By Rick Banas of senior living and assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
If you think assisted living residents do nothing but sit around and play BINGO, you should have been at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in Manteno, Illinois, this past Friday afternoon.
For the second year in a row, residents on the community’s Wii bowling team smoked firefighters and paramedics with the Manteno Fire Protection District during an annual Wii Bowling Challenge.
In fact, the members of the Acorns did themselves one better in this year’s competition. Last year, they beat the firefighters by a combined total of 225 pins, or an average of 37.5 pins per bowler per game. This year, they won by a combined total of 226 pins.
Resident Helen Wotring, who is 86 years young, had the high game, tossing a 236. Her game included a turkey and a four bagger.
“I like to show off,” Helen told those who were gathered in the dining room at Heritage Woods to cheer on the bowlers. It only took a couple of thousand games to be able to do this, she said.
“You have every right to be bragging,” Mary Robbins of the Fire Protection told Helen.
Scott Spanos rolled the high game for the Fire Protection District, tossing a 167.
Wii Bowling is an activity that has become very popular at the assisted living communities that BMA manages.
AALC represents affordble assisted living communities located throughout Illinois that operate through the state’s Supportive Living program. The program enables the communities to serve older adults and adults with physical disabilities of all incomes, including those on Medicaid.
Last year, three of teams competing in the Final Four were from BMA communities.
The Oy Vey! team of residents from Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook brought home the Second Place trophy. Team member Michael Malina had the high game in the Final Four competition. He rolled a 279 in the semi-finals. In addition, team member Manny Shellist was recognized for being the oldest bowler ever to compete in an AALC Wii bowling Final Four. Manny, who turned 101 not long after the Final Four, averaged 176.
For the Silver Sliders from Cambridge House of Maryville, qualifying for the Final Four was old hat. It was the third year in a row that the team from the community in the St. Louis Metro East area were among the four best teams in the state. In 2010, the Silver Sliders struck gold and brought home the First Place trophy.
For those of you who might be interested, we invite you to watch the 4th Annual Wii Bowling Championship Final Four live in Decatur. If you cannot make it, live streaming on the Internet will be available.
We will be sure to keep your informed.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
With September designated as World Alzheimer’s Month, I wanted to share with you highlights of an informational program on the ABCs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia that was conducted earlier this month at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Dementia is a broad umbrella description used to describe declines in cognitive and intellectual abilities. It includes memory loss, confusion and disorientation.
There are almost 80 different types of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. It is a progressive degenerative disorder that is characterized by an increasing loss of memory and changes in language, personality and the ability to handle activities of daily living.
Increasing age is the most common risk factor for Alzheimer’s. The prevalence among those 65 to 74 years of age is 2% to 4%; among those 75 to 84 years of age, it is 18% to 20%; and among those 85 years of age and older, it is 50%. If you hit 90 years of age, however, the odds of getting Alzheimer’s start going down.
Cognex (tacrine), Aricept (donepezil), Exelon (rivastigmine), Reminyl (galatamine), and Namenda (memantine) are medications currently available for Alzheimer’s. Cognex is one of the very first drugs to be approved for Alzheimer’s and is not being used much anymore. Some of the medications are available by patch.
The purpose of the medications that are currently available to treat Alzheimer’s is to try and slow down the progression of the disease. There isn’t a cure. Patti did note that when Namenda was first released, we put eight residents at Arden Courts on it and four were able to communicate and function better for a period of time. At that time, it was really significant because of the drastic change. Now, however, doctors are prescribing the medication so soon that most families will not see these shifts in ability. She stressed the importance of seeking the counsel of a doctor regard medications.
The signs and symptoms of early stage Alzheimer’s include loss of memory, difficulty following directions, difficulty handling money, difficulty driving a car, changes in mood, poor judgment and poor concentration. People are doing things that are not typical for them. They get lost within a mile of their home. They start drifting when they are driving. They often give away money to anyone and everyone. You’ll see changes in their mood because of the way the disease affects their brain.
For those in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s, memory loss is more severe because there has been more damage to the brain. People will be getting up in the middle of the night thinking they have to go to work. They will not understand what a tool is for, such as a toothbrush being used to brush your teeth. They will get agitated because they can’t make sense of the world around them. People will be wandering possibly because they are in pain, they are looking for something, or they are constipated. They will be rummaging because they no longer have an understanding of mine and yours. If they are hungry but can’t communicate this to anyone, this might trigger inappropriate or harmful behavior.
Late stage Alzheimer’s is probably the hardest stage for families. The person may be unable to communicate or use one word sentences. Immobility is common, and they likely need total assistance with activities of daily living.
Patti provided some helpful advice on handling challenging behaviors:
Introduce yourself by name, and communicate at eye level. Remind the person that “we used to do such and such.” Speak and move slowly. Hand movement or the waving of hands as you talk can be a problem. Use a calm, non-demanding approach. Maintain good eye contact.
Validate the person’s feelings rather than patronizing them and saying everything will be okay.
If they are hallucinating or having delusions, do not tell them that it is just in your mind. To them, it is real. Patti talked about a resident she found sitting with her trench coat on and in tears. She was reliving her Mom’s death and was waiting for the undertaker to arrive. To her, the situation was real.
Understand that the layering or stripping of clothing is common because executive brain functioning and sense of modesty are gone. Patti talked about a person who wrapped a pair of pants over her head, with the pant legs around her neck. She was cold and used the pants as a hat and scarf.
Limit environmental distractions, and simplify the environment because an environment that is over stimulating can cause harmful behaviors. This includes too many bright and bold things and too many things that sparkle. Blinking lights on a Christmas tree, for instance, can be a problem.
Simplify tasks and routines. Give one step directions.
Be patient for responses. If you need to ask a question again, ask it the same way, using the same language.
If the person is not sleeping well at night, keep them active so they are not napping all day long.
Allow adequate rest between stimulating events. This often can be a problem during the holiday season. Someone with Alzheimer’s needs down time.
Patti also provided some tips on what you can do to help maintain a healthy brain and possibly reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease:
Physical Exercise – Physical exercise gets oxygen to your brain. It also helps you keep your muscles strong, which can help reduce your risk of falling and hitting your head. Show up for the exercise classes that are available at Heritage Woods, Patti told the residents who were in attendance at the program she was conducting.
Mental Exercise – The more you work your brain, the better it will function. Be sure to try new things. For instance, Patti told the residents of Heritage Woods, be sure to take advantage of the Dakim computerized brain fitness program that is available at Heritage Woods.
Get adequate sleep. Your brain needs time to rest.
Maintain a low stress level as stress is a factor that can feed into dementia.
Maintain normal blood pressure.
Eat a brain healthy diet. If it is good for your heart, it is good for your brain.
Protect yourself from head injuries. Wear a seat belt when driving or riding in a car and a helmet when riding a bicycle. Take steps necessary to maintain or improve your balance so you do not fall needlessly. If you feel wobbly, don’t ignore it. Seek help.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
By Wayne Smallwood of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC)
Last month, Supportive Living communities from throughout the State of Illinois joined together to celebrate Supportive Living Week 2012.
Out 5th Annual Supportive Living Celebration provided a special opportunity to salute the Illinois Supportive Living program as the best program for affordable assisted living in the country and a model for other states to follow.
Our theme this year was “Taking the Mystery Out of Supportive Living.” Our focus was on showing why Supportive Living is the obvious solution for seniors and adults with disabilities seeking an affordable residential style of living with the availability of personal assistance and support services.
Residents, their families, and the State of Illinois all benefit from the program.
Residents benefit from a program that emphasizes personal choice, dignity, privacy and individuality. They enjoy a wonderful alternative to a nursing home or to struggling alone at home.
Families enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that a loved one is receiving the help with medications and personal assistance they need while living in a wonderful residential environment.
The State of Illinois and taxpayers benefit because the cost to the State of a person receiving financial support from Medicaid is 40% less in Supportive Living than it would be if the person were in a nursing home.
Since the first Supportive Living community began operating in the fall of 1999, the Supportive Living program has grown significantly. Today, there are 136 Supportive Living communities in operation in more than 70 Counties. Together, these communities house more than 10,500 apartments.
To help celebrate Supportive Living Week 2012, the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition sponsored several programs:
SLFs Got Talent
Residents from more than 45 Supportive Living communities participated in our 2012 SLFs Got Talent contest.
A panel of judges narrowed the field down to 25 and then popular voting was used to help determine the “Top Ten”. The “Top Ten” performed live in Springfield, with representatives from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services serving as judges.
First Place
Dave “Twinky” Stewart of Friedman Place in Chicago for his rendition on the piano of a song that he wrote.
Second Place
Warren Lane of Courtyard Estates of Sullivan for his piano and vocal performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”
Third Place
Rhonda Martin of Eden Supportive Living in Chicago for her vocal rendition of “King of the Road.”
Fourth Place
Marjorie Conrad of Springfield Supportive Living for her vocal and dance performance of “Kansas City.”
The other Top Ten winners who performed live in Springfield were:
Flora Morgan of Cambridge House of Maryville singing “God Bless the USA”
Fran Henke of Glenhaven Gardens singing “Unto These Hills”
Irma Sands of Evergreen Village in Normal playing the “12th Street Rag” on the piano
A “Harmonica Medley” by Ray “Budzo” Soltis of Evergreen Place in Streator
Ted Kraft of Eagle Ridge of Decatur singing “Besame Mucho”
A performance of Peggy Lee’s “Fever” by Eleanor Coppola, Virginia Jankowksi, Marilyn Johnson, Vera Mitchell, James Wiener and Mary and Carmen Siciliano of Heritage Woods of Batavia.
Our 2012 Testimonial Contest featured testimonials submitted by residents of Supportive Living communities.
First Place
Edward and Mary Jane Marrs of Heritage Woods of Yorkville
Second Place
Ora Mae Goodrich of Springfield Supportive Living
Third Place
Patricia Black of Heritage Woods of Chicago
Honorable Mentions
Mildred Cast of River to River in Marion
Mary Hawkins of Heritage Woods of Flora
Frances Henke of Glenhaven Gardens of Alton
Mary Lois McCarnes of Legacy Estates of Monmouth
Wii Bowling Tournament
More than 70 teams of residents in Supportive Living communities throughout the State participated in our 3rd Annual Wii Bowling Tournament.
The tournament culminated with a “Final Four” at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center in Springfield, Illinois.
First Place
For the second year in a row, the Glenhaven Gardeners from Glenhaven Gardens in Alton took home the First Place Trophy. Team member Edna Mobley was recognized for having the highest average of all bowlers in the Final Four competition. Her average per game score was 246.
Team Members:
Frank Bosoluke • Peggy Brown • Shirley Kane
Carol Kuhlman • Edna Mobley
Second Place
Oy Vey! From Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook finished in Second Place. Team member Michael Malina was honored for bowling the High Game in the Final Four, bowling a 279 in the Semi-Finals. Team member Manny Shellist was recognized for being the oldest resident to have bowled in an AALC Final Four. Many is 100 years of age.
Team Members:
Salvatore Armenia • Dorothy Green • Frances Heagy
Michael Malina • Joan Schmitz • Manny Shellist
Third Place
The Prairie Pins from Prairie Living at Chautauqua in Carbondale secured the Third Place trophy be defeating the team from Cambridge House of Maryville by seven pins.
Team Members:
Alla Boyer • Carol Evans • Chris Garden
Sharon Hawkins • Bridget Watson • Arline White
Fourth Place
For the second year in a row, the Silver Sliders from Cambridge House of Maryville finished in Fourth Place. The team won the inaugural tournament in 2010.
Team Members:
Betty Mahan • Gladys Nasif • P.J. Weihl
Our 2012 Photo Contest featured photos submitted by Supportive Living communities.
First Place
“Wind in Your Sails” by Eden Supportive Living (Image Right)
Second Place
“Enjoying the Barn Dance” by Heritage Woods of Sterling
Third Place
“Academy Awards” by Magnolia Terrace in Waterloo
Honorable Mentions
“Barn Dance” by Heritage Woods of Sterling
“Everyone Enjoy a Little Pet” by Evergreen Village of Normal
“Horseback Riding” by Pathway Senior Living
“Joy & Happiness of Supportive Living” by Heritage Woods of DeKalb
“Planting Flowers” by Heritage Woods of Flora
“Tractor” by Heritage Woods of Batavia
“Watch Out Below” by Evergreen Place of Litchfield
“Advocating in Springfield”
Residents and staff from Supportive Living communities travelled to our State Capitol in Springfield to advocate for Supportive Living. During their visit, they met with Gov. Patrick Quinn to express their concerns over proposed cuts to Medicaid that would have a major negative impact on the Supportive Living program.
Our thanks to Wayne Smallwood – Executive Director of the AALC – for contributing this guest blog.
By Rick Banas of senior living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
I was visiting the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Bolingbrook, Illinois, last Friday afternoon just to take a few pictures.
Keyboardist Marty Sammon was performing. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, Marty has appeared on television shows in the United States and Europe and on several Grammy Award winning albums.
What I experienced as Marty, accompanied by Tim Wilsey on drums, entertained those in attendance with ragtime, boogie, blues and country tunes stood in stark contrast to comments made in a story that was posted earlier in the week by Stone Health News.
The story focused on comments by Stephen L. Goldstein, Ph.D., about assisted living and nursing homes. Dr. Goldstein contends that it is a “national disgrace” that so many folks in the United States are “dumping” older adults into nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Older adult Moms and Dads should be living with their children.
Certainly, assisted living is not for everybody, and certainly it is a disgrace when adult children wash their hands of their parents after Mom and Dad move into assisted living or a nursing home, coming to visit seldom, if ever.
But the performance by Marty and Tim provides a wonderful example of what can make living in an assisted living community so much different than living with family or living alone with assistance provided by family members or home health.
More than 50 residents and their family members, friends and guests were gathered together clapping and singing along to the music. All sported smiles on their faces. Some were dancing, with other residents and with staff.
The contrast really hit home when they started singing along as Marty and Tim played the Fats Waller version of “Ain’t Misbehavin.” The opening lines to the song are…
“No one to talk with,
All by myself
No one to walk with”
As I heard the words, I found myself thinking about just how fortunate residents of assisted living communities such as those at Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook are. Because of where they live, they never have to walk – or talk – alone.
Can the same be said for those who live with family? Would they have the same opportunity to enjoy life on a Friday afternoon?
Click here to view more pictures from the performance.
BMA Management is proud to announce that our Blog on Calling Assisted Living an “Acute Care Setting” Is Just Plain Wrong has been nominated for a 2012 Assisted Living Today Best Blog Award.
To see the nominations and to cast your vote for Best Blog, click here. Voting is located at the bottom of the page.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
The comments about assisted living that were in a story on “Can the CLASS Act be Saved” that ran in the LifeCycles section of The Washington Times on Monday, May 30, cannot go unchallenged.
Writer Laurie Edwards-Tate contends there is one issue that should transcend individual politics on which we all should agree.
In her opinion, it is far more humane and cost-effective for us to take care of people in need of some help to maintain their independence with home health care services for as long as possible rather than in an “acute care setting like assisted living or a nursing home.”
I fully agree with the idea of providing services to help older adults achieve and maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible and with providing those services in their home as opposed to a nursing home.
I do not in any way agree with labeling assisted living as an acute care setting and with the assumptions that home health care services delivered in the house, condo, townhome or rental apartment where the older adult currently is living are automatically more humane and more cost-effective than assisted living.
A few quick comments and then I will let residents and family members from some of the affordable assisted living communities that we manage do the talking.
Residents of assisted living communities enjoy a residential rather than an institutional style of living. Many assisted living communities look much more like a nice hotel than a nursing home.
Residents furnish and decorate their apartments with their own furniture and to their tastes.
Residents come and go as they please.
Residents not only get the personal assistance and help with medications they need, but also benefit from a wealth of opportunities to socialize and participate in social and recreational programs and activities.
The cost of assisted living often can be equal to or less than the cost of home health care services, especially when you consider all of the other living expenses associated with living in and maintaining a house, condo or townhome. A 2010 Met Life Survey pegs the average base cost of a private apartment in assisted living at $3,293 a month. The average cost for a homemaker was $19 an hour and for a home health aide was $21 an hour. The cost for a homemaker just three to four hours a day, five days a week would be between $1,140 and $1,520 a month. For a home health aide, the cost would be between $1,260 and $1,680 a month. These figures for in-home care do not include any other living expenses.
As for residents and their families of assisted living communities that we manage, here is what they have to say:
Clara moved to the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Aledo, Illinois, from a nursing home after recovering from a stroke. “As evidenced by all her plants and treasured personal items surrounding her, Clara made this her home.” Her family “was comforted knowing that she tucked in safe and cozy, with Heritage Woods staff looking over her.”
Mom needed to move because of her health. Leaving the house where she lived for the past 30 years was by no means an easy decision. There was no way she wanted to move to a nursing home. Fortunately, the assisted living community she selected was anything but a nursing home.
Back in the day, Robert Kampf drove stock cars on the track in Schiller Park, Illinois, that once stood across the street from what is now O’Hare Airport. At the age of 57, he suffered a stroke. For ten years, he was bounced around from nursing home to nursing home was even put into a secured Memory Care unit at one facility because there was no long-term Medicaid bed available. His move to the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in Bolingbrook, Illinois, has put Robert back in the driver’s seat. He once again has the freedom to do whatever he wants. “Sure enough, I like it,” he says. “It is much better than a nursing home.”
Phyllis Kelley moved to the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in DeKalb, Illinois, from independent senior housing for more security and three meals a day as she was not eating right. She still works two days a week as the County Historian. “For the first time in many years, I sleep through the night.”
Ilene “Ike” Sanders moved into a Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community after her husband passed away. She found it difficult living alone. Since making the move, she says that she has experienced a big positive change in her life just from the friends she has made and being able to eat with others. “I couldn’t be happier. It sure beats living alone.”
Mary Klepitsch moved into a Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community with her husband, Fred. “It saved my sanity. I didn’t have to worry about Fred when I was out and I wasn’t alone dealing with life.”
Ed Duy moved into a Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community after rehabilitating from a broken hip. He could no longer live in his house because of all the stairs. “I couldn’t ask for anything better,” he says.
Nancee Jones moved in after breaking her knee. “I really like doing things with others and especially enjoy doing things for others. I’m so happy here I don’t know how to put it in words.”
Do you think you would hear these types of comments from people living in a cold institutional acute-care setting? Does it sound like these folks are living a lifestyle that is less humane than if they were isolated alone in a house or apartment?
Assisted Living Today 2012 Best Blog Award winner for Best Senior Homes & Senior Care Facilities Articles
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment and let us know.
“BMA Management is the leading provider of affordable assisted living in Illinois and one of the 20 largest providers of assisted living in the United States.”
If you think assisted living residents do nothing but sit around and play BINGO, you should have been at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that we manage in Manteno, Illinois, this past Friday afternoon.
With September designated as 
Mental Exercise – The more you work your brain, the better it will function. Be sure to try new things. For instance, Patti told the residents of Heritage Woods, be sure to take advantage of the 
Keyboardist 
By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.
