“Transitions” is defined this way: “passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another”.
Exploring the phrase “passage from…one place to another” quickly emphasizes that when and how to make the decision to downsize a home and/or move into either assisted living or a nursing facility isn’t…or shouldn’t be…achieved in a single step. Consider the following information from Massachusetts-based 2Sisters Senior-living Consultants, as posted on their website under “frequently asked questions”:
https://2sisters-sla.com/resources/faq/
If making a decision about entering a nursing home, the following advisory will hopefully answer some questions and provide opportunities to attend seminars:
What are some of the most common mistakes to avoid when choosing a nursing home?
Emily Rogue, LNHA, CDP, CSA – Nursing Home Specialist:
#1. Choosing a nursing home based on location alone.
Certainly, it’s beneficial to find a facility close to your support system, whether that means your adult children, friends, or community, so they can visit and be involved in your care. But that’s only one factor. Other important things to consider are therapy outcomes, inspection scores, and staffing ratios. Going to a nursing home is a big decision; the quality of care offered matters a great deal.
#2. Choosing a nursing home based on recent renovations.
It is tempting to choose the facility with the fancy new lobby chandelier and perfectly manicured front lawn. But even if a facility seems old and outdated, it is not necessarily a reflection of poor care — some nursing homes invest in important care factors, such as paying their staff higher wages. Pay attention to cleanliness (do the hallways and rooms appear clean and uncluttered?), culture (do people seem friendly and helpful?), smell (this could be an indicator of untimely care), and resident engagement (are there activities happening?).
#3. Waiting for the need to arise.
Most of the best nursing homes have wait lists. Hospital discharge can happen quickly, leaving families with little time to vet potential options. To avoid having to make a quick decision, begin familiarizing yourself with the options in your area now. Fill out a few applications and get on the wait lists for your top choices. Empower yourself to be an educated consumer and take charge of your healthcare!
Upcoming 2Sisters Events
Navigating Elder Care Without Losing Your Sanity — A Panel Discussion for Adult Children and Seniors
Thursday, January 23rd, 6:00 PM
Needham Council on Aging
300 Hillside Ave, Needham Heights, MA 02494
With Brenda Stewart, CSA, CDP, 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors; Roberta Hershorn, Realtor, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Louise Condon Realty; Maana Hickson, Esq. Rubin Hay PC; Brett Goverman, CFP, Financial Solutions Associates
Navigating Elder Care Without Losing Your Sanity — A Panel Discussion for Adult Children and Seniors
Thursday, February 6th, 6:45 PM
Sharon Community Center
219 Massapoag Ave, Sharon, MA 02067
With Brenda Stewart, CSA, CDP, 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors; Roberta Hershorn, Realtor, Louise Condon Realty, Seniors Real Estate Specialist; Linda K. Fisher, Esq. JD, MBA, LLM Taxation, Fisher Law
Navigating Elder Care Without Losing Your Sanity — A Panel Discussion for Adult Children and Seniors
Tuesday, March 10th, 6:00 PM
Dedham Library
43 Church St, Dedham, MA 02026
With Brenda Stewart, CSA, CDP, 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors; Roberta Hershorn, Realtor, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Louise Condon Realty; Maria Baler, Esq., Samuel, Sayward & Baler, LLC; Brett Goverman, CFP, Financial Solutions Associates
How Not to Choose a Nursing Home
Tuesday, March 10th, 10:00 AM
Watertown Council on Aging
31 Marshall Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Join Emily Rogue, LNHA, CDP, CSA, 2Sisters Nursing Home Specialist, as she reveals the five most common mistakes people make when choosing a nursing home and offers guidance for making wise decisions instead.
If you have a family member or know someone with bi-polar disorder, studies show that the chances of their developing Parkinson’s disease increases!
Quoting from a recent article in Parkinson’s News Today: “Data from seven studies, involving 4, 374, 211 total participants, were used. The selected studies contained data on the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease in individuals with bipolar disorder versus those who did not have this condition.”
Read the full text of the October 17th article titled “People With Bipolar Disorder Face Higher Risk of Later Developing Parkinson’s, Study Finds”
There was intention in our theme for this year’s September 14th symposium, and for those who attended (and for those who couldn’t but have read or heard about the event), we wanted to instill the importance of building and maintaining resilience to Parkinson’s challenges.
Coincidentally, in this week’s Parkinson’s News Today, columnist Sherri Woodbridge (diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s over 15 years ago) focused her subject material with a similar emphasis.
Click here to read her latest reflections about giving up not being an option, and her reminder about seeking purpose…NO MATTER WHAT!
Left to right:
Melanie Giles, Marie Lucey, Dr. Stephanie Bissonnette, Linda Hall (Parkinson’s Fitness co-founder), Anne Muskopf, Stephanie Recchia
With location hosting once again provided by the Danvers Community YMCA and their friendly, helpful staff and volunteers – with additional event assistance from YMCA Outreach Director Suzanne Malach – all was in readiness on September 14th for welcoming the 123-plus audience participants, 5 speakers, and 16 education exhibitors, to our “Living Well with Parkinson’s: Building Resilience Foundations” symposium!
Five engaging guest speakers offered guidance about how to live stronger and create and maintain enjoyable, safe ways of everyday living.
Geriatric Medical Social Worker and keynote speaker, Stephanie Recchia, described resilience in terms related to searching within and beyond one’s self and discovering how past experiences and even personality traits affect adaptability to living with life-changing prolonged illness. She stressed the need for creating an interdisciplinary medical team, as well as strong family and peer support. Stephanie’s insightful remarks transitioned into how to re-create (or start) building strong inner foundations that help promote experiences of happiness and productivity.
Dr. Stephanie Bissonnette from the Boston Medical Center and BU School of Medicine focused on neurology. Marie Lucey from the Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness at Gordon College addressed the importance of physical therapy. Melanie Olson Giles from the Speech Therapy Group in Beverly spoke about maintaining strong vocal communication capabilities and safe swallowing therapies. Anne Muscopf from the Jewish Family & Children’s Service Parkinson’s Family Support Program presented ways of creating activities of everyday lifestyle adaptations, as well as the potential use of assistive devices when necessary.
Parkinson’s Fitness instructors:
left: Dianna Daly, Balance in Motion
right: Kim Crowley, Strength & Conditioning
Once again, Parkinson’s Fitness instructors Dianna Daly (Balance in Motion) and Kim Crowley (Strength & Conditioning), joined by class substitute Sally Zagnoli, had EVERYONE moving and stretching to the lively music they’d chosen to showcase how even five minutes of movement a day can “wake up” anyone’s body! Click here to read more about our instructors and again here for weekly class locations and times in six nearby communities.
We couldn’t provide these educational symposiums without the support of our generous sponsors, participation by willing and wonderful speakers and their, as well as other, dedicated organizations who are helping to create the best possible life-management and healthy-living programs for all who live with Parkinson’s.
THANK YOU!
Ending with the words of online Parkinson’s News Today columnist and fellow Parkinsonian, Sherri Woodbridge, author of Journeying through Parkinson’s Disease:
“…Hope brings purpose back into view. It shuts out the “what-ifs” and turns down the dial of doubt. It disables the feelings of despair, enables you to have a confident expectation of a cure, finds the blessings in the curse, and faith for a brighter future.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word marathon as “an endurance contest” and “something characterized by great length or concentrated effort”. Keith Hall and his son Max are both participating in marathons. Keith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s when Max was young and playing Little League baseball. Life kept racing forward with all of its busyness, but the favorite games of “catch” with one another started to slow down. Parkinson’s challenges began requiring a concentrated effort to stay motivated and keep moving, which has become Keith’s ongoing commitment to himself, his family, and hundreds of North Shore and Cape Ann residents with Parkinson’s who attend the classes and programs he and his wife, Linda, started in 2013.
Over the years and never ones to idly sit on the sidelines and allow Keith’s Parkinson’s condition to bring him to a standstill, Keith and Linda entered their own life’s marathon together as a team. As it is for too many others with Parkinson’s, living well and retaining as much independence as possible becomes its own endurance contest. Keith is the first to encourage getting in the fight and make every punch count!
As for Max, he still loves to watch baseball with his dad on television, and is proud to have both of his parents in the stands when he’s coaching young players during practices and games locally and in New Hampshire and Maine. However, on November 3rd, Max will be honoring his dad by temporarily switching sports and running instead in his first New York City Team Fox marathon race to support the Parkinson’s research being done at the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
Please consider supporting Max as he challenges himself with the same spirit his dad shows every day!
Click here to view his web page!
