to-day lives for months or even years. With that in mind, Visiting Angels takes very seriously the risk of falls in our seniors, and we have created a Safe and Steady Fall Prevention Resource Guide that can help you identify risk factors in your loved one’s home and how to take steps to reduce these risks”.

The guide includes key information about a variety of things, including: physical, social, and emotional health impacts of falls by the elderly; environmental risk factors that increase the likelihood of falls at home; precautions you can take to eliminate fall risks from the home; design changes that can reduce seniors’ risk of an at-home fall; and lifestyles changes that can further reduce fall risks for seniors. Visiting Angels’ commitment to fall prevention goes even further than the informational guide. Their companion care service can help your loved one maintain a safe and tidy home, and they can help with day-to-day tasks that, without assistance, would increase the risk of falls. If a senior’s physical health puts them at a high risk for falls, Visiting Angels’ personal care services can help with activities such as dressing, bathing, and mobility, so you can feel confident that your loved one is receiving the help they need and is in good hands.

CCA Home Care (ccahomecare.com) is home to Nebraska’s largest in-home care registry. All of their caregivers are CNAs who work directly for the client. The client is 100% in control of their caregiver schedule, and CCA Home Care does not require any minimum of hours or financial deposit to begin services. Owner Kyle Johnson shared that clients they begin services with are typically just starting to notice the difficulties of living independent in their own homes, and are starting to need assistance with their ADLs (Activities of Daily Living).

“Seniors need to stay active, both mentally and physically,” said Kyle. “Watching TV and sitting in a recliner all day doesn’t lead to a healthy lifestyle. Getting involved with a local senior center will help with socialization, and going for short walks will help to maintain leg strength. The saying ‘use it or lose it’ is something I commonly say when working with families who are noticing a recent decline in their parent’s health.”

Kyle firmly believes that when families procrastinate on considering the need for senior care, they only add unnecessary financial and emotional burden to their lives.

“We typically see seniors wait too long to accept help due to fear of losing their independence,” Kyle shared. “Adult children are noticing these signs before the senior does, but hesitate to get outside help for fear of upsetting their parents. This is a dangerous scenario of waiting for the ‘major incident’ to happen before getting help in the home. Typically, this results in a hospital stay that could have been avoided with a couple helping hands.”

CCA Home Care also provides a valuable resource to the Lincoln community through the production of their ElderCare Resource Handbook. The handbook is an all-inclusive listing of services, programs, and other resources available for the aging in each area. By understanding the services, resources, and options which are available locally, they hope seniors and their families can make informed decisions which have the potential to enhance their quality of life and independence.

From government and financial services, to medical support and living options, to home health care and end of life services, the ElderCare Resource Handbook can help seniors throughout all stages of senior living. CCA Home Care offers both an Omaha and Lincoln-specific handbook, so be sure to check out both to really understand all of the amazing senior living options we have in our local area!

A Complete Continuum of Senior Care

At Tabitha (tabitha.org), they have Senior Care Experts available to help guide seniors through their health and aging journey. They work with each client, along with his or her entire support system, to determine current needs as well as to anticipate how those needs may evolve and change. They always keep in mind the goal to provide loving, compassionate, and professional care that enhances the safety and well-being of older adults while proactively avoiding the need to make major life and health decisions during times of crisis.

“Tabitha offers the most complete continuum of senior care in the state of Nebraska, designed to help older adults and their families navigate the aging journey while successfully accomplishing health and lifestyle goals,” shared Aubrey Paulsen, senior living advisor. “The continuum offers a broad array of assistance, ranging from home health care to rehabilitation therapy, assisted living and memory care communities, skilled nursing and long-term care, hospice services, and more.”

Aubrey encourages seniors to take advantage of one of the additional avenues created for seniors to be proactive in their care: telehealth. With further reliance on telehealth, seniors can now be seen by healthcare professionals right from their homes – where they can often get care more quickly than scheduling an in-person appointment. Tabitha Care+Plus provides resourceful, serious illness support and takes telehealth to the next level, providing instant access to care. The service allows seniors to be proactive by asking questions about their health status or symptoms, however they’re most comfortable: through a phone call, email, text, or telehealth. Aubrey shared with us another development that Tabitha is working through that will help not only seniors, but students, as well.

“Research from the National Institute on Aging shows social isolation and loneliness have been linked to higher risks for a range of physical and mental health conditions. With 43% of seniors reporting being lonely, we need a way to help them feel connected and stay healthy,” explained Aubrey. “One way Tabitha is doing that is through its InterGenerational Living Community, which is currently under construction. The first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation facility will create a community for seniors as well as students – who report feeling lonely at an even higher rate than seniors. Together, the two generations will live in a comforting environment where they can connect with each other. This will help seniors and students stave off loneliness and the subsequent health issues it can create.”

Planning Ahead

It is never a comfortable conversation and often overwhelming and awkward, but for all seniors—and younger adults, for that matter—planning ahead for what you want when your time on earth ends is such a crucial thing to do. Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery (wyuka.com) is there to help decide upon and record both your loved ones’ and your own end-of-life wishes. Pre-planning can help every individual make an informed and thoughtful decision about their funeral, choosing sentimental things they want included, comparing prices, and helping your family. Wyuka offers a pre-planning checklist with all the information you need to start the process, and they will help walk you through the entire process before a catastrophic event can force the issue.

When you or a loved one passes away, your family will be making numerous important decisions while also grieving. Pre-planning can help your family plan with ease when the time comes. Your family can confidently put a loved one’s plan into action, knowing that these were their wishes. Working with Wyuka to create a plan in advance also leaves your loved one with the peace of mind that their family has been relieved of making burdensome decisions during their time of loss. Once completed, you can rest assured that you and your loved ones’ plans are in the hands of trusted individuals—without forcing anyone to make decisions in a hurried manner. It’s never too soon to get started.

Keeping Adventure Alive

Legacy Retirement Communities (legacyretirement.com) is a trio of state-of-the-art communities that incorporate elegance, superior quality of care, affordability, and thriving social activity all under one roof. They have been distinguished as leaders in the industry and have earned numerous local and national awards for their elegant communities and world-class service and programming. To learn more about what they have to offer for seniors, we spoke to Director of Clinical Operations, Barb Scott.

“The majority of challenges a senior may have would be the slowing of cognitive awareness,” explained Barb. “In order to slow this down, a person needs to constantly stimulate the mind through socialization and activities. Our communities offer this each day through daily events where residents interact with each other.”

Whether you are an adventure-seeker, a life-long learner, an eager volunteer, or all of the above, you can find a robust amount of activities and outings to suit your preferences at Legacy. However, sometimes the difficulty isn’t so much in finding a wonderful community with enriching offerings like Legacy, but rather starting the conversation with your loved one about their health.

“Start with a general question, such as ‘How do you feel things are going here at home?’ or ‘How are you getting along? Do you have any concerns?’” suggested Barb. “These open-ended questions will usually lead to an answer in which you could expand upon and dig a little deeper. You can follow up with a statement that lets your loved one know you have their best interests in mind: ‘I am concerned that at times, you may be struggling here alone, and I want to make sure that you have the help that you need.’”

Dedicated Memory Care

While we all have people we love and want to take care of, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, there may come a time when the needs of a person who has a disease are too much for a family member to manage alone. Agemark’s CountryHouse Residence for Memory Care (countryhouse.net) is here to help families care for their loved one and make the transition from the loved one’s home to assisted living. They work with families whose loved one may be in the early stages of memory loss, so they know what resources are available if and when they need them.

“Our empathetic and well-trained team works to ensure residents in our care experience moments of joy every single day,” shared Marcia Houchin, vice president of life enrichment at Agemark. “We get to know residents in our care on a personal level – their background and history, likes and dislikes, passions and hobbies – we capture this information by listening carefully to both them and from you, their loved ones. With this knowledge in hand, we are able to provide personalized care for them in their new home.”

CountryHouse is all about experiences, and if you walk into either of their three Lincoln locations, you’ll see residents engaging with one another, families enjoying dinner together with grandchildren, bowling and badminton games going on in the lawn, budding artists in the art studio, chefs baking in the kitchen, and smiles throughout the community.

“Early diagnosis is important, so if you notice signs of memory loss, get a full medical evaluation to determine if it’s Alzheimer’s or something else,” advised Marcia. “Knowing will help give you direction for planning: where to go for more information, what in-home care alternatives and support systems are available, how to make the home safe, and when to seek placement.”

More Caring Senior Housing Options

Orchard Park Assisted Living Founders (orchardpark.us) Virgil and Jan Carner didn’t set out to create a fancy living facility or nursing home with resort-style amenities and gourmet chefs that came with a big hit on the wallet. Instead, they saw the need for a community where seniors could simply continue living the way to which they were accustomed. Orchard Park keeps their focus on what they believe is most important at an affordable cost.

“Orchard Park is a community that will meet your needs and go the extra mile to put you at ease, which is especially important when transitioning into assisted living,” explained Administrator Gayleen Bradley. “To make sure you continue to live comfortably, we offer 24-hour care; medications administered by licensed medication aides; WanderGuard; assistance with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene; emergency call systems and pull cords; dietary accommodations; and transportation to doctor’s appointments.”

On top of the quality care your loved one will receive at Orchard Park, their friendly staff and residents will keep them company during this transition.

“What makes Orchard Park unique is that we work hard to find a sense of purpose for our residents,” said Gayleen. “That may be working in the vegetable or flower gardens or participating in all the different activities we provide to our residents, such as exercise class, playing cards, or enjoying the on-site beauty and barbershop.”

Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation (sumnerplacecare.com) offers rehabilitation, long-term care, respite care, and memory support services. They pride themselves on providing resident-focused care, independence, and a home-like atmosphere. Megan Herter, admissions and public relations coordinator, explained that specially designed spaces and programs can not only reduce the frustration experienced by individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia, but they can also help impact patients for the better:

“Sumner Place uses Buddies Forever, which is a comprehensive dementia program,” she explained. “These techniques and skills, such as getting down below eye level, using simple statements, and endorphin boosts create a foundation for person-centered care. A program that we are also certified in is Music & Memory, which taps into the long-term memory, an area of the brain unharmed by dementia. Selecting the appropriate music for each resident triggers pleasurable emotions from their past.”

Services at Sumner Place include their restorative program, therapy programs, full time dietician, daily spiritual services, morning rounds by their medical director, social outings in the community, and their Dream Weaver partnership. They also host special annual events such as Senior Prom, the Dog Pageant, and the Sumner Place Picnic. In addition to serving seniors with more active lifestyles, Sumner Place also offers 24/7 medical surveillance, which includes medication management, out-of-character response interventions, safety awareness, fall preventions, proper hygiene, and healthy nutrition.

“We create a living environment that radiates love, dignity, and safety while encouraging personal independence,” concluded Megan. “Whether it is sleeping in until ten o’clock in the morning or taking a resident to a movie they want to see, we at Sumner Place focus on personalized care.”

The Waterford Communities in Lincoln (thewaterford.net) serve up prime opportunities for a renowned assisted living experience in three different facilities: The Waterford at Williamsburg, The Waterford at College View, and The Waterford at Wilderness Hills, all part of one local, family-owned company.

“Upon move-in at one of their communities, our care team will assess your current health and review your medical history to see how we can best meet your needs,” explained Executive Director Gracia Kremer. “The care team will discuss your preferences as well as your normal routines to develop a care plan that’s tailored to you. We regularly update this plan to meet your evolving needs.”

The Waterford’s assisted living communities offer an alert system that includes a pendant necklace or bracelet in case of an emergency. In addition, they support a family’s right to choose their loved one’s health specialist, whether it’s the primary care physician or the physical therapist. Residents may keep their current physicians or The Waterford’s team can help them find physicians near the community. Furthermore, some doctors or nurse practitioners make regular visits to their communities, though a resident is never obligated to use them.

Pemberly Place (pemberlyplace.com) provides care designed to meet and exceed the quality benchmarks set forth by the National Center for Assisted Living. They offer levels of care and service that are tailored to the individual lifestyles of those they serve. Creative service planning and attention to each person’s needs allows Pemberly Place to be a flexible living environment for every resident.

The community contains 120 individual apartments, and each one has a 24-hour emergency call system with central monitoring as well as cable/satellite TV, individually controlled heat and air, a kitchen, and walk-in or large spacious closets. Of these apartments, 20 are dedicated to memory care, 60 are assigned to assisted living, and 40 are designated as independent living.

Residents stay busy and active thanks to the many common area spaces that Pemberly Place provides, including: a theater, chapel, business center, recreation areas with air hockey and foosball to entertain the young (and young at heart), fitness center with on-site therapy services available, library and computer center, assorted floor lounges, congregate and private dining rooms, Jacuzzi tub and bathing, bistro, ice cream machine, and more spaces. In addition, Pemberly Place offers commercial spaces such as a beauty salon and spa, medical clinic, and underground covered parking.

Pemberly is now managed by MJ Senior Living, which has over 20 years of experience in hands-on and executive-level management of senior housing communities. Their expertise is well-rooted in ground up development, ownership, and management. Their portfolio also includes Fallbrook Assisted Living & Memory Care (fallbrookassisted.com), where they implement their MJ Signature Memory Care Program.

The MJ Signature Memory Care Program is offered in a highly controlled environment specially designed for individuals with dementia. A brain-friendly meal program, the Alzheimer’s Lounge, Journey Stations, ongoing educational opportunities for family members, and staff well-trained in all aspects of dementia can let family feel confident and comfortable about their loved one being cared for at Fallbrook.

Fallbrook’s desire is to provide an environment that relieves the stress your loved one may feel from living alone. Great food, friends close by, entertaining things to do, and a private apartment to call your own, all on top of a caring staff of people that are always available if and when you need them. Their assisted living environment is carefully created for the active senior who prefers the additional security an assisted living can offer. With your loved one’s independence as their cornerstone, Fallbrook offers individualized services to meet your ever-changing needs; amenities include three home-cooked meals each day served restaurant-style in the dining room, weekly housekeeping and flat linen service, cable TV and wireless internet, activities and entertainment, and more.

When looking for independent senior-living options that include opportunities for engagement, check out the Lincoln Housing Authority (l-housing.com). They pride themselves on providing “more than housing” and nowhere is that more evident than at Burke Plaza, Crossroads House, and Mahoney Manor, where more than 270 older adults reside and have access to a wide variety of social and personal support services through the Resident Services and Congregate Housing Services programs.

The Foundation for the Resident Services Program is the Resident Services Specialist at each building. Their job is to provide general support to residents and offer a range of activities and programs to enhance the overall quality of life at each building. Activities range between pot-luck meals and garage sales to shopping trips and movie nights. They also plan and educate the tenants on the building’s emergency and urgent-response systems. The Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) brings the services of two full-time social workers, who share time between all buildings. These social workers are able to work with individuals who need additional supportive services such as case management, personal care, house-keeping assistance, and transportation. The CHSP also serves hot meals six days a week in the dining rooms at Burke Plaza and Mahoney Manor.

Everyone should be prioritizing their health, especially so as one ages. We recommend utilizing the amazing services and products offered by these outstanding senior living businesses!