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BMA Blog |
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Touching Lives · Providing Dignified Lifestyles
Posts Tagged ‘Heritage Woods of Flora’
Thursday, May 16th, 2013
By Rick Banas of assisted living and senior living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
With May designated as National Stroke Awareness Month, we wanted to share with you some important information about strokes that can help save lives.
The information comes from the National Stroke Association.
Strokes do not just strike seniors. Anyone of any age, race or gender can have a stroke.
Many of the risk factors for stroke are controllable. These include alcohol use, atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque in the walls of your arteries), diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, and the use of tobacco and smoking.
With strokes, every minute counts so it is vital for you to think FAST. The most effective treatments for stroke are only available within the first three hours of experiencing the first symptoms of a stroke.
The following are common symptoms of a stroke:
SUDDEN numbness or weakness of the face,
arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
SUDDEN confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
SUDDEN trouble seeing in one of both eyes.
SUDDEN trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance,
loss of coordination.
SUDDEN severe headache with no known cause.
To help you remember how to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how you should respond, the National Stroke Association recommends that you think FAST.
| F |
Face |
Ask the person to smile.
Does one side of the face droop? |
| A |
Arms |
Ask the person to raise both arms.
Does one side drift downward? |
| S |
Speech |
Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase.
Is the speech slurred or strange? |
| T |
Time |
If you observe any of the signs of a stroke,
call 9-1-1 immediately. |
To help you remember how to Think FAST, the National Stroke Association has provided a FAST Wallet Card that you can download and print to carry with you. Click the link to the right to view the Fast Wallet Card http://goo.gl/dHYcs
The National Stroke Association also urges you to note the time you first experienced the first symptom of a stroke. The information is important to health care providers and can affect treatment decisions.
For more information about how you can become a Stroke Champion by helping raise stroke awareness during the month of May and throughout the year, visit theStroke Awareness Resource Center.
Post Script Heritage Woods of Flora, a BMA affordable assisted living community in Flora, Illinois, is hosting a Stroke Awareness Mother-Daughter Tea in partnership with Clay County Hospital at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 22, 2013.
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.”
Tags: affordable assisted living, alcohol use, assisted living illinois, atherosclerosis, bma, diabetes, FAST Wallet Card, Heritage Woods of Flora, High Blood Pressure, high cholesterol, National Stoke Association, National Stroke Awareness Month, obesity, physical inactivity, senior living, stroke, stroke awareness, Stroke Champion, Symptoms of a stroke
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013
By Rod Burkett, President and CEO of BMA Management, Ltd.
When it comes to affordable assisted living, the State of Illinois continues to set the standard through its Supportive Living program.
I was reminded of this once again last week as I read a news story about the opening of an affordable assisted living community in Detroit. The affordable assisted living community is part of the first phase of a $40 million senior living development.
What really caught my attention was the indication that the newly opened community is one of only two designated affordable assisted living communities in the entire State of Michigan. The other is in Grand Rapids.
By comparison, Illinois, through its Supportive Living program, has nearly 140 affordable assisted living communities that are in operation. The communities are located in more than 70 Counties in northern, central and southern Illinois. Together, they house nearly 11,000 apartments.
We at BMA have been actively involved with the Supportive Living program since its inception. We opened our first affordable assisted living community 13 years ago, in May of 2000, in Flora, Illinois. Heritage Woods of Flora was the third affordable assisted living community in the state and the first to be housed in a newly constructed building.
Today, BMA operates nearly 25% of the affordable assisted living communities in Illinois.
From our experience, here are some of the reasons why the Illinois Supportive Living program has been so successful:
The program provides older adults and adults with physical disabilities with the opportunity to live in an environment that is much more appropriate for their needs. Rather they living in a nursing home or struggling alone at home, they are able to live in a residential environment and receive the personal assistance and help with medications they need to maintain their independence.
The emphasis of the program is on personal choice, dignity, privacy and individuality.
Supportive Living communities are able to serve residents of all financial means, including those on Medicaid.
The cost to the State of Illinois and its taxpayers for a person on Medicaid to live in a Supportive Living community is nearly half the cost of a nursing home. The savings can be used to support other programs and services.
More recently, the State approved the development of five Supportive Living Memory Care pilot projects to serve those with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. We were honored to receive approval to develop one of the five. We opened White Oaks at Heritage Woods of South Elgin this past fall; the 32 affordable memory care apartments were filled in three weeks.
In many areas, as many as two-thirds of the older adult population do not have the financial resources to afford traditional private pay assisted living, at least for any extended period of time.
Yet, while the need for affordable assisted living is tremendous, we have yet to find a state where we can duplicate what we have been able to do here in Illinois.
In the just published edition of Senior Living Executive, the magazine published by the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA), I challenged our industry to join with us in evaluating how to better care for all those who cannot afford traditional assisted living.
The Illinois Supportive Living program certainly can serve as a model.
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.”
Tags: Adults with Physical Disabilities, Affordable Assisted Living Community, assisted living in Illinois, Heritage Woods of Flora, Medicaid, older adults, Senior Living Executive, State of Illinois, Supportive Living Memory Care pilot projects, Supportive Living Program, Taxpayers, White Oaks at Heritage Woods of South Elgin
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Thursday, October 4th, 2012
By Rick Banas of assisted living provider BMA Management, Ltd.
 Many older adults use one or more medications.
The medications help them live longer and healthier lives. At the same time, older adults often have greater potential than other age groups to have an adverse reaction to their medications.
Recently, Clay County Hospital conducted Medication Use Safety Training (MUST) program at the Heritage Woods affordable assisted living community that BMA manages in Flora, Illinois. The MUST program was developed by the National Council on Patient Information and Education in conjunction with the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
The program is designed to train older adults, their loved ones and caregivers on the safe and appropriate use of medications.
Tips for Managing Your Medications
- Know your medications – what medications are you taking and for what conditions.
- Take your medications exactly as directed.
- Continue taking all your medications until your doctor tells you to stop.
- Keep a list of your current medications. The list should include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins and dietary or herbal supplements. Bring an updated list of your medications to all of your doctors’ appointments.
- Do not use old or expired medications.
- Store your medications in a cool, dry place. Do not store your medications near a stove, in direct sunlight, or in a bathroom.
- Store all of your medications in one location.
- Use only one pharmacy.
- Talk to you doctor or pharmacist before taking any over-the-counter medications.
- Read the labels on all of your medications before taking them.
- Do not share your medications with other people.
Tips for Adult Children
Adult children should talk with their parents about medications.
- What are they taking and for what conditions.
- How often do they take their medications.
- How do they take them.
- Do they feel the medication is working.
- Have they fallen more often, been groggy or sleepy, been less hungry since they started taking their medications.
- Have they had any problems taking their medications such as forgetting a dose or being unable to tell the pills part. Have they had any annoying side effects.
- Do they feel they were given enough information about their medications or instructions for taking their medications.
Watch for Side Effects
Be sure to watch for side effects such as agitation, anxiety, confusion, memory loss, fatigue, decreased sexual desire, depression, weakness, fainting or black outs.
More information can be obtained by visiting www.mustforseniors.org
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.”
   
Tags: assisted living, Clay County Hospital, healthier lives, Heritage Woods of Flora, live longer, Medication side effects, Medication Use Safety Training, medications, National Council on Patient Information and Education, older adults, Rick Banas, Seniors, Tips for Adult Children, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
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Thursday, May 24th, 2012
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.
Testimonial Contest Link
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
Photo Contest Link
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.
Tags: aalc, affordable assisted living, Cambridge House of Maryville, Courtyard Estates of Sullivan, Eagle Ridge of Decatur, Eden Supportive Living, Evergreen Place in Streator, Evergreen Place of Litchfield, Evergreen Village of Normal, Friedman Place in Chicago, Glenhaven Gardens in Alton, Gov. Patrick Quinn, Heritage Woods of Batavia, Heritage Woods of Bolingbrook, Heritage Woods of Chicago, Heritage Woods of DeKalb, Heritage Woods of Flora, Heritage Woods of Sterling, Heritage Woods of Yorkville, Legacy Estates of Monmouth, Magnolia Terrace in Waterloo, Pathway Senior Living, Prairie Living at Chautauqua, River to River in Marion, Springfield Supportive Living, supportive living, Supportive Living Week 2012, Taking the Mystery Out of Supportive Living, The BMA Blog, Wayne Smallwood
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Thursday, November 10th, 2011
By Rick Banas of BMA Management, Ltd.
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.”
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Tags: Affordable Assisted Lifestyle Community, affordable assisted living, Armed Services, assisted living, 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, Honor Flight, Honor Flight Network, LinkedIn, Prairie Winds of Urbana, senior living, The BMA Blog, Veterans, Veterans Day, Veterans Day 2011, Veterans Day Program
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