Culture change in senior living communities begins with a vision. No matter how complicated the process may be, no matter how many obstacles must be overcome, maintaining the tenacity to see it through – without compromise – is the most difficult part. That’s why I am so impressed with the results at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center in Manchester, N.H.
It’s that time of the year again when most communities and facilities are preparing their annual marketing plan. Are you ready? Let’s ask ourselves:
A junior manager, a senior manager and their boss are all on their way to an offsite meeting.
On their way through a park, they come across a magical lamp. They rub the lamp and a genie appears. The genie says, "Normally, one is granted three wishes, but as there are three of you, I will only allow one wish for each." So, the eager senior manager shouted, “I want the first wish! I want to be in the Bahamas, on a fast boat and have no worries.” In an instant the senior manager was gone and off to the Bahamas.
Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand. Thomas Carlyle 1795 to 1881
In 1913, Canadian physician, Sir William Osler, delivered an address to Yale University students based on Carlyle's plea. Osler called his life, "a habit . . . life in day-tight compartments."
With all of the privacy issues that Facebook presents, you may wonder "why bother?" Most Baby Boomers I know do very well with email. They email their pictures and their grandkids' pictures to their brothers and sisters. Maybe they remember that an aunt might like to see them too and that she has an email address. Most people I know these days don't get around to printing out their pictures and putting them in an envelope to mail, so anyone who isn't "on the computer" is left out of the loop.
Designers and project teams spend countless hours sweating the details on new building and renovation work. They coordinate the ceilings, walls, floors, furniture, lighting, artwork, window treatments,counter tops, plumbing fixtures, hardware, signage, handrail details, casing and trim along with the exterior elements and colors of a building.
I want to fly like an eagle to the sea, fly like an eagle let my spirit carry me.
Steve Miller had the right idea when he sang 'Fly Like an Eagle' in 1977.
The Boomer desire to fly like an eagle was strong during youth, and survives, as it eclipses the age of 65.
The environmental message was embraced in its infancy by Boomers. April, 22, 1970, was the first day that Earth Day was observed, an American teach-in that drew 20 million people. Earth Day is now observed worldwide by more than 500 million people on the approach of its 41st celebration.
Music is part of life. Whether you realize it or not, it is around you every moment of your day. Life without music is impossible to imagine.
So where does music fit into long-term care?
First, lets look at the science of music. Music affects us physically, emotionally and behaviorally. It impacts our breathing and heart rate. Music has been proven to help increase dopamine, therefore being a powerful tool in assisting with depression. Furthermore, music therapists have evidence that it can be used to reduce agitation, pain management and sleep disorders.
If you want to live a long life, choose your grandparents wisely. Not bad advice if you are interested in the secrets to long and healthy life. More advice is on the way!
A new book, The Longevity Project, provides surprising results from a classic, eight-decade study of the lives of 1,500 American children begun at Stanford University in 1921. Its one of the only studies following a group of individuals through their lives.