“They’re just so proud that they’ve made it and all that they accomplished in their lives,” said Jeri Iocona, Life Enrichment Manager, Paul’s Run.

Members of this “club” come from different countries, different professions and different faiths, but they have at least one thing in common – they have achieved longevity in life that most people only hope to experience.

In 2012, the United Nations estimated that there were 316,600 living centenarians worldwide. The United States currently has the greatest number of known centenarians of any nation, with 53,364 according to the 2010 Census, 82.8% of US centenarians were female.

But – if you ask Rose Smith, who turns 100 in November, how it feels to reach this milestone – she just shakes her head.

“It’s so hard to say that,” said Rose with a smile. “I just don’t feel that old.”

In a society that seems to be obsessed with looking young and finding new ways to live longer, Rose admits she doesn’t hold the secret. She never tried to eat particularly healthy or exercise.

“It could be genetic. My father lived to 92. Unfortunately I lost my daughter at 59, so who knows. I worked hard in life and helped everyone. I took care of everybody at home. I was the sole supporter of my mother and father. Maybe God has been good to me,” she explained.

Rose was born and raised in Philadelphia and she lived in her Oxford Circle home, which she shared with her husband until he passed away. Rose didn’t like living alone, and that prompted her to join the Paul’s Run community nine years ago. Today, she is surrounded by supportive friends and staff, which she said has enriched her life greatly.

“I loved coming here,” said Rose. “If I’m sick they take care of me and I don’t have to worry about the outside world.”

Through the course of an hour, Representative Neilson read all of the birthday proclamations aloud, and then handed them to each celebrant – the oldest one being 104 this year.

Rose clutched hers with pride, smiling alongside her fellow centenarians in the room. A happy birthday, indeed!

 Click here for more information about Paul’s Run!

“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.

According to the Alzheimer Association, dementia is not a specific disease, but rather an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or thinking skills that is severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities. The most common type of dementia Is Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60% to 80% of cases. Today, nearly 5 ½ million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common type of dementia.

There are many conditions that cause symptoms of dementia, but it is important to know that dementia is not a part of normal aging. Many people have memory issues. This does not mean they have dementia. If you or a loved one is experiencing memory difficulties or other changes in thinking skills, don’t ignore them! Discuss the changes with your healthcare provider.

Although symptoms of dementia vary greatly, at least two of the following must be impaired to be considered dementia:

• Memory

• Communications and language

• Ability to focus and pay attention

• Reasoning and judgment

• Visual perception

For example, a person with dementia may have difficulty keeping track of their wallet, preparing meals or remembering where they live. Many (but not all) dementias are progressive; meaning changes occur slowly over time and continually progress. Early diagnosis will help your loved one get the maximum benefit from available treatment.

At Liberty Lutheran, we recognize the rising number of dementia cases in the community and offer many services to support an individual in every stage of the disease. For seniors that want to live at home and are able to do so, Liberty at Home provides many services that allow individuals to experience safer and more enjoyable independent living. Liberty Lutheran’s senior communities, Artman and Paul’s Run, strive for a “personalized” approach to each resident, allowing them to live life to the fullest with the utmost compassionate care.

Dementia care is constantly evolving and Liberty is committed to providing the best care possible. That’s why staff undergoes on-going education on dementia and new treatments. In fact, over the course of the past two years, all staff members from all departments have attended six-hour educational workshops about dementia care and the value of a person-centered approach, which stresses the cornerstones of comfort, social interaction, “fun” and meaningful relationships. These are things we all need to flourish and grow.

For information about Liberty at Home services, contact Dana O’Donnell, Executive Director, 215-643-6335 ext. 147.

For information about care at Paul’s Run, contact BJ Maul, 215-934-3011.

For information about care at Artman, contact MaryAnn McLaughlin, 215-643-6335 ext 110

“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.  

For the second time this year, the group of men and women, mostly members of the Center, volunteered their time to create “breakfast bags” for less-fortunate seniors in the community. The breakfast bags were made possible thanks to a $53,000 grant from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust. The funds were also used to provide emergency food and shelter assistance vouchers to low-income seniors.

“This helps stretch those dollars at the end of the month,” explained Pat Stanley, Director of the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center. “The breakfast bags actually provide a nutritious breakfast for four to six days.”

Alice Stewart and other volunteers surrounded the table of non-perishable food, armed with a specific task and 150 paper shopping bags to fill.

“I just enjoy helping people where I am needed,” said Alice, who has been coming to the Center for five years.

Louise Fisher, Jacqueline Hatcher and Alice Stewart making Breakfast Bags.

They worked furiously for an hour, filling the bags with juice, crackers, jars of fruit, packets of oatmeal, energy bars, tea, coffee, applesauce and raisins.“I realize that I am lucky, because during my working lifetime I was able to plan for retirement, so I don’t have to worry about food. I’m blessed,” said Jacqueline, Vice President of the Center’s Advisory Council.

The breakfast bags, she said, will help a significant number of older people living in the surrounding neighborhoods, especially those who tend to isolate themselves.

“They’ll take it if you offer, but they won’t ask,” Jacqueline said. “I was raised that you give. I can’t afford to give money, but I can give one or two hours,” she added.

This spirit of benevolence permeates the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center. In addition to her position on the Advisory Board, Jacqueline volunteers as a computer instructor at the Center five to six hours a week. Alice teaches Canvas Art here two hours a week. She also helps out with the quilting class and volunteers in the lunch room three to four hours a week. Her quilting group has donated eight quilts to seniors in need at area nursing homes. Seniors taking crocheting classes donate some of the blankets they make to infants served by the Nurse-Family partnership. Other members sell the pottery, jewelry and other crafts they make in class at the annual bazaar to raise money for the Center.

“My motto is ‘reach one, teach one,” said Louise Fisher, President of the Center’s Advisory Board. Louise is also heavily involved with Philabundance and other community programs, but her heart remains with her thoughtful and generous friends at the Center.

“You have a place to come to that you can call home,” Louise said with a smile. “I think it’s a pleasant feeling of togetherness.”

WPSCC Members Make Breakfast Bags, Give Back to Community

Check out the video!

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.  

PRMHC staff organized the luncheon to recognize the addition of Liberty’s refugee resettlement team to the location. Refugee clients can now go to this office for orientation and meetings with their case managers.

“It was easier to engage in their own community,” said Victoria Harris, Refugee Resettlement Manager. Until now, she explained, most clients had to travel over an hour by bus to an LCFS office across the city in order to benefit from some of the programs and services.

The PRMHC South Philly office sees some 40 to 50 people every day. Services include mental health support such as art therapy, as well as English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, women’s support groups, parenting classes and life skills management.

“I am blown away by the services available to refugees,” said Kammy Wattanondom, a 23-year old ESL teacher who was first introduced to the program two years ago. Kammy teaches English to refugees in this storefront twice a week.

Click here for more information about the Philadelphia Refugee Mental Health Collaborative.

-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.    

“Obtaining and maintaining balance is the most important solution to managing life’s stress.” I use that statement as a guide for my own life, and when coaching employees who are trying to better manage stress.

Without the proper coping skills, high pressure situations lead to imbalance, which cause us to feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and if unaddressed, eventually – we experience burnout. However, by using healthy coping mechanisms, you will find more energy to bounce back from the life’s pressures, regardless of their magnitude.

Coping Strategies

Start by asking – “How have I taken care of myself lately?”

Coping doesn’t have to be a big deal. You only need to identify what things give you energy, instead of zapping it. Positive stress management can be achieved through some combination of the following:

■Exercise/sports

■Playing, dancing, or listening to music

■Fishing

■Gardening

■Prayer or other spiritual practice

■Writing in a journal

■Crafting

■Reading

■Talking with friends/family

■Pampering

■Professional counseling

Too often, in times of high stress, instead of employing our healthy coping strategies, we choose to abandon the very things that keep us grounded. We convince ourselves that we don’t have time for exercise, we don’t take the time to plan and organize, we withdraw from our loved ones, and we indulge in self-destructive behaviors that provide only temporary relief.

Instead of self-destruction, I encourage employees to try authentically caring for themselves- especially during times of high stress. I challenge them to let off steam with regular exercise, nourish themselves with healthy meals, replenish with proper rest, communicate concerns with their support system, organize and strategize to stay ahead of the game, make time for hobbies, and to simply love themselves.

The pace and demands of this world are constant, especially for those who are caretakers. If we don’t prioritize our own need to be replenished, the world will gladly take every bit of vitality that we have- stealing our energy and balance. Stress management is a decision. It is a decision to create and maintain balance. The decision to manage stress needs to happen daily and it needs to happen on purpose.

Click here for a free online test to help you identify stress in your life and what you can do to achieve balance.

Click here for more information on Careers at Liberty Lutheran.

More than 80 people packed the Atrium at Artman on Thursday, May 2

Dining with the Doc has been an on-going series at Artman for the last three years. It is free to the public and just as the title suggests, it includes a fabulous dinner and dessert. Artman’s Director of Sales & Marketing MaryAnn McLaughlin collaborates with Abington Memorial Hospital to bring in doctors that will speak on hot and trending topics in the medical industry. Dining with the Doc is proving to be a valuable resource the community, she said, as guests are able to ask questions and receive indepth information about medical conditions and issues facing many older people.

“We like to get doctors out and talk to residents and the community about how they can help them,” explained Nancy Gallagher, Manager of Community Health Services at Abington Memorial Hospital. 

The exact date and topic for the next Dining with the Doc has not been set yet. It will take place in early November. Check back for more details. If there is topic you’d like to know more about and think it would be a great focus for an upcoming Dining with the Doc – please comment below!

 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

 “These renovations are truly making a vital difference in the lives of residents,” said Katrina Wise, Vice President and Executive Director, Paul’s Run. “We wanted our friends, neighbors and colleagues to see firsthand what this means for long-term care.”

Halle Health Center, which accommodates 120 residents at Paul’s Run, is focused on Skilled Nursing care. Its renovations are part of a three-year transformation across the organization to create a new culture in our retirement communities. Construction crews worked through the winter months to install new wallpaper, carpet, ceilings and a country kitchen. Meals are now prepared to order based on the residents’ personal preferences, providing a greater variety of choices and extended meal times. Nurses stations were removed to open up the lobby and created a comfortable lounge for residents and their guests. Team rooms have been created for staff.  Research demonstrates that residents living in this home environment will see improved appetites, increase activity levels and more effective pain relief.

Organizations also experience increased employee job satisfaction, reduced employee turnover and increased staff retention. Mary Beth Linde, Director of Health Services at Paul’s Run said residents and staff are responding positively to the new changes.

“The new environment has normalized the residents’ lives,” remarked Linde. “The residents truly seem happier and it is allowing them to form richer relationships with the team members.”

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.

 “I think it’s nice to focus on areas that go to your heart. This is a program that meets a community need, a world-wide need. I think it is the responsibility of all people to reach out beyond our immediate area,” said Dolores Urban, of her motivation to secure the grant for the URM program. “It’s hard, as a small family-owned business, to make a difference in your community. This is a way for us to give back.”

The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program, operated by Liberty’s Lutheran Children and Family Service (LCFS), serves refugee children that have been separated from their parents or guardians overseas and have been legally admitted to the U.S. for care and protection. Funds will be used to support the educational needs of these children through after-school programs and activities, mentoring support, and a driver’s education program for youth that helps them to learn the driving skills necessary for employment and achieving future independence. Currently, the URM program is assisting 70 teenagers from countries such as the Congo, Burma, Bhutan and Nepal.

“This is a very resilient group of kids, that they have the wherewithal and gumption to get out of a horrible situation,” said Mary Ellen Glick, Program Manager of the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program. “They are really motivated to work hard and get an education. For them to be noticed like this is really great,” she added.

About Liberty Lutheran

Incorporated in 2001 and headquartered in Ambler, Pa., Liberty Lutheran, with its more than 25 locations and combined service history of 300 years,faithfully provides vital resources to individuals and families facing life-changing situations. These individualized services include independent and assisted living, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice care, in-home supports, wellness services, children and family services, integration services for immigrants and political refugees, and disaster response. Liberty Lutheran’s team of dedicated employees serves individuals and families through their family of services in Eastern Pennsylvania, including Artman, Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Liberty at Home, Lutheran Children and Family Services, Lutheran Congregational Services, Mary J. Drexel, and The Village at Penn State.www.libertylutheran.org

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:

Exercise: Women who are physically active are less likely to develop adult onset diabetes, now one of the more common chronic health conditions impacting American society. Exercise will all also help women who have diabetes control blood glucose levels. Exercise helps control weight gain, which is a major risk factor toward developing chronic diseases, and helps to reduce stress and decrease depression. Exercise offers a trifecta of beneficial results, positively impacting mind, body and spirit.

Be with other people: Exercise, like walking, can be done with friends and neighbors, giving you the twofold benefit of exercise and social interaction – a double dose of healthy living.

Reinvent yourself: Don’t allow yourself to get caught in the “fear” trap.  Continue to move forward and learn new things, take a new class, explore a new hobby, try a new restaurant. Try and do one new thing, if not daily, weekly! Make “new” your buzz word.  Your brain health and social life will grow.

Eat whole foods: Research shows there are added benefits of including whole foods in your daily diet.  Micronutrients found in vegetables and fruits have shown to have significant health benefits especially for heart, circulatory and digestive health. “A salad a day and an apple a day” might indeed, help to keep the doctor away.  Don’t forget to use the good china and have fresh flowers on the table; making meals enjoyable lifts the spirit and the appetite.

Medication Safety: If you are among the 50% of older Americans taking multiple medications daily, please make sure you are taking them correctly.  Medications are prescribed to improve quality of life or treat medical conditions. Your health provider must be fully informed of any over the counter medications you are taking or any medication you might be prescribed from another practitioner.  Remember, the more medications you take the greater than possibility of side effects. 

Fun: This maybe the most important! Being “young at heart” can have very positive health effects. Playing with your grandchildren or playing with your pets does much to boost the joy hormones. Hugging and hand holding is actually known to reduce blood pressure and laughter also protects the heart.  I say “let the fun begin”.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “beautiful young people are accidents of nature; beautiful old people are works of art.” I want to be a work of art!

For more information about wellness and fitness programs for the older woman, visit Liberty Lutheran’s The Becoming Center.

The Becoming Center is a friendly community health and wellness center located on the campus of Artman in Ambler. Since 1994, the Becoming Center has offered personalized, comprehensive, preventive and restorative holistic wellness for active adults seeking to improve their fitness and overall wellbeing. For nearly two decades we have helped hundreds of individuals achieve their health and wellness goals.

The Becoming Center offers you a variety of services and amenities to suit your individual needs and health objectives including a fully-equipped gym, heated pool, yoga and exercise room, as well as private treatment rooms for alternative therapies and massage. Our professional staff is committed to helping you reach and maintain your wellness goals and will inspire you to strengthen your body, mind, and spirit.

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.