H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S | R E L AT I O N S H I P S | C O M M U N I T Y
This Feels Like Home 速 SPRING | SUMMER 2016
Embrace
Life
Take a wild ride through the changing world of seniors!
A PUBLICATION OF SPECTRUM RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES, LLC
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Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC offers flexible, affordable, month-to-month rental apartment homes, enabling residents to enjoy the luxury they desire without a prohibitive financial commitment or buy-in fee. Lifestyle options include independent living, assisted living, transitional memory care, and memory care. Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC has multiple locations in 12 states across the country. To learn more or to find a community near you, call 888-516-2188 or visit us online at SpectrumRetirement.com
John Sevo MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jeff Kraus MANAGING DIRECTOR
Phillip Luebbers SENIOR VP & CFO
Joe Mikalajunas SENIOR VP & COO
Kathleen MacDonald EDITOR & VP OF MARKETING
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(800) 852-0857 HUNGRYEYEMEDIA.COM Brendan Harrington PRESIDENT
Lindsay Burke ART DIRECTOR
Heather Shoning EDITOR
Susan Humphrey MARKETING OPERATIONS MANAGER
Welcome to
Spectrum TODAY’S SENIORS HAVE WITNESSED a broad spectrum of change from the advent of television to being able to control your TV from your Apple Watch. As Bob Dylan famously sang, “Times they are a-changin’,” but it never ceases to amaze. Spectrum team members are lucky to hear daily “back in my day” tales. These stories really shed light on the extraordinary life journeys of our residents. These life journeys, as you can imagine, are very different than they were a generation ago. Senior lifestyles are taking on a whole new look. People are living longer, remaining in the workforce longer and, in some cases, living a whole new life after retirement. Our feature article, Embracing Aging (page 11), introduces us to the term “Third Age,” which refers to a new life stage of healthy, productive, secure and engaged retirement. In this era of the Third Age, seniors are becoming more active, embracing technology and taking their health care into their own hands. Finding the Fun in Fitness (page 10) demonstrates ways in which seniors are adopting healthy lifestyles through fitness regimens — including high-tech machines. Seniors are also engaging in telehealth to eliminate trips to the doctor’s office while allowing their physician to monitor their weight and vitals (Dial It In, page 8). In the ever-changing landscape of social media, our residents are taking advantage of these new ways to keep in touch with friends and loved ones both near and far. If you haven’t jumped on that bandwagon yet, we’ve got a simple-to-follow guide to getting
MANAGING DIRECTORS JEFF KRAUS AND JOHN SEVO
on Facebook so you can check out photos of the grandkids or look up long-lost friends in minutes (Have Fun with Facebook, page 23). Always our favorite section of the magazine, Lifestyle (beginning on page 15) is chock full of resident stories of serving our country during WWII, playing piano with Roy Rogers and Elvis Presley and one woman’s career with the U.S. State Department that sent her around the world. We hope you enjoy as much as we do these tales of extraordinary lives as well as the stories of how senior lifestyles are changing. At Spectrum, we strive to stay ahead of the curve to ensure our residents ease into and embrace those life changes as they come. Enjoy the issue, John Sevo and Jeff Kraus Managing Directors Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC We’d love to hear from you! Do you have an interesting story to share? An idea for a future issue of the magazine? What would you like to learn more about? Help us celebrate the people and personalities that make Spectrum such a wonderful community. Send your ideas to editor@spectrumretirement.com.
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FULL SPECTRUM
05
LIFESTYLE
15
CELEBRATING OUR CENTENARIANS
SPECTRUM KEEPS PACE WITH CHANGING WORLD OF SENIORS
Innovation fuels fitness, fun and memories.
07
SENIORS IN THE WORKFORCE
WELLNESS
08
DIAL IT IN
Telemedicine keeps seniors out of the doctor’s office.
10
FINDING THE FUN IN FITNESS
Add some life to your fitness routine.
FEATURE
Reflections on a century of life, a lifetime of memories.
DISTINGUISHED RESIDENTS
16
DILIGENT PURSUITS
Four residents reflect on how careers shaped their lives.
GREATEST GENERATION
20
PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL
From a coveted award to meeting Reagan, these men made history.
ADVISOR
23
H AVE FUN WITH FACEBOOK Connect with family and friends near or far.
INSIDE SPECTRUM
24
LIFELONG FRIENDS REUNITE AFTER 20-SOME YEARS
A long-awaited phone call reveals a sweet surprise.
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SPECTRUM RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES RECEIVES NATIONAL AWARD
Named among best of senior living by senioradvisor.com.
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LOOKING AHEAD
A new home in Hilliard: A quaint historic district opens its doors to Spectrum.
Spectrum Keeps Pace with Changing World of Seniors INNOVATION FUELS FITNESS, FUN AND MEMORIES. By Jules Marie
Carole Hull, Spectrum’s vice president of resident care, and Brenda Hunt, vice president of fun, share ways in which Spectrum innovates to ensure Spectrum communities are keeping up with the changing needs of their residents.
Q:
In what ways does Spectrum keep up with the changing world of seniors? Our Fun Department creates innovative, enjoyable programs designed to inspire lively, engaged communities. Our goal is to find ways to tap into activities that residents enjoyed in the past in order to bring smiles to their faces. We’re all about moving, laughing and having fun.
Q:
How do you handle changes in lifestyle?
Research shows seniors need to be fully engaged in life so we offer activities they did when they were younger. Our residents love our Color Your Life With FunTM programs, which vary monthly. Examples include intergenerational art shows, health fairs and holiday markets.
“Music is profoundly linked to personal memories.” – CAROLE HULL
Q:
Tell us about your Wellness Centers.
Our wellness programs promote a healthy lifestyle. We have SpectraFitTM program and SpectraCircuitTM program with equipment ideally suited for seniors. We also have SpectraSteppersTM for those who prefer walking. Seniors are accustomed to staying in shape by walking and gardening, so we’re creating more appealing options around these interests.
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Q:
You’re testing a ‘Music & Memory’ program, correct?
Yes, and we’re very excited. Music is profoundly linked to personal memories, which, for our residents in memory care, is particularly important as it helps re-engage them in the present. Music & Memory allows us to personalize musical playlists on iPods for residents based on the music they enjoyed in the past. Listening to music is soothing and calming, triggers memories and taps into emotions. Music brings a sense of identity back to people with memory impairment, an underlying goal of our memory care Path to the Present® program.
Q:
How do you keep families connected?
Q:
How else do you innovate?
Q:
How do you choose your programs?
We’re testing a program with LifeShare TechnologiesTM, which provides social connectedness through a small device that attaches to TVs, tablets or phones. This system taps into email, the Internet, social networks, and the Spectrum calendar of events with a simple four-button remote control. Regular communication with friends and loved ones is a critical component of healthy living for our residents. We now use iPads, which allow our team members to create spontaneous programming in various places. For example, if they take residents to the movies they can have brain games on the iPad to keep them busy on the way; or while in the residence they can stream applications through Apple TVs. And of course, it allows caregivers to document and update individual resident care plans in the moment. We look for results. We are constantly looking for ways to keep our residents healthy and engaged. Of interest at the moment are two programs: one that has shown excellent results in reducing falls, a major area of concern for seniors; and another from a Colorado company offering mobile and virtual health care services that can reduce visits to emergency rooms.
Seniors in the Workforce
Retirement isn’t what it used to be. With life expectancy rates on the rise, seniors are finding themselves working past that 65-year mark — some because they need to, others because they want to. What’s clear is that older Americans are making up an increasing percentage of the U.S. workforce, and there’s no sign it will slow down. Here’s what the numbers say:
82%
IN 2002
% of 55- to 64-year-olds 2002 61.9 Americans were in the workforce
of those ages
65 to 74 will still be working.
% of 55- to 64-year-olds 2012 64.5 Americans were in the workforce THE 2022 PROJECTION IS
2022 67.5%
82%
66%
of people ages
45 to 74
who were still working or looking for work need the income from their jobs.
71%
NORC CENTER FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH
By 2019, more than
40 PERCENT
said they were looking to save more for their retirement
of Americans ages 55+ will be employed, making up more than
25 PERCENT
said they enjoyed working
By 2015, older workers ages 65+ outnumbered teenage workers for the first time since 1948.
BELIEVE THEY WILL WORK DURING RETIREMENT.
of the U.S. labor force.
AARP
31.9%
AGES 50+
IN 2012
IN 2015, PEOPLE AGES 60–74: NATIONAL COUNCIL ON AGING
By 2022
OF WORKERS
11 %
have less than a high school education
31 %
have at least a college degree
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WE LLNESS
Dial it in
TELEMEDICINE KEEPS SENIORS OUT OF THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE. By Heather R. Johnson
NO ONE LIKES TO VISIT THE DOCTOR. But for seniors with chronic health conditions, who live in rural areas, or who have to consult with multiple specialists, doctor visits can become especially burdensome. Telemedicine offers a way to keep seniors comfortable at home through services such as remote patient monitoring and video conferencing. Although services vary by health care provider, telemedicine is growing. According to Ken Research, telehealth — a term that generally includes telemedicine’s remote clinical services — generated $9.6 billion in annual revenue, a 60 percent increase from 2012. The firm expects 8
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the telehealth market to grow to $38.5 billion in revenue by 2018. Telemedicine promises to save patients money and improve outcomes. The convenience factor also makes it a huge draw for seniors. Samantha Lippolis, telehealth director for Centura Health, a non-profit health care system that serves Colorado and western Kansas, says telemedicine offers seniors the option to stay home and still be monitored by a physician. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) allows patients to electronically transmit vital signs and other health data via a tablet or other device. Health care professionals then monitor patients remotely and make recommendations as needed. For example, a patient with chronic heart disease may log his blood pressure, weight and blood oxygen daily. If one of those vital signs starts to deviate abnormally, a nurse may call him and ask, “Did you take your medication today?” “These programs are designed to ensure that seniors follow through on prescribed treatment,” says Jonathan Neufeld, chief technology officer for
Indiana-based Oaklawn Psychiatric Center and pathology and some cardiology as “physician servicClinical Director of the Upper Midwest Telehealth es.” Medicare currently covers videoconferencing for Resource Center. beneficiaries in rural areas only. Videoconferencing allows some Medicare Advantage offers more patients to meet with specialists withflexibility, while benefits covered under “For a post-surgery visit that might take out having to spend hours driving. private insurance vary by provider and ten minutes, it’s much In most cases, patients can visit their state. “Medicare is motivated to make easier on the patient local clinic and meet with a specialist changes in health care so that we pay to schedule a video via video. “Patients are more likely smarter and not more,” says Neufeld. appointment.” to see their cardiologist if they don’t “Accountable Care Organizations are – SAMANTHA LIPPOLIS, have to drive so far,” says Lippolis. motivated to use telemedicine because TELEHEALTH DIRECTOR FOR CENTURA HEALTH “For a post-surgery visit that might they want to prevent care rather than take ten minutes, it’s much easier on just provide care.” the patient to schedule a video appointment.” For seniors who want to spend more time doing Seniors interested in telemedicine should check what they enjoy and less time in the doctor’s office, with their health care provider and insurers to find telemedicine offers many advantages. “It’s worth the out what’s available and what’s covered. Medicare effort if you want to be well,” says Lippolis. “It’s a great covers telehealth services such as remote radiology, way for seniors to take charge of their own health.”
INTRODUCING
In keeping with our commitment of comfort and flexibility, Spectrum Retirement Communities is proud to offer an exclusive dining program to our residents. At Your Service® Dining is an all-inclusive dining experience which allows you to eat as often as you like during normal dining room and Bistro hours. Times may vary among communities.
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WE LLNESS
Finding the Fun in
FITNESS ADD SOME LIFE TO YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE. By Emily O’Brien
DEVELOPING A WORKOUT ROUTINE is important for good health — both physical and mental! If going to the gym isn’t part of your life, now is a great time to start. The ideal way to welcome something new into our lives is to couple it with something we already enjoy doing — like going to social outings and having fun. Here are two different ways to put a little zest into your life through movement.
GET VIRTUALLY FIT Who said video games are just for kids? You can tone up using technology, and your body controls the television screen! Microsoft’s Kinect uses some fancy technology to enable a camera to “see” and project your image onto the screen. There are several exercise games compatible with Kinect to set your body in motion like dancing, tennis, martial arts and more. In fact, you can even go “virtually” bowling with friends! These highly interactive programs make it easy to engage and make exercising not feel like such a chore.
UP YOUR REPS If the virtual world isn’t your cup of tea, you might want to give circuit training a try. Circuit training is a series of exercises, on easy-to-use machines, that build muscle while providing cardiovascular benefits. If you want to maximize your time or you are the type who bores easily, this routine may be for you. 10
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Each machine works specific body parts and after 8 to 10 reps at each station, you move onto the next. (Usually with a short break in between.) This mix of strength and balance exercises keeps muscles and bones strong, which, in turn, makes everyday activities easier. Because it increases balance, this type of workout can help prevent falls. Good fitness can be attained in as little as a half hour per day. And that small sliver of time can make a major impact on the longevity and vitality of your life. Increase mobility and health by adding more movement to your life today.
TRY KINECT AT SPECTRUM!
Jump into fitness at Spectrum using Kinect. The variety of games available offer myriad benefits: he games get you to move your body in T ways that are different from your normal, everyday movements which improves overall range of motion. L ike any exercise, moving your body and getting your heart pumping burns calories. he more you play, the more stamina T you develop and the less “winded” you will feel.
G N I C A R B EM G N I AG HOW NEW ATTITUDES AND CHANGING LIFESTYLES ARE SHAPING PERCEPTIONS OF AGING. By Lydia K. Manning, Ph.D.
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S AN EDUCATOR AND
gerontologist, I have been teaching courses on agingrelated issues and topics for the past 15 years. When I teach introductory courses on gerontology and aging, I have students listen to and the read the lyrics of the famous Beatles song “When I’m 64.” The younger my students are and the older I grow, less and less of them know the lyrics by heart. All the while, it remains a useful exercise and suffices in illustrating major points that we cover in the course — age is socially constructed. We decide, as social creatures living in society, how to make meaning of age in all its forms, particularly chronological and functional age. In class, we pour over the lyrics and deconstruct the meaning behind the song. Paul McCartney and John Lennon wrote “When I’m 64” in 1966 and released it on their “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album in 1967; McCartney was 16 years old. The lyrics illustrate a ballad by a young man to his lover as he imagines what it will be like to traverse a life course together in love. What is most pertinent about this exercise is our
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reflection on what McCartney imagined 64 would like as a 16-year-old young man. He based much of that imagined reality of what he saw the 64-year-olds in his world experiencing. Many of which were losing their hair, needing assistance with activities of daily living, and some simply wasting away [as referenced in the song lyrics].
65 IS THE NEW 50 In 1967, the average life expectancy at birth was 68 years and in 2015, it was 79. This dramatic increase in life expectancy is thought to be one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. More and more people are living longer and in greater numbers. Adding decades to
the life course over the last 100 years has dramatically changed how we perceive and experience aging. The changes impact how we view and experience societal aging as well as individual aging. We can look around and see that in many respects 65 is the new 50. People are continuing to retire at 65, and then many are reinventing themselves for their third act in life. Older adults are reimaging later life and redefining what it means to be old. Later life has become a time of contribution and productivity for many older adults. For example, many people are volunteering in later life or engaging in generative acts. Older adults are traveling in greater numbers, exploring the world and returning to school to take advantage of late-life learning opportunities.
There is great potential in later life. Georgia O’Keefe reached her greatest creative potential and expression in her seventies. For many, later life is a time where people blossom and successfully tap into creative insights and deep wisdom. They reach a place of complete individuality, personal freedom and solid sense of personhood. With advances in life expectancy, we are seeing the emergence of new life stages in old age. Gerontologists are describing this new time of later life as the Third Age.
POST-RETIREMENT REIMAGINED The phenomenon of the Third Age is defined as a period of a healthy, productive, secure and engaged retirement. This new life stage is the result of the 20th century demographic and social advances described earlier. Changes in the perceptions and realities of aging have transformed the very meaning of what it is to be old. Today a growing proportion of the U.S. population is realistically anticipating the ability to retire and yet remain active for a number of years. The Third Age has taken shape as an unprecedented opportunity to enrich the experience of aging by providing a new and expanded model of old age to precede and, in many cases, supersede a traditional view of a period of inevitable decline.
Older adults are reimaging their aging and old age in many ways. It was once that old age, marked by the initial transition into retirement, was once the start of the long period of decline and disengagement from society. That is no longer the case. It is now estimated that once a person retires they will experience several additional major life transitions. These transitions can
include re-entry into the labor force or launching an entirely new encore career, moving and relocating, re-partnering or remarrying, becoming a caregiver, learning to live on a fixed income and possibly managing on the onset of a new illness or disease. In short, similar to earlier in the life course, there are many changing and fluid variables that invite opportunity for transition
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and growth well into advanced age. These realities also shape and change our perceptions and experiences of aging.
POSITIVE OUTLOOK Part of reimaging old age is navigating these transitions and making meaning of these new life ages and stages. Older age is a time of life that holds the possibility for many older adults’ continued development,
personal fulfillment and increasing levels of life satisfaction and well-being. McCartney, now 73, is enjoying opportunities that old age is affording him. He is living a reimagined version of old age as all older adults can do. The last decade has created a more affirming time for older age. As a gerontologist, I understand these changing perceptions to be positive and encouraging, giving us hope for what the next 10 years have in store for how we
will understand, perceive, define, experience and make meaning of old age and later life. Lydia K. Manning, Ph.D. Dr. Manning is a gerontologist, educator and entrepreneur with a wide range of experience in the field of aging. She is an Associate Professor of Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago in the College of Graduate and Innovative Programs. Dr. Manning received her Ph.D. in social gerontology from the Department of Sociology and Gerontology at Miami University. Her expertise lies in complex issues related to aging, health and wellbeing. Her research focuses on resilience with related interests in religion and gender.
Older Americans Act:
A 50-YEAR LOOK BACK President Johnson signed the Older Americans Act (OAA) into law on July 14, 1965, and in the 50 years since, the OAA has provided the nation with programs that afford older adults the opportunities to continue living in their communities. The OAA:
1
2
3
Created the aging network
Provides home and communitybased services, in-home services, transportation, legal services and elder abuse prevention, as well as caregiver support services
Provides assistance to help older adults from prematurely using resources for hospitalization and nursing care
Major changes to OAA over the last 50 years include:
1965
Medicare signed into law
14
1987
Enhanced disease management programs
SP E C T R U M R E T I R E M E N T.CO M
1992
Separate authority to deal with elder rights
2000
National family caregiver support program
2006
Expanded home and community base care services
Celebrating our
CENTENARIANS REFLECTIONS ON A CENTURY OF LIFE, A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES.
What are the most important lessons you feel you have learned in your life?
What’s the most memorable family vacation?
Oh honey, probably Lake St. Clair at my aunt and uncle’s cottage. It wasn’t too far. And going to Boblo Island with my parents, friends from church and grade school friends. We would play on the swings, walk along the water and eat lunch.
Well, honesty for one. Behaving myself and always telling the truth.
What is the secret to a happy marriage?
Honesty, trust and love. We were together for six years, then married for 60 — that was a blessing.
What’s your first, most vivid memory?
Sunday dinners with my family. We lived in the city (Detroit) and most of my family lived in Utica and Mt. Clemens (suburbs). We had to take the train until my Dad got his first car — I was about 5 years old and it was a Ford. Sundays were always busy with our chores but we always spent at least two hours with family for dinner. My parents both came from large families, so I had plenty of aunts, uncles and cousins. Many of us didn’t have cars so we always had to pick
Helen Stoetzer Pine Ridge of Garfield Senior Living Clinton Township, Michigan BIRTHDAY: March 5, 1915
up others on the way. It took an hour on the road (and it wasn’t that far) — there were no traffic lights then. In the city, it was policemen standing in the road directing traffic. In the country, you were on your own but people were really nice and looked out for each other.
What inventions do you most remember?
What is the best thing about growing older?
I have had really good health my whole life — I’ve been very fortunate.
What have you liked best about your life so far?
Having good health and my two children. I now have grandchildren and great grandchildren, some are even married and in college.
What is your happiest moment?
When we got married. It was at my church. We had dinner afterwards with our families at my parents’ house.
Electricity in my house! Gas lamps were what we had before. I was already in school before any of us had telephones. SPECT RUM | SP RING-SU M M E R 2 0 1 6
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LIFEST YLE
Distinguished Residents
DILIGENT PURSUITS MEET FOUR DISTINGUISHED SPECTRUM RESIDENTS WHO REFLECT ON HOW THEIR CAREERS SHAPED THEIR LIVES.
A
NITA PETROSKYwas born
also did short stints in Laos in Bellingham, Massaand South Africa. chusetts, the tenth child Her first assignment was in a family of eleven. Her Iran. Through her job she parents were Russianwas able to meet several born immigrants. government officials, a few of Her mother was whom she would occasionalilliterate, and Anita ly include in dinner parties at helped teach her her home. She did extensive mother English. Along traveling with friends while with the help of a friendly during this time visiting high school teacher, she many famous historical sites assisted in teaching her including the Holy Land and mother U.S. history so she Egypt during the Christmas could become a citizen. holiday. She rode a camel at After graduation from the pyramids. high school, Anita worked Her second assignment PALMILLA SENIOR LIVING as a secretary in a textile was Argentina, and the ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO factory. She later moved highlight of that tour was to New York City, where meeting the first astronauts she worked for ten years. However, she was always to land on the moon — they made a worldwide tour interested in working abroad. after returning to Earth, and Buenos Aires was one From a colleague, she learned the U.S. State of the cities they visited. Department was recruiting and the next day walked “I spent many, many long hours working in the a few blocks down the street to the recruiting office control room, set up to handle their trips, and my and applied. After basic testing and a security reward was an autographed photo, a copy of which clearance, she was accepted. During her career, she hangs on the wall at Palmilla.” served in Iran, Argentina, Barbados, West Berlin, Barbados came next. Geneva, South Korea, Zimbabwe and Portugal. She “While there, I befriended an attorney general and
Anita Petrosky
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his wife, and we spent many dinners and holidays together,” she said. She was also able to visit many of the islands. The following assignment was in Washington, and then she was off to West Berlin — an interesting assignment, as the Berlin Wall was still a major factor in East/West relations. With U.S. Military issued identification cards, diplomatic personnel were allowed to travel to East Berlin. The military was in charge of U.S. interests in West Berlin — the embassy was based in Bonn. Visits to the East were normal on weekends, when staff went there for dinner and shopping. They were not allowed to overnight without special permission from the U.S. Military authorities. Years later, after the wall had fallen, Anita was able to revisit and enjoyed being allowed to walk through without being stopped. And she was able to come home with some pieces of the wall, which she shared with family while saving one for herself. Her next assignment was South Korea — also interesting because of the division between North and South. She became involved in escorting many of the congressional visitors who came to Korea. She was able to meet with the officials responsible for running our country at the time. Another interesting aspect of her tour was working with a group of FBI agents who were investigating a South Korean official accused of bribing a U.S. congressman. The group was led by Benjamin Civiletti, who later became a U.S. Attorney General. While posted in South Korea, she was asked to do a short duty in Laos, as they were having a problem getting a secretary to “volunteer” for a permanent assignment there. It was a bit frightening since the country was controlled by the Communists and occupied by Russians. At one point, while driving an embassy vehicle, she was run off the road by a
Russian military truck. The weekends held a much-needed diversion — a club run by the British — where Anita could enjoy swimming, playing volleyball, tennis and eating. Another assignment was to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland (the economic arm of the U.N.). She worked in administration at the embassy in Bern, Switzerland. While there she supervised several Swiss employees in the personnel office, welcoming newcomers, introducing them to other employees, as well as giving them info on finding housing and more. The most significant visitor was Henry Kissinger. He visited the embassy while on an official trip. She was assigned to assist embassy staff. She caught a glimpse of him but didn’t get to meet him. Her favorite assignment was Zimbabwe, where she was secretary to the ambassador. While there she became friends with the director of wildlife for the government and his wife. She became involved in the “Save the Rhino” campaign, helping to raise funds for the organization. She went on many safaris, often staying in tree houses, meeting the people who worked on anti-poaching campaigns. Anita had the good fortune to be assigned to temporary duty in South Africa when the ambassador’s secretary was going to the U.S. on home leave. She spent weekends touring the area and one of the most memorable visits was to the Cape of Good Hope. Her final assignment was Portugal. She enjoyed traveling through Europe again but decided it was time to retire and return to life in the U.S. She had foreign-service friends living in New Mexico. She visited them, bought a home and eventually retired there. She enjoyed the mixed cultures and volunteering to teach English as a second language, while traveling throughout the western part of the country. She now enjoys life at Palmilla Senior Living. SPECT RUM | SP RING-SU M M E R 2 0 1 6
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LIFEST YLE
Faye Darnell MOUNTAIN PARK SENIOR LIVING PHOENIX, ARIZONA
F
AYE DARNELL has been a resi-
dent of Mountain Park Senior Living since January 2014. Faye is an ordained minister, and she teaches bible study at the residence every Thursday. Faye started working in the church when she was just fourteen years old teaching Sunday school for children. Eventually, she married and raised four children of her own and started going to nursing school. She was about half way through nursing school when she and her husband moved to Arizona for her husband’s health. She put nursing school on hold and started working for Motorola. After four and a half years at Motorola, she decided she wanted to finish her nursing degree. She applied at Arizona State University, but they explained that too many years had passed, and her credits would not be eligible to put toward
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finishing a nursing degree. Although she became discouraged, a friend who worked as an engineer at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix offered her a position there in the cardiovascular testing department. He explained that her nursing background would be perfect since St. Joseph’s was a teaching hospital. While working at the hospital, she went back to school and became a cardiovascular technologist and eventually became the head of the department. She also served on the National Cardiovascular Technology Association. Faye resigned from the hospital, and she and her husband moved to Colorado, where she became very involved in her church. In this position, she did a lot of counseling and teaching. In 2001, Faye moved back to Arizona and became a practicing ordained minister with Assembly of God in the Ahwatukee neighborhood in Phoenix. Even after losing her husband in 2003 and later moving to Mountain Park Senior Living to retire, Faye never retired from teaching the word of God or helping people. She taught bible study at Mountain Park, and today she works in the food pantry at New Life Church in Ahwatukee. She says they have six grocery stores donating food. “We now serve food boxes to approximately two hundred people a week!” she said. “I’ve had a good life.”
Robert “Bob” Fiegenbaum CREVE COEUR ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE CREVE COEUR, MISSOURI
R
OBERT “BOB” FIEGENBAUM
graduated from CBC (Christian Brother College) High School at 17 years old and went to law school at Washington University, both in St. Louis, Missouri. He met his future bride, Lois, during college. Bob graduated and passed the bar exam before his 21st birthday, but was not allowed to practice until he reached that milestone birthday. He was a trial lawyer. Bob and Lois dated for three years, married and had three children. Bob worked as a lawyer, and Lois was a housewife. However, Lois was interested in flying and earned her pilot’s license. She was one of the first women in Missouri to do so. She would fly to various women’s colleges as a role model for other
women to become pilots. Bob also obtained his pilot’s license and together they purchased several planes throughout the years and traveled all over the U.S. Lois was also interested in ballet. She gave lessons and started her own school. When she and other interested citizens decided to start a dance company, Bob went along to one of the planning sessions. After listening to the talk of dancers, programming and production, Bob saw a need for leadership on the business side. He stepped in and was instrumental in starting the St. Louis Civic Ballet Company, which was in existence for more than 20 years. Bob was the organization’s first president and was involved with the company for many years. He came to love ballet. Bob and Lois often traveled to New York to attend ballet performances there. Bob and Lois were married for 57 years, until he lost his beloved wife about 11 years ago. Bob has lived at Creve Coeur Assisted Living & Memory Care since the community opened a year ago. He is a gentleman and a delight. He loves to dance at the community happy hours and has many partners waiting for their turn, as he is an excellent dancer!
R
OY BARTREM grew up
in Decatur, Illinois. At eight years old, he was formally trained to play the piano. Roy entered an amateur hour contest held by Horace Heidt and won! Heidt — known as a Big Band star-maker, who discovered more musical talent than any other bandleader, helped start a career for Roy as a pianist. Roy entered the Army Corps of Engineers in 1946. He traveled and played on a ship and was a chaplain assistant while stationed in Italy where he played the organ. After the service, he earned a degree in Business Administration from Millikin University in Illinois. As a young man, Roy toured with Roy Rogers. He played at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas for a year, which is where he played for a guy named Elvis Presley! In the mid-1950s, he took a full-time job and played locally in the evenings and on weekends. He played at the East Bank Club, Drake Hotel, the Cloister Inn and The Black Orchid — an upscale Chicago nightclub that flourished in the mid- to late-1950s. At the Black Orchid he met and/or played with the likes of Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Buddy Hackett, Herb Jeffries, Mel Torme, Josh White and Jonathan Winters. He met another very special person while playing at The
Roy Bartrem THREE OAKS ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE CARY, ILLINOIS
Black Orchid — “a very cute hat check girl.” Roy married that cute girl, Mildred, in 1955. She had two girls, Diane and Pam. Roy eventually adopted the girls. The family moved to Deerfield in 1956. His daughters have fond memories of him playing carols for the family at Christmas. He always had a piano in his home. His beloved Mildred passed away in 1999. He moved near family in Cary, Illinois, in 2001, then to Three Oaks in 2013. Last fall, to the delight of other residents, Roy began playing piano after dinner. Now a regular occurrence, Roy even takes requests. When asked how he knows so many songs he said, “that’s part of being a musician.” He now plays every evening, and the crowds are BIG! Lovely sounds travel through the halls of Three Oaks — it’s become a welcomed lullaby routine. SPECT RUM | SP RING-SU M M E R 2 0 1 6
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GREATEST
GENERATION
PRESIDENTIAL MATERIAL FROM RECEIVING THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION TO MEETING THE PRESIDENT, THESE MEN MADE HISTORY.
EDWARD “ED” BARRETT
PALOS VERDES SENIOR LIVING PEORIA, ARIZONA
EDWARD BARRETT WAS born in the Bronx on December 20, 1947. He and his family lived in New York for the first 12 years of his life, then moved to California. His father was 20
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in the furniture business with Ed’s uncle, Oscar. Ed was a very athletic young man and participated in many sports. He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, and he received his degree in logistics (sea, air and land) from the Air Force. Ed joined the Air Force as a young man to help fight in the Vietnam War. He was in the service for 22 years. He was involved in two tours during the Vietnam War with the 4th Air Commandos Squadron. Although he was in the Air Force, his unit specialized in helping the other armed forces. He was a “gunner” and witnessed a lot of active fire. He received several accommodations, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. For 15 years following Vietnam, Ed was stationed in Australia, England and Spain. He met his second
wife Beverley in Australia and together they had a son, Matt. Sadly, she died when their son was three years old, thus making his new mission in life to be a good father and to raise his son well. While Ed was still assigned in England he was asked to serve on Air Force One. He was with Air Force One for a year during the Reagan Administration. Ed stated that when they were building the plane for President Reagan, the president gave Boeing a shopping list of everything he wanted on board the Boeing 707, and First Lady Nancy Reagan even designed the drapes on the plane. Ed also worked for ITT Defense for more than four years, assisting in the building of their radar system, along with working with NASA on the Cassini Mission. Ed was instrumental in ensuring that the satellite sent to Saturn was appropriately balanced in the rocket. Ed has been retired for 22 years and is a 70% disabled veteran. He moved to Arizona from Las Vegas five years ago, and his son and grandchildren are very involved with his life and make him smile every day. One of Ed’s passions is restoring antique cars.
MAL MIDDLESWORTH
RIGDEN FARM SENIOR LIVING
MAL MIDDLESWORTH was born in Cowden, Illinois, on January 31, 1923. He left Elgin, Illinois, in his senior year of high school and joined the United States Marine Corps on April 13, 1941, in Chicago. He felt America would soon be at war and wished to serve his country. He finished boot camp at the USMC Recruit Depot in San Diego, in June 1941. Mal joined the Marine Detachment on the USS San
| FT. COLLINS, COLORADO Francisco on October 2nd. The heavy cruiser was berthed in Pearl Harbor. After the Japanese attack on December 7th, 1941, the USS San Francisco participated in many 1942 naval and air battles including the landings, capture and defense of Guadalcanal. During WWII, the ship was awarded 17 major battle stars and the first Presidential Unit Citation. Mal and JoJean Ciraulo were SPECT RUM | SP RING-SU M M E R 2 0 1 6
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engaged in December of 1943, while he was on a 30-day leave in Elgin. The couple married in East Los Angeles on April 1, 1944, after Mal asked to be transferred from sea duty. He remains married to his stillbeautiful wife today. Mal joined the First Marine Division on Guadalcanal and participated in the September 15, 1944, landings and capture of the Island of Peleliu. The attack resulted in a higher death toll than any other amphibious assault in U.S. military history. He returned to Elgin High School for his diploma and enrolled in Coe College, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in January of 1946. Jo and Mal had one of the first babies born on campus. He graduated at the end of summer school in 1948 and took a job in Chicago with a major oil company as a writer/editor. He later wrote, directed and produced autoracing films and television shows. He also served as the vice president of production and board member of a large media corporation in Detroit whose clients included several divisions of General Motors. After retirement, he edited the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association’s national publication. Mal was the organization’s longest serving national president. 22
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ADVISOR
Have Fun With
FACEBOOK CONNECT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS NEAR OR FAR. By Emily O’Brien
Have you heard about social media sites, but never understood how to use them? Whether they are nearby or across the country, Facebook offers a great way to stay connected to family members online. Follow this easy guide to help you get started. Sign up for Facebook by going to www.Facebook.com on your computer; it’s free and easy. Create a profile by answering simple get to know you questions, sharing only what you feel comfortable with. Under account settings, you can control the privacy settings, allowing your information to be visible only to those people you accept as friends.
1
Upload a digital photo of yourself for your profile picture and cover image. If you don’t have one, you can have a friend take one with a cell phone. Then email it to yourself and save it to your computer. Having a profile picture helps others quickly identify you online.
2
Find and add family members to “friend.” Facebook is a great way to look up old friends you’ve lost touch
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with! You can search family and friends by name using the search bar then click “Add Friend” to request a connection. Once you’re connected as Facebook friends, you’ll be able to keep up with their news via the newsfeed. Click the “like” button on their posts to show your support or, better yet, leave a comment under the post as well. The best way to get in the rhythm of Facebook is to play around with it. Update your own status with a comment about what you’re doing today or upload a photograph of ... anything! Then scroll on your newsfeed to see what other people are up to and begin interacting with them by clicking the like and comment buttons. Enjoy seeing the grandkids soccer photos, connecting with long-lost high school friends or reading inspirational quotes your friends share.
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LEARN THE LINGO There’s a difference between your wall, newsfeed and posts. Newsfeed: This is what you see when you sign on. You are automatically taken to your newsfeed to see what your friends are posting on their walls. View their travel photos, articles that they find interesting, what their kids are up to and more. Posts: These are the updates you and your friends … well, post. Each time you add a photo, or let friends know what you’re doing — that’s a post. Wall: Your wall is a collection of your status updates (also known as posts), so when you post a photo of something fun you did that day, it will go up on your wall. (It helps if you think of it as a giant digital bulletin board, each post getting tacked onto it like a Polaroid picture or post-it note.) Your friends will then see your posts in their newsfeeds. SPECT RUM | SP RING-SU M M E R 2 0 1 6
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INSIDE SPEC TRUM
ELIZABETH HOLDER PALMILLA SENIOR LIVING, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
RUSTI GREENLAW GARDENS AT WESTLAKE SENIOR LIVING, WESTLAKE, OHIO
Lifelong Friends Reunite AFTER 20-SOME YEARS A LONG-AWAITED PHONE CALL REVEALS A SWEET SURPRISE.
ELIZABETH H O L D E R A T T E N D E D RE X Nursing School in Raleigh, North Carolina. After three years, she became a registered nurse and took a job at Duke University Medical Center on a rotating, as needed basis in the mid 50s. It was a time when nurses wore white uniforms and their nursing caps. One day, assigned to the emergency room and nervous about it, her supervisor cautioned her not to worry, as “Rusti will be there.” Rusti Greenlaw arrived, made Elizabeth feel comfortable and the pair became good friends. As it turned out, Elizabeth’s husband Bill and Rusti’s fiancé Joe were both students at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, so two young couples with not much money used to stay home and entertain themselves 24
SP E C T R U M R E T I R E M E N T.CO M
by playing Bridge. When Rusti and Joe married, Elizabeth — or “Lib” as Rusti called her — and Bill were in the couple’s wedding. The couples lived in the same neighborhood for five years. Lib would work evenings and then the four of them would play Bridge until the wee hours of the morning. They had so much in common and had so much fun together. Rusti laughs about how they would put vodka in their watermelon. The friends were there for each other for the births of their children. Lib’s husband often worked out of town and happened to be gone when Elizabeth’s water broke. Who did she call? Yes, her friend Rusti, who drove her to the hospital
and stayed with her until her second son was born. “We shared all the young mother things together,” said Rusti. She said Lib was the best nurse she ever saw. For the next twentyfive years, they visited each other across the United States as their husbands were transferred from state to state. But as time went on, they lost touch. Rusti said she and Lib hadn’t seen each other for 10 or 15 years. Elizabeth, widowed, was living out in the country by herself up until October 2013. Her kids were in Albuquerque, and she made the decision to move. For a while she lived with the kids, but the idea of senior living came up at a family conference one day. Elizabeth said that her kids approached the subject cautiously, and they started with a “let us just go and look” approach. She moved to Palmilla Senior Living in June 2014. When Rusti decided to move to a senior living community, she chose the Gardens at Westlake Senior Living, a Spectrum Retirement Community. Once she moved to the Gardens, she began to think about Lib. She decided she was going to try to contact her. She found Lib’s son on Facebook and learned Lib had moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rusti made a call and the two lifelong friends reconnected. “It is so easy to talk … just like it was yesterday!” Lib said. As they exchanged phone numbers and addresses, Rusti shared that she had moved to a senior living community only to learn that Lib had as well. They laughed to learn they had both moved to Spectrum communities. But even better, to the amazement of two best friends, they both had moved into apartment 303 in their respective communities!
Spectrum Retirement Communities Receives National Award NAMED AMONG BEST OF SENIOR LIVING BY SENIORADVISOR.COM. SENIORADVISOR.COM, THE PREMIER online ratings and reviews site for senior living communities nationwide, named Spectrum Retirement Communities among the top 10 senior housing operators in the United States, as part of the site’s annual Best of Senior Living Excellence Awards. The awards recognize senior living communities and home care providers that receive consistently high ratings and positive reviews from their residents, families and visitors. Less than 1 percent of providers nationwide receive this exclusive designation. “Good stewardship and the pursuit of perfection are among the core values that drive everything we do,” noted Spectrum Managing Director Jeff Kraus. “The Excellence Award is based on the opinions of those who truly matter — our residents and their families. It validates that we are living our values.” Nearly 70 percent of Spectrum’s overall portfolio, the highest percentage among the nation’s top 10 operators, was rated excellent in the annual survey, representing 17 communities across nine states. “These award-winning providers are raising the bar in the senior care industry, and families are noticing,” said Eric Seifert, President of SeniorAdvisor.com. To qualify for an Excellence Award, communities must have received an average overall rating of at least 4.5 stars based on a minimum number of reviews, and must offer at least one of three care types: independent living, assisted living or memory care. SPECT RUM | SP RING-SU M M E R 2 0 1 6
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INSIDE SPEC TRUM
A New Home in Hilliard
A QUAINT HISTORIC DISTRICT OPENS ITS DOORS TO SPECTRUM. LOCATED CENTRALLY IN THE HEART of Ohio, and a suburb of Columbus, is a quaint historic district known as Hilliard. Hilliard Assisted Living & Memory Care will be Spectrum Retirement’s second community in Ohio, but the first to contain Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia care living options. Projected to welcome residents this spring, Hilliard Assisted Living & Memory Care will feature a combination of 100 assisted living and memory care apartments offering loved ones a fine balance between independence and care, along with Spectrum’s very own unique transitional memory care program – the Residence ClubTM. Amenities will include a wellness center, theatre, library, beauty salon, transportation and plenty more — all carefully tailored to accommodate the residents’ personality, values and personal preferences. More than 40 percent of the community will be utilized for community space. This beautiful town offers a variety of historical and cultural sites to engage local residents. Originally called Hilliard’s Station, the area served as a shipping point for agricultural products used by local farmers. John Hilliard Reed initiated development here in 1852, when he purchased ten acres of farmland in the area. In 1854, the first post office opened, establishing the area as a village. At that time, the word “Station” was dropped from its 26
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original name, leaving the town as, simply, Hilliard. The first railroad station, located west of Main Street, remained there until all railroad services ceased in 1962. Dedication to preserving its rich heritage proves to be of importance to Hilliard. Today, the original train station has been restored and continues to be a part of the historic village in Weaver Park. The train station is not all Hilliard has taken the initiative to preserve. Hilliard is also home to the Early Television Museum. The Early Television Museum contains a collection of more than 150 television receiver sets, including mechanical TVs from the 1920s and ’30s, as well as World War II British sets; pre-war American sets; post-war American, British, French, and German sets; and early color televisions. First Responders Park, also in the historic village, is the second largest 9/11 commemorative park found in the U.S. The City of Hilliard constructed the park, dedicated on September 11, 2010, to pay tribute to first responders everywhere and to serve as a reminder of the events of that tragic day. Located at 4303 Trueman Blvd., Hilliard Assisted Living & Memory Care will offer month-to-month rental apartments, with no buy-in fees. For more information or to reserve your future home today and experience luxurious senior living at its finest, visit HilliardAssistedLiving.com.
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Colors of
TM
Color your life with FUN!
In 2015, Spectrum Retirement Communities and the FUN Department launched an exciting new activities program, Colors of SpectrumTM. Each month we celebrated a different color and life theme, adding extra dimension to our existing activities catalog, as well as the lives of our team members and residents.
TM
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touch lives by focusing on giving back in each of our communities. Each month will highlight the achievements of a famous philanthropist from history, and we will also be donating time and love to various local and national charity organizations. So join the FUN!
Color your life with... Philanthropy!
In 2016, we will be doing it all again, but with an added twist! This year is a all about personal touch, so in addition to coloring our lives with FUN, we will also personally 1st Quarter (Jan-Mar): Focus on Children • 2nd Quarter (Apr-Jun): Focus on Hope 3rd Quarter (Jul-Sep): Focus on Seniors • 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov): Focus on Military December: Bringing it All Together
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
Mother Teresa White - Integrity
Walt Disney Red - Passion
Dolly Parton Green - Spirit
JULY
AUGUST
Mickey Rooney Orange - Appreciation
Michael J. Fox Gray - Respect
APRIL
MAY
Bill & Melinda Gates Audrey Hepburn Brown - Growth Pink - Development
JUNE
Jerry Lewis Yellow - Optimism
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Dr. Alzheimer Blue - Health
Bob Hope Black - Honor
Donald Rumsfeld Oprah Winfrey Purple - Stewardship Spectrum - Diversity
This Feels Like
HOME
速
Actual Spectrum Residents
Independent Retirement Living | Assisted Living | Transitional Memory Care | Memory Care
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OHIO
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TEXAS
Please call or visit a community today!
(888) 516-2188
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