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Giving seniors a five-star retirement RUTH ROBERTS
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eniors today are living longer and enjoying
Activities at Cortona Park include the Veterans Parade held in June to honor Cortona’s many resident veterans and those from the community at large.
more active, varied lifestyles than ever before. Retirees aren’t retiring from life, but rather to
life, and senior communities have adapted to the trend.
ON THE COVER: Mary Ann Smith, foreground, and a few other residents get in some aerobics at Summerset Palms this week.
Photo by Rick Lemyre
able to take care of day-to-day needs such as bathing and dressing. Assisted care is for more frail individuals, who need a degree of daily assistance and personalized care such as medication management. Both options, however, come with housekeeping, meals and utilities figured into the monthly rent. Costs for independent living apartments can average from $1,600 to $4,500 per month, depending upon the community and apartment size. Assisted care averages an additional $800 to $1,000 more per month. When Bill and Donna Foster began considering a move from Brentwood’s Summerset community into an independent living facility, their main concern was quality of life. The active couple had always been involved in the community, but as Donna began to deal with health problems, the logistics of their lives began to change. For them, the answer was Eskaton Lodge in Brentwood. “We came to Eskaton because Donna’s doctor told her
that because of her back injury, she needed to stop cooking and doing laundry and yard work,” said Bill, 78. “For us it was about quality of life, and that’s what we got here.” “We have good activities here,” added Donna. “And lots of things to do. The staff is wonderful and very caring. We love it here.” So whether it’s independent living, assisted care or more comprehensive nursing that’s needed, most retirement communities offer the opportunity to upgrade your services as your needs change. “What’s nice for seniors here,” said Saari, “is that because we offer assisted and independent living, as most facilities do, it allows residents to age in place. As they get older and require more help with the activities of daily living, you can stay where you are and get the services you need. see Retirement page 9B
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“More and more, independent living facilities are becoming increasingly popular with seniors who can still get around and do things but don’t want the bother of taking care of a big home,” said Ken Dunn, assistant manager at Quail Lodge in Antioch. “Places like this become their home and everything is taken care of for them. They have more time for themselves and can still be independent.” The reasons for choosing a retirement community are as individual as they are varied, but for many seniors, the allure of a facility that provides meals, housekeeping and even laundry – while offering onsite salons and exercise rooms, off-site transportation and an active social calendar – is hard to resist. “We call ourselves a cruise ship on land,” said Laurie Saari, sales counselor at Cortona Park in Brentwood. “We’re a service industry and we’re all about the needs of the client. We’re about making their lives as comfortable as we can. We’re like a five-star hotel.” Retirement communities typically offer independent and assisted-care living plus additions or variations tailored to their residents’ needs. Independent living is designed for seniors –typically 55 and up – who are ambulatory and
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Senior summer safety
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ot weather affects those 50 and older more than younger people, whose
bodies cool faster.
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Seniors sometimes don’t feel the heat, even when temperatures rise to dangerous levels. They’re also less likely to hydrate. And certain medications combined with excessive heat can be dangerous. Here are a few tips to prevent heat-related illnesses: ♦ Keep your air conditioner on a cool setting. Fans aren’t enough – all they do is
re-circulate hot air. ♦ No air conditioner? Cool down at a shopping mall, library or grocery store. ♦ Drink plenty of water. If your urine is light in color, you’re properly hydrated. ♦ Avoid caffeine and alcohol. ♦ Take frequent cool showers or baths. ♦ Wear light-colored, loose fitting, cotton clothing. ♦ When outdoors, wear a hat with a brim to shade the face and ears. – Contributed by Visiting Angels. To learn more about their in-home care for seniors, call 925-240-1100.
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Located at In-Shape City
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Pat Moal’s wish was “to celebrate 75 years with family and friends here at my home.” With the help of An Elderly Wish Foundation, her wish came true in June.
Photo courtesy of Mary Chapman
Another wish comes true CHER GRACE
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at Moal thought she’d never make it to Christmas 2010, let alone her 75th birthday
in 2011. After feeling run down and losing her appetite for nearly two weeks, Pat went to the hospital. The young physician on call thought it might be allergies, but Pat wasn’t buying it. She consulted another doctor, who ordered lab work and a CAT scan. Dr.
Rakesh Bhutani delivered the blow: “It’s colon cancer.” “I broke down and yelled at him, ‘I don’t want chemo! I’m not interested and I don’t want anything to do with it,’” she recalled. “Chemo is so lonely, and I was afraid.” Her doctor hugged her and said, “I’ll be your buddy. We’ll get through this together.” And they did. After six months of chemotherapy, however, Bhutani see Wish page 7B
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JULY 29, 2011
Wish from page 5B ran another CAT scan and the results were almost unheard of. “While on the chemo,” he told Moal, “you grew another tumor, which is more aggressive and larger than the first one.” Moal reconciled herself to the process of getting on with her life … and death. But she wasn’t going out without a fight. She attended support groups, and her friend Mary Anne Smith (who lost her own husband to cancer) referred her to An Elderly Wish Foundation (AEWF). Founded by Rebecca Crowder in 2000 following the loss her mother, the nonprofit foundation has spent a decade making wishes come true for terminally ill seniors. In a letter to AEWF Executive Director Mary Chapman, Moal wrote, “My wish is to celebrate 75 years with family and friends here at my home.” As usual, AEWF was happy to lend a hand. On June 4 of this year, Moal became the recipient of AEWF’s wish No. 108. The occasion was especially poignant since the theme of this year’s American Cancer Society Relay For Life is One More Birthday – and Pat got to celebrate one of her best ever. AEWF arranged for Jerry Hinkle from Brentwood’s Sticky Chicken & Ribs to provide the food. AEWF paid for the lunch, beverages, cake and decorations. The festivities drew more than 50 friends and family, some of whom flew in from as far as Utah. Among them were sons Patrick Jones and Michael Jones,
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daughter Karen Nunes, and Moal’s friends from Immaculate Heart of Mary Crafting Bee. Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor and Congressman John Garamendi sent Pat congratulatory certificates honoring her on her 75th birthday. When asked what has been the biggest surprise in this journey, Moal didn’t miss a beat: “The offers of support. If I could give advice to anyone who has a friend or loved one going through this, I would tell them to ‘keep them in the loop’ and not forget about them. Tell them about your life and the ‘life going on out there’ in general.” When asked what her biggest challenge has been, she said quietly, “I don’t think it’s happened yet.” Moal is in the final stages of her cancer now but you won’t find her feeling sorry for herself. “Not one of us has spent time dwelling on the cancer,” she said. “We just celebrate the many facets of daily life and I love them (family and friends) for that.” When asked what guests could bring to her birthday celebration, Moal told her friends to bring decorated rocks for her garden in exchange for hand-painted rocks for their own gardens. The rocks were permanent reminders of Moal’s determination, hope and loving heart. For more information about An Elderly Wish Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.elderlywish.org or call 925-978-1883. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
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Summerset from page 1B
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The first of Summerset I’s 471 homes were built in 1994, at what was once Brentwood’s remote western boundary. By the time the last of Summerset Orchards’ 647 homes were finished, more than 2,000 had been built for seniors 55 and older – people simply not ready to slow down. “The development of Summerset was significant for Brentwood in a lot of ways,” said Bill Hill, Brentwood’s mayor at the time Summerset was approved. It brought to the city thousands of mature residents with disposable income, which in turn fueled a need for more landscapers, golf cart companies, medical equipment providers and doctors. Since Summersetters had no school-age children, schools benefited from development fees without an increase in student populations, and helped Brentwood provide a kind of housing lacking at the time. Each of the four subdivisions – which also include Summerset Palms (440 houses) and Summerset Vista (464) – operates its own homeowners association and community center, and employs its own recreation director. Each runs a jam-packed activity schedule including golf (The Golf Club at Brentwood’s championship course meanders through the developments), exercise classes, bocce leagues and social gatherings. The charitable Summerset Kare Bears provide one way for residents to volunteer, and you can count on one of the city’s highest voter turnouts whenever election time comes around. “Everyone is close to the same age,”
said Pruitt. “They have similar interests and backgrounds, like the same music and have the same energy and activity level.” Residents also share the same health problems associated with growing older, a factor Summerset I’s Diane McClain believes brings neighbors closer. Unlike at other locations, she said, everyone knows their neighbors, and if someone hasn’t been seen out and about, there’s sure to be someone knocking on the door doing a welfare check. The Brentwood police have recently conducted a program called Triad, which teaches seniors how to protect themselves from scam artists. Houses at Summerset range from 1,200 to 2,500 square feet. Designed for low-maintenance, the houses feature open floor plans and amenities such as fireplaces, hardwood floors and attached garages with driveways for visitor parking. Each community is gated, and its former edge-oftown location is now bustling with shopping centers, restaurants, parks and a pair of nearby hospitals (John Muir Medical Center in Brentwood and Kaiser Hospital in Antioch). So whether it’s lots of activities, lowmaintenance homes, socializing or simply a beautiful, quiet and well-kept neighborhood, Summerset communities offer what many of today’s active seniors are looking for. Throw in the benefits of thousands of neighbors who enjoy the same things, and it’s a perfect fit for many. “I can’t tell you,” said McClain, “how many people say, ‘Moving here was the best decision I ever made.’” To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
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JULY 29, 2011
SENIOR LIVING
Senior living – what to look for
C
onsidering a move to a retirement community? For many, the list of items to
bear in mind can be overwhelming. But the following few tips should help organize your priorities as you begin the process of choosing a new home:
Amenities
Many of today’s retirement communities offer similar options, but their range of services can vary. When shopping for a community, consider what is important to you. Are dining options paramount or do fitness programs take priority? Do you prefer a setting that offers abundant social options or do you value privacy? Make a list of factors tailored to you and bring it with you as you visit facilities
Location
Finding a community that suits your geographical needs is critical, so think about what that means to you. Does the perfect location mean proximity to your children and grandchildren? How important to you is
nearby shopping and dining? Is the climate important or is nearby medical care and doctor access your top priority?
Future needs
Retirement communities are typically designed for independent living, but many combine a variety of services such as assisted care, personal care and memory care. When deciding on a community, consider your future needs. Many facilities offer tiered care options that allow you stay in place as your health needs change.
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Retirement from page 3B “The biggest misconception about retirement communities is that it’s a nursing home and they are coming here to die. But of course it’s completely the opposite. They’re not giving up their independence; they’re just giving up the day-to-day work of running a home. We do it all for them.”
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Quail Lodge is located at 4850 Deer Valley Road in Antioch. For more information, call 925-234-4968. Eskaton Lodge, 450 John Muir Parkway in Brentwood, can be reached at 925-516-4968. Cortona Park in Brentwood is located at 150 Cortona Way. For additional information, call 925-240-0733. To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
Cost
Cost is a factor for most seniors, so when considering a retirement community, be clear on its up-front, ongoing monthly, and future fees.
Staff
When visiting facilities, pay attention to the staff. Observe how they interact with the residents. Do they know everyone by name? Are they patient and cheerful? Do they appear to do their best to accommodate requests? If possible, talk to some of the residents about the facility’s staff and employees. Do you or a loved one need
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