Senior Living in Lincoln – September 2021

This time last year, many senior living communities were keeping their seniors kept away from visitors in an effort to protect the most susceptible of the population from the rising number of COVID cases that continued to climb through the end of the year. Now, with the new and extremely contagious Delta variant of COVID being spread, it is important to continue to keep our seniors safe. With the holidays coming up, it is also essential that if they are again isolated, they are not feeling the harsh effects that isolation can have on an individual.

According to the CDC, social isolation is associated with a 50% increased risk for dementia and other serious illnesses. The Health Resources and Services Administration says that the health damage of loneliness and isolation has been compared to smoking 15 cigarettes in a day. This comparison gives us an idea of the devastating results that come from senior isolation. While we want to keep our elders healthy, we also need to maintain our interaction with them in the safest way possible. You will read in this story about how senior living services in Lincoln are maintaining safety while operating business.

You will also learn about the wide array of senior living assistance that Lincoln possesses for whatever you or your aging loved one needs. From senior living facilities specializing in one’s area of need and concierge pharmacies to in-home caretakers and fitness training designed for seniors, you can find it all in this Senior Living story.

Senior Health

It’s always important that we keep an eye on our health, but even more so as we age. According to www.helpguide.org, seniors who exercise tend to have improved immune and digestive functioning, better blood pressure and bone density, and a lower risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, and certain cancers. Regular exercise also can improve your strength, flexibility, and posture, which results in better balance and coordination and leads to a lower risk of falls in seniors. Ultimately, it is incredibly important to maintain our fitness as we age; health is undoubtedly a huge aspect of senior living!

Jeff Madsen and his team with Right Foot Forward Fitness (rightfootforwardfitness.com) want to help seniors who are looking to improve their health through physical activity. They have a selection of tools and resources to help seniors reach their ultimate fitness goals.

“Right Foot has a wide variety of tools and equipment available to meet the needs of seniors who want to increase their fitness and feel strong and vital,” Madsen said. “From suspension straps to adjustable steps to specialized agility tools, Right Foot can help folks feel like they’re able to tackle anything.”

Experience is often a key factor when selecting a business to work with, and the team at Right Foot has plenty of familiarity in helping seniors achieve their fitness goals. Madsen enjoys helping seniors who come into his facility looking to reach a specific target.

“We have extensive experience helping seniors achieve their fitness goals,” explained Madsen. “Seniors are capable of amazing things! While we want to make sure that all exercises are appropriate for a person’s current fitness level, we also want to appreciate that they are capable of achieving ambitious goals!”

The fitness center implemented cleaning and sanitation protocols specific to the pandemic, and has since kept them in place, especially with rising caution about the Delta variant of COVID-19. Madsen says the last year and a half has taught them the benefits of enhanced cleaning and disinfection, and that it’s well worth the investment of time and money. Right Foot Forward Fitness wants to safely continue to help anyone who is looking to improve their health.

“We are committed to helping people achieve a level of fitness where they are able to do the things they love to do with the people they love to do them with—and age is no limitation on this mission!”

Even if you are being cautious about the health of yourself or your aging loved one, trips to the hospital often end up occurring, whether it is for an injury, illness, or surgery. For those looking to recover with post-acute rehab, visit Hillcrest Firethorn with Hillcrest Health Services. They provide a comfortable environment to suit the needs of their patients, and their post-acute rehab center can serve 72 guests in two separate neighborhoods, each offering 36 upscale private suites. Though the team at Hillcrest Firethorn (hillcresthealth.com/locations/hillcrest-firethorn) is focused on rehabilitation and the wellness of their guests, they also value the seniors’ independence. With fun gathering spaces for guests and their families, they can stay thoroughly entertained between therapy sessions. Their calendar of events is always full of activities to keep guests engaged and support their recovery efforts.

Your body doesn’t return to its best health unless you are well fed, and Hillcrest Firethorn knows that. They have top-of-the-line culinary services with an executive chef focused on hospitality that rivals a vacation resort.

“Our culinary team prepares made-to-order specialties that are unmatched in a health care setting,” said Jonathan Anderson, Lincoln business development specialist for Hillcrest Health Services. “Guests can enjoy social interaction in our attractive restaurant or choose the comfort of in-room dining while recovering. We also have the Firethorn Bistro, where we offer Starbucks coffee and drinks as well as grab-and-go options.”

Hillcrest Firethorn has its own team of therapists rather than a contracted third-party therapy company. They have state-of-the-art therapy equipment, and provide innovative physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help speed up recovery. Often, after discharging to home from Hillcrest Firethorn, patients can receive home health services from Hillcrest Home Care to continue their recovery. Hillcrest Home Care provides skilled medical home health care, including nursing and therapy services in the comfort of a patient’s home or assisted living facility. Their team takes the health of their guests very seriously, and Hillcrest strives to help seniors regain their health and strength while in their care.

Pharmacy at Your Doorstep

The older we get, the more tiresome and difficult it becomes to run errands, such as picking up prescriptions. Thankfully, Lincoln has its very own concierge-like pharmacy, Nebraska LTC Pharmacy (neltcpharmacy.com). At Nebraska LTC Pharmacy, you can eliminate the need to travel to the pharmacy to pick up your prescriptions, and you can receive free at-home consultations to discuss your medications and their services to ensure the best patient care. We spoke to Gayleen Bradley, new patient consultant and community liaison at the pharmacy, about why Nebraska LTC Pharmacy is a great choice for seniors.

“We help collect all of the medications and information from the customers. We do a review on their medications, and to do that, someone (usually me!) will actually come to their home and collect their medications and ask questions about them,” Bradley explained. “We take these medications back to the pharmacist. The pharmacist will do a medication review and call all the doctors involved with that person’s care to make sure we are all on the same page. The pharmacist puts all of the medications in an easy-to-use blister pack so that the patient can see them really well and won’t have a problem with it. We have a courier service to take the medications to our patients’ homes every week. There’s no charge for any of those services!”
Bradley said that the pharmacy was very beneficial during the height of the pandemic in Lincoln, as they kept people – especially those that are most susceptible – from having to leave their homes.

“The fact that we do what we do so our patients don’t have to leave their homes, that in and of itself is a big benefit for people,” Bradley said. “We also do curbside delivery if they choose to come to the pharmacy to pick up their medications, but don’t want to come in. Just call us and we will deliver the medications to the car.”

The pharmacy is very convenient to seniors due to its customer-focused service. Bradley says that with winter coming soon, it becomes more difficult for seniors to leave their homes and travel to the pharmacy. Nebraska LTC Pharmacy is a huge benefit for them in events such as this. They are also very helpful to the caretakers of seniors.

“We help take the load off their plate! When a caretaker spends quite a bit of time every week setting up a senior’s medications, we can help them save time,” Bradley explained. “Caretakers have said they worry a lot about some of the medications interacting with each other. We can give you a peace of mind and save you time.”

Nebraska LTC Pharmacy provides free delivery to the Lincoln and Omaha areas, and if you’re not in a delivery area, then they will ship your medication to your door. They keep up on communicating with your doctors and will help you keep track of your medications. The best part about the great services from Nebraska LTC Pharmacy? It’s incredibly easy to sign up.

“Just call the pharmacy and I will speak with you,” Bradley said. “Sometimes people are a little leery and think there’s a catch. There really isn’t! There’s no catch.”

Needing Advice?

Looking for housing for yourself as a senior or for the loved senior in your life can be difficult and overwhelming. There are a vast number of factors that go into a big decision such as this one. Thankfully, Oasis Senior Advisors (bethfriesenrn.com) is a senior living service with professionals available to help simplify this process. They offer free senior housing services for individuals across the country and take the burden of finding a senior housing option off your shoulders by handling all of the research and matching services for you. They understand that every individual is unique, and whether you are looking for more independent living or need full-time, one-on-one assistance for a loved one with dementia or other special memory needs, they can find housing that will check all the boxes.

“When you work with Oasis Senior Advisors, you begin with a free, no-obligation consultation to understand what to expect and how they are going to help you,” explained Oasis Senior Advisors Lincoln Franchise Owner Beth Friesen. “After, we will work with you on identifying your lifestyle preferences, care needs, location, and financial considerations, as well as looking into available funding options that will help you reduce the monthly housing cost. We will provide a personalized list of local housing options that we believe will best meet your specific needs and set you up with a tour at each community you select. We will keep going with you until you’ve found the right place and feel confident with your choice!”

Whatever housing service you are looking for when searching for the right home—including assisted living, memory care, residential care homes, respite services, independent living, retirement communities, skilled nursing homes, and hospice care—Oasis Senior Advisors can help you find the right match.

Independent Living

For seniors who need a home specifically designed for them, but aren’t ready for assisted living, contact the Lincoln Housing Authority (l-housing.com). Their rentals at Burke Plaza, Crossroads House, and Mahoney Manor are specially created with seniors in mind to help them continue their independent living. The men and women who reside in these buildings have access to a wide variety of social and personal support services through the Resident Services Program and Congregate Housing Services Program.

The foundation for the Resident Services Program is the Resident Services Specialist at each of these buildings. Their job is to provide general support to the residents and to offer a wide range of activities and programs at each building for them to partake in, ultimately enhancing their overall quality of life. Resident Services Specialists coordinate a monthly newsletter and calendar, which lists activities and events occurring throughout the month for residents to be aware of and plan for. Activities include pot-luck meals, garage sales, wellness and health activities, van trips for shopping and recreation, soup suppers, games, tail-gate parties, movie nights, special events and holiday celebrations, and more. They also plan and educate the tenants on the building’s emergency and urgent-response systems, keeping updated on the necessary procedure to take in the event something critical happens.

Lincoln Housing Authority has also enhanced the Resident Services Program through an agreement with Aging Partners. Through this agreement, 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. In addition, the CHSP program is able to bring hot meals served six days a week in the dining rooms at Burke Plaza and Mahoney Manor. There is also an option for an evening meal to be picked up at noon when the hot meal is served. The Lincoln Housing Authority wants you to rest assured that you or your loved senior is safe and comfortable in their apartments, where they can continue to live independently with help always around the corner.

In-Home Care

As we age, it becomes more important that we are receiving care and help, but it’s not always a desire to move into a senior living community to receive this assistance. For those who want to remain in the comfort of their home, contact CCA Home Care (ccahomecare.com). Knowing that a senior’s needs are not confined to a Monday – Friday workweek, they have caregivers who are available to give assistance 24 hours a day. They find these caregivers through the Nurse Registry, where they screen and refer caregivers that match a senior’s needs requests. This registry aims to help seniors receive care at an affordable rate, and the caregivers are placed anywhere between one hour to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, though this can be flexible and change as one’s needs change. After a senior is matched with a caregiver based on needs and requests, the caregiver will meet with the senior and/or their family, case manager, or representative before the care begins in order to better understand their needs and desired care. Finally, if a senior decides the caregiver matched with them is ultimately not the right fit, CCA Home Care will assist in finding a replacement by request.

“The caregivers that we provide include CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants), CMAs (Certified Medication Aides), and nurses,” said CCA Home Care Owner Kyle Johnson. “These caregivers help seniors with bathing, dressing, toileting, walking/transferring, meal preparation, medication reminders, Alzheimer’s/Dementia care, hospice support, light housekeeping, and much more. They are also surety bonded and carry professional liability insurance.”

If you are new to senior living life and struggling to find the right resources, CCA Home Care has you covered. They provide an ElderCare Resource Handbook on their website, which contains an all-inclusive listing of services, programs, and other resources available for the aging process in your area. This includes government, medical support services, living options, financial, therapies, elder moving, end-of-life services, legal, home health care, and transportation. By understanding the services, resources, and options which are available in the area, seniors and their families can make informed decisions that will result in an enhanced quality of life and allow them to maintain their independence. CCA Home Care has two ElderCare Resource Handbooks, one each for Lincoln and Omaha, so the resources are unique to the location of the senior needing care.

When looking for home care for your loved senior, you undoubtedly want top quality service. Visiting Angels (visitingangels.com/lincoln) aims to provide just that by helping your loved one continue to live at home while also giving you peace of mind. Whether it is hourly, overnight, or 24-hour care, home care providers with Visiting Angels will help your loved one meet their daily needs and continue to live comfortably at home.

“One of the unique things about our services is our Fall Prevention Program,” said Owner Natalie Leon. “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.

If you are looking for non-medical homecare, or assistance with things such as personal hygiene, laundry, cooking, cleaning, medication reminders, and transportation, Home Care Partners can help you. Offering in-home care services that include companion care, personal care, recovery care, respite care, memory care support, and hospice support, their team is available to help you in all of your homecare needs.

“Our services give families peace of mind to allow their loved one to stay in their familiar place and avoid a move at this time,” said Co-founder Karla Frese. “This will often allow a senior to stay in their home or in their independent or assisted living setting without the need to move to a higher level of care. Our partnerships within the healthcare community allow us to provide care together in the home setting to help reduce hospital readmissions and to promote health and healing.”

Home Care Partners also offers their services in assisted living, skilled nursing homes, and memory care homes to continue to help them maintain their independence. They strive to prove that they don’t just take care of seniors, they take care of families.

Memory Care

When our loved ones begin to suffer from memory loss, it can be difficult to treat it while also witnessing it. Pemberly Place (pemberlyplace.com) has a specialized memory care team at their senior living community that aims to help your senior who is struggling with their memory. The memory care team has a mission to provide a homelike atmosphere while also providing 24-hour assistance with daily living. The Pemberly Place memory care team receives specialized education and it is provided multiple times per year, so each resident who calls Pemberly Place “home” will have a resident-centered approach to their daily care needs.

 

“Memory loss happens in various stages, so Pemberly Place has programming designed to meet all levels of the process,” explained Director of Marketing Kelly Mans. “Whether you have just started noticing a change in your loved one’s memory, or if you are looking for dedicated Alzheimer’s care, our communities have environments designed to accommodate people with memory loss, allowing freedom, mobility, choice, and independence.”

Their memory support community offers all of the amenities and services of assisted living, including: an on-site medical clinic; group and individualized activities designed to maintain and enhance each residents’ skills, interests, and abilities; a 24-hour certified and trained team with registered nurse oversight; individualized levels of personal care based on resident needs; escort to and from the dining room and activities as needed; administration of medications, provision, and management; and cueing and reminders. Pemberly Place also keeps their residents active and busy with a wide array of daily activities available for seniors to take part in, from Bible study and morning exercise to crafts and games. Taking just one look at the activity calendar on Pemberly Place’s website, it is evident that there is never a day where residents having nothing to do! When you place you senior with memory loss at Pemberly Place, you will be receiving comfort and assurance by knowing your loved one is safe within a secure environment and enjoying their time.

New Adaptations

Many of the changes that the world made to protect the public from COVID-19 are continuing to be used today, and likely will for the years to come. We spoke with National Marketing Director of Agemark Corporation Ashley Gloystein-Klatt about what pandemic-born strategies CountryHouse Residences for Memory Care (countryhouse.net/l/lincoln-nebraska) is going to continue to use, especially with the new Delta variant becoming more widespread.

“I think there are several things that we’ll continue doing in the future,” Gloystein-Klatt said. “One is telehealth/telemedicine. For minor illnesses or routine visits, having this as an option for residents is something that I foresee continuing. Another is the use of technology such as Zoom. We have communities all across the country, and it’s nice to be able to get together remotely to idea share, brainstorm, and be able to connect visually. It also helps residents with relatives that live out of state or far away be able to connect with each other. We’ve also started offering more virtual tours on our websites, which helps people who are considering our communities but are too far away to visit or prefer to gather information online before coming in for a private tour. Finally, I think we are all certainly more aware of symptoms we are feeling due to our health screening processes. I can see practices such as health screenings and mask-wearing continue, at least at times, perhaps based on the time of year, prevalence of illness in the area, etc. Right now, these are things we are still doing to protect residents in our care, and we’ll continue doing them for the foreseeable future.”

Residents of Agemark communities show they are equally as dedicated to stopping the spread; company-wide, 97% of residents are vaccinated. This allows CountryHouse to expand their activity offerings and to do many things they couldn’t before, ultimately keeping their residents happy and active. Gloystein-Klatt said many local businesses have shown their support to the senior community by opening their doors exclusively for the CountryHouse residents, sometimes before or after regular business hours, so that seniors could safely have a good time. She told us about some of the fun and exciting activities that residents have been able to participate in.

“We’re once again taking outings and trips outside the community, with precautions of course,” said Gloystein-Klatt. “Recent trips included visiting the Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland and Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop, among other places. Inside the community, we’ve been able to host live music, have cooking demonstrations with our amazing in-house chefs (Cherries Jubilee and Bananas Foster were favorites!), host fun July Fourth cookouts, and bring in animals such as dogs, cats, and bunnies to visit residents. Of course, we also have everyday offerings such as crafts, art, games, puzzles, movie nights, and more.”

There are three CountryHouse communities in Lincoln, all of which offer exclusive memory care for those with memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. They believe that one of their most unique differentiators is their commitment to enriching the lives of those in their care and treating all like family, which is also their company mission.

“We are truly blessed to do what we do—we don’t take it for granted that we have the opportunity to contribute to the health and happiness of individuals in our care and become a part of a larger, extended family for them,” said Gloystein-Klatt.

For those who are the primary caregiver, CountryHouse offers support groups, mainly for families and caregivers of those with memory loss, as well as respite/short-term stays. They have found that these offerings are very helpful for families who are providing care for their loved ones but need some support.

“A respite stay can range from a few days to a few weeks and is helpful for families who need to work, travel, or simply take a much-needed break from providing everyday care,” Gloystein-Klatt said.

She recommends that people plan early for selecting the senior living option that’s right for them, in advance of an emergency.

“Taking proactive steps gives prospective residents more time, choice, and say in where they will eventually live,” suggested Gloystein-Klatt. “Having as much control and say in the decision as possible often helps people feel more comfortable and at peace with their choice.”

Christ-Centered Service

For faith-based retirement solutions that range from independent and assisted living to long-term care and innovative home-based support, reach out to the team at Immanuel (immanuel.com). They work to empower seniors to live a lifestyle of freedom, dignity, independence, and safety. We spoke to Director of Communications Connie Chisholm about how their long history and client-focused mission makes Immanuel a strong choice for senior living options.

“Immanuel is deeply rooted in Nebraska,” Chisholm said. “We were founded in Omaha over 130 years ago and since then have been committed to a not-for-profit mission. What this means for residents and their family is that they know that we are dedicated to significantly investing directly into enhancing programming, updating our buildings, and supporting other like-minded community organizations. It’s the difference in knowing decisions are being made in the best interest of those who matter most—the seniors.”

Recently, Immanuel introduced a new member to its family, the Grand Lodge at the Preserve. The Grand Lodge joins The Landing and Yankee Hill Village to the list of Immanuel communities in Lincoln. In order to be able to partake in the growing list of options and benefits that Immanuel has to offer, Chisholm advises that you begin to plan early. She also suggests that potential members of a senior living community get ahead of the game by doing their research.

“We see many family members take an active role in touring retirement communities as well as conducting online research of care options,” Chisholm explained, “but the retirement living space is crowded and confusing with so many communities looking the same and even offering similar amenities. Do your research. Industry-wide, we’re seeing a significant shift away from local providers toward national chains. This causes a sharp disconnect between senior resident needs, community maintenance, and profit-driven corporate decisions.”

While doing research on senior living options, take note of not only amenities and features, but how a business is protecting their residents from the current new wave of COVID and the possibility of future outbreaks. Chisholm said that Immanuel understands the importance of keeping residents safe while also maintaining an engaging day-to-day routine.

“Like all Nebraskans, we continue to battle the threat of COVID-19, and now the variants, from entering our communities,” Chisholm said. “At the same time, we continue to operate and provide the care and service our residents need and an active and engaging lifestyle they have come to expect from Immanuel. We have been successful in keeping our residents engaged through comprehensive wellness and life enrichment programs offered daily, weekly, and monthly. We also utilize innovative technology to bring such programming directly to residents through their smartphone or mobile device and throughout the community.”

Finally, Chisholm said that Immanuel has taken note of the growing demand for senior living in the Lincoln market, and that their emphasis has always been to provide exceptional retirement, living, and dining options, as well as ground-breaking wellness and life enrichment services to seniors and their families in all of their communities.

“As this generation ages, innovation in senior living care and services will continue to be our priority.”

Make More Memories

It’s important to keep being active as we age, whether it’s participating in physical activity or enjoying some arts and crafts. The Waterford Communities (thewaterford.net) takes this seriously, and as a resident at one of their assisted living homes, you will be making new memories every day. Take just one look at their Facebook page, and you will see that the residents stay very busy participating in different activities every day, whether it’s attending a Saltdogs game, celebrating National Freezer Pop Day, recreating a senior-friendly version of water tubing, or enjoying the nice weather with a family picnic.

 

“We hold a high staff-to-resident ratio to maintain a service-oriented and responsive team,” said Executive Director Gracia Kremer. “Our Waterford Communities are intentionally smaller than most assisted-living homes to instill a sense of community for our guests.”

The Waterford has two assisted living communities, the Williamsburg Campus and the College View Campus. Both offer amenities such as daily/weekly housekeeping, hospice integration, and home-cooked meals served three times daily. Their third campus, Wilderness Hills, is devoted exclusively to helping seniors who need memory-tailored care. The amenities of this campus include nurses on staff, sensory stimulation activities, personalized one-on-one activities, tranquility sensory room, therapeutic whirlpool bath and spa, beauty salon and barber shop, weekly housekeeping, laundry services, and open air patio space with a walking path. The Waterford takes on the mentality that they are houseguests of their residents and they strive to provide a home-like atmosphere for everyone that comes through the door, whether that is a resident or a visiting family member.

Care, Comfort, and Cost

Orchard Park (orchardpark.us) suggests that when you are seeking 24-hour long-term care for your loved one, you should focus on what matters most – care, comfort, and cost. For a community that feels as familiar and comfortable as home with friendly faces at every turn, Orchard Park can provide feelings of ease for your senior. They offer physical, mental, social, and spiritual assistance to maintain your loved one’s independence and quality of life.

Orchard Park offers 24-hour care and services, including: 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. Their kitchen doesn’t serve boring nursing home food, but rather classic favorites that will remind your loved one of some of the most enjoyable moments in their lives – Sunday dinners, Thanksgiving feasts, church potlucks, and summer barbecues, just to name a few. Residents have their own private room, which includes daily housekeeping services and cable television, and all bathrooms are private and equipped with pull cords and handrails to ensure safety. Hobbies are not to be left behind when arriving at Orchard Park, and every day, you can find people partaking in some of their favorite past times. Planting in the vegetable gardens, playing cards with friends, enjoying a daily exercise class, or just gossiping away at the on-site beauty and barbershop are some of the activities that seniors enjoy. Orchard Park also presents other social activities such as bingo, crafts, coffee get-togethers, and more. Outdoor living is significant to Orchard Park, as they believe that sunshine and fresh air is critical to long-term health and well-being. Their outdoor spaces include a covered porch, gazebo, patio dining, and garden paths, all of which are created to be safe opportunities to enjoy the park-like setting.

Something that Orchard Park prides themselves on is their ability to keep a low cost for their seniors. The average per-month cost of assisted living in Lincoln is $5,429, whereas Orchard Park’s base price is only $3,100. This can give your senior 3.5 more years of assisted living! Even if savings run out, the staff at Orchard Park can help you and your loved one secure Medicaid funding, all while keeping the quality of care and accommodations the same.

Senior Living Options

The senior care services offered at Tabitha (tabitha.org) aim to help older adults and their families navigate the aging journey while successfully accomplishing health and lifestyle goals. Their broad array of assistance ranges from home health care to rehabilitation therapy, assisted living and memory care communities, skilled nursing and long-term care, hospice support, and more.

“Our Senior Care Experts work with each client, as well as the client’s support system, to determine current needs and how they may evolve and change,” explained Senior Living Advocate Aubrey Paulsen. “This is done while keeping in mind the goal of providing loving, compassionate, and professional care that enhances the safety and well-being of seniors and proactively avoiding the need to make major life and health decisions during times of crisis.”

GracePointe Assisted Living & Memory Care Suites offer balanced meals, engaging activity, and help with daily living activities such as bathing, medication management, and transportation. Their Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is available for seniors who are in need of full-time support due to chronic illness or disability, or for those who need nursing supervision following a hospital stay or surgery. Tabitha also has residential-style skilled nursing and long-term care homes, which are designed for seniors who are in need of full-time nursing support in a spacious, home-like setting. These homes have individualized schedules, a family-style environment, and private suites and baths to instill a like-home living atmosphere. Finally, Tabitha’s end-of-life residential community is a home-like environment for seniors in need of hospice care. The team at Journey House provides pain and medical management, as well as therapies that focus on quality of life. The quiet atmosphere offers an open, communal lifestyle and chapel and spiritual support.

Tabitha’s wide range of services across living communities and health care can let you rest assured that with them, you or your loved senior will be taken care of, no matter the situation.

Sumner Place Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation (sumnerplacecare.com) is a licensed skilled nursing facility that provides long-term care, short-term rehabilitation services, and memory support. They strive to enrich the lives of their residents through regular activities and daily spiritual services.

“Some of our services include our restorative program, therapy programs, specialized and therapeutic diets, morning rounds by our medical director, a beauty and barber shop, and outings in the community when permitted,” offered Admissions and Public Relations Coordinator Megan Herter. “We also offer specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and individualized programs that are designed to reduce feelings of confusion, fear, and agitation and offer meaningful, enjoyable activities that stimulate the mind and body.”

Sumner Place welcomes and encourages family involvement throughout this and they work closely with the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

The Residence at Gramercy (theresidenceatgramercy.com) offers independent living and assisted living services on their six acres of luscious gardens and floral walking paths. They invite their residents to enjoy comfort and relaxation while taking advantage of exceptional services. Offering a vibrant lifestyle that encourages health and independence through innovative recreational, educational, health, and wellness programs, residents stay active and alert at The Residence at Gramercy. Their expansive apartments contain considerate safety features and desirable amenities and privacy, giving families peace of mind.

 

“Our team at The Residence at Gramercy wants to help seniors ease into a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle,” said Sales Director Bridget O’Brien. “We do this by offering individually tailored personal care options that suit an individual’s needs and preferences. We prioritize the plans, interests, and goals of our residents, and work to help them live their life to the fullest through these ideas.”

Residents are encouraged to be a part of social activities, such as celebrating wedding anniversaries, car shows, and Kentucky Derby watch parties. At The Residence at Gramercy, seniors can enjoy a relaxed lifestyle without the obligation of keeping up with chores or completing burdensome household tasks.

Planning Ahead

The older we or our loved ones get, the more important it is to plan ahead for the day in which our time on Earth comes to an end. This can be a difficult and somewhat awkward conversation to have, but Family Service Representative Stephanie Springer with Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery (wyuka.com) offered some insight into why it is important to have this conversation and how her business can help.

“The passing of a loved one is one of the most stressful situations people may find themselves in,” Springer said. “Pre-planning arrangements is a selfless act. With this act, you’re giving a gift to your family and loved ones. Handling your arrangements beforehand makes sense for three basic reasons. First, it will help relieve some of the emotional burden from those you love. Making decisions in advance allows them to concentrate on supporting each other rather than making stressful decisions in a matter of hours. Second, it ensures that your wishes are honored. Pre-planning removes any doubt and makes one of the worst days of someone’s life just a little easier. Finally, it will take the financial worry and burden from those you love because plans were made and funded prior to the day of need.”

When asked for the best way to approach this conversation, Springer suggested simply sitting down together and talking about one’s wishes long before the time of need arises. She reminds us that we live in a nation of planning and plan well in advance for events such as weddings, the birth of a child, education, vacation, and retirement. Though they are all just possibilities, we still plan, so it only makes sense to plan for the inevitable, as well.

“I am here as a guide and counsel to help navigate you through the decisions needed for the services and items a person needs for their own arrangements,” said Springer. “I don’t make any decisions in the pre-planning process. I simply listen to what your wishes and desires are and formulate a plan custom tailored. You make an impact on others’ lives and even the world during the time you spend on Earth. Your funeral or celebration of life should reflect just that. I like to sit down with individuals to begin this conversation and always welcome their families to join the process. I want to be able to help commemorate a person’s life the way they deserve. I meet with people to find out what they want for their final arrangements and explain the steps and decisions that need to be made to make sure their wishes are carried out.”

Springer believes Wyuka Cemetery to be a great choice for burial due to its rural design that will take you on a winding stroll or drive through generations of Lincoln and Nebraska residents. She said the footprint of Wyuka was designed to offer peace and solace, and they have expanded this offering by taking over the care of the Fairview Cemetery on 84th and Adams St. Over 20 years ago, the Wyuka Funeral Home was established to further be there for families; they want to help you through the process of planning and pre-planning.

“Myself and the staff at Wyuka are here to help,” said Springer. “It may be that a person has some arrangements in order and just needs to finish up a few details or they may have never sat down and spoken with anyone before about their wishes. Either way, we can help to relieve the stress and burdens that arise at the time of passing. No one has ever come to lay a family member to rest and have been upset that all of the details were made in advance. They see it as a gift and are truly relieved that they know exactly what their loved one wanted and know exactly what to do.”

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