Category Archives: The Hearth at Drexel

A Golden Anniversary Gift

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This past November, Bob and Beverly Bortz celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Married on November 18, 1967, they saw a golden opportunity to give back. The Bortzes chose to use their celebration as a fundraiser for Liberty Lutheran.

“When you need for nothing materially, it is best to give to others,” said Bob.” We didn’t need another bottle of wine or a gift certificate. We suggested that, if guests wished to recognize our milestone in a tangible way, they make a donation to Liberty Lutheran Services.”

To date their friends and family have generously donated over $5,300. “The outpouring of support is overwhelming,” said Beverly. “I am so grateful to our friends and family for making these gifts. It’s just a neat feeling and it makes you feel so good to do something like this for an organization that both of us are honored to be a part of.”

The couple’s bond with Liberty runs deep. Beverly has served on Liberty’s Board of Directors for over five years. Meanwhile Bob has been the chairman of the Artman Golf Outing for three years.

Bob credits Beverly with the clever idea to share in their good fortunes. Married on November 18, 1967, The Bortzes returned to the historic William Penn Inn exactly 50 years later to celebrate their love and commitment to each other. Through their charitableness, they also showed their commitment to Liberty Lutheran’s family of services.

Milestones of 1967:
Average Cost of new house $14,250.00.
Average Income per year $7,300.00.
Average Monthly Rent $125.00.
Gas per Gallon 33 cents.
The Beatles release Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Rolling Stone Magazine’s first issue was printed.

Your Year End Gift Can Make a Difference

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At Liberty Lutheran, we are keeping a close watch on the proposed changes to the United States tax code. While the changes have yet to be finalized, there are aspects being proposed that may affect the residents and members of our communities.

For the seniors in our care, there are two major changes that could affect their wellbeing and their carefully constructed budgets that were planned years in advance.

Any proposed changes in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, services many of our residents rely on, would mean more out of pocket expenses. Changes in medical deduction allowances affect seniors disproportionately as many have come to rely on those deductions.

Combined, these changes could be devastating to our residents who live on fixed-incomes.  As they exhaust their savings much earlier than ever expected, this could lead to more residents depending on Liberty’s benevolent care program.

You can provide security today for residents worried about their financial resources. Click here to give today to our benevolent care fund.

There are two other ways to make a gift and save on taxes by the end of the year.

Consider donating appreciated stock, bonds or mutual fund shares, which allows you to take a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the stock and avoid the capital gains tax that you would pay if you sold the shares and then donated the proceeds to Liberty Lutheran. Click here for more information.

Some people have found that a convenient way to support Liberty Lutheran is through a tax benefit known as the Charitable IRA Rollover. For those who are 70½ years of age or older, this benefit allows you to give up to $100,000 from an IRA to a charity, with the donation counting towards your minimum required distribution. The benefit – the donor can deduct the full amount of the donation from gross income for tax purposes. Click here for more information on IRAs.

We are truly grateful for your support and friendship, and hope you will consider Liberty Lutheran Services among your year-end charitable giving decisions.

Using Technology and Talent to Embrace Life

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A special message from Luanne Fisher, President and CEO of Liberty Lutheran:

Ruth, Herman, and Sally are once again embracing life. With your help, Liberty continues to procure the resources, talent and technology that inspire these seniors—as well as many others—to greet each day with joy.

Because of your kind generosity, Ruth*, who copes with challenges in cognition and speech, has replaced distress and listlessness with a renewed sense of curiosity and wonder.

Herman*, who struggles with memory loss, has replaced withdrawal and separation with renewed joy in friends and fellowship.

Where at one time she faced failing health and was gripped by despair, today Sally is at a healthy weight, maintains a wholesome diet, and is full of energy and optimism.

For Ruth, It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L) is the catalyst that is drastically improving her well-being. This new technology was made possible by the generosity of donors like you. Designed specifically for memory impaired seniors, iN2L consists of an easy-to-use tablet or touch screen computer that is pre-loaded with personalized activities and individual profile pages for each resident comprised of familiar photos, music, videos, and more.

“Before iN2L, Ruth would constantly pace and continually repeat herself. It was a strain for her emotional and physical well-being. However, with the colorful and interactive activities made available by iN2L, she has become very engaged. iN2L has made such an important impact, not only on Ruth’s recreational needs, but her physical and emotional ones as well,” says Megan Calel, a Household Coordinator at The Hearth at Drexel, Liberty’s personal care and memory care community in Bala Cynwyd.

Please consider a gift today to support innovative technology, therapies and programs that offer seniors like Ruth, Herman and Sally a new lease on life.

Herman is once again experiencing life’s small pleasures through the magic of music. “Herman is non-verbal and never chooses to participate in activities. But we’ve had the incredible honor to witness how music has in some way spoken to him. Recently, when I led a group in singing When the Saints Go Marching In, I was delighted to catch Herman mouthing the words. It was extraordinary to see him so present and engaged,” says Molly Bybee, who spearheads music therapy at Liberty’s Paul’s Run senior living community.

Molly frequently uses instruments, headphones, and portable digital media players to enrich her group and one-on-one music therapy sessions. Your gift secures these instruments and devices and replaces any items which worn from use.

Sally’s renewed joy of living grew out of the resources and support provided by LCFS’ West Philadelphia Senior Community Center (WPSCC). During her most debilitating period—when she needed unconditional encouragement and strength more than anything else in her life, WPSCC was there to build up her hope and fortitude. Through WPSCC’s fitness training, and its classes in exercise, disease management, nutrition, and healthy cooking, Sally has been able to successfully reclaim her health and her happiness. She is proud to say without reservation that “WPSCC saved my life.”

Sally continues to rely on WPSCC to maintain her good health—as do many of her peers. And, it is your support that offers critical, life-enriching training, classes, and opportunities to vulnerable seniors.

Liberty is firmly committed to strengthening the lives of older adults through inspiration, innovation, and compassionate care.

Please consider making a gift today. Bring optimism and joy to seniors who suffer diminished hope because of physical or cognitive challenges.

With deepest gratitude,
Luanne Fisher
President and CEO

P.S. You can give seniors a new lease on life by supporting 21st Century technologies and solutions that are changing the way we age.

*Names changed to preserve confidentiality.

Liberty Lutheran Ranks as 2017 Top Workplace

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Liberty Lutheran Services has been awarded a 2017 Top Workplaces honor by Philly.com, ranking top ten in the category for large employers.

The Top Workplaces award is based on a comprehensive survey that asked the employees of each participating organization—there were 182 organizations in all—to evaluate how well their organization:

  • Aligns with its mission and upholds a culture that promotes collaboration and espouses strong values and ethics
  • Operates effectively and remains open to new ideas and different points of view
  • Appreciates, communicates to, and inspires employees
  • Successfully manages and genuinely cares about employees

 

Doug Claffey, who leads WorkplaceDynamics, the research firm that administered the survey, explained that the survey measures the strengths of an organization’s culture through the people who know it best.  “To be a Top Workplace, organizations must meet our strict standards for organizational health. And who better to ask about work life than the people who live the culture every day—the employees,” he says.

“Time and time again, our research has proven that what’s most important to them is a strong belief in where the organization is headed, how it’s going to get there, and the feeling that everyone is in it together. Without this sense of connection, an organization doesn’t have a shot at being named a Top Workplace,” added Claffey.

Employees from every member of the Liberty family of services participated in the Top Workplaces 2017 survey. Not only did they answer survey questions, but many chose to write in their own comments when asked to describe why they love their job. Here are some of their remarks:

I love my job because:

  • I am able to improve and grow in my position and my knowledge base.
  • My boss shows me how to learn and grow, and encourages me to better myself. I work with an amazing team and could not ask for better people to work with.
  • I get to make a difference in people’s lives.
  • I feel like I am appreciated and valued.
  • Friendly staff. Caring managers. I believe I make a difference here.
  • My colleagues are fabulous and we get to interact with the individuals that we serve.
  • I am supported by management and my team members to perform at my best ability. I am given the resources to practice with integrity that best meets my patients’ needs and gives me a sense of pride.
  • It is a positive work environment where we strive to grow the business but understand the importance of enjoying your job. We work as a team and support each other in good and bad times so we all achieve success.
  • I make a difference in the lives of the residents and have an amazing nursing staff that I get to be a part of.
  • I can make a difference in the life of seniors.
  • I feel that I am supported and valued for the work that I do. Upper management does care about their employees even when difficult decisions need to be made. Much thought and care goes into the decision-making process.

 

For more information about the Top Workplaces 2017 awards, visit www.topworkplaces.com. For more information about Liberty, visit libertylutheran.org.

Intergenerational Friendships Blossom

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Something remarkable and meaningful happens when people from two diametrically different generations come together and build friendships.

This extraordinary dynamic has taken hold at The Hearth through Lower Merion High School’s Build On program, a community service initiative in which students, grades nine through twelve, share games, laughter, and heartfelt camaraderie with Hearth residents.

“It’s marvelous having the students visit,” says Ruth, a Hearth resident. The feeling is mutual. Linda, who is in twelfth grade, says that she’s discovered interesting commonalities between her own millennial generation and the pre-Baby Boomer Silent Generation from which our residents hail. “We have a lot of similar opinions and common ground on things like movies and music even though we’re in different age groups,” she says.

Madison prepares s’mores for a social gathering with residents.

Madison, a sophomore, says she is looking forward to learning so much from the residents. “I’m hoping to learn from the residents here because they’re so experienced and so amazing. I just love interacting with people who know so much about life.”

 

 

 

 

A Perfect Connection

It is, according to Megan Calel, Household Coordinator, a perfect kinship between residentsand students. “It really is wonderful that Lower Merion High School is connecting with The Hearth because so many of our residents have graduated from there, or have had their children or grandchildren there.”

As for the students, says Megan, they really value the opportunity to spend time with residents. “The students have lived in this area for most, if not all, of their lives and are very entrenched in this community as are most of our residents.”

Abby says she loves to hear the amazing stories residents tell. Here she is shown playing Qwirkle, a game she loves to share with residents.

Currently seven or eight students visit each week and the number is gradually growing. Tom Reed, a ninth grade teacher at Lower Merion High School and the sponsor of Build On, says the students appreciate how The Hearth supports them every step of the way and encourages them to use their skills to enhance the lives of residents.

“It’s wonderful how our students are able to form relationships with residents, explore common interests, and then work together and play together. The array of opportunities enables both the students and residents to really form a bond,” he says.

Liberty’s Hearth at Drexel Earns Recognition for Design Excellence

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The American Institute of Architects 2016 Design for Aging Review presented The Hearth at Drexel with a special recognition award for completion of a renovation that demonstrates “an excellent adaptation of an older, yet historic structure” that maintains the integrity of a “neighborhood feel with residential character.”

Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, the distinguished Design for Aging Review celebrates bold vision for design in senior living communities, and assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.

Tuscan Household Residential-Style Cook-to-Order Kitchen

The Hearth, one of only 29 awardees in this most recent competition, was selected by a jury that included three architects, an interior designer, and two leaders in aging services. “The jury quickly came to a consensus on how to define a winning submission—there had to be something unique about each project, one thing that jumped out as extraordinary. It was not enough for the projects to look enticing, or function well, there had to be either something new that was attempted or an extreme obstacle that was overcome in a creative way,” says architect and gerontologist Alexis Denton, who chaired the jury.

One of The Hearth’s beautiful covered porches.

At approximately 276,000 square feet, the century-old property of The Hearth was renovated to encompass four intimate households, each with a hearth living room, dining room, residential-style cook-to-order kitchen, access to covered outdoor space, and a spa and beauty salon.

The jury panel appreciated that the flow and scale of each household reinforces the independence and individuality of each resident. Additionally, the residential-style kitchen in each household provides residents with increased dining options, as well as the autonomy to serve themselves beverages and snacks at any time. And, finally, each household is served by consistent, dedicated staff members who are able to anticipate each resident’s needs.

“LeadingAge, an association dedicated to shaping the future of quality housing and services for older Americans, applauds those colleagues recognized for these award-winning environments with new models of service delivery and innovative ways of connecting services and supports,” says Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge.

For more information about The Hearth, visit www.thehearthatdrexel.org