Senior Housing Companies, May 2010 Newsletter




	Sunset Park Place in Dubuque, Iowa Completes Addition: Senior Housing would like to congratulate Jerry Bell and the team at Sunset Park Place in Dubuque, Iowa on the successful completion of their dining room expansion, as well as 2 additional Memory Care apartments! The certificate of occupancy was granted by the Department of Inspections and Appeals on April 25th for the 2 new apartments which were reserved months ago in anticipation. The new residents are thoroughly enjoying their new home and their move-in went without a glitch! Senior Housing Consultants worked very closely with Callahan Construction from Dubuque, IA on the completion of this project. Many thanks to the Callahan Construction team for creating a beautiful new dining area for the residents, as well as a new home for the 2 new residents with the completion of the apartments. June Monthly Manager's Meeting: Thanks to our Culinary Partner, Martin Brothers for partnering with us for a very successful Manager's Meeting in May. The community managers and Culinary Coordinators enjoyed the day of taste testing from different vendors and participating in many activities to continue to improve their culinary programs for their residents. Julie Halfpop with Martin Brothers discusses different special events that can involve the culinary program in the communities. Angie O'Brien, Manager Courtyard Estates in Pleasant Hill, is now well aware of how different food tastes when you are unable to smell it! A great activity, as with the aging process the sense of smell is sometimes lost and Martin Brothers was able to show us how that impacts our residents! Lynne Popp, Manager of Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa congratulates Donita Dohrn! Donita was recently named Administrative Assistant of the Year through KMAQ radio! "She is the smiling face that greets each and every person who comes through the front door. She is the friendly, inviting voice everyone hears first on the phone. Donita gives from her heart each and every day to our residents, staff, loved ones, family and friends.," states Manager, Lynne Popp! Congratulations Donita and thank you! From FirstComp Safety Coordinator Kim Coonrod – Back Injuries: Understanding and Prevention Pain limits mobility, which in turn can lead to falls. The most frequent type of injury in the U.S. is back strain. Over 80% of adults will suffer back pain during their lives. According to a Duke University study, back injuries cost nearly $90 billion annually. With this in mind, it may surprise you that back injuries and associated pain can often be controlled with simple solutions like correct posture and basic exercises. Even people who have injured their back in the past can adopt certain strengthening exercises to avoid recurring injuries. Structure of the Back To prevent back injuries one must understand how the back and spine are structured. The back is composed of a carefully balanced mechanism of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves that balance and bear the weight of your body, plus the loads you lift and carry. The spinal column consists of 24 vertebrae and 23 discs that act as cushions and shock absorbers. The spinal column protects the sensitive spinal cord and is sheathed by ligament and muscle tissue. The spine has three natural curves: the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back) and lumbar (lower back). Each spinal segment has a nerve network emerging from the spinal cord through a channel in the vertebrae that monitors or controls a particular function of the body. When this system gets out of balance, or wears out, back pain occurs. Causes of Back Pain Back pain and discomfort have many sources. Some of the more common causes are: Excess weight and poor muscle tone Herniated or slipped discs Muscle strains and spasms Osteoarthritis, slow cartilage deterioration due to excessive use, injury or aging Osteoporosis, a calcium deficiency in the bones Sciatica, pressure on a nerve root in the lower back Stress Home Care Measures for Minor Back Pain Apply cold, then heat - use cold treatment first, then a warm treatment for about 20 minutes Over-the-counter medication - such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs Get plenty of rest and do not exert yourself - practice correct posture. To rest the back, recline, do not sit, which will usually aggravate the problem! In most cases, minor back pain eventually heals itself with time and proper care. For Chronic Pain, See a Physician Persistent back pain can signal serious medical problems. A physician should be seen if back pain is the result of a fall or traumatic accident. Other signs of serious back injury include numbness in the legs or other unusual health problems. A doctor may recommend treatment with a specialist and prescribe treatment including: back education seminars, massage and heat/cold applications, prescription medications, physical therapy and exercise, or back surgery as a last resort. Be sure to get a second medical opinion if considering surgery. Preventing Back Pain Regular exercise is probably the best way to reduce the likelihood of back pain. Such activity can increase aerobic capacity, improve overall fitness and help control weight. Stretching and toning of the back and stomach muscles can help reduce the wear and tear on the spine. Strength training can make arms, legs and lower body stronger. Walking should be emphasized, as most doctors consider it the most acceptable form of both preventive and therapeutic exercise for the back. Always consult a physician before starting an exercise program. Prevent Injury Both On and Off the Job Back care training should emphasize the need to develop good habits 24-hours a day and should include the following: Avoiding falls Wearing proper footwear Maintaining the natural curve of the back Proper lifting techniques Taking breaks and resting if back pain occurs Taking time to be careful What Supervisors can do to Prevent Employee Back Injury Discuss back care during employee orientation, conduct effective on-going safety training, match the right employee to the job, observe and correct improper lifting habits, use material handling aids whenever possible, study and correct any ergonomic problems, and promote wellness.


	Newsletter: June 2010
	From the President, Allen Phillips: I continue to be amazed at how quickly time is flying by. As we enter into the end of the 1st half of 2010, I cannot believe how much our communities have accomplished from continued high resident satisfaction, team member retention, and continued increased quality and above average occupancy. June is one of my favorite times of the year, not only due to all of the beautiful days, but for the last six years we have promoted the Senior Housing culture where I am honored to visit with the residents, families and our team members in the communities! Of course the managers of the communities hold monthly resident meetings to receive feedback; but I truly enjoy the face-to-face conversations. I have to admit, 99% of the feedback from the residents is how wonderful it is to live in their community, however we always continue to learn new ways that we can improve on the services we provide and how our customers continue to raise the bar, which in turn ensures we are providing the very best! I look forward to sharing the feedback and stories that we hear in our July newsletter! I have to take this opportunity to recognize a very important, special and caring group of individuals, our Nursing Assistants/Universal Workers in the communities! The wellbeing and happiness of our residents rely in large part on these individuals that come to our communities with a smile on their face and a big heart providing daily, hands-on care to the residents we serve. We need to all recognize these special people every day, however especially on National Nursing Assistant Week which is June 10-17. The residents in our communities would definitely not receive the great care if it wasn’t for these individuals and their efforts they put forth each and every day! Thank you Nursing Assistants/Universal Workers for your continued dedication to our residents. As I mentioned in our last newsletter, one of the many culture items is our “Dare to Dream” experiences and I would like to congratulate Bethany Clemenson, Manager of Windsor Manor Vinton for the exciting “Dare to Dream” Airplane ride for one of her residents, Gloria McNaughton. You can read more about this event and see pictures under the Windsor Manor Vinton Dare to Dream Sidebar! As a reminder, the Iowa Assisted Living Association will be having their Summer Conference on June 30 th. Please visit their website to learn more about the conference or to register: www.ialaonline.org. Thanks again to everyone that makes our culture present in the communities we manage and all the customers we serve. Sincerely, Allen Phillips, President aphillips@shcshm.com




	From Allison Law: I want to extend a very heartfelt THANK YOU to all of the Nursing Assistants/Universal Workers in the communities. Although June holds an official "week" of recognition; these individuals who work tirelessly with smiles and compassion everyday, my recognition is DAILY for you! Our communities would definitely not be the wonderful environment that they are with your dedication! THANK YOU AND HAPPY NURSING ASSISTANT WEEK JUNE 10-17!! Allison Law Vice President of Operations alaw@shcshm.com




	Windsor Manor Vinton Dare to Dream: Congratulations to Bethany Clemenson, Manager of Windsor Manor in Vinton for helping a resident "Dare to Dream!" and fulfill the dream of flying in a plane again. Last winter, the Team at Windsor Manor got together and asked residents about their dreams, with the goal to make them come true. "Windsor Manor's philosophy revolves around quality of life and maintaining independence." states Bethany Clemenson, Manager What better way to increase quality of life than to fulfill some dreams? After reviewing all the dreams an idea was born and that idea became the Operation Dream Builders program. The goal was set at one dream fulfilled each month. "Many of the dreams are really more of wishes or requests" says Clemenson. "One resident enjoys fresh flowers, so we have them delivered every 2 weeks. Another resident loves lemon meringue pie and so we make sure that he gets it specially made when he plays cards with his daughter." The dreams vary from driving a tractor again or seeing family, to going on a train ride across Canada. On Saturday April 17th at 9am, resident Gloria McNaughton had her dream fulfilled. Gloria used to have her pilots license and her dream was to go up in a plane again. Thanks to Mark and Kimberly Noe of Vinton, she was able to do this! Friends and family gathered at the Vinton Municipal Airport to see Gloria's dream come to life. Clemenson states, "You are never too old to dream. When people lose their dreams….they lose their zest for life. We want to keep those dreams alive. After all, Living life to the Fullest is what Windsor Manor is all about!."




	From Mark Takes, Senior Housing Consultants: One project that Senior Housing Consultants has had much involvement with over the last couple of years is Parker Place in Parkersburg, Iowa. Unfortunately, Parker Place Retirement Community had a rough start to say the least. Alta Vista Properties began work with Senior Housing Consultants in July of 2006 by contracting for a market assessment of the Parkersburg senior housing market. The results of the market assessment were presented to Alta Vista Properties in early September 2006 showing good demand for additional assisted living apartments in the Parkersburg market area. The market assessment included a written survey that was mailed to many of the areas seniors to get their input on things like apartment sizes, common area amenities, and preferred services. The response to the survey was very strong with lots of positive comments and community support. Construction of Parker Place began in the fall of 2007 with an anticipated opening in the summer of 2008. Construction progressed through the winter nicely with the exterior shell of the building up and weather tight giving crews a dry place to work during the spring rains. On Memorial Day weekend a strong band of storms was moving across central Iowa threatening to dump heavy rains and hail on Parkersburg's holiday weekend activities. As the storm approached from the west a strong F5 tornado formed and traveled east right down hwy 57 through the south half of Parkersburg. Everything in the tornado's path was destroyed, including Parker Place. When the winds subsided the tornado had killed 7 and injured 67 people in Parkersburg. Linda Truax, Parker Place manager had been on the job for only a week before the tornado struck her home town and leveled the new assisted living she was to manage. Fortunately Linda's home was not in the path of the tornado but she had a lot of friends that lost everything in the storm. Linda began looking up all the residents that had signed up to live at Parker Place when it opened. She also got the word out to any displaced seniors needing help with housing that room would be made for them at Windsor Manor in Webster City or any of the other Senior Housing managed properties across eastern Iowa. Devastation hits Parker Place in Parkersburg. The above picture was Parker Place, now officially rebuilt. Picture taken May 28, 2008 Needless to say the tornado's impact on the Parkersburg community everyone involved with the development process of Parker Place was devastating. The owners had to work with the insurance company to establish the extent of coverage to a building that wasn't completely built. Alta Vista Properties dedication to the Parkersburg community was demonstrated in early June, when just days after the destruction, they announced Parker Place would be rebuilt. It was after this announcement that the hard work of putting things back together began. Samuels Group of Wausau, WI the design build contractor for Parker Place worked diligently with the owners and Senior Housing to sort through the insurance company documents, work with subcontractors to close out pre tornado contracts and enter into new contracts to get the building rebuilt. It took several months to get the work done that would allow construction to begin. Finally in the fall of 2008 the crews showed up and work began. Again work progressed nicely through the winter months and in the spring the building was enclosed and crews were installing the parking lot outside and hanging drywall inside. The first anniversary of the tornado found the town of Parkersburg well on its way to being rebuilt and back in business full swing. Parker Place opened late fall of 2009 with a great deal of support from the local community. The one most notable difference between the original building destroyed in the storm and the rebuilt Parker Place is the addition of a storm room. This room was constructed of concrete block to offer protection to our residents. Mark Takes, Senior Housing Consultants. mtakes@shcshm.com




	From Kathy Lansing, Nurse Clinician June is National Dairy Month. What a great time to talk about the benefits of milk and dairy products in preventing disease, especially as we age. Dairy products are a great source of calcium and Vitamin D, both essential for the prevention and treatment of Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a progressive disease, characterized by a slow but sure weakening of the bones. Since there is no pain associated with the early development of the disease, many people are not aware that they have it. The first indication of the disease may be loss of height, a fracture following a fall, or it may be the onset of pain due to a fracture which is not related to an injury. Osteoporosis commonly affects the spine, the hips and the bones of the wrists. It affects 20 million older Americans and women are four times more likely to develop the disease than are men. It can lead to the loss of the ability to walk independently. Risk factors for the development of the disease include a family history of osteoporosis, lack of weight bearing exercise, a slender body frame and a history of smoking or alcohol use. Assisted Living communities are uniquely able to support our elders with Osteoporosis. We can assist with lifestyle changes to prevent complications and maintain independence. Within the supportive environment of the community, we are able to assist with managing pain. Pain limits mobility which, in turn can lead to falls. We are able to identify subtle changes in mobility abilities and recommend consultation with physicians. By partnering with the primary medical provider, we are able to facilitate utilization of physical and occupational therapy to improve overall range of motion of all joints. Therapy may decrease pain and discomfort which in turn maximizes independence. Every Senior Housing community offers an exercise activity several times a week for everyone to participate in. Music, as well as an enthusiastic leader, makes a necessary component of minimizing the destruction and physical restrictions of Osteoporosis fun and engaging! We are also able to assist with prevention of falls. While we are not able to stop falls in their entirety, there are several advantages to living in a Senior Housing Community. We strive to maintain a safe environment by ensuring the presence of grab bars in the shower and toilet area. The common areas and individual apartments are brightly lit. Staff is vigilant about watching for potential dangers for those who are affected by the disease and are no longer able to stand up straight or lift feet and knees properly to ambulate safely. This includes maintaining an environment free of fall or trip hazards as well as making recommendations regarding shoes! Excellent food choices which include a wide variety of dairy products to assist with calcium and vitamin D intake are always available. Enjoy all that Iowa has to offer during National Dairy Month and remember, Mom was right, "stand up straight and drink your milk, it's good for you!!" Kathy Lansing Senior Housing Nurse Clinician klansing@shcshm.com