2
Kentucky
Inside Entertainment & Shopping PAGE 3
Health & Care Skin care benefits overall health PAGE 4
Funeral Planning PAGE 11
Travel Secrets of budget travelers PAGE 12
Kentucky
Entertainment & Shopping
3
Charming country views, fine wine StoneBrook Winery is a small family farm/winery located in Camp Springs, Ky., just 20 minutes south of Cincinnati. StoneBrook offers charming country views, a renovated 120-year-old farm house converted into a cozy wine tasting room, old country charm and a little bit of history. StoneBrook vints a variety of wines including the Estate bottled Vidal Blanc, Estate, Cabernet Franc and Domain wines as well as a wide variety of other fabulous, award-winning grape and fruit wines.
The tasting room is open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For $5 you are able to taste five palate-pleasing grape or fruit wines. Tours through the award-winning vineyards. StoneBrook also offers unique dining experiences that have become a local favorite StoneBrook offers gift certificates and custom labels for everyone’s special occasions. Visit www.stonebrookwinery.com for details.
StoneBrook also offers unique dining experiences that have become a local favorite
Call 578-5501 to advertise in
CreativeLiving
4
Health & Care Skin care benefits, overall health for seniors Taking care of your skin undoubtedly has its cosmetic benefits, but more significantly, it also plays a large role in overall health – particularly for seniors.
When there is dry skin, discoloration, wounds, rashes, bruises or other injuries, people are immediately aware something is wrong on the outside and maybe even on the inside. Keeping aging skin healthy allows it to offer protection from environmental harms and infections as well as produce important vitamins. “Age brings a number of changes that can compromise the skin’s ability to protect us,” said Cynthia Fleck, a registered nurse and vice president of clinical marketing for Advanced Skin and Wound Care at Medline, which manufactures and distributes skin care products and educational resources for seniors. These changes stem from the inability to retain water, sun damage, smoking, reduced collagen, some medicines and illnesses. Any or all of these factors can lead to skin deterioration. “When skin ages, it becomes thinner and less resilient,” Fleck said. “The layers of skin can easily separate, tearing the paper-like upper-most area called the epidermis. “The skin cells do not ‘turn over,’ or replenish themselves as quickly as when we are young. Therefore, the old skin cells become clumped and do not function as efficiently as young, healthy skin cells do,” she said. In addition, as age increases, people are more prone to dry and/or itchy skin, bruises in odd places, wrinkles, age spots, skin tags and abnormal moles. While aging cannot be reversed, maintaining proper care equals healthy skin and more importantly, healthy people. Fleck offers the following advice on how to
Kentucky
care for aging skin: • Avoid a daily shower or bath, which can contribute to dry skin. Instead, opt for gentle cleansing with moisturizing soap and detergent-free cleansers that do not need to be rinsed. These cleansers do the job of removing dirt and natural oils, but do not impact the natural acid balance of mature skin. • Moisturizing on a daily basis is essential, especially since older skin fails to retain moisture as well as younger skin. Look for advanced skin care products that actually nourish the skin from the outside in, delivering amino acids (proteins), vitamins, antioxidants and ingredients that are gentle and soothing, making the skin more resilient and strengthening it. • Take care to avoid injuries that can tear the skin or caustic substances that can disrupt the skin’s ability to protect. If the skin is broken, small wounds can be covered with band aids designed to be gentle to skin. Immobile seniors who must use adult diapers should have special care taken to keep them clean and free of irritants. Barrier products that contain protectants like dimethicone and other silicones, as well as zinc oxide, can help protect the skin from these issues. • Protect your skin from the sun. Since melanocytes, the skin cells that protect us from the sun, do not work as well when we age, older skin burns easily. Stay out of the sun as much as possible, and when out, wear protective clothing, widebrimmed hats and sun screen. • Be aware of special skin care needs that often accompany some common diseases, such as diabetes. For example, diabetics are more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections and itchy skin. Therefore, they need to take particular care in protecting their skin, especially on extremities. • Avoid strong antibacterial soaps that may have high pH level, which can dry aging skin. Astringents and products that contain alcohol can also be too harsh and damaging for older skin. Moisturizing your hands after using a sanitizer or soap becomes especially important for these cases. For specific advice on how to care for your skin, contact your health care professional.
Kentucky take time off work. Hospice of the Bluegrass has an answer for this dilemma. Since 2003 they have offered Extra Care, a private duty nursing service which employs 14 RN nurses, LPN nurses, nursing assistants, and sitters in this area who meet the same stringent hiring standards Hospice of the Bluegrass uses. There comes a time in “We require that all our the lives of most families employees undergo physiwhen illness or accidents cal examinations, drug require a more intensive testing, and criminal backcare of a family member. ground checks, as well Decisions about who and ongoing education will be able to stay home classes,” said Fran and take care of that fami- Wetterich, RN, CHPN, ly member can cause strife director of the Extra Care because the person who program. “That sets us needs the care is usually apart from other in-home insistent on staying home, nursing companies. We and not in a nursing home want people that we can facility, but the majority of trust to be in our clients’ family members who homes taking care of their could provide care have needs. jobs where they cannot “We can provide any-
5
When families need extra care
thing from 24 hour top of the line full skilled nursing care, to a sitter who just spends a couple hours with the person, helping them do laundry, or fix lunch, or possibly run errands for them,” she said. When a family decides they might need some
assistance, they call 4416332, and set up a meeting to assess the needs of the family. “The member who needs care does not have to be terminally ill,” said Wetterich. “Maybe they fell and broke a hip, or a bone, and they need help negotiating around the
house with a wheelchair or walker. “Once they recover, they won’t need us, but until then, we can help. Our nursing assistants can help people shower and take care of personal needs, as well as getting HOSPICE see page 6
6
Hearing better makes life richer
Call 578-5501 to advertise in
CreativeLiving
Do you remember enjoying phone conversations with family and friends? Or how about watching TV without anyone complaining about the loudness? Hearing loss doesn’t have to limit you or reduce the comfort and joy of connecting with others. “You CAN watch TV with family again, have full conversations with friends and hear more clearly, often for less than $200,” said Becky Morris, owner of Beyond Hearing Aids, a national company located in Erlanger. Many people with hearing loss struggle with these common situations, even if they have hearing aids. Beyond Hearing Aids
Kentucky offers products that help people with hearing loss feel safe in their homes and connect with their families. The products aren’t hearing aids. “We have high quality telephones, TV systems and personal amplifiers that offer clear, amplified sound. We help people hear in these specific areas,” said Morris. These alerting devices, phones and amplifiers are especially helpful if you can’t afford hearing aids right now. However, if you know you have hearing loss, we recommend you visit a hearing professional to learn about your hearing loss. You can learn more about these economical products that keep you independent and safe by going online at www.BeyondHearingAids .com or you can try out the products in person. Call to schedule your appointment to visit our demonstration room at 342-4641. Hours are Monday through Friday. Beyond Hearing Aids is located just one block from the I-75 Erlanger Exit at 463 Erlanger Road. The office is in a beautiful three-story Victorian house with red doors.
HOSPICE from page 5 dressed,” she said. Sometimes Alzheimer patients forget how to dress themselves, and forget to eat. We look at what the problems seem to be, and provide qualified people to take the worry off the main caretaker’s mind by being there when you can’t be there. That is our motto. Extra Care when you can’t be there,” said Wetterich. Prices are competitive with other in-home nursing services.
Because Extra Care is located with Hospice of the Bluegrass, they have a combined website, at www.hospiceofthebluegrass.com. “We are very pleased with Extra Care, because the program has grown every year,” said Wetterich. “With our stringent standards of hiring, we know we can provide people with competent help within their homes at the times when they really need it.”
Kentucky
St. Charles expands services
7 For five decades St. Charles, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame, has served the community’s senior adults and their families. More than 4,000 persons have received skilled nursing care in its licensed nursing facility and hundreds of seniors have been served through St. Charles at Home, St. Charles Lodge, Village, out-patient therapies, private duty nursing, and the Adult Day Health Program. Most of all, St. Charles has
continually provided an atmosphere of prayer and spirituality for residents, families, and the broader community. Now, St. Charles is expanding services to senior adults living in their homes. The St. Charles at Home Program provides meal preparation, light housekeeping, personal grooming, medication reminders, transportation to medical appointments, and companion services to persons living in the community.
St. Charles is also excited to announce groundbreaking to add 32 private rooms, licensed to provide personal care nursing, a new Adult Day Health Program and an out-patient therapy department designed specifically for seniors. These rooms will be licensed to provide nursing care in a home-like setting. St. Charles is alive and well, meeting the needs of today and building a caring community for generations to come.
Call 578-5501 to advertise in
CreativeLiving
Call 578-5501 to advertise in the yearly publication
Senior Living
8
Kentucky
Help with downsizing and moving
Caring Transitions specializes in senior relocations and transitions. They help you through all of your relocation challenges. Jennifer Leas, owner of the local Caring Transitions that services Greater Cincinnati, Looking to downsize Northern Kentucky and and move to a smaller Southeast Indiana, starts home or retirement comthe process of helping munity? Perhaps you’ve clients through the relocaconsidered moving but tion process with a free don’t have anyone to consultation. help. Services are completely Many seniors feel overwhelmed by the prospect tailored to each client’s needs. of packing up their Caring Transitions’ belongings and moving. services include: computIt is common to give up on the idea when faced erized layout the new with decisions about what home; packing, move management and comto keep, what to throw plete set up of personal away, what will fit in the items in the new home; new home, and what to assistance with decisions do with the remaining about what should be items.
Family Watch cares for family Chris Hiltz first realized the strain of caring for an elderly family member 21 years ago when she was working part time in the emergency room as an RN. She was also helping her mother take care of her grandmother, and trying to schedule work and family life around her grandmother was very stressful. Realizing that other families were going through the same problems, Hiltz decided to start her own business, Family Watch, and hire caregivers who can go to the elderly person’s home and assist with tasks when family members can’t be there. “We have been in business 21 years,” said Hiltz. “We help with things like bathing and dressing, meal preparation,
www.nky.com
kept and sold; arrangement for storage/shipping of cherished items and preparation of the home for sale. They also conduct estate sales or online auctions to sell remaining items. “It can be very challenging to handle life transitions such as moving, especially when there are no children or other loved ones to help.” Leas said. “A successful move requires extensive planning and managing to get everything done. That’s something I can do. My goal is to make the transition easier,” she said. For more on how Caring Transitions can assist with your relocation, contact Jennifer Leas at 859-394-3953.
light housekeeping, medication reminders, and transportation to appointments, grocery, and anywhere they want to go.” Many people have heard about the sandwich generation, who are typically women raising their own children, who become responsible for the care of their elderly parents. With that in mind, many of Hiltz’s caregivers are women who have raised their own families, and know what it takes to make a household run. All of the caregivers are reliable and have passed background checks. “I believe that because I am an RN, I can talk to family members, and assess the situation with a more experienced eye,” explained Hiltz. “With my background, I can evaluate the needs of the family, and help them formulate a schedule that takes some of the strain off their caregivers, and shares it with mine.” Hiltz is also proud that she runs the business, and if someone calls Family Watch at 344-1463, they will contact her, not a secretary. Hiltz can also be reached by e-mail, at family watch@fuse.net. In addition, they have a website, www. familywatch.biz, that people can visit.
Kentucky
9
Resident loves Colonial Heights and Gardens Debbie White made the decision to leave her home and go to live at Colonial Heights when her husband died, and due to arthritis, she wanted a home without steps or maintenance. So Debbie and her cat, Tubby, packed up and moved to Colonial Heights, where she has a lovely two-bedroom apartment on the first floor with a screened in patio, just the right size for the 67-year-old, and
her pet. Unfortunately, last Thanksgiving Tubby passed away, but at Christmas Max came to live with Debbie, and the 7-year-old Maine Coon cat is adjusting to his new life. “I just love living here,” Debbie enthused. “The food is wonderful,
and there is always something to do. I leave my room at 8 o’clock, and go most of the day. “Thursdays are my favorite, because they have bible study in the morning, and social hour in the afternoon. We always have live entertainment, and I can dance
with my friends,” she said. Debbie has enjoyed being a greeter for new residents, secretary for the resident council, and she served on the food committee. Debbie’s two young granddaughters, Heather and Amber, come for sleepovers, and they love visiting grandma. She has her car with her, but she can also hop the community bus to go to nearby shopping. She likes that a hair-
dresser, banking and pharmacy all come to Colonial Heights. Laurine Owens, her best friend, has dubbed Debbie a “spark plug,” and Debbie calls Laurine her engine. “I am so glad I came here to live,” said Debbie. “It is so much less worry. It is convenient, and the staff is wonderful. “If I decide to have surgery on my knee, people here can help me recover. It is just a fantastic place to live,” she said.
Call 578-5501 to advertise in
CreativeLiving
10
Ethos the place for seniors to live Just around the corner from the Florence Post Office on Main Street in Florence is the brand new Ethos Senior Living facility, which opened for business on Jan. 3. Residents are already taking advantage of this exciting new option for seniors seeking to maintain their independent lifestyle, with the added security of customized care options. Ethos provides an extraor-
Kentucky dinary level of service that promotes a comfortable quality of life for its residents in a vibrant and thriving community. “People who decide to come and live here can be assured of a safe and secure environment,” said Gary Bowman, one of four owners of the new facility. “Besides that, it is fun place to live.” Residents at Ethos are surrounded by activities which enables them to interact with their neighbors, from customized entertainment programs, to group exercise classes, to inspiring spiritual services. Other amenities include an onsite hair salon, a moviestyle theater, bistro café, a lounge, and a spacious
dining facility. Those who dine in will be treated to restaurant-style, chef-prepared meals. Outside, beautiful outdoor walking trails and garden courtyards with large patios promote outdoor community gather-
each resident is assessed to determine the appropriate level of assistance to be provided by our specially trained staff. We also have special programming for those in very early stages of having memory issues. Our
ern. The accommodations are designed for individuals who value independent and active lifestyles, and appreciate the freedom of maintenance-free living. Apartments are available in alcove, and one and two bedroom
“…Ethos has a variety of meanings, and we chose ‘a familiar place’ because it is our goal to make this their home…” ings, or family get-togethers. In the more inclement weather, residents can keep fit with the fitness facility located in the center. “Our customized services program is unique to Ethos,” explained Bowman. “Upon arrival,
24-hour highly skilled and friendly staff gives residents and their families confidence that their needs will always be met.” Ethos’ newly built construction assures that its 100 apartments are pristine, spacious, and mod-
floor plans. Each apartment includes spacious living areas, kitchenettes with appliances, walk-in lighted closets, walk-in showers, cable TV, Internet access, and individual climate control. ETHOS see page 11
Kentucky
Funeral Planning
Make funeral arrangements now Choice is a very important right for people to have, and its importance grows as people age. One decision that seniors sometimes overlook is pre-planning their funeral arrangements, to ensure that their own choices are in effect when their time comes. Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home makes it easy to prearrange those choices. “We have a large facility with decorations that look like home,” said Ronald Jones, a lifelong resident of Ludlow, where his family business is located. “We specialize in per-
sonalized attention, and we can walk you through all the arrangements, so everything is what you want, and not left to chance,” he said. Jones went on to say that pre-planning is a gift to the children, because many times they are at a loss as to what their parents want, such as burial or cremation, what kind of visitation, and if they want a church ceremony. Ronald B. Jones Funeral home celebrated their 75th year in business last year, so they are well acquainted with hospitals, churches, and cemeteries, and once they are contact-
ed, they can take all the worry of the arrangements from the grieving family. Open 24 hours, seven days a week, Ronald B. Jones Funeral Home can be reached any time by calling 431-0072. “One of the things that families do now is give us pictures, so that we can make a dvd that plays continuously during visitations,” said Jones. “Visitation is a very important thing, since most people come to see the living people, to express their condolences. “A newer trend is to hold the visitation and the funeral all in one day, and that is not always convenient for people who want to come and pay their respects,” he said. Cremation is also more of a viable choice now than it used to be, accord-
beautiful. “We have our own shuttle transit, which we operate on a schedule, so that people can go shopping, which is very close nearby,” said Bowman. “Of course, many residents prefer to have their car available, and we have designated parking spaces for them close by.” Anyone who would like to can schedule a tour of the facilities by calling 980-7200, and staff members will be happy to meet with families at their convenience. To get a preview of the facilities, people can also visit the website, at www.ethosse-
niorliving.com and see what Ethos has to offer for senior and assisted living. “Ethos has a variety of meanings, and we chose ‘a familiar place’ because it is our goal to make this their home,” said Bowman. “We want seniors to feel at home here, to enjoy living without the worry of household chores and expenses, allowing them to spend more time with friends, and participate in activities suited especially for them. They can be independent, but have help nearby, so they can really enjoy their senior years.”
ETHOS from page 10 “One of the nicest features we have are the lighted, walk-in closets,” said Bowman. “That is virtually unheard of with facilities like ours. And our spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers give our seniors a feeling of security.” Bowman said their accommodations offer peace of mind, with fire and emergency systems, security cameras, and built in emergency call system. Safety is one of Ethos’ core values, and Ethos is proud to offer state-of-the-art facilities that are as secure as they are comfortable and
www.nky.com
ing to Jones, because there is no longer a stigma against it, but he said the majority of people still opt for a traditional burial, and that is where the choices come in. Ronald B. Jones also has a web site to visit, at www.ronaldbjones.com. “Children are relieved when their parents make the choices, because then they know they are confirming what their mom or dad wanted,” said
11
Jones. “What sets us apart is our personalized attention, because we are experienced, and we know what to offer people, and how to guide them so they don’t feel pressured. “I have been in this business many years, and I am pleased that I can be truly helpful to people, especially when they are in a time of distress. We offer a family approach, and that means a lot,” he said.
12
Travel
Kentucky
Secrets of budget travelers that everyone should know Budget travelers are a unique breed – they have a tireless dedication to finding the best deals, a keen sense for sniffing out hidden surprises and, usually, a mental database of ways to save money when they’re doing what they love most: traveling.
In light of the economy, almost every American traveler has become a budget traveler. Prices in many destinations are going up and airfares are hitting new highs, but it’s still important to many people to get in a family vacation or a friends’ getaway. For those who are new to the budget travel game, a few tips can come in hand: • Become your own watchdog. In the past, people went to travel agents who would do all the booking for them. For budget travelers, the cost of going to an agency is often prohibitive and doesn’t always make sense when you can book everything online yourself. Enter different dates and destinations into travel search engines and you can get an idea of how rates vary by season. If you have a specific desti-
nation in mind, set up fare alerts that will let you know when ticket prices drop, but keep checking the sites on your own so that you can find the best deals. • Plan activities ahead of time. If you want to go to a concert or theater performance in a particular destination, start looking early by visiting sites dedicated to that chosen destination. For instance, if you’re headed to Myrtle Beach, the events calendar at www.visitmyrtlebeach.com has a full listing of events and festivals. And while you’re there, you can often find deals on tickets that will let you see the show for a fraction of the price. • Don’t pay full price. You can often find some of your biggest savings by using coupons – the trick is knowing where to find them.
Again, destination-specific websites, like those of convention and visitor’s bureaus (CVB), are particularly useful. For those who want a budget-friendly beach vacation with all the amenities, searching for Myrtle Beach coupons on the destination’s CVB website will turn up coupons for everything from restaurants to shopping to golf. • Don’t delay. It’s true that you can occasionally find lastminute deals but the early bird really does get the worm when it comes to budget travel. Since it’s often more convenient to travel during high season to popular destinations - there’s a reason it’s high season, after all – getting things organized ahead of time will save you money. What’s more, you won’t be disappointed by your favorite hotel being booked up.