Holiday Memory Making: Tips for Celebrating with Loved Ones with Dementia and Alzheimer’s

There is no other season like the holiday season! Bringing the whole family together under one roof creates strong bonds and special memories for years to come. Make sure this holiday season is especially memorable for the elderly members of your family. For those with dementia or Alzheimer’s you can make this holiday season special by adapting family activities.

Oftentimes those with dementia or Alzheimer’s may feel a sense of loss during the holidays. They may not recognize the family around them and lack enthusiasm and interest in family celebrations. Having the family engage in simple, safe, and repetitive activities with your loved one will lift their mood and have them enjoy the present moment. Creating an uplifting mood can positively affect the mental well-being and physical health of for your loved well beyond the holidays.

Some activity suggestions:

Making garlands of paper or popcorn
Decorating ornaments
Putting together a gingerbread house or other holiday crafts
Baking holiday desserts
Creating photo collages of family pictures
Putting together and looking over a slideshow of adult family members growing up

All of these holiday projects can help generate new memories and create mementos of your family holiday. For non-perishable projects like holiday ornaments, writing the name of the creator along with the date (ie. Grandma, Christmas 2010) on the object will make the project more memorable and meaningful. For holiday projects such as baking or making a gingerbread house make sure to take pictures of your loved one making these items so you can keep them for years to come.

Happy Holidays from Valencia Terrace!

Honoring our Veterans at Valencia Terrace: Stories of Service

Seated with coffee and chairs in a small group, they meet once a month to recount stories of combat, service, and foreign encounters. Their tales shine with the bravery and energy young servicemen exude when serving their country. This is Valencia Terrace’s Veteran’s Connection group – an inspiring group of men and their wives who gather each month. The photo above shows: (Back/Standing) Rudy Bukich, Jim Pfeiffer, Paul Yoe, Walter Gnehm, Mel Roenfeldt
Front: Harold Schooler, Russell Sandhoefner, Jack Khoury, Dick Johnson.

We are honored to share the stories of John, Russell, and Dick – members of the Veteran’s Connection.

John joined the Navy in 1935 straight out of high school and extended his service for 2 years in 1939. He was supposed to be discharged, but due to the timing of Pearl Harbor was required to stay in the service. He served on a repair ship for 7 years 2 months, in the engineering department’s hot engine rooms and saw the end of WWII topside. He got out of the navy and found it bitterly ironic that he still had to register for the draft. He decided to join the Reserves while living in Napa, California with his wife. During the Korean conflict he was called back in and was in the same cabin as he was during WWII on an ammunition ship. He reached under the steam pipes and found an oil-stained raincoat he had put up there many years before. John helped save the shores of Korea with 56000 tons of ammunition. Then he worked for the maritime commission between wars. Later he started a machine shop, but was called back in 3 years, so he had to sell the shop. Eventually he worked for GE 2 years, and then Stanford research for 26 years. Stanford was a fascinating place for John, who helped make and test scale models of nuclear reactors. His wife retired from teaching and decided to start a jewelry business that they owned for 14 years. John sold a lot of jewelry to the 3,500 employees he worked with and even took a course on jewelry! John and his wife searched far and wide from San Diego to Santa Barbara for a peaceful place to retire and happily chose a Casita at Valencia Terrace.

Russell joined the Army-Air Corp during WWII, as part of a heavy bomber B-24 crew in southern Italy. He completed the required 35 bombing missions and had very interesting experiences in the air over Yugoslavia, Germany, and Austria. On December 18, 1944, the squad took off for an oil refinery target in a Polish town called Ausweisen. Russell lay on the floor of the hatch ready to drop the bombs. Prior to the mission, the squad was given strict orders not to drop the bombs until exactly over the oil refinery. Russell learned later that the target was very close to the Auschwitz concentration camp, so his superiors didn’t want to harm the prisoners. At the end of his missions, he sailed back out of Naples Harbor on a converted luxury liner packed full of servicemen. He played in an Army Air Corp band in San Antonio, Texas, until he was discharged, and then played in bands across the Midwest. Russell has lived in Minnesota, Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Russell and his wife Patricia decided to make a fresh start out west near his father and brother, and visited 28 model homes in one weekend. He eventually joined a small company that distributed wholesale insulation, and then became partner and eventually owner. He retired in 1989 at 65. He and his wife then traveled all over the world. Russell particularly enjoyed visiting the sites in Europe along the Danube River over which he had flown during the war, and tried to find some of the military targets to take photos. He is now happily living at Valencia Terrace.

Dick was in the Navy for 4 years. He was born on a farm and had always worked from a very young age. He joined the service at age 17 in San Diego where he learned how to smoke, drink, and chase women. After boot camp, Dick went to torpedo school. He was assigned to the Bismarck carrier and traveled to Pearl Harbor, but then he was transferred off the carrier because there were too many torpedo men on it. Sadly, two weeks later, the Bismarck was sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack with no survivors.
After the Bismarck, Dick was assigned to a ship to patrol the area between Midway and Hawaii. He traveled on yet another ship to Pearl Harbor, Guam, and then Japan when the war was almost over. A Japanese sub was commissioned into the American Navy at the end of the war, and Dick brought it back. After 30 days off, Dick was transferred to San Bernardino, and then Connecticut to another submarine base. Dick enjoyed every minute of his service and now lives at Valencia Terrace!

Want to learn more about other group activities at Valencia Terrace? For more information, call (951) 273-1300

Taking Yoga Off the Floor!

Yoga has been practiced for centuries as a low-impact, versatile form of exercise. While yoga is popular with a younger set of exercise enthusiasts, it is an excellent way for seniors to increase flexibility, strength, and reduce the risk of falling. Non-traditional forms of yoga have been modified to accommodate those with different physical capabilities. Chair yoga is a great adaptation of yoga because it has less risk of injury and displaces the stress usually carried by the joints and knees when practicing the traditional form of yoga.

Chair yoga is comprised of more than just sitting in the chair and stretching the upper body. It also consists of using the chair as a balance support when standing up to do full body stretches. This gives senior citizens the full physical benefit of traditional yoga stretches along with the security of having support. For those with difficulty standing, chair yoga is an ideal way to keep the upper body toned and in shape.

If you are looking for other alternatives to chair yoga exercises that give a low-impact but thorough workout, you might enjoy pool aerobics which combines stretching and strengthening in a cushioned environment.

Valencia Terrace will be starting our Yoga Chair Class starting November 8th at 1:30 PM. Classes will be held twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Everyone is welcome to come and participate! RSVP by calling (951) 273-1300 or by checking out or Facebook page www.facebook.com/valenciaterrace.

Know Your Ballot

“The future of this republic is in the hands of the American voter.” ~ Dwight D.Eisenhower


So…Be Sure to Know Your Ballot

As President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “The future of the republic is in the hands of the American voter.” With the November local elections approaching the future of California and our cities lies in our hands. Understanding your local ballot initiatives will help you have a voice in your community’s change. Voting is especially pertinent to senior citizens because the local and national laws greatly affect senior benefits. Even if ballot initiatives do not directly relate to senior topics they can affect our political climate and shape the way all groups are treated.

Some tips to help you become a well-informed voter:

1) Do your research – Local newspapers and TV are great ways to get information on the issues being discussed on the ballot. Some senior living communities also hold forums where residents can voice their opinion about the issues. Educating yourself about these initiatives can help you form an opinion on a wide range of topics.

2) Attend events where you can see local candidates up for election. Putting a face to the name makes it much easier for voters to select local candidates when it comes time to vote. Having a chance to speak with candidates directly can go a long way in helping you make the right decisions. Asking an incumbent important questions will help you understand what actions your community needs to become better in the future.

3) Make sure your voting information is updated! You can go to your local city hall, library, or civic center to update your voting information. The voting process is not only about selecting the issues and candidates you support, but also providing the government the appropriate demographic information needed to serve our country better.

4) Last step – Get out there and vote!

Valencia Terrace wants you to get your vote heard! We will provide buses to the polls next Tuesday, November 2nd. Sign-up sheets for transportation are located in the main mail room. For more information on Corona’s ballot initiatives, view: http://www.coronaadvocacy.biz/ for a quick overview.

Going International: Without Ever Leaving Home

Feel like experiencing someplace new? Believe it or not, you don’t have to take a trip around the world to discover the culture and cuisine of the nations abroad. Valencia Terrace offers its residents the opportunity on a monthly basis…right here at home! Tasting and appreciating food and culture from exotic and faraway places all from the comfort of your own home is another way to get the experience of traveling.

At Valencia Terrace, we host monthly International Nights with movies, food, and drink. This month we’re off to Germany. Come join us for Oktoberfest on Thursday October 28th and enjoy delicious German food and beer to taste!

While traveling needs energy and funding, you can “visit” new places from home in other ways as well - by reading guidebooks on destinations you would like to see, or hosting culinary parties with foreign food. You and your guests can learn the culture and traditions behind the food. Broadening your mental horizons is a great way to keep the mind active and sharp.

To RSVP for this month’s “trip” to Germany’s Oktoberfest call 951-273-1300.

Growing Together: Community Gardening

Planting seeds and watching them sprout into fruitful plants is spiritually and mentally rewarding for those who garden. Tending to a shared piece of land with neighbors, family, and friends transforms the garden into a place for bonding and a center for the community. A senior community garden is not only beneficial for stimulating social action but also provides a budget-friendly source of produce for fresh, healthy meals.

Caring for a garden is great physical activity for seniors. Weeding, planting, and maintaining the garden provides low impact exercise.. Seniors can work at their individual pace and take periodic breaks to admire the beauty of their work. Garden events centered around planting and harvesting give gardeners goals to work towards. In addition, community gardens contribute to neighborhood sustainability - providing a natural haven in the midst of urban development.

Valencia Terrace is proud to participate in the Corona Community Garden at Peace ground breaking from 9:00 to 10:00 am this Saturday, October 16th. In honor of our one-year anniversary, we invite you to join us for a champagne brunch afterwards.
RSVP by calling us at (951) 273-1300 or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/valenciaterrace

Engaging Your Brain – Let the Games Begin!

Everyone knows how great exercising is for the body, but did you know it’s just as important to exercise our brains? Keeping our brains active is essential to our overall development through all stages of life. Our brains function as a network; as we age this network begins to slowly shrink.

Engaging in new activities and challenges helps the brain to expand and strengthen its existing connections and even create some new ones along the way! That’s why playing games is an excellent way to keep our minds sharp and focused. Games with multiple players like poker and mahjong promote deep thinking due to player interaction and the use of imagery. Brain games are versatile, ranging from single player Sudoku to multiplayer Bingo. Many participants are pleasantly surprised by how their memory capabilities increase after playing a game multiple times. Players experience a boost in confidence and a sense of accomplishment once they master a new game.

Twists on traditional games such as Bingo are great ways to challenge the brain to do simultaneous thinking. Jingo is a great example – it mixes American history trivia questions in a Bingo-style format. Each player’s card has a collage of historical figures. A trivia question is asked about each figure. The first player to match five in a row wins. Players feel refreshed on American history and enjoy the competitive side to the game as well.

Want to join us for Jingo at Valencia Terrace? For more information give us a call at 951-273-1300.

Cutting Through the Puzzling Maze of Medicare

With the recent health reform and talks about more restructuring, health insurance is a cloud of confusion for everyone. It is especially important for seniors to understand the benefits and limitations of Medicare. Many retirees find Medicare’s plans puzzling, and choose to wait until their first hospital visit to address it. However, learning about your insurance when the time comes to pay for it could add additional stress to already existing stressful time.

Here are some pointers for understanding Medicare. Remember this is a general guideline. For detailed information on your plan you should contact your provider and speak with a representative.

Medicare Basics
If you are 65 years or older you are entitled to Medicare benefits. There are generally two parts to the average Medicare Plan: Part A and Part B.
Medicare Part A – pays for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, some home care, and some hospice care.
Medicare Part B – helps to pay for doctor’s services and other medical needs that are not covered by Part A. Part B can be deferred if the beneficiary or his/her spouse is working. There is a lifetime penalty (10% per year) imposed for not enrolling in Part B unless actively working

Be Aware of Medicare Advantage Plans
Some individuals may opt for Medicare Advantage Plans which is Medicare coverage that works in conjunction with private insurance (ie. Secure Horizons). Many people in these programs forget Medicare Advantage Plans have a group of in-network providers that they must use. Any doctor not in-network with the given plan is considered out-of-network and the patient must pay an out-of-network cost to see the doctor. If it is an out-of-network private practice, patients may even be turned away and referred to another doctor.

So, be sure if you are seeing a specialist and you would like to continue your relationship with them, it is best to inquire which Medicare Advantage Plans they are in before signing up for an Advantage Plan.

What is Supplemental Insurance?
While Medicare is very comprehensive, not everything is covered. For example, if Medicare covers 80% of a procedure, the supplemental insurance will step in and cover the other 20%. This may vary according to each supplemental insurance plan as well as the premiums paid. It is important to research the possibility of adding supplemental insurance well before it is needed, as many seniors are surprised when they are reimbursed for only a portion of their hospital bill.

Work with Your Doctor’s Administrator
A majority of health facilities have an administrator and insurance specialist. If you are retired and live near a hospital you would like to frequent in the future, you can call an insurance specialist at the facility to find out which providers they are in-network with. These specialists are also acquainted with procedural billing and may be able to help you calculate how much of a procedure is covered and how much you will have to pay out-of-pocket.

Do Your Research
Keep up to date on health care reform and changes in Medicare policies. A great way to do this is by researching online websites which are updated frequently.

AARP’s Medicare section is straight-forward and updated frequently:
http://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-insurance/

To refresh your mind on Medicare basics, take a look at their Wikipedia pages:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States)

Medicare’s General Website should be your go-to:
http://www.medicare.gov/

Trouble understanding bills and reimbursements? Free Medicare counseling can help:
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/HICAP/

Join Valencia Terrace for the "Medicare Made Clear" seminar on Wednesday, October 20th. We will be discussing the changes in our healthcare system and will be available to answer any of your questions!

Video Chatting is More Than Just Talk

From staying in touch with family to communicating with friends, video chatting online is a great way for seniors to interact from the convenience of their home. The tools are minimal – an Internet connection, webcam (comes standard with most new laptop computers), and video chat software.

Video conferencing allows face-to-face interaction not available through typical phone conversations as well as fun, creative ways to connect with family and friends online.
In addition, chatting gives grandparents the ability to see their grandchildren grow and develop. Conferencing frequently also gets a family involved in each other’s daily lives.

Video chatting does not have to be limited to holding conversations online. There are tons of interactive activities you can do make it fun:

When talking to your grandchildren:
- Play an online game like checkers or cards while video chatting
- Tell a bedtime story with books or puppets
- Ask them to recap their day with you and show you the projects they did at school

When talking to your children:
- Set up a time to three- or four-way video conference so the whole family can have a conversation. The key to these chats is choosing a time everyone can agree on, even if it is just once a month. You can set up an event on Facebook and ensure everyone RSVPs.

When talking to friends:
- You can follow a simple fitness plan by doing stretches or stationary exercises together via webcam.
- You can “share dinner” by scheduling a chat time during dinner time and eating together while catching up on webcam

Want to get started? Here are some of the best video chat programs to download:

www.skype.com
www.windowslivemessenger.com
http://mail.google.com/videochat
http://www.oovoo.com/

Lifelong Learning: Volunteering for your Community

Lifelong learning can encompass many activities – ranging from taking community college classes to trying out new activities and taking on a new hobby. The whole point of lifelong learning is to expose yourself to experiences that will expand your horizons and subsequently stimulate the brain. A perfect opportunity for lifelong learning is volunteering in your community.

Volunteering is a great activity for seniors because it gets them involved in their local community and exposes them to new activities and skills. Community service breaks the monotony of everyday activity and as a result stimulates the brain’s cognition. Its social aspect allows seniors to make friends with different age levels and exposes them to activities that they may not normally participate in. Studies have shown that volunteering can lower mortality and depression rates as well as increase overall well-being. So the earlier you start serving your community the better!

There are plenty of different opportunities seniors can take. From volunteering at state parks to helping at a local library – there are many activities to suit individual’s taste and goals. Distributing goods at food drives and helping to counsel low-income seniors are beneficial activities as well. As they say, philanthropy is great medicine for your health - so get involved today!

Some resources to get started:

Help our national parks:
http://www.nps.gov/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
A resource guide for various different volunteer opportunities:
http://www.seniorcorps.gov/
http://seniorjournal.com/Volunteers.htm
Become a health advocate to help others understand Medicare:
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/HICAP/

Traveling with Mom and Dad – Let the Fun Begin!

Do you remember the family trips you took when you were a kid? A full tank of gas, snacks, and an itinerary was all it took to create lasting memories. Traveling with Mom and Dad now may not be as easy, but can be just as enjoyable. Instead of creating your own vacation from scratch, you may want to consult a travel agency for cruises and tours that take into account the needs of seniors.

Cruises are a good way to vacation because Mom and Dad can choose activities suiting their energy level best. Because of the variety of activities offered on cruises, you can also bring the kids – making the vacation a multi-generational family reunion. One of the benefits of cruise vacations is that there are as many fun activities to do on the ship as there are on dry land. Parents can choose to stay on the ship and relax or join the kids on organized tours away from the ship. After activities are done for the day, the family can enjoy the ship’s dining hall and share experiences.

Tours that specifically cater to older age groups have become more prolific as today’s seniors understand that retirement does not necessarily mean giving up adventure. Tours vary and can range from domestic and relaxing to international and adventurous. You may want to consider energy level, mobility, and personal preference when picking a tour for you and your parents. Try to accommodate their needs by choosing a tour with slower pacing and less strenuous activity. Choosing to go on a tour in mid-summer or mid-winter may not be wise as temperatures can affect health.

Location is also of importance – consider a location that has easy access to private and public transportation. Places where walking is the main form of transportation can be energy draining and less enjoyable. When choosing a location for a family tour, pick places with cultural depth and a calm atmosphere. Places with museums are great because they provide a lot of cultural value and your family can set the pace.

Keep in mind that Mom and Dad may need more time to get ready in the morning as well as falling asleep at night. Always keep tabs on their medications and organize these dosages before leaving home. An itinerary with plenty of time allotted for each activity is essential as it may take Mom and Dad longer to get from one location to another. Also make sure to plan a “day of rest” so that they can recharge for the rest of the trip.

For more senior traveling advice and ideas visit:

Elder Expeditions specializes in adventure tours for 50+ adults: http://www.elderexpeditions.com/

This website hosts educational and cultural immersion tours for seniors: http://www.roadscholar.org/

Great resource if you are looking for slow-paced, peaceful vacation: http://www.slowtrav.com/

A list of the best cruises for seniors: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=112

Assisted…Independent…Continuing Care Retirement Community…Senior Apartments – What’s the Difference?

With so many different types of senior communities to choose from it can be pretty confusing. Whether you’re looking for a community full of involvement opportunities, a peaceful place to retire or are in search of a care facility for mom and dad, it's helpful to understand the different lifestyle options that are available. We strongly suggest taking a tour of the community in order to get a first-hand impression of the entire experience.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Senior Apartment communities are not necessarily senior living facilities (although they may be mistaken for them due to their title). Senior apartments are age-restricted to 55+ only residents and can be owned or rented. Depending on the community, they may have fitness centers or social activities but do not have trained staff on hand to facilitate wellness programming and assist with housekeeping or medications. Also these facilities do not provide daily meals.

Independent Living is an age-restricted, apartment rental community that provides services like transportation, events, wellness programs, and linen and housekeeping services. In addition, IL communities provide a community dining facility with daily meals as well as opportunities for social involvement and cultural enrichment. IL communities do not provide, in a majority of the apartments, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as supervision of medication, bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.

Assisted Living residents maintain and live in their own apartments and are provided services like housekeeping, dining, wellness, and community activities. Assisted Living provides residents with the ability to maintain their independent lifestyle while giving them the security of supportive care from trained associates based on the amount of support they require. This may involve assistance with any variety of activities of daily living (ADLs) including management of medications, basic hygiene, dressing, ambulating and eating.

Continuing Care Retirement Community – CCRCs are also age-restricted but may combine private cottage homes for members with active lifestyles, Independent Living, Assisted Living, and some memory care and/or skilled nursing services. CCRCs provide members with the comfort of knowing that they can stay in one community as they age even if their needs for support change over time. They usually offer a campus type environment with more amenities and services than most rental communities. Traditionally, CCRC’s have offered payment plans that include an entrance fee (or buy-in) that reduces the monthly payment with some form of refund when the member moves on. Some CCRC’s are offering condo/coop and rental payment plans as well.



At Valencia Terrace we offer Assisted and Independent Living Apartments as well as Private Casitas for active lifestyles. Life at Valencia Terrace is defined by Kisco's The Art of Living WellSM culture. We recognize everyone is unique with their own passions, interests, and experiences. This is why we offer a variety of lifestyle options and flexible programs and services to satisfy your preferences and needs over time. For a more comprehensive understanding of our community and to experience The Art of Living WellSM for yourself we invite you to visit us today.

Grandma’s on Facebook…Really? Really!

At Kisco Senior Living we are always tracking the trends as they relate to our residents and their needs. We are very aware of the seniors’ growing desire to be connected online and we were excited to find some great information posted by the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).

Their findings indicate exactly what we’ve observed – more seniors are online. The latest survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that 42% of individuals 65 years and older actively access the Internet and 53% live in a setting with Internet access. What is really telling is that 42% represents a 50% jump in Internet use among this age group since 2000.

This is definitely true at Valencia Terrace where we offer our residents free Wi-Fi in all our common spaces including the bistro, club room and library. In addition we are working on offering more computer training and classes…because they are asking us for it! Marjorie Keith one of our original members living in the Casitas, says she uses the internet on a regular basis to send emails and searching for things. “I’m encouraged with all the things there are to learn and the fact that Kari, our Wellness Director is adamantly looking for another instructor. I believe in the internet’s infinite capacity to bring the world information.”

In another report issued by AARP in June, one quarter of 50+ adults use social media websites with 23% of them on Facebook. Nearly 75% of them are connected to relatives other than their children and grandchildren and most were introduced to Facebook by their own children.

Is Marjorie on Facebook? “Well, not yet…but I can’t wait to learn more about it.”