By Rick Banas of assisted and senior living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
With my years of experience in assisted and senior living, an article recently posted on the Medical News Today website really has me thinking.
The article <link> is about research that ties social isolation to shorter lifespans in older adults.
One of the surprising results, the article notes, is that even people who are happy being alone are more likely to die prematurely if they don’t have enough social interactions with other humans.
One of the biggest benefits of living in an assisted living community is all of the opportunities that are available for residents to socialize with others.
Instead of eating alone in front of a television, older adults in assisted living communities are dining with other residents.
They can gather with other residents in a lounge area to watch a movie, a ball game or their favorite television shows.
They can join others for exercise programs. Our Heritage Woods of DeKalb community, for instance, offers Tai Chi on Thursdays; Heritage Woods of Centralia has Yoga on Wednesdays; John Evans Supportive Living in Pekin hosts a “Move Those Joints” program three times a week. Residents of Bridle Brook in Champaign County can stay active with a Walking Club in the indoor comfort of their assisted living and memory care community.
They can participate with other residents in the activities and special events offered by the community.
Wii Bowling has become a very popular activity, with the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition (AALC) hosting an annual statewide Wii Bowling Tournament. This year, nearly 80 teams of residents from affordable assisted living communities in Illinois entered the competition, which will culminate with the top teams bowling against each other in a Final Four on May 14 and 15 in Decatur, Illinois.
This year, the AALC also is hosting a statewide Spelling Bee. More than 100 teams of residents entered the competition, with 12 teams qualifying to compete in the Spelling Finals in Decatur on May 14 and 15. The most frequently used words in the Scripps National Spelling Bee will be used.
Other recent and upcoming programs at the communities BMA manages include:
Laughter Yoga
Mother’s Day Celebrations and Memorial Day Tributes
Fashion Shows with residents and staff modeling the clothing
BBQs, Ice Cream Socials and Happy Hours
Senior Proms
Hawaiian Luaus
Musical entertainment and health education programs
Residents can participate no matter what the weather.
With this in mind, isn’t it possible that assisted living can help prevent premature death among seniors?
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.
As Veterans Day 2012 nears, I am reminded of two people that I met on Veterans Day last year. Both served our country in World War II and were living at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Moline, Illinois.
Lee Trainor talked with me about where he was when he heard the news about the Bombing of Pearl Harbor and his experience in the war.
He was living in Kansas City and had gone to Hutchinson, Kansas, for a visit. Hutchinson is located on the Arkansas River, nearly 40 miles northwest of Wichita. There was a radio playing on a small table in the lobby of the hotel where he was staying. It stopped playing so he went over to see what was wrong and heard the announcement.
Two weeks later, Lee went into the service of our country at the age of 18. He was in the second wave of Marines to land on Iwo Jima in the battle with the Japanese for this strategic stronghold in 1945. He watched from within a few hundred yards as Marines raised the U.S. flag on Mount Suribachi.
He spent nearly six weeks in combat on the island but said he does not remember a single thing from about the third day until the last day of combat. About 4 a.m. that morning, a live mortar landed just two feet away from where he was standing. He reasons that the mortar did not explode because the volcanic soil he was standing in was so soft.
Following his discharge from the service, Lee went to the University of Missouri in Columbia and on to enjoy a career in newspapers and advertising. While working for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, he had the opportunity to cover President Eisenhower at a ranch up in the high country.
Fred Collins was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Fred talked about serving in a fox hole during the battle, with bullets flying and Kamikaze aircraft and mortar shells dropping from the sky. His buddy serving next to him in the fox hole was killed. Fred was awarded a Bronze Star for his service.
All of us at BMA Management and at the senior living, assisted living, supportive living and memory care communities that we manage salute our Veterans.
Here is a listing of some of the activities being hosted by BMA communities to honor our Veterans:
Veterans Breakfast & Flag Ceremony
8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 12
At Heritage Woods of Centralia
Centralia, Illinois
Veterans Day Celebration
With the music of Rick Pickren
3 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 12
At Heritage Woods of McHenry
McHenry, Illinois
Heritage Woods of Dwight is providing the opportunity for you to honor individuals who have served our country in the military in a special way. The community is selling luminaries for its Patriotic Luminary Display at a cost of $3 each, with proceeds benefiting the effort to update and beautify the Veterans of Foreign War Memorial in Dwight. You can put the name of the person you would like to honor on the luminary. They community is selling the luminaries between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 9. For more information, call 815-584-9280 or visit online.
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.
Many of the Senior Living and Assisted Living communities managed by BMA Management will be honoring our Veterans with special programs on Veterans Day.
We invite Veterans of our Armed Services to join us tomorrow, November 11, 2011 for these events:
Cambridge House of Maryville Affordable Assisted Living Maryville, Illinois · cambridgehouse-maryville-slf.com
Veterans Appreciation Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Veterans Day Program – 2:00 p.m.
Grand Prairie of Macomb Affordable Assisted Living Macomb, Illinois · grandprairieassistedliving.com
Veterans Day Program – 10:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Benton Affordable Assisted Living Benton, Illinois · hw-benton-slf.com
Veterans “Biscuits & Gravy” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Centralia Affordable Assisted Living, Senior Living Apartments
& Rental Homes for Older Adults Centralia, Illinois · hw-centralia-slf.com
Veterans Breakfast & Flag Folding – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of DeKalb Affordable Assisted Living DeKalb, Illinois · hw-dekalb-slf.com
Veterans Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Dwight Affordable Assisted Living Dwight, Illinois · hw-dwight-slf.com
Veterans Day Luminary Display – Dusk to 9:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Flora Affordable Assisted Living Flora, Illinois · hw-flora-slf.com
Veterans “Pancakes & Sausage” Breakfast – 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Huntley Assisted Living Huntley, Illinois · hw-huntley-alf.com
Veterans Day Program – 1:30 p.m.
Featuring long-time Huntley Resident Al Jordi,
talking about his recent Honor Flight experience
Heritage Woods of Manteno Affordable Assisted Living Manteno, Illinois · hw-manteno-slf.com
Veterans Day “Biscuits & Gravy” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Patriotic Music – 2:00 p.m.
Heritage Woods of Moline Affordable Assisted Living Moline, Illinois · hw-moline-slf.com
Veterans Day Breakfast Buffet – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Heritage Woods of Watseka Affordable Assisted Living Watseka, Illinois · hw-watseka-slf.com
Veterans “Pancakes & Sausage” Breakfast – 7:00-9:00 a.m.
Prairie Winds of Urbana Affordable Assisted Living &
Rental Homes for Older Adults Urbana, Illinois · prairiewinds-slf.com
Veterans Day Program – 10:00 a.m.
To find a community near you and to see an Illinois map with all of our communities, click here.
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.”
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.”
Fred Collins was working as a machinist at the Arsenal in Rock Island when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He served as a Fighting Seabee in the South Pacific. He was part of the Battle of Okinawa, which was the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the bloodiest battle in the Pacific War. Reportedly, more people lost their lives in the Battle of Okinawa than in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
Cambridge House of Maryville
Grand Prairie of Macomb
Heritage Woods of Benton
Heritage Woods of Centralia
Heritage Woods of DeKalb
Heritage Woods of Dwight
Heritage Woods of Flora
Heritage Woods of Huntley
Heritage Woods of Manteno
Heritage Woods of Moline
Heritage Woods of Watseka
Prairie Winds of Urbana
By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.
