Senior Living/Aging Gracefully May 2023

SENIOR LIVING GUIDE

Featuring

Aging Gracefully Expo

All About ‘Aging Gracefully’

The ‘Aging Gracefully’ Expo will be held in person on Thursday, May 18, from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. in the food court at Potomac Mills Mall. The event is free and open to the whole community. Businesses and organizations from throughout the region will be showcasing the services, products and resources they offer that assist in planning for the future.

PARTNERS

Prince William Chamber of Commerce

Whether you have aging parents or an aging spouse, the information and resources provided at the Aging Gracefully Expo are extremely valuable for caregivers and future caregivers alike. The Prince William Chamber is proud and honored to provide this essential resource to our community.

Main Sponsor: Prince William Area Agency on Aging

The Prince William Area Agency on Aging is excited to bring this community favorite event back in 2023. Our focus remains on making older adults, persons with disabilities and their caregivers aware of the many resources that are available to them in the community. Being a caregiver can be stressful. At the Agency on Aging, we want to ensure our community knows that resources are available to support them. Our hope is that this event provides valuable information to help people remain in the community safely.

Vision Partner: Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center is delighted to partner with the Prince William Chamber, the Area Agency on Aging and Potomac Mills Mall for this fabu-

Thursday, May 18

8-11 a.m.

Potomac Mills Mall Food Court

Free and open to the public

A showcase of services, products and resources that assist in planning for the future.

lous event. The Aging Gracefully Expo brings together a wealth of resources, information, programs and services of interest to older adults and their caregivers.

>> See other sponsors and a complete list of exhibitors on Page 2

DOOR PRIZES

• $100 gift card to Potomac Mills Mall

• One-night stay at Tru by Hilton Manassas

• A windchime from Wind River Chimes

To enter, fill out the form in the ad on Page 8 of this section and turn it in at the Prince William Chamber table at the event on May 18. The winners will be randomly chosen and contacted the next day. One entry per person; more forms will be available at the expo. Must claim prize within 48 hours.

Aging Gracefully Expo Senior Resources

OTHER SPONSORS

Media Partner – InsideNoVa

Coffee Sponsor – Synergy HomeCare of Lake Ridge

Community Partner – AARP

Door Prize Sponsors:

• Potomac Place Assisted Living Community (see ad, Page 3)

• Tribute at Heritage Village, Gainesville (see ad, Page 7)

OTHER EXHIBITORS

1. Comfort Keepers (see ad, Page 2)

2. Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Insurance

3. Virginia State Corporation Commission Bureau of Financial Institutions

4. Christa Healing and Wellness Center Inc.

5. Willow Oaks and The District Home at Birmingham Green

6. Able Moving & Storage Inc.

7. Dominion Eye Care, PC

8. Assisted Living Locators of Northern VA

9. Dark Horse Nutrition

10. Regal Maids

11. Redox For Your Health

12. Capital Caring Health

13. Inova Health System

14. Spring Oak Senior Living (see ad, Page 4)

15. Age Backwards with Irene

16. BEAMER

17. Ace Handyman Services of NW Prince William

18. Freedom Property Management and Sales

19. Humana (see ad, Page 2)

20. English Meadows of Manassas

21. Belmont Bay Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

22. BrightStar Care of Leesburg/ Gainesville, Winchester, Woodbridge, Springfield

23. Star Moving Solutions

24. The JunkLuggers of Gainesville

25. Golden Rule Builders (see ad, Page 6)

26. TACT PWC (see ad, Page 4)

27. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

28. Mason SBDC

29. OmniRide (see ad, Page 3)

List of exhibitors as of May 7. Contact the chamber’s events coordinator, Jodi Vallimont, at (571) 765-7590 or at jvallimont@pwchamber.org if you are interested in exhibiting at the May 18 event.

OMNIRIDE

Spring has sprung! The better weather means we can start taking advantage of all our area has to offer – a trip into D.C., local shopping, lunch with friends or catching up on health appointments. Whether you no longer drive or just don’t want to deal with the congestion, OmniRide can get you wherever you want to go on our fare-free Local or Metro Express buses. Learn more at OmniRide.com or book a presentation about OmniRide services by calling our outreach specialist at (703) 580-6127.

HERITAGE VILLAGE

Heritage Village Gainesville has created a caring environment that promotes senior health and independence, close to attractions in Gainesville. Seniors are close to anything they could want: cafes and restaurants, shopping and outdoor activities. There are also several options for medical centers, physicians and more for seniors with special health needs.

The programs offered at Heritage Village can make a huge difference for

you and your family. We create a positive atmosphere that will improve you or your loved one’s perspective and the amount of enjoyment they get out of each and every day. Families are always excited because the relationships we build improve every resident’s quality of life.

ACCLAIM AT BELMONT BAY

Our resort-style independent living community opened in January 2021 and is Woodbridge’s only stand-alone, luxury rental community for seniors 62 and older. We’re in Belmont Bay, nestled among sidewalk-lined, beautiful single-family, three-level elevator townhomes and waterfront condominiums, with nature trails and within a five-minute walk to Belmont Bay Harbor Marina.

Our community is known for being a cruise-ship-on-land experience, offering more than 100 activities a month, including group trips to museums, local restaurants, MGM Casino, local wineries and other destinations. We offer one-bedroom, one-bedroom with den, and two-bedroom luxury apartment homes. Rent starts at $2,850 a month and includes utilities. Amenities include a 24-hour con-

cierge and an on-site restaurant. Call (571) 339-5655 and visit our community today.

PALADIN LIFE CARE

Since 2013, Paladin Life Care has been providing an unmatched, compassionate, customized level of care and strong advocacy for seniors and those with disabilities in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.  As a family-owned and -operated business, we treat our valued clients like family.

Whether you need a little support or a lot of care and assistance, Paladin Life Care can help you live the life you want. We ensure that every client’s needs, preferences and priorities are being met. Our team members enable our clients to enjoy their best possible lives now. Our services are implemented through a customized plan of care by our highly qualified team of experts and include life care management, health and emotional wellness, medical advocacy, disability advocacy and daily money management.

Let Paladin Life Care provide the exceptional care you need and deserve.

These write-ups were provided by some of the advertisers in this section.

OmniRide Gets

OmniRide Gets

along the I-95 and I-66 corridors to and downtown D.C. Discounted fares for those 60+ or persons with a disability.

• OmniRide Express buses travel along the I-95 and I-66 corridors to destinations in Northern Virginia and downtown D.C. Discounted fares for those 60+ or persons with a disability

mniRide

• OmniRide Local serves routes in Dale City, Dumfries, Woodbridge (including along Route 1), Lake Ridge, and the Manassas area.

ZERO-FARE through June 30!

• OmniRide Express buses travel along the I-95 and I-66 corridors to destinations in Northern Virginia and downtown D.C. Discounted fares for those 60+ or persons with a disability.

• OmniRide Local serves routes in Dale City, Dumfries, Woodbridge (including along Route 1), Lake Ridge, and the Manassas area.

ZERO-FARE through June 30!

OmniRide Express • OmniRide Local OmniRide East-West Express

OmniRide Express • OmniRide Local OmniRide East-West Express

OmniRide Metro Express

OmniRide Metro Express

OmniRide Ridesharing

• OmniRide Local serves routes in Dale City, Dumfries, Woodbridge (including along Route 1), Lake Ridge, and the Manassas area.

OmniRide Access • OmniRide Connect

OmniRide Ridesharing

OmniRide Access • OmniRide Connect

A family of mobility services from the Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

ZERO-FARE through June 30!

A family of mobility services from the Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

OmniRide Express • OmniRide Local OmniRide East-West Express

OmniRide Metro Express

OmniRide Ridesharing

OmniRide Access • OmniRide Connect A family of mobility services from the Rappahannock Transportation Commission.

(703)730-6664

OmniRide.com

Virginia Relay Center-TDD, call 711

SmarTrip® accepted on all OmniRide buses.

‘Safe Haven’ for Patients Dealing with Cancer

For many Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center patients, the Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center helps provide peace of mind throughout their cancer journey.

“The Sentara Cancer Resource Center is built around the patient’s needs,” said Deana Henry, oncology nurse navigator. “Particularly the patient and their loved ones who are going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment. It’s a place for them to come to receive education and support, and sometimes just to rest between appointments in a place that doesn’t look like a doctor’s office.”

The center offers multiple services, including yoga classes, support groups and conferences, as well as access to supplies and equipment that might be needed by cancer patients, said Heather Byrne, breast cancer oncology nurse navigator.

The center has computers and a fax machine to help patients tackle all the paperwork necessary when dealing

with a cancer diagnosis.

The center, which opened in 2019, was built through grant funding from the Potomac Health Foundation. There is no cost for any of the services.

“There’s already enough on their plate already, and you need someone to help you get through those steps,” Byrne said. “That’s what we do.”

Henry said the center is a “safe haven” for patients and family members “to come between appointments, to seek support, education, and somewhere to just rest their weary bones for a little while.”

Byrne added that it’s “a little slice of heaven – for me, and for our patients.”

The Sentara Cancer Network Resource Center is in the Century Medical Building on the campus of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge. An open house offering bra, breast prosthetic and lymphedema sleeve fittings is held the first Friday of the month from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. To learn more, visit Sentara.com/cancer.

Make Your Healthcare Wishes Known with an Advance Care Plan

“I’m not sick.”

“My doctors know what I would want; I don’t need to tell them.”

“I don’t want to upset my family by talking about this.”

Do any of these statements sound familiar? If you’ve ever thought about creating an advance care plan but keep putting it off, this article is designed to help you act. If you’re 18 or older and healthy, now is the ideal time to create an advance care plan, and it may be easier than you realize.

WHAT IS AN ADVANCE CARE PLAN?

“An advance care plan protects your rights to make decisions about your own medical care, even when you are too sick or injured to make your wishes known,” said the Rev. Dr. Ruth Anne Sawyer, chaplaincy services and decedent affairs and ethics consultant at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.

“Advance care planning is for everyone,” she added. “At any age, a medical crisis could leave you unable to communicate your own health care decisions. Planning now for your future health care can help ensure you get the medical care you want and that someone you trust will be there to make decisions for you.”

Your advance care plan details the type of medical treatments that you do and do not want. Even if you choose not to re-

ceive life-prolonging treatment when you have a terminal condition, many medical treatments can still be provided to manage your symptoms, relieve pain and provide support to you and your family.

“An advance care plan is a gift of certainty for your family,” Sawyer said. “The time to communicate your health care wishes is not when you’re in the hospital, but when you’re healthy and able to sit down with your family and say, ‘Let’s talk.’”

“Let’s TALK” is a Sentara program encouraging candid conversations about your health care wishes and choosing a trusted decision maker with the fortitude to carry them out. TALK is an acronym for:

• Take time to have the conversation.

• Always be open and honest.

• Leave no doubt about your wishes.

• Keep your documents up to date.

CREATING YOUR ADVANCE CARE PLAN

Advance care plan (advance directive) documents can include your living will, which helps your healthcare team know what your wishes are, and your medical power of attorney or healthcare agent, which designates who you want to speak for you if you can’t speak for yourself. You

Discussing your healthcare wishes with family members is an important part of making an advance care plan.

can appoint any adult 18 years of age or older to be your healthcare agent, including your spouse, your domestic partner, an adult child, a family member, a friend or any other adult you trust.

“A healthcare agent is an adult appointed by you to make healthcare decisions for you,” Sawyer said. “This person speaks for you only when you can no longer speak for yourself. This agent can be anyone you chose and does not have to be a family member.”

Sentara and the Sentara Center for Healthcare Ethics are offering the community the opportunity to complete their advance care plan (advance directive) and register it, free of charge, with our national Advance Directive Registry through the U.S. Living Will Registry. Wherever you go in the United States, your advance

care plan will be accessible by healthcare professionals when needed to guide your medical care if you are unable to communicate your wishes or make your own decisions.

An advance care plan does not include a last will and testament or financial power of attorney. The documents can be filled out and witnessed, but a lawyer is not necessary.

ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

A free fillable form to create your own advance care plan can be found at www. sentara.com/advancedirectives.

For advanced care planning questions, to schedule a free individual or group appointment, or to request a paper copy of the advance care plan, call (703) 523-0680 or email chaplainsdesk@sentara.com.