Dementia: Recognizing the Symptoms

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

-Karen Read, MSN, RN, Nurse Educator

“Within all of us resides the need to be whole.” – Oliver Sacks, M.D.

Americans are living longer lives than ever before. In fact, it’s estimated that 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day. But with that, it seems, we are also hearing about more cases of dementia. Chances are that we have or will cross paths with someone who is diagnosed with dementia symptoms. The more we know about dementia, the more help we can get for those battling the disease. Continue reading →

Reach One, Teach One

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

The West Philadelphia Senior Community Center may seem like a blur of activity to the untrained eye, but this is “the” place to be if you’re an active senior. Each day is packed with workshops, educational classes, fitness instruction, and games. But on a Wednesday in April, a dozen people ditched their typical leisure activities and assembled in the music room, like soldiers preparing for a mission.

“I gave up Pinochle for this,” Jacqueline Hatcher joked as she eyed the rows of apple juice and boxes of crackers stacked on a table that spanned the length of the room. Continue reading →

Big Things Happen in Small Places

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

The small storefront on South 7th street in South Philly doesn’t look like much on the outside, but inside it’s a different story. The walls are covered in photos, paintings and drawings. The colors are bold and bright. The main room is filled with people socializing, enjoying a mild spring afternoon together. Children are laughing and playing. This is the home of the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative (PRMHC) – ground zero for a group of resettlement agencies, mental health providers, physicians and arts organizations that are working to link refugees to culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care. The PRMHC is led by Liberty’s Lutheran Children and Family Service and uses therapy, support groups and arts projects to help families process past exposure to violence and current resettlement stresses. It is a lifeline for refugees who are starting over, after surviving unimaginable trauma in their home countries.

On Friday, May 3rd, dozens of families of Burmese and Bhutanese decent packed the small storefront for a modest but lively celebration. It featured many delicious dishes that are popular in the Burmese and Bhutanese cultures, as well as some classic American foods. Continue reading →

How have you taken care of yourself lately? Achieving Work-Life Balance.

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

-Kelli McIntyre, Wellness Coach, Liberty Lutheran

Let’s face it. No one is immune to the pressures of life. We all face issues that we must learn to cope with in one way or another. Unfortunately, in my role as an Employee Wellness Coach at Liberty Lutheran, all too often I hear stories of staff members that didn’t address pressures in their lives, hoping those pressures would just go away, the way an ostrich sticks its head in the sand.

Kelli McIntyre, Wellness Coach, Liberty Lutheran

There are also some employees who, when faced with too much stress, choose harmful coping mechanisms – such as smoking, drinking, lashing out, and emotional eating. I can assure you that those things will not help you manage stress, and may also leave you feeling guilty and ashamed.

Achieving Balance

The demands from career and family can be mentally and physically exhausting. Liberty Lutheran’s workforce can be particularly prone to work/life imbalance – since so many staff members serve as different types of professional caregivers, and also care for their own families at home, once the work day ends. In an ideal world, we would honor ourselves the same way that we honor our residents, clients, and loved ones, by being proactive in seeking balance. But often caregivers put themselves last on the list of priorities. Continue reading →

Dining with the Doc: Valuable Community Resource

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

More than 80 people packed the Atrium at Artman on Thursday, May 2^nd for the latest installment of the Dining with the Doc series. This event featured Dr. Eric Goosenberg, MD, a board certified gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Temple University School of Medicine, who practices Gastrointestinal Associates, Inc in Jenkintown. Dr. Goosenberg spoke to the crowd about GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD,) a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid or bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus. Continue reading →

Life-Changing Renovations Unveiled at Paul’s Run

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

Paul’s Run, a Continuous Care Retirement Community in Northeast Philadelphia and service of Liberty Lutheran, unveiled major renovations to its Halle Health Center at a VIP Open House on Wednesday, April 24^th. Doctors, social workers, hospital discharge planners and representatives from neighboring retirement communities enjoyed breakfast and tours of the newly renovated community. Organizations represented at the event included the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Nazareth Hospital, Holy Redeemer Hospital, Philadelphia Protestant Home, Deer Meadows Retirement Community, Wesley Enhanced Living and Oakwood Residence. Continue reading →

Liberty Awarded Grant With Help from Local Business Owners

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

: Dolores & Skip Urban present a check on behalf of the York Children’s Foundation to Mary Ellen Glick, Pogram Director of the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program and David Merrick, Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer of Liberty Lutheran

Ambler, PA – Liberty Lutheran is proud to announce it is the recipient of a $500 grant from the York Children’s Foundation to support its Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program. The grant was made possible with help from Dolores and Skip Urban, who own Urban Funeral Home in Ambler.

Mrs. Urban has worked part-time for the last four years as a Registered Nurse at Artman, one of Liberty’s Senior Communities located in Ambler. Inspired by Liberty’s dedication to helping our community’s most vulnerable individuals, Mrs. Urban wrote a letter to the York Children’s Foundation (YCF) last fall recommending the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program for a grant. YCF, which is funded by the Matthews Casket Company, awards funding to programs whose sole purpose are to support children. Continue reading →

Be a Work of Art! 6 Things Every Woman Can Do to Age with Beauty, Grace & Good Health

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

By Karen Read, MSN, RN,

As Nurse Educator for Artman and Paul’s Run, I have noticed that women outnumber the men living at both retirement communities. Robert Butler, renowned gerontologist, psychiatrist and Pulitzer Prize winning author says more than 31% of 65-year old women can expect to live to age 90 or beyond. He also says that genes account for only 25% of an individual’s health and longevity, while “our environment and personal behaviors account for the rest.”

My greatest wish is, if I have the gift of 90 years, is to continue to be as productive and as vital as possible. So what does this mean for me, a woman, as I age? What things can I do to keep myself as healthy as possible? The experts seem to agree on a holistic approach to aging, an approach that must include mind, body and spirit.

Here is my checklist: Continue reading →

Spring Cleaning For Senior Home Safety

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

-By Dana O’Donnell, RN

A home should be a safe haven. But for many seniors, falls and other accidents at home can be devastating, even deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three adults ages 65 and older has a fall every year, and two million are treated in an emergency room for fall-related injuries. Older adults can live safe, healthy, independent lives in a home environment that is free of clutter and other hidden dangers. Now that the weather is warming up, it is the perfect time to do some spring cleaning for better home safety.

Remove things you can trip over (like papers, books, clothes, and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
Store items within easy reach and avoid using step stools or stepladders.
Make sure you have good, bright lighting in your home. Use nightlights in your bedroom, hall and bathroom. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
Make sure rugs are firmly fastened to the floor or use nonskid backing.
Move electrical or phone cords so they are not lying on the floor in walking areas.
Ask family members or neighbors to arrange furniture so you can safety navigate through the house without bumping into anything.
Change the batteries in all smoke alarms.
Make sure your porch and sidewalks are clear of debris and plant overgrowth.

It’s also important to get some exercise to strengthen your body and lessen the risk of falling. Be mindful of medications that can have side effects like dizziness or drowsiness, which can increase your chances of falling. Also be sure to get your eyes checked every year, because poor vision can make it more difficult to get around safely.

For more information about home safety visit www.libertyathome.org or contact Dana O’Donnell, Executive Director, Liberty at Home, 215-643-6335 ext. 147.

Want to give back to the community? Here’s a perfect opportunity!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Liberty Lutheran

Are you looking for a way to give back to the community? We have a perfect opportunity that will make a difference in many people’s lives and definitely put a smile on your face!

Artman is hosting a Community Resident and Family Picnic on Saturday June 1^stfrom 1p-5p and we need a lot of volunteers to help us make the event a big success. Continue reading →