06/19/13

In-home services can relieve the burden of caring for older adults

For children of seniors, it can feel overwhelming at times to provide the quality of care they wish for their parents single handedly – especially in addition to their every day work, home, and other familial responsibilities.

Add to that seniors rarely tell their children when they need extra assistance, making it difficult to tell when parents need professional help. Children of seniors should be on the lookout for warning signs that some intervention may be needed, such as forgetfulness (especially of medications), decreased level of hygiene, self isolation, and poor nutrition.

Dan Clem, Director at Friendship In-Home Services, says the key is to really listen and observe.

“Being active with physicians, church people, and friends are all excellent ways to gain insight into how their parent is really doing,” Clem said.

But just because a parent needs some extra help, doesn’t mean moving to a retirement community with round the clock care is always the best solution. Sometimes an in-home care service is a wise alternative.

Whether it is just for one afternoon or several days a week, Friendship In-Home Services highly trained and qualified staff alleviates worry by providing seniors with proper care and frequent communication of the senior’s health status to their children.

Depending on the unique needs of the patient, Friendship In-Home Services offers the following services:
• Transportation to and from appointments and social gatherings
• Running small errands
• Light cooking and house keeping
• Companionship
• Medication reminders
• Hygiene assistance

06/12/13

Choose a Realtor and Mover that Specializes in Helping Seniors

By the time many seniors make the decision to sell their home, they have been living there for a substantial period of time. This can make the transition of moving extremely difficult emotionally, with intensified feelings if it is the home where they raised their families.

Whether the senior’s decision to move is due to diminishing health, size of the home, or financial difficulties, it is important for family members to offer the upmost patience and sensitivity. One way is to hire specialized assistance in the form of realtors and movers.

What specialized realtors and movers do is relieve their clients of all of the stressful logistics. Leaving the place a senior has called home for so long is emotionally painful enough, without the extra burdens of cleaning, packing, scheduling, and transporting.

Depending on the individual needs and desires of the client, common duties of specialty realtors and movers include a large-scale, collaborating effort of:

Assisting with the organization, sorting, and downsizing of personal belongings
Interviewing, scheduling, and overseeing movers
Coordinating the cleaning, trash removal, senior escort, and selection of a realtor
Professionally packing, unpacking, and assist with the set up of the new home
Preparing the home to be sold or rented, including re-painting walls, fixing appliances, etc.

The overarching goal of these services is to provide a stress-free experience while keeping the best interest of their client in mind, said Gwen Schwindt, a Senior Certified Realtor with Ruhl&Ruhl.

“Home is wherever they are, it’s not what structure that surrounds them,” says Schwindt. Reassuring seniors of this truth, she explains, is extremely beneficial.

06/5/13

Best Day with Dad Photo Contest

Click through those recently tagged Facebook pictures and dig through those old photo albums! We want you to share your favorite photo taken of you and your father for our Best Day with Dad Photo Contest.

Whether it is from a fishing trip you took as a child, a pickup basketball game in your driveway, or a hike you went on through nature, post it to our page along with a brief caption of what makes it so special for a chance to win a lunch at the Friendship Manor Bistro, a complimentary haircut at the barbershop PLUS 4 tickets to a River Bandits game! Your father will thank you!

To enter, first like us on Facebook, and get your photo turned in by midnight, June 9. Then, get all your friends to vote for you by midnight, June 16. The photo with the most votes at the end of the contest wins!

Good luck!

05/22/13

how to take away key from a senior, how to talk to aging parents, in-home services, elder care, medication reminders, Friendship Manor

How to talk to your aging parents

It is never easy to say “no” to a parent. After all you’ve spent most of your life hearing that word from them. But as an adult caring for aging parents who need help with housekeeping, personal care and transportation, how you frame the conversation is the key to getting your parents the help they need.

“Express that you as the child are feeling overwhelmed and are feeling guilty because you’re not able to be there as much to help out,” said Dan Clem-McKinley, Director of Friendship and Home Services. “Then it is you as the child who needs help, not them.”

Clem-McKinley recommends telling aging parents who need help with personal care, housekeeping, doing the laundry or making meals, that having in-home care services, like the ones Friendship Manor provides, will help them have more time for the activities they want to do.

“It can be viewed as a negative because they are losing their independence,” Clem-McKinley said. “But when we meet with individuals, we always go from the perspective that this is going to give you free time. We’re here to help you maintain your independence.”

One of the main concerns children have when they seek help for their parents is medication. Clem-McKinley once worked with a person who had an antacid bottle filled with prescription medicine they forgot to take, but didn’t want to throw out because it was so expensive. Friendship Manor In-Home Services can include sending a caregiver to the home multiple times a day to dispense and observe clients taking the proper medication.

For children concerned about their parents driving, Friendship Manor In-Home Services provides transportation so seniors can still go about their daily routines, such as weekly hair or nail appointments.

“It is hard,” Clem-McKinley said. “Sometimes you just have to be frank when you’re talking to your parents, especially when bills are being unpaid, they’re unkempt or there are nutritional concerns.”

Click here for more information about Friendship Manor In-Home Services.

05/15/13

Set up power of attorney while you can still communicate your wishes

Setting up power of attorney can seem like a daunting task. From determining what type of power of attorney you need, to deciding who to designate as an agent, to discussing end of life decisions, the entire process can seem overwhelming. But it is important to set up power of attorney now, before a major life event makes it difficult for you to communicate your wishes.

Let’s start with the different types of power of attorney, which can be tailored to your specific needs. You can appoint a trusted family member or friend to make decisions for you regarding property, finances, and healthcare.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

In healthcare, power of attorney only takes over when you are no longer able to make decisions about your own health, such as if you would like to receive CPR or other life prolonging treatments.

“You never know with your health, when you might have an accident, or heaven forbid you have a stroke and can’t verbalize what you need,” said Courtney Winter, Social Services Coordinator at Friendship Manor. “For the healthcare power of attorney there are some very hard topics to discuss. You’re talking about when you’re having a major decline, or if you stop breathing, or your heart stops beating.”

Winter can help you set up a healthcare power of attorney, but Friendship Manor recommends you consult with an elder services lawyer to set up power of attorney for finances or healthcare.

Financial and Property Power of Attorney

Financial and property power of attorney allows a family member or close friend, known as an agent, to make decisions regarding your real estate holdings, bank accounts, taxes, safe deposit boxes and other financial and property matters.

There are two types of power of attorney for finance and property: durable and limited. Durable power of attorney gives the agent authority to act on your behalf for the rest of your life. That doesn’t mean you can’t continue to make your own decisions, but your agent will also have the ability to make decisions for you. Limited power of attorney sets a specific time limit so the power of attorney is only in effect when you need it.

“If you’re moving into Friendship Manor and you need to sell your house but you don’t want to deal with it, you can give your daughter limited power of attorney and she can sell your house,” Winter explained. “After the house is sold, your daughter will not have power of attorney anymore.”

Choosing an agent

It is important to pick a family member or close friend you trust to be your agent. This person will act on your behalf when you are not able to make important decisions for yourself. You want to be able to have confidence your agent will make decisions according to your wishes, keeping your best interests in mind.

“It may seem like a loss of control,” Winter said. “But if you’re setting up power of attorney with someone you trust, they’re going to have your best wishes at heart.”

04/30/13

Show Us Your Favorite Moments With Mom

Friendship Manor has a lot going on for Mother’s Day this year. In addition to the Mother Daughter Luncheon on May 11, Friendship Manor is also running a photo contest on our Facebook page.

Moms are an important part of our lives, and it is important to cherish the time we spend with them. For this photo contest, we want to see photos of your special moments with mom.

Our Facebook fans can enter for a chance to win some great prizes, and spend more time with mom! The photo with the most votes by the end of the day on Mother’s Day will win lunch in the Bistro for the resident and up to three family members, a certificate to the Manor Beauty Shop for the resident, and 4 tickets to the Putnam Museum Giant Screen Theater. That’s a $100 value!

So dig through your archive of precious mother-daughter or son photos taken over the years, and show us your favorite! Whether it is from a vacation trip, a special holiday tradition or a simple Sunday afternoon spent in the yard together, send your photo in today! Don’t forget to have your friends vote for your photo in order to win the grand prize! Good luck!

04/24/13

Celebrate Mother’s Day Weekend at Friendship Manor

Friendship Manor is getting ready to celebrate our annual Mother Daughter Luncheon held the day before Mother’s Day. Mother’s can invite their daughters and granddaughters to the event and enjoy a menu featuring a turkey club on wheat berry bread with fresh fruit and a raspberry-vanilla Panna Cotta.

There will also be a speaker provided by the Putnam Museum who will talk about women’s roles in society and what fashion tells us about history.

The Mother Daughter Luncheon is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, and RSVPs must be in by May 7.

“The event is well attended,” said Director of Activities, Nancy Mann. “Residents look forward to spending the afternoon with their daughters and granddaughters.”

Mann said Friendship Manor also holds a similar event each year for fathers and sons on Father’s Day weekend.

On Sunday, May 12, there will be another chance to spend some time with your family at Friendship Manor. There will be a buffet style lunch open to residents and their guests put on by the Friendship Manor Culinary Department.

The menu includes a cream of tomato bisque soup, salmon with apple chutney, prime rib, grilled pit ham, roasted red rosemary potatoes, whipped potatoes and gravy, green beans, fresh sautéed veggie melody, rotini pasta salad, carrot cake, caramel crème brûlée, and unsweetened cheesecake.

“Friendship Manor is filled with residents’ families,” said Mann.

The Sunday lunch has no deadline for reservations and residents eat free. Guest tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children eight years old and younger.

04/17/13

Residents Lead Happy, Healthy, and Active Lifestyles at Friendship Manor

At Friendship Manor, we ensure our residents enjoy a variety of daily activities, so they can continue leading optimal happy, healthy, and active lifestyles.

At our Fitness Center, exercise videos are scheduled throughout the week and our Activity Director leads a fun chair exercise session called “Music Moves”. Golf and Wii bowling tournaments are hosted several times throughout the month, and our residents are always encouraged to participate in these activities at their leisure.

Residents also attend our popular social events throughout the month. From cocktail, parties, card games, and mini concerts held in our Activity Center, there is always something fun going on. One recent event was a Toga Party to celebrate Greek Independence Day.

Nancy Mann, Activities Director, said the social events planned for residents provide them with opportunities that are difficult to find elsewhere.

“It helps them celebrate a holiday that if they were alone in their home, they probably wouldn’t have the chance to celebrate,” Mann said.

Beyond our residents’ apartment doors, we also have the Country Store, a Bistro, and a bank right within the community.

Friendship Manor’s community has activities that help residents to keep their minds sharp. Our library and computer lab have a vast array of books and resources for further learning. Guest lecturers come to Friendship Manor several times a month to present topics on health, finances, QC history, and many more.

Arts and crafts classes are taught nearly every day. Our musically talented residents enjoy participating in our chorus. For our passionate writers, we have a beautiful garden to gather inspiration. For religious individuals, we have weekly Bible studies and non-denominational services.

Angie Stark, Friendship Manor Representative, has seen first-hand the positive health transformation that residents make after choosing to move into Friendship Manor.

“If they’re not driving anymore, the only people they might see are family or a caregiver,” Stark said. “That really limits them and sometimes leads to depression. A variety of activities that take up their day really help.”

An active lifestyle after retirement is the best way to continue leading happy and healthy lives. At Friendship Manor, we ensure our residents can do just that.

04/10/13

Resident continues boat building hobby at Friendship Manor

Richard Klatt didn’t begin with boats when he started building model vehicles more than 45 years ago. His craft of choice at the time was an airplane.

“It flew up into the air, stopped and crashed,” Klatt recalled. “I figured there has got to be a better way to do this.”

A retired art teacher from Rock Island High School, Klatt has been living at Friendship Manor with his wife for six years. He builds historic ships and boats from scratch, making his own plans in Friendship Manor’s fully stocked woodshop.

“I’m a scratch builder, using the real materials that I rip or saw,” Klatt said. “It is very authentic.”

Klatt starts each model with research. He and his wife have visited historic ships in ports as close as the Mississippi River and as far away as Spain, taking vacations from Friendship Manor to visit his ports of interest.

His latest project is a replica of the S.S. Thorpe, a tow boat which navigated the Mississippi River from Keokuk, Iowa, to St. Paul, Minn., with three barges in tow in 1927. It was the first commercial vessel to navigate that stretch of the river and it helped lead to the creation of the locks and dams that make river transportation possible today.

The S.S. Thorpe is finished and on display at Friendship Manor, and Klatt is working on coal barges the boat would have towed up river to go with the model.

“I do most of the heavy cutting with the tools in the woodshop. Friendship Manor has all kinds of saws,” Klatt said.

For the detail work, Klatt brings the models into his apartment and works on them in a neat corner filled with art supplies and photos of his boats. He enjoys living at a place where he can continue to work on his model boats.

“This really is a fantastic place to live,” Klatt said. “This is really a very relaxing space.”

Each boat takes between two-and-a-half and four years to make. Other models that are on display at Friendship Manor include a replica of boat designed by farmers in Nova Scotia in the early 1900s to collect lobsters from traps Americans set off the coast.

“The farmers would take the lobsters out to the water and sell them back to the Americans,” Klatt said. “No one knew.”

When not in use, the boat’s sail was removable so the boats could be stored in barns, concealing the clandestine lobster thieves turned entrepreneurs.

Klatt’s model replica is exquisite in its detail, right down to strings on the sail used to wrap it up when not in use and lobster traps on the deck.

“Boats have a very important history,” Klatt said. “They have made a significant contribution to social development.”

04/5/13

Assisted Living helps seniors blossom

Making the decision to move into assisted living is never easy. It is common for those caring for elderly parents to find themselves considering the move after a fall, or a health issue arises that requires greater care than in-home services provides.

But often times the decision is made when smaller changes start to take a toll on daily life, such as changes in eyesight, not being able to drive to the grocery store, or needing help preparing meals and taking medications on time.

Assisted Living Residents at Friendship Manor receive three meals a day, are placed on a regular medication schedule, receive weekly housekeeping, laundry service, transportation and all utilities are covered, including television. Residents are also assisted when they leave their rooms to go to activities and have an emergency pendant so they can get help any time of the day.

“Nine times out of 10 in the 15 years I’ve been here, people really start to blossom once they move in and get on a regular schedule of medication, proper nutrition and somebody monitoring them on a regular basis,” said Angie Stark, Friendship Manor representative.

Besides regular nutritious meals and meds, Friendship Manor also offers a full activity calendar residents can participate in. That can make a big difference in the life of a senior who was used to staying at home alone.

“If they’re not driving anymore, the only people they might see are family or a caregiver,” Stark said. “That really limits them and sometimes leads to depression.”

At Friendship Manor residents can go to the Bistro, eat meals together in the dining room and participate in activities throughout the day, all without leaving the grounds.

“Those different things that take up their day really help,” Stark said.

To learn more about assisted living or schedule a tour, please click here to visit the Friendship Manor website.