Category Archives: Senior Living

Are You Getting These Essential Nutrients that Help Older Adults Stay Healthy and Happy?

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Nutrition for Older Adults

Health and nutrition are important at every stage of life, but as we age our bodies change as well as our needed nutrients. Regardless of the changes our bodies experience, whether it’s a decrease in energy, or loss of hearing, a desire to live well remains the same through every phase of life, especially our later years. This is why understanding the proper nutrition for older adults is crucial to living happily and healthfully.

How Our Body Changes with Age and its Effect on Our Nutrition

While many of the changes our bodies experience with age are out of our control, they can often cause us to adopt poor nutritional habits, or vice versa.  Here are the major changes that impact nutrition for older adults.

Changes to Our Senses

  • Loss of hearing, smell, and/or taste

For many older adults a loss of hearing, smell, or taste is common, which can ultimately affect the way we eat. For example, changes in taste can make it increasingly difficult to find food that tastes good, which potentially results in under eating. Perceptual changes, while not detrimental to our overall health, can be a common cause of inadequate nutrition for older adults.

Physiological Changes

  • Organ function

As we age, our organs age with us. The organs that most commonly experience a loss of function with age are our kidneys, heart, and lungs. This is due to the progressive alteration of cells and connective tissues that occur in later years of life.

  • Loss of energy

Research shows that energy expenditure,  or the amount of energy someone needs to carry out a physical function, decreases with age. This means that as we age, the amount of energy we have to burn calories drops. In fact, studies show that the decline in energy expenditure is especially rapid after age 40 for men, and after age 50 for women.

  • Gastrointestinal Changes

Common gastrointestinal changes like constipation, gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), and excessive gas can negatively affect eating habits and nutrition for older adults.

Recommended Foods and Nutrients for Older Adults

The way our bodies change with age clearly impacts our health and behavior. And when it comes to nutrition for older adults, it’s not always a matter of neglect but a simple unawareness of the nutrients we need to keep our bodies healthy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), in their nutritional advisory program “Food Patterns,” recommends that adults over the age of 50 should be conscious of their caloric intake while eating the right amount of foods from five various food groups: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and healthy oils.

How many calories should I eat?

Depending on your gender, age, and activity level your amount of daily recommended calories will vary. The following are general recommendations for Americans over the age of 60 based on activity level:

  • Inactive adults: 1,600 calories/day

Inactive adults are those who do not intentionally exercise.

  • Moderately active: 1,800 calories/day

Moderately active adults are those who participate in workouts or physical activity about once or twice a week. This could include two mile walks, or a session at the gym.

  • Active: 2,000 calories/day

Active adults are those who participate in physical activity at least three days each week.

Are you getting enough of these nutrients?

Older adults should aim to incorporate the following nutrients into their diets:

  • Calcium

Proper nutrition for older adults requires sufficient amounts of calcium, which helps maintain bone health. You can include calcium in your diet by eating fortified cereals, dark green and leafy vegetables, canned fish, as well as drinking milk and fortified plant beverages. Try to have three servings of calcium rich foods every day.

  • Vitamin B12

According to the National Library of Medicine 38% of older adults may exhibit mild vitamin B12 deficiency and depleted vitamin B12 stores. Low levels of vitamin B12 can cause anemia, neuropathy, and cognitive impairment. Fortunately, your doctor can determine your vitamin B12 levels with a simple blood test.

  • Fiber

For older adults experiencing constipation or other gastrointestinal issues, adding fiber to your diet can make a world of difference. Research from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also shows that fiber can reduce your risk for heart disease as well as type 2 diabetes.

  • Potassium

Older adults should aim to consume 4,700 mg of potassium every day. You can incorporate more potassium into your diet by eating bananas, oranges, prunes, spinach, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables.

Nutrition should be a priority at every age, but as we get older, our nutritional needs change. Liberty Lutheran believes in empowering seniors to improve their health, decrease stress, and attain their ideal levels of activity. Our abundant senior wellness programs focus on fitness, nutrition, and well-being to enhance your health and vitality in new ways. For more information on how we can help you maintain your health and achieve your fitness goals take a look at Liberty Lutheran’s senior wellness services

 

Heat Stroke, Skin Cancer, and Senior Health

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As the dog days of summer are upon us and heat continues, it’s important to take steps to avoid heat stroke, protect yourself from melanoma, and stay safe in the sun. Older adults are more likely to have medical conditions that change normal body responses to heat; this includes affecting the body’s ability to sweat and regulate body temperature.

Anthony Byers, director of The Becoming Center offers some great tips on how older adults can stay safe and avoid heat stroke:

  • Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, contact Your Way Home Montgomery County which is operated by the Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services Center.
  • Do not rely on fans as your main cooling source when it’s really hot outside. During the summer, ceiling fans should rotate in a counterclockwise direction as that creates a cool downward airflow.
  • Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink
    • If your doctor limits the amount of fluids you drink or has you on water pills, ask them how much you should drink during hot weather.
  • Don’t use your stove or oven to cook if you don’t have to – it will make you and your house hotter.
  • Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothing.
  • Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
  • Do not engage in very strenuous activities and get plenty of rest.
  • Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States with nearly 5 million people treated for skin cancer each year. Melanoma, a form of skin cancer, causes an estimated 10,000 deaths in the U.S annually.

Almost one-third of all U.S. adults get sunburned each year and on average, the risk for developing melanoma doubles if one has had more than five sunburns in their lifetime. In the last decade, there has been a 53% increase in new melanoma cases with a predicted 175,000 cases in 2018 alone. For those over 65, there is a between a 40 and 50 percent chance they have at least one skin cancer lesion during their lifetime.

While these statistics can be alarming, the good news is that melanoma and other related benign skin lesions can be prevented even later in life. Recommendations for older adults to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer include:

  • Seek shade before you need relief from the sun. Take breaks when working outdoors to rest under a tree or umbrella.
  • Limit outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the peak times for sunlight. Remember that sunburn can happen even on cloudy and overcast days.
  • Wear clothing from a tightly woven fabric and wear darker colors. Some clothing brands are certified under international standards to provide ultraviolet protection.
  • Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection.
  • When applying sunscreen, use a broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 before you go outside. Add thick layer to all exposed areas of skin and don’t forget hard to reach places such as your back.
  • Reapply sunscreen after 2 hours or after perspiring heavily, swimming or toweling off.
  • Be extra careful around surfaces that reflect the sun’s rays, such as sand, water and concrete. UVA and UVB light can reflect off these surfaces and cause sunburn and skin damage.

By following these suggestions, you can safely enjoy the great outdoors while protecting yourself from heat stroke, sunburn, and an increased risk of developing melanoma.

For more information about joining the Becoming Center, please visit our site at BecomingCenter.org.

A Day in the Life – Gary Dolan, Director of Environmental Services at The Village at Penn State

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As part of our Day in the Life series, Gary Dolan, Director of Environmental Services at The Village at Penn State, shares how he created a culture that defines excellence in service.  Here is Gary’s story:

I’ve been very fortunate to have a position that is constantly evolving and presenting new opportunities to learn.  The Village is always a beehive of activity, especially in the areas I get to work in.  Within my job I oversee housekeeping, laundry, and the facilities side such as maintenance, security and all the work done on 60 acres of grounds.  My department also works closely with Liberty’s IT staff to make sure all our tech is running smoothly.

In the past several years, with all the construction going on, I’ve also been working with Dave DeLuca, Liberty’s Director of Real Estate Development, which has been so rewarding given his knowledge.  It’s been a great few years with the addition of the completed community room and connector hallway. Now, with the construction of a new main entrance lane, our Commons building expansion, Palmer Park and the new cottages that surround it, another round of development is underway.  We also manage renovations to current apartments.  I really appreciate what my team is able to do there and how creative they can be.

Managing the grounds is always interesting for us.  For example, when the starlings roost at the University’s football stadium and their staff chases them away, they fly right to our campus.  So we need to manage that when they try to take up residence on our buildings.

Being so close to Penn State, we have a lot of very intelligent, engaged and active people living here, some of whom are retired academics that desire to be sincerely involved in some of the day to day operations.  Being that the University has its roots in agriculture, a lot of our residents are particularly knowledgeable about managing plants and grounds.  Some of them are master gardeners.  It’s always interesting to learn from them and to get their feedback on caring for things, such as different hand pruning techniques, and what specific fertilizers we should be using on certain plants and not on others. The residents aren’t shy about sharing that insight, so I’ve been very lucky to learn from them.

I am very proud of our amazing staff.  There is no way I could oversee everything this position calls for without their help. They’re always going the extra mile. The key thing is that we’re not in a silo.  We have oversight of an entire campus and when someone has a problem it’s our problem too, because we often have the ability to remedy the situation or at least lend a hand.

Everything that you can see, feel, touch, and smell at The Village has to do with our work.  Whether it’s the lights or phones, or helping fix something in the gym or the kitchen, we deal with everything that has to do with the quality of life at The Village.  So the day-to-day can be an adventure, and not to be cliché but in my entire time here, no day is ever the same.  I love it.  There is not one single day, when it comes to 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon that I don’t truly wish it was 10:00 in the morning because there is so much to do. The days just fly by.

We are here for our residents and it’s so important that they know that.  We can’t just show up to work and do our job on the grounds, or the laundry, or maintenance.  We are caregivers just as much as anyone else and it’s important to remember that when it comes to the service we provide, I’m fortunate to work with people who truly believe that. It’s not just about fixing a sink or a light; it’s about providing help in all areas to create a positive experience in all outcomes.  I love that our team has pride in service.

I have the opportunity to learn from residents every day.  I just really appreciate the amount of learning this job continues to provide from both them and the people I get to work with.

One other thing I’d like to note is that the Association for the Healthcare Environment, which is a peer group of the American Hospital Association, has been critical in my career within this industry.  I was fortunate to serve as national president of the association in 2011 and again in 2016 throughout 2017. Liberty Lutheran has been so supportive of my involvement and I am very thankful for that.  It’s wonderful being able to work for a group of people that recognize opportunities for professional and personal growth. They know it’s key to the entire organization, not just the individual.

To learn more about The Village at Penn State, Palmer Park, and the new cottages, please visit RetireatPennState.org.

For information about working at The Village at Penn State, or Liberty’s other communities, please visit LibertyLutheran.org/job-listings.

 

 

THE INSPIRATION CAFÉ

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By Sandy Smith, Development Associate for Liberty Lutheran

Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries bring a sparkle to the residents’ eyes and smiles to their faces while at Artman’s Inspiration Café! These hot beverages aren’t the only explanation behind the smiles. But it is the exchange of kindness and attentiveness shown throughout their conversations which displays how much the residents care about each other.

Much concern is taken with the placement of the residents around the tables.  Walkers and chairs are put off to the side to make room for the wheelchairs. There is an unexpressed knowledge which you quickly notice that no one shall drink their coffee alone.

The café opens right after Tuesday’s mass and that’s when the orders start pouring in.  Residents watch as I use the coffee maker to make one cup of Joe after another interchanged with a few hot chocolates and a stand-alone cappuccino.   I find myself refilling the water tank repeatedly to keep the orders fulfilled. And before I know it, everyone has a cup of something in front of them.

Mary Cassidy, CTRS, household coordinator for Artman’s Penllyn community shares, “The residents love coming to the café. It gives them a chance to socialize with residents from other households and to enjoy an afternoon coffee and treat. The residents have come to know that the café will be open Tuesday afternoons and frequently talk about going to the café leading up to the scheduled time.”

As the Café’s Tuesday barista, I absolutely enjoy the hustle and bustle that comes with preparing the beverages. Artman’s Inspiration Café resembles the show, “Cheers” where everyone knows my name and I know their drink of choice.

For convenience, the Café offers a ‘drive through’ service where residents can take their beverages to go for themselves or for friends who aren’t feeling well enough to leave their room.

The café offers the opportunity to foster new bonds and share treasured memories and life stories with old and new acquaintances.  During my time spent making coffee, I have overheard some heartwarming sentiments such as, “The last time I had a cup of coffee was in WW II.  I must have liked it then, but I don’t like it now.” And, “Sitting here reminds me of being in my parents’ bakery when I was a little girl.”

Established in 2017, the Inspiration Café has become the place to be. So, next time you happen to be at Artman on a Tuesday afternoon or here for Sunday’s mass, make a plan to visit this aroma filled coffee nook. You will find yourself enthralled with the charm of the Inspiration Café!

 

 

 

A Friendship Rekindled after Decades Apart

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A special message from Katrina Wise, Executive Director of Paul’s Run.

Life has much to offer someone in his 90’s. Every day our staff and I witness endearing moments that are brought about by new experiences and remembering treasured memories and life stories.

With your support, you enable us to provide fun, engaging activities that foster new bonds between residents, while also strengthening those of days gone by.

Iris, one of our household coordinators, recently experienced such a moment during a wine and cheese social. She had taken Mort, age 95, to the event. While there, Edith, a resident at Paul’s Run for the past six years, recognized Mort. The amazing part of this story is that Edith and Mort had lost track of one another decades ago.

“I hadn’t seen Mort since I was a young girl,” says Edith. “After I introduced myself I shared how I grew up with his wife. I would see him walking up the street to pick her up for dates. As we talked we shared fond memories, such as the two of them riding in a carriage right after their wedding. He teared up a bit, tears of joy.”

Mort was overjoyed. “When you come to a new community and people recognize you, it makes you feel good,” he says. “Edith remembered my wife, Jeanie, from before we were married. She told me how she teased Jeanie when I picked her up for dates by singing ‘Morty’s here! Morty’s here!’ It made me smile and feel young again.”

Iris recalls, “It was touching to see Edith recognize him. You could tell he was moved by the experience. As Edith was talking to him another resident came up to them and also recognized Mort. Suddenly all these memories were being shared between them. It was great to see.”

Your generosity makes it possible for these experiences to occur. Thanks to you, Paul’s Run goes beyond simply serving as a place for older adults to live. The impact your support makes is seen by our residents’ families every day.

“Paul’s Run has meant a lot for Dad. He appreciates the social interaction and seeing people he knew as a young man,” Mort’s daughter Joan says.  “Following his fall, we knew that he needed a place where he would be comfortable and his care needs would be met. The care and support he receives from such an amazing team of people has been exceptional.”

Mort’s time at Paul’s Run has also forged new bonds, including with those who share their talents to serve our residents on a daily basis. Speaking about Iris, Mort shared, “She’s something, God love her.  She’s a comfort to me, she really is, and I appreciate everything you guys have done for me. Iris makes me feel good every day.”

When you give to Paul’s Run, you support compassionate care, community and time together with friends. Moreover, your generosity strengthens the Fellowship Fund, which helps residents who have outlived their resources. You make it possible for them to continue to enjoy the security, comfort, and friendship that they have come to know at Paul’s Run, a place they proudly call home.

Please make your gift today. Your continued faith and support provides compassionate care that empowers our residents.

In-Home Support Program Offers Hope and Independence to Seniors

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West Philadelphia Senior Community Center’s In-Home Support Program is an initiative that helps homebound seniors—either because of illness, disability, or extreme weather—to regain control of their lives, maintain their independence, and remain safely in their homes. 

As part of Liberty Lutheran’s A Day in the Life series, Andragina and Wanda share how they travel the neighborhoods of West Philadelphia to bring hope, fellowship, and safety to homebound seniors—many of whom might face dire conditions without their care and support.  In their own words, here are some of the joys and challenges Andragina and Wanda find along the road.

Andragina
This is the first time I’ve ever worked with seniors. My inspiration to do this work came from a scary situation I had with my elderly aunt who is very dear to me.  My brother and I went over to her home for our usual Sunday visit and discovered she had suffered a fall four days earlier. She was virtually helpless for four days! That just horrified me and made me realize there needs to be more people to be able to check on our seniors, especially those who don’t have anyone. I kept thinking suppose no one went to see her—that was a defining moment for me.

Wanda
I am passionate about what I do. I get up with such zeal because I feel like somebody is going to get blessed today that may have been feeling hopeless. While they think I may just be setting them up for home-delivered meals or transportation, I may notice they don’t have gas or running water, or they have a leak from a ceiling that’s going to fall down. When I point it out they usually respond by saying something like “there’s nothing I can do—I can barely afford my medication.”  They’re not even thinking of getting help for the lack of utilities or the structural disrepair in their home, but I have the resources to help this situation and then they get so excited. I get so filled up when somebody gets a blessing like this. It’s like Christmas for them!

For instance, I was helping a woman who was a very responsible person but had fallen behind in her bills due to depression from grieving the loss of her daughter and son. She didn’t have any heat in her house so I was able to refer her to a resource that would come and give her a heater. Also, she was so afraid to be without medical insurance, which cost more than $500. I talked to my supervisor and we were able to pay that for her. Additionally, at one point she called me and said she hadn’t eaten for a couple of days. I can’t imagine how it feels to be hungry—I was beside myself. My coworkers saw how filled up I was and started gathering all types of resources so that I could get food and necessities to her. The teamwork was so awesome that I was able to purchase food and provide her with groceries and other nutritional items. As we sat and talked she began to cry because she was so deeply moved by our outreach and concern. This is what I mean when I say somebody is going to get Christmas today—it’s what we do!

Andragina
A lot of the seniors we serve are blind. Quite a few have been exploited in some way and many are truly lonely because they are separated from family or have no family. We also encounter older adults who may have limited mobility, take multiple medications, need dialysis three times a week, or have mental health issues.

Despite these circumstances, many of the older adults we serve are so grateful for the smallest thing we can give them. Recently, I was able to provide for one of the seniors in my care a nutritional supplement that she had been awaiting for a couple of months. She was so very thankful.  We’re able to visit someone and provide for them some of the small things we take for granted that they don’t have. As Wanda says, it’s like Christmas for them.

Like when I was working with an older woman whose eyesight and legs have been failing. She has steps and couldn’t get outside and really wanted the pleasure of once again being in her garden. We were able to get contractors to build her ramps and give her a sense of independence.

I’m also reminded of another woman I was helping who needed extermination for mice, roaches, and bedbugs. She was horribly dismayed about her situation because she had always kept a clean house. But, the problem was stemming from the two vacant houses on either side of her that were overrun with pests. I didn’t even pull off her block before I was on the phone with our extermination service. In the end, we were able to get her place exterminated and some of the clutter under control. Now her whole spirit is totally different—she is just so happy.

Wanda
I love feeling like somebody is going to get Christmas today and being able to make that happen! When we visit a senior we ask them what we can do that would make them more comfortable in their home. We let them know we can provide meals if it’s difficult for them to cook. Or sometimes, someone may be challenged by getting back and forth to the doctors because it costs $4.50 one way to go by paratransit, which is a lot for a senior who’s on a restricted income—but we come in and say you don’t have to bear the burden of payment because we can help you. We can help to obtain a household cleaning service, take care of a shutoff notice, or even provide funds that may be needed for movers if a senior is relocating to another address.

Andragina
The difficult aspect of  our job is to visit a senior who doesn’t have the basics of food or they don’t have family or support systems or no one really comes in to see them…and  of course when they pass that’s devastating to all of us because we know them and have worked with them.

Wanda
For me, a difficult aspect of the job is that I want to be effective and impactful when I go to an older adult’s home but it can sometimes be so overwhelmingly. Sometimes people have extreme clutter or they’re in situations where they’re being neglected in their home. If someone needs to leave their home it’s usually because of structural deficiencies…it’s hard because many have been in their home more than 50 years but the conditions may be so deteriorated that they need to get out for their own safety.

I once visited an older woman in her home who clearly needed to move. I knew she could quickly qualify for senior housing because of her situation. But, this woman just didn’t want to leave. She said she had an application in with the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation. Fortunately, because of that, I was able to get PHDC to expedite repairs for her home and also get her windows fixed. She was so elated. Afterward, she sent me a modest box with a pair of white gloves, a pair of stockings, and a card. I’ve kept all of those items because you could tell that was all she had but it was her way of thanking me.

Andragina
None of what we do would be possible without the help and support of our director, supervisors, and our colleagues on the IHSP team—all whom empower and support us in providing the best care to those we serve. Liberty is truly a family that is concerned about us as employees and not just production and paperwork.

The care and comfort that Andragina, Wanda and their co-workers provide for homebound seniors in Philadelphia is invaluable. Their commitment is a shining example of The Liberty Way. If you know of someone who can benefit from our In-Home Support Program, please visit click here.