Spectrum Enriched Senior Living by Alive Publishing Group

Enriched Senior Living Spring 2011

Enjoy! How your personal hobby boosts overall well being

21st Century Seniors technology to make our lives easier

Aging in Place the best long-term options for your loved ones

A Publication of Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC

Spectrum Retirement Communities offers flexible, affordable month-to-month rental programs, enabling residents to enjoy the luxury they desire without a prohibitive financial commitment or buy-in fee. Lifestyle options include independent, assisted living, and memory care. Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC has multiple locations in nine states across the country. To learn more or find a community near you, call 888-516-2188 or visit us online at www.spectrumretirement.com.

John Sevo managing director

Jeff Kraus managing director

ATTENTION: VETERANS OR ThEIR SuRVIVINg SpOuSES Qualifying Veterans or their surviving Spouse may receive up to

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Even if you have over $80,000 in assets,

Call Us to learn what you can do to protect your hard-earned assets! Matt Westhoff, CFP

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Welcome to Spectrum At Spectrum Retirement

Communities, we recognize that times are constantly changing and we strive to evolve with them. New technologies arise that make life easier for all of us, yet they can be challenging to learn. New medical procedures and pharmaceuticals are being developed that can help us truly thrive. And new facets of care are always evolving to help seniors live their best lives. But one thing should never change: The importance of staying in touch, staying connected with family and friends and, here at Spectrum, the importance of community. That is why we publish this magazine, now in our fifth issue: To encourage community, to share developments in the Spectrum family and to educate residents and their adult children on the latest in senior living. In this issue, we look at technology and how modern developments can enrich all of our lives. From “Smart Drugs” (pg. 16) to one-cup coffee makers (pg. 11), we reveal some of the latest and greatest ideas out there. But we also take a look back. In “The More Things Change” (pg. 7) we take a trip down memory lane with members of the Spectrum family and reflect on decades past. And we share a generation’s memory with Frank Nolte (pg. 12), Spectrum resident and author who scribed a book about his experiences in World War II. The Spectrum family continues to grow in many ways. This magazine helps us to keep in touch, to stay together and to enjoy what other members of our community are doing around the country. So, please ... Enjoy! John Sevo and Jeff Kraus Managing Directors Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC

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Spectrum Lifestyle

CONTENTS

05 10 12

a new era of care The national effort to combat Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Disease

21st Century Seniors How modern technology can improve our lives

a write of passage Spectrum resident Frank Nolteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s WWII memoirs are accepted to the Library of Congress

Spectrum Wellness

14 16

the hobby habbit The physical, mental and social benefits of doing what we enjoy

smart drugs Improved pharmaceuticals show great promise fighting cancer and more

07 the more things change... Spectrum residents reflect on what has changed over the decades ... And what has not

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wisdom of the ages Three Spectrum centenarians share their sage insights

Spectrum Advisor

21 24

aging in place Finding the right community for the long term

make it personal Simple security measures to keep you safe in a digital world

Inside Spectrum

looking ahead Two new communities begin construction this spring

life st yle

A New Era of Care Member of Spectrum family plays significant role in passage of Alzheimer’s legislation For the five million American families living with Alzheimer’s disease, 2011 started off with an extra reason to celebrate. With the stroke of a pen, President Obama signed into law, a key piece of Alzheimer’s legislation called the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA). NAPA creates, for the first time, a coordinated national strategy to confront one of America’s most feared and costly diseases. NAPA will provide an essential framework within the government that recognizes By Carrie Collins / the Alzheimer crisis is no Alzheimer’s Association longer emerging but is truly upon us. The bill will lead to a national strategic plan to overcome the Alzheimer’s disease epidemic. It will establish an interagency council to work with the Secretary of Health and Human Services to give a full assessment of what needs to be done to address the threat of Alzheimer’s on multiple fronts including care, research and support. NAPA ensures strategic planning and coordination in the fight against Alzheimer’s across the federal government as a whole.

Left to Right: Don Rosenberg, Alzheimer’s Association, GMC Board of Directors Chair; Dian Wilkins, President Alzheimer’s Association, GMC; Senator Carl Levin (D-MI); Roger Bushnell, Executive Director Maple Heights Spectrum Retirement Community, Board of Directors GMC and Chair of the Detroit Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

NAPA will provide an essential framework within the government that recognizes the Alzheimer crisis is no longer emerging but is truly upon us.

Close to Home For Roger Bushnell, Executive Director at Maple Heights Retirement Community in Allen Park, Michigan, the victory was especially gratifying. Bushnell was one of the Alzheimer’s advocates who oversaw the bill as it was shepherded through the US House, Senate and then on to the President’s desk. Last fall, he

personally asked for US Senator Carl Levin’s (D-MI) support for the legislation. Bushnell is a caregiver for his mother who has the disease and was a longtime caregiver for his father, who passed away from the disease in 2010. The National Alzheimer’s Project Act is the largest legislative victory in many years for the Alzheimer cause. While the bill that President

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Obama signed into law was reintroduced in February 2010, the groundwork for the victory started years before that. Bushnell was in Washington D.C. in March 2009 when the Alzheimer’s Study Group released its final report, A National Alzheimer’s Strategic Plan: The Report of the Alzheimer’s Study Group. The report called for the creation of a National Alzheimer’s Strategy and an Alzheimer’s Project Office within the federal government. Bushnell also met with several members of Michigan’s Congressional delegation to discuss the impact this devastating disease has on families, caregivers and communities. “What you are seeing with the passage of NAPA is the result of hard work and determination on the part of our advocates,” states Carrie Collins, Public Policy Director for the Alzheimer’s Association. “The best part is that we are just warming up,” Collins continues. “To complement NAPA, we are working on the passage of the HOPE and Breakthrough Acts, two more pieces of the puzzle that are needed to address Alzheimer’s as a nation.” The legislation is a significant step in the battle against the Alzheimer’s epidemic.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. Their mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Their vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.

For more information, visit www.alz.org.

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the Path to the Present ™ Many Spectrum communities offer a unique and very effective approach to dementia care, seeking to understand and align the paths of the individual, the family and the caregiver. With a strong focus on the individual, we create an environment that caters to one’s personality, core values and personal preferences. By knowing each memory-care resident on a personal level, we foster a high level of trust that directly promotes physical and emotional comfort. Furthermore; we celebrate each individual’s past while recognizing his or her current potential. We deeply respect the importance of family and friends in an individual’s life and actively engage them in all facets of care. By understanding the path that the family and the individual have taken together, we are able to join in the care and provide a truly personal and strong network of support. We also honor the path that brought our team members to Spectrum to work with individuals who live with dementia. They care deeply about what they do and the people they work with – something that is inherent and cannot be taught. Our caregivers remain highly trained in the latest dementia-care programs and create a safe and accessible environment for memory care residents. We create a home-like environment for residents, with personal mementos, an emphasis on way-finding and a meal program that takes the special dietary needs of people with dementia into consideration. For more information about Spectrum’s Memory Care, and which communities around the country offer them, call 800-686-8465 or visit www.spectrumretirement.com.

The More Things Change... F r o m p a r t y l i n e s t o c e l l p h o n e s , w as h b o a r d s t o w as h i n g machines, and electricity to electrical cars, we sure have come a long way. Technology has advanced in unimaginable ways, bringing us both closer together and farther apart. Here, Spectrum residents share their thoughts on what has changed through the decades, reflect on the way it was and, of course, the way it ought to be.

Technology What is your favorite piece of modern technology? Why? The computer and the Internet provide news as it happens all around the world. Therefore, they (collectively) are my favorite piece of technology. We are living in a global world, where events taking place in foreign countries may affect us as much, or more, than those happening in our own localities. While television, radio, magazines, newspapers and other media provide information, no source can compete with the breadth, depth and accessibility of the Internet. —Dorothy Showers, Palos Verdes Television. Because it adds education and entertainment to our lives. — Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry, Ocean Ridge

Is there an item commonly used today that you never imagined would really exist? How has it changed the way we live? The computer. The Internet has made more information accessible to everyone. I can talk with friends on the other side of the country right from my living room. —Christine Whitehead, Pine Ridge Hayes Computers. Everything is so handy to everyone and we should make great use of them. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry The cell phone. We can be away from home and know that family and friends can reach us at any time, especially during emergencies. —Jean Currie, Maple Heights

I don’t care too much for the new stuff. —Helen Pierce, The Homestead at Hickory View s p e ctr u m / sprin g 20 1 1

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While there are surely some people around the world using them, the old scrub boards women used to get clothes clean and the old clotheslines and clothespins used to hang clothes out to dry fortunately have given way to automatic washers and dryers that enable us to do laundry with the flick of a few switches. Washing clothes used to be an all-day job. —Dorothy Showers

What about the future? Is there an item that you can’t imagine will ever be commonplace? I feel there will be all electric cars in the future. There will be no gas stations but we’ll have to plug in at the electric stations. —Helen Pierce Space travel, unless more innovations are brought forth. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry

Tell us about something from your childhood that is no longer used today. The old “party” telephone lines where you might pick up the receiver and hear other people already talking. You could listen to their conversation, or politely hang up and try to make your call when the lines weren’t used. —Dorothy Showers I was one of four children growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We couldn’t afford a refrigerator, so we kept our perishable food in containers in a deep hole in the ground, which kept it cold for a day or so. We had to throw our food away if kept too long, and we never were able to have ice cream! —Jean Currie Outhouses and having to carry water to the house from the well. —Helen Pierce Horses and buggies or carts. Also, chamber pots under beds. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry

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Is there an item of modern technology that you couldn’t live without today? The telephone. We take it for granted that we can call anyone, anywhere. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry Yes, the phone! Also, my one-cup automatic coffee maker. It enables me to have a hot cup of coffee when I first get out of bed in the morning. —Jean Currie, Maple Heights Electricity. —Helen Pierce

Have technological advancements improved people’s lives? Yes. For example, while X-ray technology allowed us to see inside the human body since 1895, current X-ray screening enables improved diagnoses and better medical care. Many seniors, including myself, are alive and able to live quality lives because we had complex cardiac surgery and implants which were not possible without the advanced X-ray technology used by medical professionals today. —Dorothy Showers

What was the first car you owned? What was your favorite car you owned? A two-seater Porsche that drove like a Cadillac but shifted like a truck. It was the cutest little thing. A dark blue 1936 Ford fourseater convertible. —Christine Whitehead 1926 Dodge. 1942 Chrysler —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry

society How have societal values changed over the decades? Loyalty to one’s employer. Changing jobs is commonplace now. There are more women in the work place now, too. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry They have changed in a way that we have so much more to live for today: better homes and places to live; better furniture; better cars; etc. However, our values of right and wrong should never change. We should always seek to help others in need. —Jean Currie

What aspects of our culture remain the same today as decades ago? I taught school for 36 years and overall, kids will be kids. It really hasn’t changed that much. —Christine Whitehead

When I was [growing up] there was only one girl who had a mother who worked. We all only had one incoming paycheck; our families only had one car; we all had small houses. —Dorothy Showers There are still lots of churches and religion. —Helen Pierce Much more emphasis is given to higher education; our parents were fortunate to complete high school. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry

Have people come closer together or grown more distant with the advancements in technology? Parents have been more focused on material things and children want even more than their parents. Less time to spend together. —Christine Whitehead Closer together by communications, but farther apart because each television has one family gathered around it. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry

How has the cost of living increased over the decades? Can you give a specific example? The cost of living has gained by leaps and bounds. Homes cost more, as do cars, utilities, home appliances and groceries. It is inevitable. —Jack Henry and Joyce Sherwood Henry I remember buying 10 cents worth of gas. —Christine Whitehead

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21st Century Seniors How modern technology can improve our lives By Brendan Harrington

Technology. It can be both enthralling and intimidating at the same time.We all know about computers (though we don’t all know how to use them!) Most of us have cell phones. And satellite TV is old news by now. But what other elements of technology can help make life easier for seniors? Video phone help keep us in touch. Personal health monitors help keep us safe. And one-cup coffee makers help wake us up. Suffice it to say, there are some nifty devices out there that can enhance our daily living. Here are a few.

Bring the Bookstore to You

hese days, you don’t need to drive to the bookstore or library to find your next great read. It’s already in the palm of your hands. With the Kindle wireless reading device, you can instantly load any book, magazine, newspaper or periodical to a personal and portable tablet that is the size of a standard hardcover book. The Kindle isn’t new—it’s been around a few years now—but the price has dropped considerably and the selection of literature has skyrocketed. It is easy to use with simple push button operation, and easy to read with text that you can adjust to your eyesight. While it may seem a novel concept to some, the technology is very real and promises to revolutionize how future generations read. You simply turn it on, scroll a catalog of millions of books, select what you want to read and download it for less than the cost of a printed edition. The Kindle itself costs $139 and is available online at www.amazon.com.

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fun and games

ideo games are not just for kids anymore. Today’s games are interactive, lively, and require the player to get up and move with their on-screen counterpart. Take the Wii, a gaming device that connects to your television and allows you to really truly play whatever game you’d like to play. For example, you can go bowling right there in your living room. With the Wii device in your hand you swing your arm back, push the button to put spin on the ball and watch what happens on screen. It’s a great way to bring your favorite game inside. They have baseball (where players actually throw to pitch and swing to hit the ball), tennis, music, and countless other games that encourage players to get up and get moving. There are even Wii workout routines including dancing and yoga, in which the character on television mimics what you do in your home. Wii has become increasingly popular over the past few years and offers true active entertainment for individuals and groups of friends.

shop from home

he Internet allows us to shop for absolutely anything from the comfort of our own home and get it delivered right to our door. Obviously, this is handy for larger items or hard-to-find pieces that you just can’t get to yourself. But it’s also a great way to handle your daily living needs such as groceries and medication. Websites like ShopAtHome.com offer coupons and savings to every store imaginable all over the country. AmazonGroceries.com makes it easy to get specialty items delivered to your door. More and more doctors are consulting patients by video conference through the computer. And many websites make it easy to secure prescriptions and medication, although you should speak with your primary care physician before pursuing any medication online. Yes, you need a computer and Internet connection to shop at home. But with some basic computer knowledge you can bring the world to your doorstep.

the perfect cup

connect without a computer

he GO Computer is the answer for anyone who doesn’t care to learn how to use a computer. Designed with seniors in mind, this simple device consists of a keyboard and a monitor, but requires no computer knowledge whatsoever. By simply clicking a button, users can connect with loved ones around the world, research their favorite hobby or read the news. With a largeletter keyboard and easy-to-read monitor the GO computer takes minutes to set up and is completely secure against any computer viruses or spam. Best of all, the GO computer offers 24-hour U.S.-based customer service that allows you to call and ask a real person questions anytime you’d like. The GO computer costs $850 and up. You can learn more by calling 877-671-5846.

personal safety

f you like your morning coffee, but don’t like to brew a large pot each day or don’t need more than one cup, then these coffee makers are right for you. Take the Keurig single cup brewer. You simply plug in a specially designed packet of coffee to the machine and push the button. In minutes you have a single cup of joe, just the way you like it, with no mess, no pot to rinse or grinds to clean. It’s not a cheap option—the Keurig models run $129 and up—but it’s quick, convenient, clean and does not waste any coffee.

lot of companies offer home systems that monitor various aspects of a person’s health and notify doctors or family if there is an emergency. For example, BeClose is a system that places motion sensors throughout the home to detect any falls or unusual patterns. If you fall and aren’t able to get to a phone, the system will automatically call for help. Other systems actually monitor physical health such as heart rate and blood pressure and call for help in case of an emergency. While it can be difficult to concede to this kind of support, such personal health monitoring systems are proven effective in an emergency and reduce the worry for you and your loved ones. s p e ct ru m / sprin g 20 1 1

By Kim Goodwin

A Write of

Spectrum resident turned author Frank Nolte enters WWII memoir into U.S. Library of Congress ccording to the Library of Congress website, it houses more than 144 million items and is “an unparalleled world resource.” Frank Nolte, a WWII veteran and resident at Maple Heights Senior Living in Allen Park, Michigan is one of the privileged people to have their work housed on the shelves of this one-of-a-kind library. Frank Nolte, 86, was fortunate enough to bring home 100 or so very sharp black-and-white photos from the war. These photos were each about the size of a credit card and documented the war, capturing images that only a few people had seen. A peer once told Nolte that, “people knew every minute where Eisenhower was. They had secretaries writing things down every minute. But your photographs document things that no one else knows about. One little sliver in the huge thing called WWII. You saw stuff that probably no one else saw.” “They were in a box, and I didn’t pay much attention to them,” Nolte says of his photos. It wasn’t until many years later he became interested in sharpening and manipulating them. “I realized I could put text with them and make an electronic scrapbook,” he says.

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“ It is an enormous thing to say you have a book in [the Library of Congress] with Thomas Jefferson.“ Nolte’s battalion, Company B 556th Engineer Heavy Pontoon Battalion, had a reunion every year from 1946-2004. Over time, companions from his unit gave him pictures and documents of their own and his scrapbook kept growing. As a college English professor for 40 years, he realized that he was writing a book, but backwards. “The photos were driving the text. As time went on I had a substantial file and the question was: What was I going to do with it?” says Nolte. In 2004, he and his family went to the dedication of the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. Armed with excerpts of his scrapbook, he went to the Library of Congress tent on the National Mall, where they told him that what he had was a book, and he really should complete it. It wasn’t until a business associate of one of his sons provided Nolte with an editor and printer that the publishing process began. The

original press run was only 150 copies. The book, My Write of Passage is now a 511-page memoir with more than 1,400 photographs, maps, unpublished documents, artwork, and even e-mails. The book encompasses memories of war and the life of one WWII veteran. “The intent was to give [the books] to some of the veterans and their families, and give it to my children as a heritage gift. I gave it to some museums, and in June 2009 a copy of the book was presented to the national archives, and the Library of Congress,” explains Nolte.

Sharing His Experiences In 2000, the Library of Congress created a program called the Veterans History Project. The mission of the project is to, “Collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.” Their focus is currently on WWII veterans, as they are aging and becoming less frequent in number. Frank Nolte’s memoir is the perfect addition to the shelves. “It is an enormous thing to say you have a book in [the Library of Congress] with Thomas Jefferson. But the head librarian told me, ‘If you want to tell people you have a book in there, great, but know there are 54,000 books in the Veteran’s Project,” he says with a laugh. “People in England have read it,” he continues. “This thing has grown. I had a handful of old pictures in the back of a sock drawer!” The

original photos are now safely locked in a safety deposit box as they are more than 60 years old. Family played an important role in the development of Nolte’s book, and is playing a role in the creation of his new books. “Two of my sons were instrumental in helping me learn the computer. They were very helpful in teaching me the things that finally helped produce the book. Now I am computer literate,” he says. When Frank Nolte gives somebody a copy of his book, he photographs them wearing his Ike Jacket. Even Senator Carl Levin of Michigan is photographed in the jacket at the ceremony honoring Nolte’s induction into the Library of Congress. “I wore that jacket home from Tokyo in December of 1945. The jacket hangs right here in this closet now. It has never been cleaned. I am afraid if I clean it, it might melt,” he laughs. Frank Nolte is currently creating a book of short essays. These essays have been written over a long period of time and express some of his fondest memories. One of his granddaughters edited the new book and titled it String of Pearls. He is also working on a book that is to be titled Save Your Fork. Nolte explains, “As good as the meal has been, save your fork, because the dessert is better.” Frank Nolte never set out to write a book about WWII or his life experiences. He just wanted to give his children and grandchildren a piece of their heritage, and now that is exactly what he has done. His experience will forever be preserved on the shelves of the Library of Congress for more than just his children to read.

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Get in the

Hobby Habit Following our interest and doing what we enjoy has physical, mental and social benefits

It is easy to sit down and open the dictionary to find the definition of a word. But what does that word really mean and how do we as living breathing humans really perceive it? Let’s examine the word “hobby.” Miriam Webster defines hobby as: “A pursuit outside one’s regular occupation engaged in especially for relaxation.” That definition could range from collecting stamps to reading a favorite book and to most people, yes, this is what a hobby means. But having a hobby may have a more posiBy Jamie Deines tive impact on one’s life than originally thought. In order to better understand the benefits of having a hobby we must understand the types of hobbies, the importance of a hobby, and how it affects our mental, physical, and social competence.

just like our taste buds, personal interests can change throughout our lifetime. Something we enjoyed in our youth may no longer be of interest to us in our adult years. In addition to changing interests, hobbies also change to meet the needs of our biological aging. The SOC Model (Selection, Optimization, Compensation) is thought to maximize the gains and minimize the losses associated with aging, thus promoting successful development and aging. It is difficult for aging adults to lose the ability to do what they once loved. As individuals enter into retirement and their senior years, they have more time to do what they want, but as finances, health, and transportation become barriers, individuals must compensate for the loss. The following example helps to explain the SOC Model: Mary Alice is a retired concert

Hobbies support our mental, physical and social well-being by challenging our minds and giving us a sense of camaraderie. A Personal Choice There are many examples of hobbies that can be enjoyed alone or in a group setting. Collecting, playing games, outdoor recreation, performing arts, creative hobbies, cooking, gardening and reading are a few ideas that appeal to a broad range of people. When somebody finds a hobby that is of interest to them, it can make their life more interesting and boost their morale. However,

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pianist, but with the arthritis in her hands, she can no longer play the piano so she attends her town’s weekly concerts. The piano playing is her selection, she optimizes her loss by going to the concerts and compensates by enjoying the sounds and talents of other pianists. By having a hobby—whether active or passive—we can improve our mental, physical, and social well being, leading to a healthier way of life.

Personal Benefits Having a hobby improves our mental well-being by giving us inner gratification. It keeps us in touch with our inner self. By doing something we truly enjoy, without being told what to do and just letting the creative mind flow, we get a certain inner satisfaction and relaxation. Individuals who are depressed or lonely will benefit from a hobby because it stimulates the mind and motivates them. Even if somebody is not active in a hobby, they still feel a sense of presence, connecting them with other people who share the same interest and care about one another. One hobby that is gaining popularity and has a positive effect on mental well-being is knitting; especially with the senior population. Knitting circles can be found in senior communities throughout the nation and, notably, the number of men who take part in knitting is on the rise. Since knitting can be done alone or in the company of others, it is both a solitary and a social activity. Knitting is a great mental activity because the knitter must pay close attention and count the stitches to ensure that the finished product comes out as the pattern suggests. There are patterns for beginners and patterns for advanced knitters. Rigden Farm Senior Living in Fort Collins, Colorado, is currently knitting hats for the homeless on round looms; an easy type of

Concepts Active Hobby - A pastime in which one actively engages, such as playing bridge or gardening. Passive Hobby - A pastime in which one participates through observation, such as watching live music. A hobby can be exercised as an individual or in a group, each offering unique benefits to the the individual participant. Pursuing a new interest as a hobby can add an extra level of challenge and therefore physical or cognitive benefit.

The Hobby Habit There are countless hobbies in which seniors can participate, each with their own challenges and rewards. Above all else, a hobby depends on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s personal interest. Consider something you have always wanted to do and give it a shot. Here are some ideas: Cooking Music Puzzles

Playing Chess Scale Models Collecting Painting Gardening Woodworking Playing Cards Dancing Scrapbooking

knitting that everyone can take part in, from novice to expert. The outreach effort is creating a strong sense of community and a new bond between people.

Physical Aspects In addition to creating a positive mindset, a hobby can also improve our physical health. When we do something we enjoy, we smile and laugh more, which helps us relax physically. When we relax and smile, we feel and look better overall which, in turn, boosts our immune system, tones our muscles, encourages positive thinking and relaxes the whole body to reduce stress and tension. Additionally, a hobby can have a great impact on our social lives when enjoyed as a group. When individuals share an interest with friends, a social barrier is knocked down and people come together smiling, laughing and creating new friendships with new groups of people that they might not have associated with otherwise. A sense of belonging and community will develop as a result of participating in a group hobby, especially if one does not have family nearbyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a common trend among the senior population. Food, water and shelter may be the basic tenets of survival, but having a hobby makes living more enjoyable. Hobbies support our mental, physical and social well-being by challenging our minds and giving us a sense of camaraderie. Hobbies do not have to be extravagant or expensive. They simply need to satisfy a person, creating relaxation and inner gratification. So pick up a good book or go on a walk and find your hobby today!

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Smart Drugs Nearly every American has, at some point, been treated with some kind of prescription drug—antibiotics being one of the most common. To be truly effective, these drugs need to treat an infecBy Taylor Moss tion without harming the rest of the body. With antibiotics, this is possible because they target parts of bacteria that humans do not have. The extra drug simply passes through the body, interacting very little with the human cells (though there can be side effects as they attack the “good” bacteria in our bodies). As we move away from simple bacterial infections toward more complex medical issues, finding effective drugs that don’t cause problems with other body systems becomes increasingly difficult, and the side effects become more severe. Thus was born the need for “smart drugs” that can interact with the body only where they need to, dramatically reducing side effects and increasing effectiveness. Currently, the target for most smart drug research is cancer. This is where the most bang for the research buck really lies, as traditional chemo treatments come with considerable side effects and only marginal to good efficacy.

Delivery Systems There are many reasons traditional drugs are difficult to use in combating cancer—namely that cancer cells contain the same parts and processes as other cells in the human body. Any drug that will kill cancer cells will also kill healthy body cells.

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Recent advancements in pharmacology hold great promise for cancer patients

Traditional chemotherapy is generally targeted against the processes of cell division, since cancer cells are always dividing and most body cells divide much less frequently. However, side effects reveal that this remains a very crude targeting technique. Smart drugs, however, can get around these problems. Smart drugs are hybrids of several functional components bound together and working in concert. The most important component—what makes them smart drugs—is the targeting component. These new medicines are specially designed to recognize a particular molecule on the surface of cancer cells. Cancer cells usually display molecules on their surface that other, properly functioning body cells do

Top of Class There is another class of smart drugs called Theranostics. Theranostic drugs combine diagnostic and therapeutic functions by also including a component that can be imaged by a machine such as an MRI or PET scanner. These very futuristic drugs allow a patient with cancer to be injected with the drug and scanned with an imaging machine to yield important information. Based on the changes the drug goes through as it targets and attacks cancer cells, the scan would show the doctor where the drug collected to ensure no parts of the tumor were missed. It would also show how much of the actual therapeutic agent was delivered—and how quickly—so the doctor

These very futuristic drugs allow a patient with cancer to be injected with the drug and scanned with an imaging machine to yield important information. not. The targeting component of the smart drug will bind to these molecules, effectively sticking the drug to the target cells and leaving healthy cells alone. Once bound to the target, the payload component is responsible for delivering the actual therapeutic aspect of a smart drug. Usually this is a molecule that resembles a hollow ball, with a toxin contained inside. The binding causes the cell to pull that ball into itself, which then triggers the ball to break open, release the toxin into the cancer cell and kill it. Traditional drugs lacked the complex, multicomponent structures that allow this highly specific targeting and delivery, and even the smart drug example above is one of the least “smart” of the drugs in the design and testing process today.

can determine how effective the treatment dose was. More advanced systems may even be able to confirm the death of cancer cells. Needless to say, we are much closer to the very simple smart drug than we are to fully functional Theranostics. Indeed, some smart drugs are already yielding very promising results in mice, with high cure rates and very few observable side effects. Translating these results into effective, approved treatments for people is the next phase and it is difficult to predict how quickly that will occur. However, as the saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and the amazing potential of smart drugs has ensured that many of the world’s best scientific minds are fully determined to realize those benefits.

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A: Grandfather established the J.B. Busch Brew-

ery in Washington, Missouri. I ran away to get some candy from the Lefmann Store. Mr. Lefmann called my dad and said that I was at the store and wanted some candy. My dad told him to give me some candy and keep me there and he would send a beer driver to pick me up. The driver came and picked me up and sat me next to him. He thought I should get a spanking but knew I wouldn’t.

Q: What role do exercise and nutrition play in your life?

A: I never did exercise – didn’t have to. I always ate and drank whatever I wanted.

Antonio “Sis” Hayes the homestead at hickory view community Birthday: january 31, 1909

Q: What keeps you going so strong today? A: My grandson because he takes such good care of me. Without him I would be in a nursing home.

Q: If you could do one thing in life again, what would it be?

A: Nothing. My parents were so good and I’ve Q: What are the most important things in life? A: Happiness and good friends. Q: What should one’s priorities be? A: Living a good clean life. Q: What was the greatest adventure in your life? A: Running away to elope. Q: What are some of your favorite childhood memories?

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had a good life.

Sis goes on to share one regret: Her husband passed away at age 37. While their son was in the military he received the Distinguished Service Award and her husband did not live to see him receive it.

Q: Any personal reflections to share? A: I am a very happy person. I have never dyed my

hair, it’s always been dark. I have my own teeth, don’t wear glasses and have enjoyed good health.

Three of Spectrum’s resident centenarians share their sage insight

A: Music helps keep me young. Growing up, our

home was always filled with music. The family would attend a performance at the Fox Theater and would come home with everyone humming tunes from the show.

When Alice first started attending musical events at Crestview, her hands would follow the music. Eventually she began to dance and the music would carry her away. The other residents love to watch and delight with Alice and her dancing.

Q: What are some of your favorite childhood memories? A: When everyone would gather in the kitchen.

Alice Moore crestview senior living Birthday: october 13, 1910

Q: Do you have any advice for a 30-year old? A: Be comfortable with yourself.

Don’t forget to sing when you’re in the lifeboat. Keep shaking your feathers. Try to do your best at everything you do.

Q: What role have exercise and nutrition played in your life?

A: Growing up, I ate natural foods and still try to

do so to this day. Now I feel like I have “arrived” and I want to stay this way.

Q: What keeps you going so strong today?

Both my parents would be cooking, the four children would be underfoot and the Victrola would be playing. The kitchen was the center of love in the family. That has changed over time, but the core of love still remains.

Q: What do you enjoy doing? A: I enjoy reading books of quotes from famous

people. It reminds me that I’m still on the right track. You discover yourself with reading and find out how your thinking fits into the universe.

Widowed in 1968, Alice was never afraid to step out on her own. She lived her life the way she wanted to, not for anyone else. “Living the way someone else wants you to is a waste of time. That ages you,” she says. She tells people to keep trying, that everything is going to be fine and to make your own life because there will not be a second chance. “Change gives you a new opportunity to be happy,” she says. Wise words from a wise woman.

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Angelo Michelleto park meadows senior living Birthday: december 28, 1910

After military service I met and married my sweetheart, Ermelinda. When WWI broke out, my hometown of Nervesa, in the Treviso province, was completely destroyed. When the Germans retreated, they took everything we had with them. There was nothing to eat, nothing at all. Our family was split up all over Europe and everyone was having a very hard time. Then, right before WWII, I saw Hitler and Mussolini shaking hands and told my wife, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are getting out of here.â&#x20AC;? I came back to the USA and have been here ever since.

Q: What are some of your favorite A: Making our own wine from grapes and

Q: Do you have any advice for a newly

Q: Any wisdom to share? A: I have always believed in staying busy and

married couple?

A: There are so many divorces and some of

them are useless, couples should try to work things out by talking. I was married for 74 years and we had our ups and downs. We always practiced give and take, and in the end we came up even! We had faith in our marriage.

Q: What was the greatest adventure in your life?

A: I was brought to the United States when

I was 5 years old from Italy. My father worked in a packing house in Omaha for 12 years, then the economy turned bad and my father was laid off. We moved back to live in Italy and when I was 20 I served the mandatory year in the Italian military.

childhood memories?

Q: What are the most important things in life? A: Trying to get along with everyone.

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playing Bocce ball.

out of debt. Most of my life I worked two jobs. When I worked for the railroad after returning from Italy the second time, I had so much time off that I did odd jobs. I washed windows, cut grass and did many different jobs to pay for family vacations and extras for our children. The only thing I ever bought on credit was our house and I worked two jobs to pay it off in just two years. I was with the Union Pacific Railroad for 35 years and was a mail handler. When WWII broke out I wanted to join up and was ready to go in the Army but the government said that we had to have men stay in the railroad to move the troops and their mail back and forth, so I stayed.

advisor

Aging in Place

As the adult child of an aging senior, finding a home where your parent can live for the long-term is the ideal scenario

Years ago when I started my career as an administrator and was marketing to potential residents I was often asked, “Can my mom or dad live here until the end of their life?” At first this question seemed easy to answer. But after careful consideration of what was really being asked, I would answer, “well, that all depends on a couple of different By Tim O’Hara factors.” A perplexed look would come over the family’s faces and the questions would begin to flow.

What does it mean to “age in place” and how does one determine whether Mom or Dad can continue to live in an independent living, assisted or memory care community until the end of their life? How does one successfully age in place? What are the pros and cons to living in a community setting? Will they receive the care they need as their condition changes?

What is aging in place? To begin, aging in place refers to an individual living in the same situation for many years as their

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personal competence declines (Hooyman and Kiyak 2002, p.341). It means that an individual is able to live under the same conditions with or without help and without the need to move to another environment. In some cases this can happen and in others there is a need to move at some point. When a loved one living at home can no longer manage their own lifestyle and is in need of help, family or professionals must step in and assist from outside the environment. This means either visiting Mom or Dad’s house to care for them, moving the

exhausted caring for a loved one while attempting to care for their own family as well. This is when Assisted Living and/or Memory Care communities are considered. Which brings us back to the “aging in place” ideal of a family moving a loved one into a long-term care environment.

Addressing Needs So how does a loved one age in place? What makes it possible to stay in the same environment for many years at that stage of life? In order to age in place successfully—at least in a care environment—several key factors must be in place at the community level: communication; suitability for the environment; needs assessment; proper staffing; clean surroundings; solid health services; training; quick response to problems; family willingness to work with their loved one and the staff of a community; external services availability such as home health, hospice, physical therapy or occupational therapy; engaging life-enrichment programs; and good nutritional meals. Without these very important factors your loved one becomes vulnerable to declining in place rather than aging in place. Why? Mom or Dad comes with a set amount of needs such as medication management and incontinence care. This is the norm. In a care environment, with dedicated staff, good training and the other aforementioned factors, a community is able to assess the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly care your loved ones truly need. Without these conditions and efforts, Mom and Dad will decline more rapidly and may become too difficult to care for when just six months earlier they were able to tend to their own “basic” care needs. At this point, getting Mom or Dad into a quality long-term living situation is an important step. Stabilization of environment is critical to the success of the aging in place concept.

Stabilization of environment is critical to the success of the aging in place concept. parent into the adult child’s house, or moving into Mom or Dad’s house in order to keep them in a familiar setting for as long as possible. Most of us are familiar with our Mom and Dad stories of how they shouldn’t drive anymore, can’t manage their medications, or in some cases due to dementia, live alone. In these cases family members, volunteers and friends can become quite

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Many families wait entirely too long to make a change.

Once the determination is made to move your loved one into a community where they can live for many years, it’s a matter of finding the right community that offers the right level of care. Many communities offer graduated levels of care and can tend to Mom or Dad’s changing condition as time passes. For example, moving your loved one into an independent living community can ease the transition as they will still care for themselves and live independently, but the community may offer assisted living for the future, as their condition inevitably declines. Thus, your loved one will remain in the same environment for years, regardless of their changing health and personal needs.

Pros and Cons of a Community Reasons abound for why a person may not be able to live in a home-care environment and there are several common concerns to address: or example, if Mom or Dad can no longer bear F their own weight and need assistance to shower or move about, or they have severe cognitive impairment, a community setting can care for these serious issues on a professional level. I f a family is concerned about pushing too hard, or moving a loved one too soon, they should consider an independent living community with extended care capabilities.

Many families wait entirely too long to make a change because they do not want to affect their loved one negatively. It can be very difficult to accept that a parent needs help, but the longer a family prolongs the inevitable, the more difficult it will be to transition. The stress, time and commitment become too great and in the end the consequences can be dire. So, if you get to this point in any environment with your parents, don’t hesitate to start on the most difficult journey of your and their lives.

Help is available Long-term care is a very complex and difficult part of our lives—as is the understanding of what it means to “age in place.” Fortunately there are many professional and caring people who are willing to help you through your journey. In addition, there are places that can help your loved ones live out their lives in a care-filled and loving environment that provides a quality of living far greater than fumbling through the difficulties of “just making it work.” In the end, happiness, fulfillment of purpose and peace of mind are what keep us alive, healthy and vibrant. Finding the right environment for your loved ones will give all of you that confidence and peace of mind.

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advisor

Make It Personal

Avoid identity theft and other Internet scams with these simple security measures

How do you keep yourself secure on the Internet? Unfortunately, there is not a simple or straightforward answer to that question because—like computers themselves—computer security is complex. More than anything else, security now is about keeping your private information private. The days of malicious viruses that randomly delete data or otherwise damage your system are pretty well over. Anybody with the skill to hack modern operating systems and the will to do so is looking for a payday, and the best way to accomplish that is by stealing banking or personal information without the user knowing it has been stolen. The first line of defense is to secure your personal computer against remote attacks. Some steps to take include:

Keep your operating system up to date This ensures that any known security vulnerabilities that get fixed by the vendor (Microsoft or Apple) are also fixed on your machine. Many viruses continue to target vulnerabiliBy Taylor Moss ties that have been fixed because their authors know that people don’t always apply updates. Both Windows and Mac OS X offer the ability to automatically check for updates and install them.

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Install an antivirus/ anti-spyware program Modern operating systems are much more protected against viruses than they used to be, but they aren’t immune. There are many good programs out there that offer features in addition to simple antivirus that you may or may not want, so be sure to read reviews and get one that fits your budget and needs. Also, just like with the operating system, make sure that automatic updates are turned on.

Next, follow some best practices when using the computer and Internet:

Do not send critical personal information over e-mail While that seems like common sense, people are tricked all the time. E-mail is not secure, so anyone requesting personal data such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, passwords, etc. over e-mail is probably just trying to steal them. Banks and others that rely on keeping your data safe will never ask for this kind of information in e-mail.

Never follow e-mail links to any website that involves your money Knowing that savvy people will not send them personal data over e-mail, some scammers will build fake websites that look like real banking websites and try to get you to log in to them by linking to the fakes in an e-mail that looks real. Instead, create bookmarks in your browser and use those to log in.

Know the warning signs Know what your antivirus programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alerts look like and ignore any antivirus notifications that look different. Some hackers will create fake antivirus warnings to bait you, similar to the fake bank sites mentioned above. Clicking on them actually downloads and installs spyware onto your computer that then steals your personal information. If you question whether an alert is real, start your antivirus program from the Start Menu or Dock rather than clicking the pop up notification.

Watch for other fraud There are many, many ways to steal information that are similar to the three items above. Any time something looks odd, just take a moment to verify itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s validity. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a warning that purports it is from some reputable institution, go to the source and check. If nothing else, do a Google search on it and you should find out pretty quickly if it is a scam.

Pay attention to system warnings Both Windows 7 and Mac OS X will give you warnings when a program is trying to change something critical in the system. In both cases it will ask you to enter your password before it allows the program to continue. If you get one of these warnings and did not just try to install something, do not enter your password.

Use strong passwords and different ones for each site This really is critical. If your passwords can be easily guessed by a machine with access to a dictionary, your information is not secure regardless of whether you do all the above or not. Strong passwords should be at least eight characters with both letters and numbers (and symbols if you can). There are also passwordkeeping programs that will create strong passwords and remember them for you, so you only need to remember the one password that unlocks the software. As with antivirus programs, there are numerous vendors so shop around and read reviews before committing to a purchase if this interests you. This is not a comprehensive list, but it will get you a long way towards being more secure. Internet fraud and personal identity theft is a real, but avoidable danger in the modern era of computers. Take your time, use common sense and keep your information safe.

Learn More Microsoft publishes very comprehensive security information online at: www.microsoft.com/protect Some prominent security software companies with good information can be found at: www.mcafee.com www.symantec.com www.sophos.com s p e ct rum / sprin g 20 1 1

INSIDE

A sister Spectrum Community

Looking Ahead The Spectrum family continues to grow with a new community in Arizona Spectrum is excited to announce its newest community under construction in Ahwatukee, Arizona, a suburb of By Kim Goodwin Phoenix. Mountain Park Senior Living will feature independent living, assisted living, and memory care apartments. Mountain Park was designed in accordance with the local environment and surrounding architectural styles and will have the same design as its sister community in Peoria, Arizona. The community was created to accommodate and facilitate the lifestyle and physical requirements of our active elderly residents while maintaining residential style and scale. Mountain Park will provide the best amenities in senior living and will offer a sky lounge, theater, beauty salon, wellness center, swimming pool and much more. The Memory Care section of the community will have its own dining room, living room, and beautifully landscaped and secure memory garden. It will

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follow the Spectrum memory care program, The Path to the Present.â&#x201E;˘ Located in the Ahwatukee neighborhood, Mountain Park is bordered on the north by South Mountain Park, and is located on the intersection of Knox Road and 44th Street. Although its sister community, Palos Verdes Senior Living in Peoria, is slightly larger than Mountain Park the two will be almost identical. Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC, a Denver-based senior housing owner and developer, was founded in 2003. Spectrum currently operates 21 communities in nine different states with two additional communities currently under construction. Spectrum employs more than 1,000 compassionate and caring team members. With no expensive buy-in fee, Spectrum Retirement Communities offers spacious retirement apartment homes at an affordable month-to-month rent. For more information on Spectrum Retirement Communities, visit www.spectrumretirement.com.

T r e aT

Yourself

Treat yourself or treat a loved one

Spectrum Retirement is pleased to introduce a new dining program. TREAT YOURSELF is a special dining program that features tenderloin, lobster, rack of lamb and New York strip steak for almost half the cost of what you would pay at an upscale restaurant.

This program is seperate from the dining program. Tickets can be purchased at any Spectrum Retirement Community. www.spectrumretirement.com

Life. Less complicated. Right at Home Community Care offers caregiving services for any resident and practically any situation. Our care lets loved ones enjoy life in the comfort of their beautiful apartment. And it lets you concentrate on caring instead of caregiving. We offer almost anything your loved one could need, including administering medicines, wellness and hygiene services, escorts to meals and activities, and more. We care for the nicest people at Pine Ridge Plumbrook and Pine Ridge Villas of Shelby. Ask for us on your next visit. We would love to show you how much we care.

45822 Schoenherr Rd Shelby Township, MI 48315 586.803.8330 www.rahcare.com

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