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by Kristin Sullivan

Video Phones in Nursing Homes – another way to stay close

October 26, 2009 in Nursing Home - Rehab - Skilled Nursing by Kristin Sullivan

By Kristin Sullivan
At retirement communities around the country, residents now have a new option to keep in touch, face to face, with family and friends who live far away. Facilities, including New Jersey-based Gloucester Manor, are signing on to use the Alinx Internet Video Phone service from Alinx Communications.
“As one of the Baby Boomers, I had to place my mother in a nursing home four years ago,” explains Alex Slocum, the president of Alinx. “As a consultant I traveled constantly; the ability to call my mother and be able to see her would have meant the world to both of us.  My mother expressed and showed signs of depression when she couldn’t see her family that often, especially the grandchildren.”
Slocum believes he’s found the solution to this problem. The Alinx service package uses phones that plug into a retirement home’s existing internet service, enabling seniors to speak on a live video feed. Their families can also purchase video phones and plug them into their own computers, for a fully two-way video conference.
The phone system is also HIPAA-compliant, and service will be set up so that seniors can speak privately with their families without interruption. The program officially kicks off this month at a conference for long term care providers in Atlantic City, which includes representatives from facilities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, Slocum says.
For more information on Alinx internet video phones, please visit their website.

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by tomratcliff

Book Clubs Keeping Seniors Sharp

October 26, 2009 in Assisted Living by tomratcliff

At a Providence, R.I. based EPOCH Assisted Living on the East Side, residents started a book club in 2008, and not only has the program taken off within the facility, but it’s now open to members of the community too.
“Many of the residents, who are all in their 80s and 90s, are from academic backgrounds,” explains Karen Ferranti, the community’s life enrichment director. “They love to read and be challenged overall, both physically and mentally. They taken a fairly solo activity, reading, and turned it into an engaging group activity. Some of the discussions, especially around controversial books like Middlesex, have been very lively.”
The group meets the second Tuesday of each month to discuss the previous month’s pick. Recent books have included Jodi Picoult’ “My Sister’ Keeper,” Markus Zusak’s “The Book Thief,” and Richard Russo’s “Empire Falls.”
“These residents are mentally sharp and like to challenge themselves physically and mentally,” Ferranti says. “Two of the residents within the book club are blind. They listen to the books on tape and then participate in the discussions. EPOCH promotes a lot of social activities within its community to break down barriers and create an open, neighborly atmosphere. This club is an activity, open to all, that supports that belief.”
A book club is a relatively easy activity to implement in an assisted living setting, and now, the community has taken out notices in the local paper to solicit guest members from outside the facility too. “The idea is to help keep residents connected to the local community,” Ferranti says. “It opens its doors to visitors regularly. Community members benefit too from seeing what’s going on at EPOCH. And obviously, it is a very nice community, so having people visit and seeing all the amenities is a positive marketing opportunity.”
For more information on EPOCH Assisted Living, please visit their website.

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by Kristin Sullivan

Special Options to Keep Seniors in their Homes Longer

October 26, 2009 in Home Care / Home Health, Nursing Home - Rehab - Skilled Nursing by Kristin Sullivan

By Kristin Sullivan
Neighborly Care Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in St. Petersburg, Fla., is helping seniors to stay in their homes longer by providing services seniors often have trouble accessing on their own.
 
“Our seniors today are living longer, healthier, and more productive lives,” says Sandi Narron, the organization’s public relations manager. “For nearly 45 years, Neighborly Care Network has been working to dispel the myth that disease and disability are inevitable consequences of aging. Through the programs Neighborly offers, our senior neighbors can enjoy more years of health, wellness and independent living.”
 
Among the organizations many programs are a nonprofit pharmacy that delivers prescriptions to homebound seniors, neighborhood dining sites that allow seniors to interact over a nightly dinner, and the first adult day care program in the country.
 
“Most seniors would prefer to remain in their own homes as long as possible,” Narron says. “Oftentimes, seniors end up in a nursing home because they are having difficulty taking care of their personal needs. With the services Neighborly provides, seniors can stay in their own home for as long as possible. Being around familiar and comfortable surroundings can be vitally therapeutic. Additionally, senior day care makes life a little easier when seniors live with caregivers that work during the day.” 
 
While there are programs throughout the country that offer home meal delivery to seniors, Neighborly’s senior dining program offers a special opportunity for seniors living alone. “The Neighborly Senior Dining program offers seniors a place to enjoy hot, nutritious meals and, sometimes even more important, a place to socialize with others,” Narron says. “One can be a lonely number when it comes to dining. Many seniors live alone and hate the idea of cooking only for themselves. The Senior Dining program is more than just a meal. It’s also a place where seniors can take part in fun activities and not only enjoy the companionship of other seniors, but the ‘caring hands’ our staff and volunteers extend each day.”
For more information on the Neighborly Care Network, please visit their website.

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