Q: Please tell us about Aaspen Village Care assisted living, where your business is located, and how long you have been in the senior care industry (perhaps in terms of the “History” of Aaspen Village Care.)

A: Aaspen Village Care is located in the beautiful desert community of Yucca Valley, California.  We, as a family, have owned and operated Aaspen Village Care since 2007.  Here at Aaspen Village Care we are committed to our residents. Our friendly staff is devoted to giving our community the best possible care and service as well as creating a lovely new home for our residents. We strive to create a family environment and treat every resident with the care, respect, and love they would receive from their own family.

Q:  You have two locations for your business.  Does having multiple locations within the same city have any advantages, or are there some challenges to operating and managing multiple locations?

A: At Aaspen Village Care we are committed to the best possible care.  In order to achieve this, we have two locations each serving a distinct clientele.  We have a twenty three bed assisted living residence as well as a fifteen bed residence specializing in memory care.  We take pride in serving the community of Yucca Valley, and having multiple locations allows us to do this.  The challenges of operating and managing multiple locations are outweighed by the benefits we can provide to our residents.

Q: High employee turnover can, at times be a problem in the senior care industry.  How do you find good employees, and how do you keep your staff happy and motivated, and working at Aaspen Village Care for the long-term?

A: Our staff members are a part of our family.  From a management standpoint, we have high expectations for our staff and we expect the best.  When a new employee is hired, they are trained to meet and exceed our expectations.  We take pride in the fact that we have many long term employees.  Our top priority is offering the best care and service available, which is why we invest heavily in hiring and retaining great caregivers.

Q: You mention as part of your services and amenities “daily social activities.”  What are some of the more popular activities that you offer to your residents, and how do you come up with your activities every week, or month?  Is resident feedback encouraged when it comes to activities, and other services such as dining and menus?

A: Our residents at Aaspen Village Care are the driving force behind everything from activities to dining.  We have a monthly calendar incorporating activities such as daily exercise for all abilities, adult appropriate crafts, collaborative cooking, pet therapy, and local entertainment to name a few.  Providing our residents with an enriching daily life is the goal and motivation behind designing our activities program.  We encourage all of residents and residents’ families to offer suggestions to better help us meet their needs.

Q: What do you believe are some of the benefits, or advantages that a smaller, more residential home (such as yours) can offer over a larger, more corporate-style assisted living facility?

A: Aaspen Village Care feels like a home.   The residents have the ability to become familiar with every aspect of Aaspen Village Care from caregivers to management.  We are able to provide personalized care and service to a degree that is not possible in a corporate style assisted living.

ALD: We have heard many times that smaller facilities allow for the resident to feel more at home, and to learn the layout of the building more quickly.  This can be especially helpful to those residents with memory disorders, dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Sam, thank you so much for taking the time to share your expertise with us, and for letting us know more about what your Aaspen Village Care facilities have to offer! – Assisted Living Directory

Q: Please tell us about Woodland Ridge assisted living, where your business is located, and how long you have been in the senior care industry (perhaps in terms of the “History” of Woodland Ridge.)

Woodland Ridge was formed in 1998 as a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit residential care community serving the residents of Smyrna, Georgia and the surrounding area. As such, the ownership is private and its Administration is overseen by a long-standing volunteer Board of Directors. The long-term management contract is with CaraVita Senior Care with its home office in Roswell, Georgia. The C.E.O. of CaraVita has been in the industry for over 30 years as an Administrator and owner of many assisted living communities in 5 states as well as a Home Care company serving the metro Atlanta area. Striving for excellence in and from our industry, she served as president of ALFA Georgia (Assisted Living Federation of America) and continues her work with them as chair of the Legislative Committee that works closely with the State of Georgia to ensure that regulations serve to enhance the care of Georgia’s elder population as demand for services increases with an aging population.

Q:  You have two pretty unique programs and services that you offer at Woodland Ridge – a progressive method of senior care called CaraSysted®, and Our Friends for Life™ program.  Can you elaborate and tell us more about these programs and how they benefit your residents?

CaraSyst is a proprietary computer-aided system that allows us to assess and develop a detailed Plan of Care for each of our residents. Our Caregivers then track the care that is provided on a real-time basis and document all pertinent information for record, review, and follow-up. One of the key components is that the records can be accessed by the Resident’s family to track changes in status over time. As a care provider, this in an invaluable tool for communicating with our residents families, as well as their medical professionals, to show patterns of change for planning ongoing care.  In addition to this information, CaraSyst also allows us to adjust quickly to status changes and communicate those changes so that we are perpetually working from the latest information available about our residents.

Friends for Life™ is a quality-of-life initiative that involves each member of the Woodland Ridge team. From their first day in the community, our Care Staff are charged with the responsibility of knowing and demonstrating their concern for the wellbeing of our residents mind, body, and spirit. Friends for Life™ is knowing our residents well enough to know what they want to drink with their dinner and having it ready before they even get to the dining room. Team members know the names of the children and grandchildren, which are their favorite pajamas, who wants to stay up and watch television and who’s ready to go to sleep at 9 pm. Quality of life is about comforting surroundings, laughter, compassion, understanding, and kindness more than fancy chandeliers and plush carpet. In short, Friends for Life™ is about stepping into the world of our residents, knowing them as individuals, and becoming their Friend for Life.

ALD: These both sound like wonderful programs.  I can imagine that CareaSyst is especially helpful and comforting to extended families, especially if they live out-of-town or out-of-state.!

Q: In an assisted living environment, it is important for residents to keep in touch with, and connected with their extended families (if they have extended family).  How does Woodland Ridge encourage and facilitate the maintenance of ‘family connection?’ especially if family members live out of town or state?  Are families able to visit residents freely, or is it limited to certain hours or times of day?

Our doors are open 24/7 to family and friends and we welcome their participation the community on many levels. Lots of families volunteer with our Activities Department to give a hand with Arts & Crafts, going on a bus trips, or calling Bingo, We have family functions and lots of parties throughout the year where families and friends are encouraged to participate. We host an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Group for Family Caregivers that meets once per month. There is a private Family Dining Room available for birthdays, anniversaries, or just Sunday dinner together. We have an-open door policy between residents and their families to every manager. There is always a manager on duty that is easily accessed at any time.

Weekends are “Pet Days” and we encourage families to bring their (pre-screened) pets to visit with residents that can be a huge morale booster and reinforce family bonds.

Although it is unusual to have night visitors, we never prohibit family members from entering the building and seeing their loved ones. Normal visiting times are from wake-up till bedtime which is as individual as our residents. For families who don’t live in the area, we have an email service through our website where they can send messages and pictures to keep residents up to date with the latest news from family members, no matter where they live. We also have Skype available for video chats because a “picture is worth 1000 words”.

ALD: I’ve visited facilities before where a resident is going through an especially rough patch, and has trouble sleeping at night. I can imagine that this is where allowing family “night visitors” can be especially beneficial!

Q: You mention as part of your services and amenities “risk profiling.”  Can you explain what this is, and how it helps or benefits your residents?

A Risk Profile helps us identify measures we can put in place to ensure the health and safety of each of our residents. There are usually identifiable events that precede a resident coming to live at Woodland Ridge: An illness, a fall at home, a pot forgotten on the stove to burn, becoming vulnerable to predators who could get control of money or property, getting lost in familiar surroundings, the inability to keep up with medications, no longer able to get in and out of a tub safely, or failing to keep up with hydration and nutritional needs. Each of these things presents a risk to life and safety so identifying the Risk Factors is the first step in providing the supports needed to live a safe, quality life with as much independence as possible.

Q: A good, stable staff is paramount to a successful assisted living home or facility.  How do you select your staff (what are some important criteria), how do you keep them happy and avoid employee turnover, which can be common in this industry?

We are very proud of the fact that so many of our staff members have been with us many years; some over 10 years. There are many reasons for this level of satisfaction but chief among them are our staffing levels. Our Caregivers are scheduled to work with a team that shares their passion for their careers. We exceed minimal State required staffing levels that are typical at most assisted living facilities. That equates to our Care Teams never being tasked to do more than can reasonably be accomplished in a typical 8-hour shift. Care Staff have the time to spend with residents and provide great care instead of being rushed from one task to the other. Woodland Ridge employees are also encouraged to be advocates for better ways to provide care. When they identify a creative way to improve quality of life, they are encouraged to share that information and then put it into action. This level of engagement empowers our staff to challenge conventional wisdom and find new and innovative ways of expanding the definition of “Quality of Life” for each individual at Woodland Ridge whether it is residents or staff.

ALD: I found an extremely interesting video about Woodland Ridge – a news piece that talks about how several of your employees **walked** to work through a particularly bad snowstorm to make sure that the residents would be cared for and attended to.  I thought that this was an incredible testament to your staff, and their dedication to Woodland Ridge, and it’s residents.   I have embedded the video clip below:

Another unique feature at Woodland Ridge is our Veteran’s Program. As a 501(c)(3), we were able to start a Foundation to assist U.S. Military Veterans and their surviving spouses get the care they need, when they need it.

The V.A. offers a pension referred to as “The Aid and Attendance” program. This is an excellent program that provides up to $2,019 per month toward elder care by a licensed agency or facility. The problem is that one must “need” the aid and attendance before filing for the pension. With retirement income in short supply, many who have the need can’t get help until the pension process is complete. It can take up to a year before they see the first check.

Our Foundation covers the gap between the need and the funds to pay for care. There are qualifications that must be met but for most, they can move right in to Woodland Ridge and get the care they need without waiting through the lengthy V.A. process. There are no fees and no interest charged for this “gap loan”. A number of veterans and their surviving spouses have already been served by this program and we are very proud of this one-of-a-kind initiative to serve those who have served us.

The Woodland Ridge Foundation has its own website at www.woodlandridgefoundation.org

ALD: Carrie, thank you so much for taking the time to provide your thoughts and expertise!   I wish all the best to you and everyone at Woodland Ridge!

Learn More About Woodland Ridge Assisted Living in Smyrna, GA:

Her question to the facility was:

“My mother does not need to live in a care home based on her health, but she doesn’t have many friends, and is lonely.  She does need and crave interaction and company with people her own age. Can she come maybe twice a week to play games or just to talk with your female residents for a couple of hours? What would be the cost?”

I thought this was an excellent question, and one that many caregivers might love to know the answer to.

My first thought after reading this is that this proposal of having mom visit a facility periodically could fall under the categories of volunteering, or perhaps even adult day care.   Since mom is “healthy” and is doing this on her own time, and also since her visits will most likely benefit the residents as well in terms of social interaction and stimulus, it would be very similar to what many volunteers do when they work with assisted living facilities.   Volunteers often times work with residents at facilities, hospice centers and other senior or long-term care environments to play games with the residents, or to read stories to them, or even to simply visit with them, or offer companionship to ward off loneliness.

I also imagined that there must be some sort of screening, and even training process that would need to take place to accept a ‘visitor’ to interact with residents.  In this day and age where elder abuse, wandering, and even theft within assisted living homes is all-too-common, I would hope that “mom” would be subjected to a civilized and somewhat thorough questioning – and perhaps background check – before being allowed to visit with the residents.

For some facilities, I would also think that some degree of ‘training’ and ‘orientation’ would be in order for any regular visitor.  In the numerous facilities that I have visited over the years, most of them have secure entrances with entry codes, as well as protocols for how to conduct oneself around the residents, especially if there are issues such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.  Dietary training and awareness may also need to be covered with any regular visitor, as many residents are certainly on strict or limited diets.  Having mom bring her home-made Peanut Butter Cookies to the residents may be a well-intended idea, but may backfire if any of the residents have nut allergies, which is common, and can at times be fatal.

My other thought was that this proposal might also fall into the description of adult day care.   Although mom is in good health, and does not need the services and amenities most commonly provided by assisted living – she is still being placed in a structured environment, and if mom is living with, or near her children, this could be a way to provide a mental break for her relatives or children who are expending their energy to keep her from feeling lonely and isolated.

I went to the source to find answers!

My site offered a perfect opportunity for me to ask some facility owners and administrators the question posed by the daughter about having her mom visit facilities a few times a week.  Their answers were incredibly helpful, and surprisingly, this seems like something facilities may be more prepared to handle than I initially believed. Here are some of the great responses I received:

Answer #1: I think your mom would be happy to spend a couple of hours each day (twice a week) at our facility, with our residents; We currently have 2 ladies (alert/some mild dementia) and 4 men (alert/some mild dementia); They all love to chat, they love to read, interact with each other, play games, etc; We have a nice group of residents at this time;

The cost will be very low at $20 each day she comes by; You can drop off either check or cash in the mailbox before you enter the facility (outside on left side of the house)

If she lives close by, and if there are times that you cannot bring her, I can do that for $5 extra.

Please give me a call so you can tour my facility; Your mom will enjoy spending some time with elders that are her own age!

Answer #2: A half day at our community, which would be any time under 5 hours, would cost $45 dollars per day. A full day at our community would be $80 per day. We have great outings and great activities within the building as well. We would be happy to pair your mother up with a group of ladies who are similar to her so that she can keep active and social.

It was great to learn that some facilities may also go as far as providing transportation (for a small extra fee) to and from the facility if mom (or dad) is not able to drive him or herself, or if she doesn’t have a ride!

By encouraging a parent or relative who is still independent and fully functional, but perhaps alone or socially isolated to make regular visits to a local assisted living home, they will not only likely develop new friendships – they will also benefit from the stimulation of the new surroundings, as well as a social outlet consisting of an age-appropriate peer group. The residents of the facility will also likely benefit greatly from the fresh faces visiting them, as well as the excitement and anticipation that comes with knowing that someone who cares enough, and has the desire to – will be visiting regularly.

Q: Please tell us about your assisted living / senior care business, where your business is located, and how long you have been working in the senior care industry.

A: Cherry’s Assisted Living Home is located on the far east side of Tucson,  Arizona.  We are certified for all levels of care,  i.e. supervisory care,  personal care,  and directed care.  Our Certified Manager, Myrna Cherry, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and several years experience in Tucson hospitals.  We opened our assisted living business in January 2008.  Our mission statement is “Care From The Heart.”   Our home has a capacity of 5 residents by design.

Q: Has our economy in the past decade affected the assisted living industry, or has it been immune to economic shifts due to the retiring ‘baby boom?

A: The economy in the last few years has not really affected our business.  We try not to listen to the “doom and gloom”  reports  which have a way of  turning into self-fulling prophecy.  We stay focused on providing a great service with  competitive pricing  – and we always market even though we are full.

We appreciate your wonderful attitude about the economy, and I am sure that this probably contributes to your success!  – ALD

Q: What do you feel may be some of the benefits of a smaller, residential home (like yours) over a larger, more corporate-feeling facility?

A: The larger facility does serve a purpose for some residents,  however we have had residents come out of larger facilities,  because there was not enough individual attention given.  It really depends on the level of care and how much time the  caregiver can spend with the resident.  We live on the property so most times there are 2-3 certified caregivers on duty caring  for 5 residents.

Q: Why did you choose Tucson, and how did you settle on the location of your facility?

A: We have lived on the east side of Tucson,  since 2001,  and the home became available in that area.  We have been fortunate that   it has been a good location.

Q: It seems like every day there is a new ‘referral site’ or business trying to collect and sell leads to facility owners.  Do you think that referral sites have been helpful to facility owners like you, or more of a hindrance?

A: In Tucson there are about 432 assisted living homes ( or using different names like personal care home or adult care  home ).    That is a staggering amount of homes to sift through and find a good fit for a loved one.  A good site can really save a person a lot of time and effort.  Unfortunately,  there are those websites that don’t deliver on  what they say they can.  There are only 1 or 2  that are effective,  and it took us 3 years to figure that out.   Actually,  most of our website contacts have come  via  “Assisted  Living Directory “.  This site is very professionally done and it is user friendly.

(Thank you for that nice comment about our site Robert – we really do try to maintain a balanced, useful, and fair site. – ALD)

Q: Owning an assisted living home is obviously a mix of challenges, and rewards.  What have some of those challenges been for you, and what has been rewarding about owning and operating an assisted living home?

A: Probably the biggest challenge is  the fact that you and your staff become  so attached to the residents and their families.     Hence,  the loss of a resident can be  a very difficult thing to cope with.  In many cases the residents are like grandparents or   in some cases like a parent figure.   On the other hand,  it is very gratifying to see a resident improve upon arriving at our home.  In some cases,  they needed extra attention and you can see the improvement right away.  Perhaps the resident needed physical assistance in some areas,  but you can see them start to thrive just with individual attention.  And the families notice !

Thank you Robert and Myrna for sharing your insights and expertise with us, and we wish you all the best and success in the future with your lovely assisted living residence! – ALD

Learn More About Cherry’s Assisted Living Home:

Interview by Assisted Living Directory

The Phonecall

My wife and I are at the point in our lives that we expect..or rather are not surprised when we receive urgent phonecalls from her aging mother that she has had a new health issue come up, or a fall, or worse.    It’s an emotional, and unfortunate fact of life for anyone who has aging parent(s).

We received just one of those calls this weekend from my mother-in-law that she had fallen, and was in the hospital.

To give a little back history – my mother-in-law is in her 80′s, and has had a pretty tough year.  She has ‘successfully’ beaten cancer (as far as we know) – however, the chemo that she received has created a whole new set of health issues, and we believe that she is not receiving the absolute best care possible, and we also believe that she is now a good candidate for help – whether that be in the form of a visiting caregiver or social worker a few times a week, or perhaps even a more permanent living environment such as assisted living.   Our mother-in-law, however, is pretty strong-willed and stubborn, and won’t easily accept any alternative other than ‘doing it herself’ and living at home- alone.

The phonecall came in over the weekend as my wife and I were sitting at dinner. We didn’t hear the phone ring, so it went to voicemail.  It was from our mother-in-law, and she was in the hospital.   She had fallen in her house as she was fiddling with the dishwasher, and had hurt herself (how, we weren’t sure as of this point).

The issues that she has been facing as a result her yearlong battle with cancer are extreme weakness, swelling, and fatigue, which will obviously make her prone to falls and injury.  Apparently, chemo cause a whole slew of issues, including the ones that she is starting to face, that can appear at any time down the road after treatment.   Her doctors have put her on medication that my wife and I have learned are “heavy duty” and should only be used in life-threatening situations.  Her meds can cause even more gristly side-effects and issues, of which eventual death or permanent disability are not out of the realm of possibility.

Naturally, we are extremely concerned and worried  (we love her dearly, and she is such an important part of our family) – but since we live on the other side of the country, for us to get answers, or to offer any help can prove to be extremely challenging.    Our mother-in-law also doesn’t like to give us the ‘full story’ when it comes to her health issues.  She believes that by acknowledging her ailments, she gives them ‘more power,’ which, can obviously backfire when people are trying to help her, but don’t know what to specifically help her with.

Moving To A Larger Hospital

We received another message that “mom” was being moved from her small-town hospital to a large, university hospital, about an hour from where she lives.    We learned that she needed testing, scans, and observation that her local hospital could not provide.   She was transported via ambulance.

Fortunately, after a stay of a few days, and after many tests, rest, and observation, nothing serious was found (other than her current, existing issues).    The hospital staff informed her that she was do be discharged the next day, and that she needed to arrange for a ride home.

A ride home? Seriously?  A hospital of this size doesn’t have a shuttle service, especially for the frail, and/or elderly to get them home?   Actually, they do, but only for within the city limits, and doesn’t include the many outlying suburbs and towns.

Even then, I can’t believe that they don’t have a shuttle or ride system set up to help people get home – even if there is a fee to do so.   I would personally be happy to pay for her shuttle just to make sure she gets home safely.

I was in such disbelief that this hospital had never had this situation happen before, and that they didn’t have a free or affordable system or protocol to handle it that I had to e-mail the hospital to ask them myself.

My message to them was “Do you have a shuttle, or transportation system to get elderly patients home after they have been discharged, and if so, what is the cost?  My mother-in-law lives about 30 miles outside of town.”

I will post their reply when/if I get one.

As of this writing, my mother-in-law is waiting at the hospital, trying to figure out a ride home that won’t break her bank, or ours.   We have offered a few suggestions that she has stubbornly turned down, which is frustrating.   My wife has a friend in the area, very close to the hospital,  who has offered to take her at the end of the day. However, our dear, wonderful, but stubborn mother-in-law doesn’t want to burden her.   So, here again, we are stuck trying to figure out a solution.

Assisted Living and Transportation – Solving The Issue

How does a family convince one of it’s elderly members that he or she needs to be in an assisted living environment?    This is the question that our family is facing, and unfortunately, we have not arrived at an answer to this yet.    We are in no position to ‘force’ mom to go into assisted living, so we are hoping that, if these current health issues don’t resolve, or if they get worse, that mom will realize that she is jeopardizing her health and well-being, and also putting a great deal of strain and stress on her extended family.

We’ve already looked into the assisted living scene in her area, and we have learned that there are many excellent choices, and that some of her friends are already living in facilities in her area, and are leading successful, active, and happy lives there.

Almost all assisted living homes or facilities offer some sort of a transportation service that is usually included with the monthly cost.   I often see very snazzy vans or minivans that belong to various facilities around town taking their seniors shopping, or to medical appointments, and I am sure, at times, they are bringing their residents home from the hospital.    To me, having that peace-of-mind knowing that mom always has a ride – especially at a point in her life that she is still insisting on driving, even when we all know that it is becoming unsafe for her to do so, and unsafe for the other drivers on the road.

The peace-of-mind that comes from having a parent in assisted living is furthered by knowing that there will (or should be) always a ‘watchful eye” on mom in case there is another fall, or urgent health issue.    Had mom not been near her phone, or if the fall was much worse, she could have remained in her house for days, on the floor, without being discovered.

For now, we are left with hoping that her health takes a turn for the better – which is the one way that her stubborn-nature may actually serve her well.

Update from my wife:

I was on the phone with Mom most of the morning.  The social worker today finally found her a ride home through Transport U http://www.transportu.net/.  It is free the first time but they can’t come for another 3 hours.  So, that is a relief. 

I can definitely say that I have a whole new level of respect and appreciation for my ‘grey matter,’ and how fragile our bodies are.

The Fall

Earlier this month, I was doing some repairs to our main bathtub in our house. Because of this, we started using a different shower/bath that we don’t normally use. It is slippery, and doesn’t have a very good mat, and nothing to hold onto.  I already knew that I needed to be extra careful because of this.

I wasn’t really moving, or reaching for anything – my feet just simply slipped out from under me, and I went down quickly and violently – hitting my back against the faucet, and then the side of the tub.

I don’t remember specifically hitting my head, which, at the time was a relief (I have since learned that you don’t have to hit your head at all – a concussion happen by the force of a fall.)  It took me about 5 minutes to collect myself and my bearings, and to get up very slowly to inspect the damage, and to make sure I wasn’t seriously hurt. I was alone in the house at the time which could have complicated matters had it been worse.

After The Fall

For the first few days after the fall, other than being really sore and stiff, I felt fine mentally. I could tell that I dinged up my back pretty bad, and that my neck was out of place, but I went back to my normal life, work, and family with the help of an ice pack, some ibuprofen, and a little extra rest.

It wasn’t until about 7 days later that I started to realize that something was off – much more so. For starters, I just wanted to sleep all of the time. I felt like I was actually sleeping pretty well, but when I woke in the morning, I just wanted to go back to bed, and stay there most of the day. I also noticed that I was forgetting, or taking longer to remember things that I knew very well, like names of movies, or bits of trivia, or names of acquaintances from the past.

I also felt dizzy, and slightly nauseous. I was feeling like I had just gotten spun around on a merry-go-round, and then asked to walk a straight line. I also noticed that I have been slightly shaky – something I  noticed when we were out to dinner, and I was trying to dip a chip into the salsa.  I kept getting salsa on my shirt from my hand trembling.

The situations that made me the most uncomfortable were times that I  would try to watch a movie, or working on the computer. I was having trouble (and still am to some degree) following what I was watching, or concentrating what I was working on.

Being in large groups of people, or crowded places also seemed overwhelming, and gave me a sense of disconnect, and vertigo.

This was all not normal, and was starting to scare me. Was I losing my mind?

I finally decided to go see a doctor about all of this. I told her what happened, and she asked me several questions, and gave me a thorough looking-over. She noticed that the upper portions of my neck were swollen and as hard as a rock. It didn’t take long before I heard the words “post-concussive syndrome.”

Recovery

Hearing those words were, believe it or not, a relief to me – and all made sense. I was thrilled that it did not appear to be something more sinister, or permanent, and that there was definitely a cause, an effect, and now hopes and expectations for a full recovery.

What I have learned, though, is that healing the body and mind from a concussion can take a long time. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can take weeks, to months, and at times even years to recover.  Unfortunately, in the most severe cases, there can be permanent lingering issues. I am hopeful that mine will be on the order of weeks, but my doctor explained to me that I can expect to not feel fully normal for a few months, and she had some specific recommendations for me.

My doctor’s recommendations:

1)  Most importantly, the best thing to do for a concussion is to get plenty of rest. She said that my wanting to sleep all of the time was my body and brain telling me that it needs rest to repair itself. I have been making sure to take lots of breaks during the day to lie down, and I have been going to bed early, and sleeping in as long as possible (not an easy task with a 6-year old in the house). However, I am “thankful” that this injury occurred during my Thanksgiving break, which allowed me to take some time off from my work (I work from home) and to have my wife take over many of the household and caregiving duties for my son (and me). She did a lot of the cooking, cleaning, and driving.

2) On that note – my doctor said that if I can help it, I shouldn’t drive, especially at night. My reaction time is much worse now, and at night, the bright lights can, and do make me woozy. My wife has been my chauffeur (by the way, I love her, and she is just wonderful!)

3) Don’t over-stimulate the brain. My doctor recommended this, and I have read in many places in my research about concussion that giving the brain a rest from things like TV, music, loud noises and bright lights will help. Even before I went to the doctor, I noticed that I was already turning the music off in my car, and not watching as much TV. Even reading books, or doing simple e-mail or computer-work can overload the brain during this healing process.

4) Don’t run, or do anything that can bounce your body and head around. I am a runner, so this has been the most difficult part of this process – not running. However, I am fortunate that I have a good gym that I go to that has a number of low-impact options to help me keep up on my exercise. I do the stair-climber, and walk on the treadmill. One thing that I have noticed, though, is that if I go at a busy time, the constant ‘bouncing’ motion of all of the other people using the treadmills, machines, and ellipticals constantly in my peripheral vision can make me dizzy, so I try to go at less-busy times.

5) Massage, and ice packs. Many times, people with head injuries also injure their necks, and the muscles from the head down through the back can become as hard as rocks, and can further aggravate the symptoms you are already experiencing. I’ve found that a good neck and back massage, followed by an ice pack makes me feel much better, and can minimize many of my discomforts for several hours. Fortunately, my wife is also well-versed at the art of massage, and I am fortunate to have her.

More things that might help with recovery

Since my fall, and diagnosis, I have done quite a bit of research on concussion, and things or activities that may help in the recovery process. I fully believe that the following recommendations and activities have been extremely helpful for me

1) Limiting coffee or other stimulating beverages or foods has helped. At first, I noticed that if I have coffee, I’ll feel good for a short time, and then the dizziness and vertigo sets in much more than on days that I don’t have coffee. This is certainly due to the brain being over-stimulated, and not being able to handle the jolt.

2) Meditation has been extremely helpful. I have read many accounts and blogs of people who have taken a good blow to the head or body who have recommended meditation to help ease the symptoms of post-concussive syndrome, and to help with concentration, stability, and focus. There are many of my concussive-comrades out there who believe that meditation can accelerate the healing process, and who have been given direct advice from their Neurologists to meditate in order to speed-up healing. I have been a pretty regular meditator for many years, and I believe that this has been instrumental in helping me feel normal, or as normal as I can be in the past weeks. I recommend finding a good recording of rain or ocean waves to listen to with headphones – something that I do first thing in the morning, and again mid-day when my brain starts getting tired again. Meditation makes sense, since it is essentially the opposite from stimulation, which is what we are trying to avoid.

3) Exercise (low-impact) has been very helpful to me. I have found that by just doing some solid, low-impact cardio or Yoga can help my muscles to loosen up, and to help my mind get into a more rhythmic, clear, and focused state. As a friend of mine puts it – exercise helps to “clean out the cobwebs upstairs.” Just going on a walk around the block will help my wooziness and concentration issues.

4) Uni-tasking, and not working so hard. This has been a tough one as well, since I run my own business out of my house, and I need to get quite a bit done on a daily basis to keep things going. However, I know that by doing too much, I am going to slow the healing process, and get too tired to sustain the pace. I have slowed down, and this injury has helped me to do one thing better – prioritize! I am now letting some of the smaller, more insignificant stuff fall through the cracks, or put on the back burner, and I am just trying to focus on what really matters right here and now. I’ve actually been able to get some significant things done in the past few weeks, but I have had to take lots of breaks, and minimize distractions. I am making a concerted effort to do only one thing at a time. It’s helped!

For Seniors

I felt that my story might be helpful for my site, and seniors, since falls, and injuries due to falling are often-times associated with the elderly, and often-times these incidents happen in the bathroom, bath, or shower. No matter where seniors may be living – whether it is at home, with a relative, or perhaps in an assisted living home, I now know how important it is for them to live in a safe environment, with well designed and equipped bathrooms with handrails, easily reachable cabinets and switches, and walk-in-bathtubs or showers that have good floor mats, and places to sit if needed.

I am in my “young 40′s” and my ability to function in day-to-day life has been compromised from my fall. I told my wife that if I had to go back to a full-time job, or to perhaps being a full-time caregiver this week with the issues and symptoms I am experiencing, that I am not sure I could pull it off without help. Fortunately, by being able to work from home, I can work when I feel up to it, and I can rest when I need to. Many people are not so fortunate.

I have a new respect, and appreciation for anyone that has to deal with chronic back or neck issues, memory problems, dementia or permanent issues due to falls or injuries. I also now have a new understanding of, and respect for how necessary it is to have friends, family members, or caregivers to help during times of injury and ill-health.

Furthermore, I now can appreciate even more how assisted living can truly be a lifesaver for someone who may not have the social or family ties to care for them if they have trouble with the simple activities of daily living.

My prognosis is good, and my issues and complaints should be temporary. For this, I am extremely grateful and thankful.

Q:    Please tell me about your assisted living / senior care business, where your business is located, and how long you have been working in the senior care industry.

A: Precious Care is Located in Detroit Mi, We have been in Business since 2008 we serve the mentally ill and Physically Handicapped. We have a license for (5) clients. We have trained staff; provide medication management, 3 meals plus snacks, all in a beautiful home setting.

Q: At what point in your life did you first realize you had an interest in helping seniors, and how did you act on that interest to achieve your goals?

A: I have an uncle who is mentally and physically handicapped -  when I was younger my mother had Guardianship over him, so I always use to visit him in many Group Home settings. When I became an adult I decided that I wanted to own a Group Home. My uncle was my first resident.

Q:  What were some of the biggest challenges, or obstacles you faced during your journey to realize your dream of becoming an assisted living facility owner, and what have some of the most profound rewards been?

A: Some of Assisted Living biggest challenges are hiring good, dependable staff who truly love helping people in need. Also, making sure everyone is active and happy. Some of the most profound rewards is knowing every night that you truly helped someone in need.

Q: What do you think the most important aspect, or quality of an assisted living home is?

Does it feel homey to you? This is a personal preference. Do you prefer a smaller, cozier environment, or would you rather be in a larger, bustling place with more activities? Is outside design, such as gardens or other greenery, important to you?

Does the facility offer activities you’re interested in? Are there hobbies or activities on site, or transportation available to outside ones? Does the facility have amenities that are important to you such as a gym, recreation center, library, or a chapel?

Is the food appealing to you? Do you have the option of eating in your room if you would like to? What kinds of food are served? Is it nutritious and appetizing? Are their different food options available?

How are health problems handled? How does the facility handle both emergency and non-emergency problems? If you develop a medical condition, will you be able to remain at the facility? At what point would you be required to move elsewhere for medical care?

Is the facility in compliance with state and local licensing requirements? Each state has different standards, so you will want to check with your local regulatory agency to make sure that the facility is licensed and in compliance. You can also check the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been lodged against the facility.

Q:  What advice would you offer to families just starting their search for an assisted living home for a loved one?

A:   As you start your search, try not to get overwhelmed by all the options. Remember, amenities   matter much less than the residents and staff. It’s the people that truly make any place, including an assisted living facility. You can tell a lot about a facility by the people who live and work there. You want a facility with an active social atmosphere—where the residents are friendly and the staff is caring and warm. Make sure that, overall, you feel the facility is a place where you will fit in and develop new relationships.

Please visit our  Precious Care Assisted Living  page in our  Assisted Living Directory to find out more about Destiny’s home and business!

Our thanks and gratitude to Destiny Arrington for sharing her expertise and insight, and for participating in our “5 Questions” series!

We have had a small blurb on our homepage that talks briefly about what assisted living is, and we’d like to add to that, and clarify a few things here.

The first line of our blurb says “Assisted living generally refers to living with physical assistance rather than monetary assistance.” We started with that line because the question has been asked whether assisted living also encompasses help in terms of financial issues. It does not. Paying for assisted living, and the cost of assisted living are separate, but relevant variables when it comes to assisted living and senior care. We have a page that talks about what one (or a family) can expect in terms of costs and expenses relevant to assisted living. We discuss the different forms of insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. Assisted Living is generally quite expensive, and it is not uncommon for an assisted living facility to charge $3000 to $5000 per month per resident (and sometimes more).

Assisted living also encompasses a wide range of sizes and locations of facilities, which may also add to the confusion surrounding assisted living. There isn’t one standard size or style of facility, and facilities can be located in a residential neighborhood with a resident capacity of perhaps 5 or fewer – or, an assisted living facility may look more like a high-rise building in a big city, housing several hundred residents. Facilities can be very home-like in feel and atmosphere, or they may also be very resort-like, offering state-of-the-art services, amenities, and extras such as workout and exercise facilities, swimming pools, movie theaters, and perhaps a full-service salon.

Deciding on which atmosphere and style of facility really comes down to personal choice, and how well a particular facility may be able to manage and care for specific conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease or stroke.

Another part of our “What is assisted living” blurb on our Assisted Living Directory homepage says “Assisted living is essentially a senior living option that offers and combines housing, support services and health care, as needed.” This is almost correct, but we do need to clarify on one aspect of this.

Now, more than ever, assisted living is becoming a more acceptable and legitimate choice for younger residents (non-seniors) who need the help. We receive questions frequently from people under the age of 55 who may have something like early-onset Parkinson’s, or who may have perhaps had a stroke. We’ve seen people asking about assisted living who are even teenagers who have debilitating conditions, and whose families are no longer able to adequately act as caregivers for them. Assisted living can often times serve people of a wide range of ages, and conditions.

The types of services and amenities offered in an assisted living environment can vary greatly as well. Some facilities may only be able to offer very basic services, such as laundry, meals, and helping with the simplest of daily activities, such as dressing and bathing. These types of facilities may not be the best choice for a resident who is experiencing the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s, or another serious condition. On the other hand, there are facilities that offer just about anything that you can imagine in terms of amenities, activities, services and extras. These facilities can often times take residents at any “stage or age” – and may offer much more of an ‘experience’ instead of just a housing option. We’ve seen facilities that rival some of the top resorts in the world – facilities that provide world-class chefs and menus; concierge services; putting greens; spa and salon services; full-time activities directors and rooms that would please the most elite of the rich and famous. Naturally, the level of care, services and amenities will be a significant determining factor when it comes to fees and expenses.

Another reason that assisted living is so difficult to define in absolute terms is that it is not regulated the same from state-to-state. Each state has it’s own laws, regulations, and standards when it comes to senior care and assisted living, so what may be officially defined as assisted living in one state may be quite different in another state. In fact, some states don’t even officially recognize the term ‘assisted living’ – instead, they may use terms like ‘supportive living’ or ‘adult foster care.’

In the end, an assessment needs to be done to determine what the exact needs are for a potential resident,  what his or her needs may be in the future, as well as what fits into the potential resident’s budget.  A resident who has a condition that is likely to deteriorate as time goes on will need to strongly consider a facility that has a continuum of care, or that allows residents to ‘age in place.’ As we all know, moving is not usually a pleasant or easy process for anyone, and once a family places a loved-one into an assisted living facility, it is in everyone’s best interests to avoid any future moves, if possible. This may be especially important for those residents with Alzheimer’s or other memory disorders, as it is important for these types of residents to retain a sense of routine, and a familiarity with their surroundings.

We recommend taking the time to do the necessary research, to ask plenty of questions, and to consider qualified and trusted guidance if it is available to you.

I took a little trip up to see some of the fall foliage near where I live (can you guess where?). This beautiful location is just a little over an hour from where I live, in a large metro area. The drive is very easy, and the destination is within a well-known national park (I’d love to see who can recognize where this is).

Once I arrived at the park, and this location in particular, I was pleasantly surprised to notice how many senior citizens were there, as well as a number of folks who relied on wheelchairs to get around. This beautiful spot has numerous walking and hiking trails, many of which are paved to be able to accommodate those who are in wheelchairs, and to make it easier on those who are less mobile than us ‘youngsters.’

The park has a marvelous free bus system that takes people around to the different points of interest, and plenty of bathrooms and facilities if they are needed.

I got to thinking about those many people back in the big city who live in assisted living homes, and wondering how many of those homes offer a transportation service for their residents. To me, this service would rank very high in terms of importance, and need, when it comes to services and amenities offered by an assisted living facility. Any facility that does not offer transportation might want to reconsider this omission, and think about the disservice they may be imposing on their residents.

I can think of numerous reasons as to why transportation would be important to any assisted living resident:

1) Transportation to and from medical and doctor’s appointments: One can safely assume that most of, if not all assisted living residents will have many recurring appointments that they will need to get to, and from.

2) Shopping: Most people will need to do some sort of shopping periodically, whether it is for food, clothing, or simply recreation. Shopping provides an outlet for many people to socialize, to get ‘out of the house’ and a way to detach from the health problems they may be experiencing, or to shake up the routine a bit.

3) Rides to activity meetings, senior centers, or holiday events: Seniors need ways to keep plugged-in socially, as well as mentally and socially stimulated. Most cities and many towns have senior centers that offer many activities and opportunities to learn, participate, and engage. However, if getting to and from the local senior center and related activities and events proves to be challenging, seniors may be less apt to make the effort, or perhaps to assert themselves to figure it out.

4) Getting back into nature. My photograph above should say it all. I looked around at the expressions on the faces of just about everyone at the park on this particular day, and there was much happiness, excitement, and joy in the air brought on by the vibrant leaves, clean mountain air, and stunning scenery. Simply offering an excuse like this for people to forget about their health or other problems for a few hours is an invaluable service.

These are just a few of the reasons that transportation is such a valuable service for any successful facility. It would be quite a shame if any senior were not able to participate in the simple activity of enjoying the beauty of nature for an afternoon, simply because he or she does not have a ride. I applaud those facilities that offer transportation to their residents as part of their services, and I further tip my hat to those facilities that make the effort to offer activities, programs, and outings that take place off of the facility grounds….to places that inspire feelings of joy, happiness, and community.

We subscribe to numerous news feeds about the assisted living industry, and it is alarming to us that so many of these news stories relate to an assisted living resident who is lost after having wandered off of the property unnoticed.   Unfortunately, these events can have serious, and tragic outcomes.

One of the aspects of wandering that we haven’t discussed much on our site is what can be done to minimize the risk to residents who wander, and what services or organizations are available, and trained and equipped to help find residents who have wandered.

This is where an organization such as Project Lifesaver comes in.   We came across the Project Lifesaver website recently, and have communicated with them this past week about who they are, and what they do.  Their services are truly invaluable, and we want to try to spread the word to all seniors, families, and facilities about how they can help to protect the lives of our aging loved ones, whether they live at home, or in a long-term care environment such as assisted living.

“The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, and other related conditions or disorders. ”

Project Lifesaver offers effective procedures and equipment to find wandering or lost individuals in a timely manner.   Time is of utmost importance, since, ever minute lost can increase the risk of injury, or a tragic outcome.  This may be especially true in especially hot months, or in the winter, when the lost individual may not be dressed and prepared for the weather and elements.

Additionally, without the help of an experienced organization such as Project Lifesaver, searches can involve ‘multiple agencies, hundreds of officers, countless man hours and thousands of dollars.’  Project Lifesaver has an incredible track record of recovering (or finding) clients within an average 30-minute window (according to the Project Lifesaver site).   Most other standard operations can take hours and at times, days.   The majority of those who wander are found within a short distance from home, or their assisted living facility – most often within a few miles.

“Working hand in hand with trained public safety agencies, Project Lifesaver International (PLI) will help you save time, money and most importantly, your loved ones.”

The Project Lifesaver website has a great page that allows visitors to view ‘recent rescues‘ that shows the date of the rescue, the City or County and State, the diagnosis or condition of the lost, or wandering client, and the all-important recovery time.   The list has a search function, as well as a drop-down to see 10, 25, 50 or 100 entries at a time.   A quick scan of the recovery times shows that many clients are found within 10 minutes!   As of this writing, Project Lifesaver has recovered 2,430 clients!  Project Lifesaver is in 46 US states, and also has an international presence.