Morgan's recent Success Story

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I promised him. 

When I first met George and Lisa, they were calling around for help after Lisa's Dad, Mack had suffered a stroke. Unfortunately, Mack was also very sensitive to some of the medications he received in the hospital, and he suffered from dementia.


Mack was acting aggressively, even more confused, and now extremely weak. Lisa and George knew one day that Mack would require more care, but like most of my clients, they thought they had more time...

Lisa had made a promise to Mack a number of years ago. She promised to support him living in his own home, no matter what. Lisa worried, "am I breaking my promise to him?" 

When Mack came home from the hospital, we made sure it was with lots of support. His daughter and son-in-law each made several trips to his home throughout the week, and they also hired two private caregivers (very costly, at $45/hour). I knew Lisa was not going to give up on her promise without a fight-- and Maintain Me was there to support her efforts. 

This went on for a couple weeks, but alas, it was not enough.

We tried everything to keep Mack at home, but the burden was still so great on his family. They felt trapped by the circumstances, as most of my clients do.

It is possible to still honor your loved ones wishes, but it requires that we shift our thinking of what "home" is.  

In supporting George and Lisa, I helped them learn about their options. They thought a nursing home was it before they contacted Maintain Me.

We started touring. I showed Lisa and George many different assisted living options. We went to a big memory care, a small memory care within a bigger community, and then we started looking at residential settings. I wanted them to feel informed and empowered, not just as though they were "going back on their promise". 

After looking at several places, Lisa and George found comfort in a residential memory care right near their home. The staff was trained to help Mack maintain his independence, but also provide the 24 hour care, support, and loving interaction that he needed. Mack's family felt a huge sense of relief when they realized they worried less. Their own health improved. They were able to enjoy Mack's company, rather than worry about who could get off work early to rush home in time for the evening medications. Mack's dementia was advanced, he still thought he was at home, but just that there were extra people around. 

Maintain Me works hard to support our clients and families along the path of aging. We know you are facing some of the hardest decisions of your life, or making hard decisions on behalf of a loved on. We do not take this lightly. Thank you for taking your time to read our stories.  

Morgan Leigh Jenkins- Transition Director

Giving Thanks!

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Thank you for supporting our seniors!

 

The saying "it takes a village" rings true for our loved ones at any stage in life.  There are many intricate details of a helping community and we are very grateful to be a part of it.  We also want to recognize your role in caring for our seniors and supporting Maintain Me's role in this village.  We appreciate your dedication to our loved ones and our entire community.  
Thank you for your compassion, love, and support!  

Thanksgiving with Seniors!

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Preparing meals for seniors

There are some things you should know about preparing meals for seniors.  The first thing is that seniors do not metabolize food in the same way that they once did.  And what’s more, their taste buds might not be as sensitive to flavors as in years past.  Don’t be surprised or offended or upset then when your loved one doesn’t attack your casserole like he or she used to.  In fact, you might want to think about preparing something special for your loved one, to cater to his or her changing dietary habits and needs.  Here are some tips taken from http://www.associatedcontent.com/:

  1. Make food that is easy to chew and swallow.  Dentures and reduced saliva production might make tough and dry foods difficult.
  2. Use less salt.  You don’t want to cause a dangerous spike in blood pressure or worsen water retention.  Remember, you can always salt the food on your own plate later.
  3. Add more seasoning.  To make up for the lower salt, aging taste buds and the dulling affect of some prescription medications, use savory, but not spicy, seasonings to provide more flavor.
  4. Use recipes rich with nutrition.  Seniors need to eat food that is high in nutritional content and calories to make up for their often reduced appetites. www.nutritiondata.com is a good source for information on the nutritional and caloric content of food.  Check AARPs recipe site for great Thanksgiving recipes for seniors.

Ask questions.  Take a moment to ask your loved one what they enjoy eating these days.  If they always loved a particular dish, ask them if they still do.  Ask them if there is anything they don’t like.

See full article http://maineseniorguide.com/holidays-with-seniors-a-successful-thanksgiving/

As Housing Costs Increase, Some Relief is Available

 

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release                                                                                                
10/16/17
For More Information                                                                                                                   
Eileen Doherty, MS
Executive Director

303-333-3482 or 720-789-4638

 
As Housing Costs Increase, Some Relief is Available
 
DENVER, CO.   Housing costs in Colorado both for owners, as well as those who rent continue to soar.  Homeowners who may realize that downsizing may be important. However, the cost of a new, but smaller home may not be affordable.  Homes that are paid for or ones that have a low mortgage payment often cost less than a new mortgage or renting a smaller apartment or townhome. 
             
The cost of renting an apartment has also continued to skyrocket.  As more people move to Colorado, the costs of housing continue to increase.  There are several programs that can bring relief to homeowners as well as renters. 
           
Starting November 1,2017 and going through April 30, 2018, both homeowners and renters whose monthly income is less than $1,658 per month for a single person ($2,233 for a couple) can qualify for assistance with utilities through the LEAP program.  There are no asset tests.

Individuals can apply for LEAP for help with utilities.  Applications are available through the county department of human services or by calling 303-333-3482.  The LEAP program is not designed to pay for all of the monthly utility costs, but it is intended to help during the winter months.  It should be noted that the Trump administration is looking to defund this program, although, at the time of this writing, benefits will be available in the near future.

Homeowners and renters who live in a single-family residence, a duplex or a fourplex can qualify for help through the Weatherization Program if they qualify for LEAP.  The Weatherization Program will help with the cost of new furnaces, refrigerators, windows, insulation and other home improvements to decrease the use of energy. Applications and information are available through Energy Outreach Colorado at 303-825-8750.
 
Homeowners can qualify for the Senior Homestead Property Tax Exemption Program.  This program is available to anyone, regardless of income and assets, who is over age 65 or a disabled veteran who has lived in their own home for 10 years or more.  The program provides for a 50% reduction in the amount of property taxes due on the first $200,000 of value.  For many homeowners, this reduces their property taxes by almost $1000 per year. 
               
Homeowners can apply through the County Assessor’s Office or by calling 303-333-3482 for an application for the Homestead Exemption.  Although the Homestead Exemption is written in the Colorado Constitution, the Legislature has the authority to change the funding annually for the program.  Some state policymakers want to eliminate or change the eligibility for this program and use the state funding for other programs. 
 
Homeowners or renters who are 65 and over or disabled can apply for assistance through the Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate program, sometimes called the PTC 104 program.  Individuals whose monthly income is less than $1,103 (or couples $1,486/month) are eligible to apply.  Individuals who have not applied for the 2015 rebate can apply until December 31, 2017, and those who have not applied for the 2016 rebate can apply until December 31, 2018.  This benefit is not available to seniors who live in non-profit senior housing units.
 
The PTC 104 form for the Rebate Program is available through the Colorado Department of Revenue or by calling 303-333-3482.  Individuals can now apply online at the Colorado Department of Revenue’s website. Policymakers are looking at ways to expand the income and other eligibility requirements so a larger number of older adults and disabled individuals will be eligible to receive help.
 
For homeowners or renters of the City and County of Denver age 65 and over or disabled, there is additional assistance through the Payment to the Elderly Program.  Homeowners and renters whose monthly income is $1,325 or less ($1,925 for couples) are eligible for an additional rebate by contacting Denver Human Services at 720-944-3666 or calling 303-333-3482. To receive the 2016 rebate, applications must be submitted by December 31, 2017.
 
While housing costs continue to rise, taking advantage of as many of these programs as available can help Colorado seniors.  The assistance from these programs ranges from a few hundred dollars to almost a $1000 depending on the program.  Counselors are available to help with mailing applications or assist in filing forms.  Call 303-333-3482 for assistance.

 Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive Director of the Colorado Gerontological Society.  Her areas of expertise include management and administration of nonprofit organizations, education and training on issues related to older adults, advocacy and policy development on senior issues, and clinical practice in working with seniors and families to manage their lives in the later years. She has been the Director of the Society since 1982.  She teaches Nonprofit Management for Fort Hays State University.

 

 

 

 

Maintain Me Success Story!

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I was contacted one day by a daughter of a lovely elder couple in search for an assisted living facility for her father. After getting to know her and her parents situation further, we discovered she was about to make a mistake in next steps for her parents due to the information she had gathered elsewhere. Although her situation WAS TRULY unique this is something that Maintain Me has problem solved before.

The daughter's mother was requiring a lot of services and was asked to leave her assisted living. The daughter was told that her father could stay however her mother was requiring too much care for them to handle and really needed a nursing home level of care.  The daughter had thought she had found her mother a place and wanted to move her father to an assisted living closer to her.

This is when I educated her that there was no need to separate them and pay for two levels of care. The daughter was quoted  $9,000 a month for nursing home for mom and the average assisted living in the area she desired was $4000 for dad equaling $13,000 a month!!!! I told her the we could find a place where they both can go and would only pay $7,000 at an all inclusive price.

The daughter and I toured the facility I was educating her about and she fell in love. Mom and dad are now together in a place they can stay until death do them part and the daughters work is 10 mins away so she can visit whenever she pleases. 


Maintain Me is so happy to have been part in helping this family stay together. The daughter feels great about her decision and believes she did what was best for her parents. It is so hard being a decision maker, we look forward to getting the opportunity to help other families make these transitions easier so they can just focus on loving their parents!

We believe in LEADERSHIP!

http://mailchi.mp/9fc38bc305f9/follow-up-from-phone-call-1145421?e=3d2a3e6d62

I had the privilege of meeting the CEO & Founder at Climate & Culture Connection (CCC) last night at one of my favorite women's group. I have to tell you that her story was enough to motivate anyone to follow their dreams. KellyAnne has taken her life experiences, educated herself, then overcame and has now created multiple programs to help others do the same. Whether its about finding your WHY, setting intentions or creating the perfect business to match the lifestyle you desire, she has created the resources people need to save the many years that she put in during her self discovery. 


I spoke with a couple of the women after KellyAnne spoke, here is just a little about what they said about the experience or how they felt after...

"It was so inspirational"
"It was a beautiful realization into the choices I have for my future"
"I felt like the sky was the limit and its time to start living like it"
"Transformative, inspiring, mind enhancing, soul nurturing"
"It was very inspiring and great to be able to share our goals in a supportive and non judgmental way!"

Do yourself a favor and check out CCC and discover the possibilities you have within you just waiting to be freed!

Want to speak to someone today?
ceo@climatecultureconnection.com
 

or sign up for the CCC newsletter
http://www.climatecultureconnection.com/

Featured Business

Highlands Sport & Spine

I personally love reading Dr Jonathan Weimer's blog that is filled with interesting health facts and education. Here was his most recent with a link to his blog. Super great information, check it out!

http://drjonathanweimerblog.com/



Check out his website by clicking the link below!

http://www.sportandspinehighlands.com/

 

Daily Health Update

Thursday, January 5th, 2017

Courtesy of:
Jonathan Weimer, D.C.
3801 Osage Street
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 955-5994

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”
~ Frederick Douglass

 


Mental Attitude: Loneliness May Increase Breast Cancer Recurrence. 

Women who don’t have strong social ties are 40% more likely to have their breast cancer return than women with a strong support network. Kassandra Alcaraz, strategic director for health equity research at the American Cancer Society notes, "Having social ties may provide access to real assistance, like having someone to take you to the doctor or having someone to talk to about your concerns or connecting you with resources that can help you cope with the cancer… We need to think of health in a more expansive way. Social influences can be just as important as other risk factors, such as obesity and smoking." 
Cancer, December 2016

 

Health Alert: Drug Overdose Deaths Climbing in the US.

A new government report reveals that drug overdose deaths continue to increase in the United States (US), with illicit use of prescription painkillers mostly to blame. According to the report, drug overdose deaths increased 23% between 2010 and 2014, with more than 47,000 Americans dying due to drug overdose in 2014. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds that 63% of the deaths involved a prescription or illicit opioid. 
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, December 2016


Diet: Dietary Magnesium May Reduce Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes. 

Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic processes vital for human health and normal biological functions including glucose metabolism, protein production, and DNA synthesis. Dietary sources of magnesium include spices, nuts, beans, cocoa, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. An analysis of 40 epidemiological studies covering a period from 1999 to 2016 investigated associations between dietary magnesium and various diseases. The results showed that people in the highest category of dietary magnesium consumption had a 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease, a 12% lower risk of stroke, and a 26% lower risk of type-2 diabetes than those with the lowest magnesium intake. Additionally, researchers found that consuming an extra 100 mg per day of dietary magnesium could reduce risk of stroke by 7% and type-2 diabetes by 19%. 
BMC Medicine, December 2016


Exercise: Moderate Exercise May Improve Memory Dysfunction Caused By Diabetes. 

The hippocampus is a part of the brain that is vital for normal memory formation, and investigators have long speculated that impaired glucose metabolism affects hippocampal-mediated memory in those with type 2 diabetes. In this study, researchers found that diabetic rats needed more time to escape water and find a platform in a circular pool test than non-diabetic rats. However, after four weeks of moderate exercise, the rats were able find the platform faster, indicating their spatial memory had improved. The findings suggest that moderate exercise could be used to treat memory impairment in individuals with type 2 diabetes. 
Diabetologia, December 2016


Chiropractic: Smoking History Contributes to Spondyloarthritis Severity. 

Spondyloarthritis is a term for inflammatory diseases that involve both the joints and the sites where ligaments and tendons attach to the bones. In a new study, investigators found that smokers with spondyloarthritis experience worse disease symptoms than those who have either stopped smoking or have never smoked. The findings suggest that healthcare providers should promote smoking cessation as an adjunct to usual therapy among patients with spondyloarthritis. 
Arthritis Care & Research, November 2016


Wellness/Prevention: Keeping Teens Safe on Social Media. 

Most teens enjoy chatting with friends on social media, but parents need to make sure these interactions are appropriate. The National Crime Prevention Council suggests the following: make sure your teen only provides the required information when filling out a profile, skip optional data requests, and never include an address or phone number; have your teen make a profile available to friends only; teens should only "friend" an acquaintance, never someone unknown; encourage teens to post only information that's appropriate; and don’t reveal private details. 
National Crime Prevention Council, December 2016

A way for us all to get involved

A Way for Us All to Get Involved!

Written by: Kristy J. with Maintain Me

June 21, 2017 also known as the longest day of the year or the summer solstice is a time when The Alzheimer's Association chooses to encourage people to come together while doing something fun to raise money to help end Alzheimer's.  More and more individuals are being plagued with this disease.  Let us not forget you do not have to diagnosed with it to be affected by it. Maybe you are a caregiver, family member, friend, or all of these things. 

 An estimated 5.5 million Americans of all ages have Alzheimer's disease. Of the estimated 5.5 million Americans living with Alzheimer's dementia in 2017, an estimated 5.3 million are age 65 and older and approximately 200,000 individuals are under age 65 and have younger-onset Alzheimer's.



Click the link below or copy and paste or the link below into your browser and read more about The Longest Day and how you can get involved.  

http://www.alz.org/delval/in_my_Community_103857.asp

http://mailchi.mp/fe7955b0964a/follow-up-from-meeting-1082901?e=06bd1e4648

Avista Hospital

Avista Hospital and How They Take Pride in the Community!

By Chelsea Sweeney, RN

Kelli and I had the privilege to go to Avista Hospital for a breakfast to learn all about their system and how much they care about the community. A perfect example of how important the community is to Avista is the fact this breakfast was hosted and ran by Dennis Barts, CEO of the hospital. 
 

In this meeting we we able to learn about how Avista and Centura are engaged in the community as well as all the different programs and sites they have to serve their people. We met such amazing people that were engaged in this meeting such as Chris, the manager of Case Management, Lizabeth, Manager of Provider Relations, a couple practitioners and many others that serve Centura and its community.

Thank you so much for the invite Chris.

For those of you interest in learning more about Avista hospital and all that Centura offers as a system, we have provided multiple links and information pulled straight from their website.