Did you know that right here in the Milwaukee community, your friends and neighbors are making a difference in the lives of older adults and in their own lives, too?
These friends and neighbors are generous, caring and concerned individuals with a passion for helping older adults in long term care facilities.
Volunteer ombudsmen represent the State of Wisconsin Board on Aging and Long Term Care under the Older Americans Act. Volunteer ombudsmen come from all walks of life, are carefully screened, trained and receive ongoing support and supervision from the area volunteer coordinator.
Volunteer ombudsmen strengthen advocacy services of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program by making weekly, unannounced visits to long-term care facilities. These volunteers perform a vital, and legislatively mandated, service to empower, educate and support residents. They build trusting, meaningful relationships which allow residents to feel comfortable sharing their concerns and ideas to bring more comfort and greater quality to their lives. Residents and volunteers look forward to the weekly visits, which encourage problem resolution.
The program is recruiting potential volunteer ombudsmen in Milwaukee and surrounding counties. Sheryl Meyer, the volunteer coordinator, believes volunteering is a lifestyle. If you have something to offer – consider offering your time to the Board on Aging and Long Term Care by becoming a volunteer ombudsman!
If you would like to apply or talk with Sheryl about the program, please call 800-8150015, email BOALTC@wisconsin.gov, or visit longtermcare.wi.gov
Located in Washington County, Cedar Community offers senior living in Wisconsin’s scenic and spacious Kettle Moraine. The community is open to folks over age 55, with active lifestyle options, including independent living homes, apartments and lofts. Options also include assisted living, skilled nursing, short-term rehab and hospice care. There are plenty of social activities and amenities, too, such as fitness centers, art studios, salon and spa services, restaurant-style dining, musical enrichment activities and much more. cedarcommunity.org
Clement Manor has been annually recognized by U.S. News and World Report with a five out of five rating for senior care. The Greenfield retirement community, sponsored by the School Sisters of St. Francis, offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and short-term rehabilitation. Its spacious campus includes a fitness center, pool, salon, chapel, and a Center for Enrichment, which offers year-round lifelong learning classes and programs on dozens of topics. clementmanor.com
With three Waukesha County locations, Regency Senior Communities offers assisted living, independent living and memory care. The community is owned and operated by ProHealth, which provides residents
with access to health benefits from the organization. Residents also get the chance to participate in frequent activities, trips, classes and more. Plus, the locations offer scheduled transportation for independent living residents who need rides to events and errands. regencyseniorcommunities.com
Saint John’s On The Lake has been a groundbreaking Milwaukee retirement community for over a century. Founded in 1868, the community has pioneered better ways to care for its residents, including a resident-elected council that helps plan programs. The community’s East Side towers offer spacious apartments with great views – and they’re only a short distance from dining and entertainment destinations like the Pabst Theater and The Diplomat, among many others. saintjohnsmilw.org
In 2021, Three Pillars began construction on a $125 million active adult living expansion. The major project adds lofts, villas, and garden and courtyard homes to the scenic 300-acre campus in Lake Country. The not-for-profit community offers active adult living, catered living, assisted living, skilled nursing and rehab. Its ongoing expansion nearly doubles the community’s size, and also adds new memory care suites. The final phase will feature a performing arts center, theater, dog park, pickleball courts, spa, pub and much more. threepillars.org
How to ease the transition to a new home
Smart Moves offers a step up from big, franchise moving services – and they specialize in working with seniors. The boutique service starts with a complimentary consultation, talking through each client’s personal needs, timeline, etc. After the consultation, the team puts together a plan to meet the client’s situation. Smart Moves and its contracting partners measure all clients’ furniture to create a customized floor plan for their new space. The team inventories the client’s belongings, helps dispose of anything unwanted, and, of course, handles the packing and moving. They make downsizing into a smaller space simple, and the company’s hands-on, personalized approach helps makes a stressful time much easier.
Local MDs provide insight on glaucoma.
Glaucoma is a condition that causes progressive damage to the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the retina to the brain. It is related to a variety of factors, including – but not always –increased pressure within the eye.
“Glaucoma affects peripheral vision before central vision, which makes it harder for patients themselves to notice. This ‘tunneling’ effect increases the risk of falls and car accidents. Untreated, it can also lead to permanent loss of all vision,” says Daniel Paskowitz, MD, PhD, a partner at Eye Care Specialists ophthalmology practice.
What’s the best defense? Paskowitz advises having a comprehensive eye exam every two years after age 35.
“In addition to traditional tonometry and visual field testing, our practice utilizes OCT laser scanning to detect and track glaucoma often before any damage occurs. We also review patients’ risk factors, including heredity, age, diabetes, ethnicity, medications, nearsightedness and previous eye injuries and surgeries.”
Glaucoma is typically treated with prescription drops that impact fluid production and drainage in the eye. “When drops alone cannot control the pressure, side effects are intolerable, or multiple drops are required, we offer laser or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery [MIGS] procedures to qualified candidates,” says Paskowitz. “These treatments can often reduce the expense and burden of using daily prescription drops.”
Krause Funeral Homes plans personalized, unique services.
For over 90 years, Krause Funeral Homes has been a premier funeral service provider in the Milwaukee area. The family-run provider is the largest in Wisconsin, with four area locations, and third-generation owner Mark Krause works with people ahead of time to pre-plan customized services. The process allows the person to choose personalized readings, music, decor and more – but perhaps most important of all, it saves family the difficulty of planning a service after the person has passed. Krause’s locations also include banquet rooms and bars to facilitate discussion and celebration during the services. krausefuneralhome.com
WAUKESHA COUNTY’S LEADING SENIOR COMMUNITIES
INDEPENDENT IVING
I TED IVING
MEMO Y E
P H
experiences in Brookfield, Muskego, and New Berlin for more than 30 years. Each of our studio, one and two-bedroom apartments offer an impressive line-
Live Musical Performances
A variety of food for purchase from local food trucks and restaurants
A variety of non-food vendors offering their goods and services
REGENCYSENIORCOMMUNITIES.COM
For tickets and more info, go to milwaukeebrewfest.com
Shopping, fine dining, entertainment, cultural events, and an award-winning farmer’s market are minutes away. Located 40 minutes north of Milwaukee on 245-acres of wooded campus, Cedar Community offers several independent living options in West Bend.
Cedar Ridge Apartments
Apartments for active, independent adults 55 and better. A limited number of apartments are ready for immediate occupancy! It is our pleasure to offer a $1,000 moving expense reimbursement for all residents moving into a Cedar Ridge one- or two- bedroom (standard) apartment for those using a professional moving company. Mention this ad.
Cedar Ridge Homes
Duplex ranch homes for active, independent adults 55 and better.
Cedar Lake Village Homes
Individual ranch homes for active, independent adults 55 and better.
The Lofts at Cedar Lake
Discover lake living in the heart of the Kettle
Moraine—surrounded by lakes and prairies, hiking trails, and forests. Preconstruction benefits are available for a limited time only!
The Willows at Cedar Lake
Independent living plus apartments with extra support when needed.
cedarcommunity.org