Milwaukee Magazine | Senior Care

Living Your Best Life

From where to live to maintaining your health, we've got the information you need to navigate your retirement years and beyond.

FOUR RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES TO CHECK OUT

Clement Manor

Sponsored by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Clement Manor has a spacious, scenic campus with a fitness, center, pool, salon, chapel and a Center for Enrichment, which provides year-round lifelong learning classes. The Greenfield retirement community offers a full continuum of care, including shortterm rehabilitation.

Clement Manor has 102 independent living apartments and serves delicious meals from award-winning chefs at its Rainbow Room Cafe. clementmanor.com

Forest Ridge

This senior living community just added 122 new residences to its Hales Corners location. The new Epoch II wing features

THINKING AHEAD

When it comes to funeral planning, it’s worth trusting the professionals. Owner Mark Krause and his team at Krause Funeral Homes and Cremation Services are experts in crafting personalized services and celebrations of life. The funeral home – with four area locations – offers visitations and receptions with food and beverages, as well as customized caskets, service dogs, a motorcycle hearse and other unique touches. Krause recommends pre-planning a service, as it allows you to choose exactly what you want and takes the burden off your loved ones. krausefuneralhome.com

MAKING THE MOVE

a Courtyard Commons area, with lounges and an outdoor event space. The new living spaces – which come in 1 bed/bath and 2 bed/bath options –boast stainless steel appliances, walk-in closets, Kohler fixtures and many more amenities.

bit.ly/forestridge1

Regency Senior Communities

With locations in New Berlin, Muskego and Brookfield, this senior living community offers assisted living, independent living and memory care.

Regency is owned and operated by ProHealth, so its residents get access to benefits from the health care organization – and you don’t have to be part of the ProHealth network to take advantage.

The community also offers a wide lineup of activities, including trips, fitness opportunities, cooking classes, poetry readings and more. regencysenior communities.com

Three Pillars Senior Living

Three Pillars is embarking on a major expansion to its Lake Country campus. The 300-acre property is adding a new, walkable neighborhood village with loft apartments, garden homes, courtyard homes and park villas, alongside amenities like restaurants, wellness activities, six miles of walking and biking trails, and more. This oneof-a-kind community will be move-in ready in 2025 – but you can reserve a spot now. threepillars.org

A major move is a major hassle. Smart Moves offers a way to make that difficult time easier. The boutique moving services company specializes in working with seniors and offers a personalized approach. Starting with a complimentary consultation, Smart Moves and its contracting partners will put together a customized plan to meet each client’s needs. That includes measuring all of their clients’ furniture to create a floor plan for the new space, as well as taking inventory of their belongings, disposing of unwanted items and more. smartmovesforseniors.com

Protect Your Eyes

LOCAL MDs SHARE WHY YOU SHOULD SCHEDULE A REGULAR EYE EXAM.

It might be time to open your eyes – literally and figuratively. Whether you think you don’t need to schedule an eye exam unless you notice a problem, or you have an issue but are downplaying or delaying addressing it, you are putting your vision and quality of life at risk either way.

“Many sight-threatening conditions not only have no or slow warning signs, their risk of developing increases with age. This includes cataracts (cloudy vision), macular degeneration or AMD (loss of central vision), glaucoma (loss of side vision), and diabetic retinopathy (loss of crisp vision),” says Daniel Ferguson, MD, of Eye Care Specialists, an ophthalmology practice that provides medical, surgical and laser services. “Having a comprehensive exam every one to two years is the only way to accurately assess the presence and severity of any concerns and whether or not treatment would help.”

If you need further motivation for scheduling, Ferguson points to studies showing that improving vision can have a substantial positive impact on task performance, attitude, sleep, stress and decreasing the incidence of car accidents, falls, institutionalization and misdiagnosed cognitive impairment. “We see results with changes as small as a new eyeglass prescription or as involved as removing a cloudy cataract and replacing it with a customized implant,” says Ferguson. “You can’t know what you have to gain until you actually schedule.”

ASK AN EXPERT

We asked four local sources, from MDs to senior living specialists, for their advice on making the most of your retirement years.

programs for those residents who need more support. We have art therapists, music therapists and recreation therapists on our staff to assist residents.

Saint John’s On The Lake

Saint John’s LifeStreams team brings galleries, concerts, lectures and even pet shows to the community’s residents.

Could you explain a bit about the work the LifeStreams team does?

ERIN BURKE, DIRECTOR OF LIFESTREAMS: Caring for our residents is at the center of everything we do. We want them to have every opportunity to enjoy themselves, to learn, to be a part of the community. LifeStreams develops professional programs, creates social connections and works with therapeutic techniques to enhance the lives of residents.

BRANDON HERR, LIFESTREAMS MANAGER: That can be anything from bringing in speakers to putting on a film series to hosting a special dinner. This August, we had the Milwaukee Rep put on a musical theater concert.

ANNE LUTHER, LIFESTREAMS MANAGER: I work with the residents in our assisted living and skilled nursing communities. We offer additional

What

programs stick out as some of your best?

BH: Last year, we did our first pet show. Our resident dog owners and cat owners came out onto the plaza and did a full parade. Over 200 people showed up. It was such a great event, we’re doing it again this year. Our Juneteenth celebration is another one I love – local African American-owned businesses provide the food and beverages, and we have a campus-wide picnic.

AL: In the assisted living and skilled nursing communities, we have cocktail hours every week. People are able to socialize, and we often bring in entertainment – we’ve had French music, string quartets. Everything we do, including the choice of music, is informed by what our residents want.

What do you consider when planning new programming?

BH: Our residents are very involved in the process. We have a resident committee that meets every month to provide feedback.

EB: We’re really thinking about offering entertainment, engagement and enrichment that every resident can access and enjoy.

AL: I think about how much history Saint John’s has. We really get to know everyone here and their families. We’ve had some residents living here for 20 or 30 years. This is home for everyone here, and to be a part of their lives is really amazing.

Daniel Liu, M.D.

Cedar Community

In 1953, Cedar Community was founded with a gift of 95 acres in the Kettle Moraine. Seventy years later, that has grown to 500 acres across multiple campuses in Washington County. We spoke with Sarah Malchow, chief administrative officer, about that land.

What makes Cedar Community’s locations unique?

We’re on the beautiful shores of Big Cedar

Lake. We’ve been intentional about cultivating and maintaining the pristine nature of those lands. We have species of plants, flowers and animals that are unusual to the area because there aren’t that many places as untouched as ours. We maintain robust natural hiking trails as well as 1,500 feet of frontage on the lake.

How do residents take advantage of that natural space?

Being in nature has such an impact on mental health and well-being. We have this beautiful Wisconsin prairie open to our residents. We have golf carts for our independent living residents who want to drive out. Our residents do a lot of hiking. We also have a beach, along with kayaks and pontoon boats, so our residents can go out on the lake and really make the most of lakeside living. And for our folks in assisted living, who may have more trouble getting out, we have spaces that are mobility-friendly and accessible, and our team members are available to help them get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

On Oct. 10, you’re dedicating land to the Cedar Lake Conservation Foundation. What does that entail?

I’m excited to say that we’re dedicating 100 acres on our Cedar Lake campus to the foundation. The gift is irreversible, so the land will be permanently protected. Residents and friends and neighbors will still have access to the trails, of course, but there will be no development, no new buildings on that land. We were established 70 years ago with a gift of land, and now in turn, we’re giving this gift of land to protect it for generations to come.

Harwood Place

The Wauwatosa senior living community offers popular amenities and comfortable senior living for all care needs.

What sets Harwood Place apart from other senior living communities?

Harwood Place offers a full continuum of care which provides our residents with peace of mind knowing they will always be part of our family. Located in the heart of Wauwatosa, we offer onsite amenities, a variety of apartment home plans and have an amazing chef who puts love and pride into meals for our

residents. Our staff are kindhearted, patient people with the goal of creating joy and comfort for our residents.

What are some popular amenities residents enjoy at Harwood Place?

Residents enjoy our Terrace Restaurant and Plank Road

Pub daily for restaurant-style dining and socialization. Other popular amenities include At Your Service transportation, our chapel, fitness center, library, salon and spa, heated underground parking and a wellness clinic.

What apartment options does Harwood Place offer?

Every apartment home at Harwood Place strikes the perfect balance between casual living and classic elegance. With a variety of one- and two-bedroom options, ranging from 675 to 1,400 square feet, you will find one that complements your taste and needs. Each offers a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, spacious living areas and comfortable bedrooms. Newly renovated apartment homes offer bright, inviting spaces with quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, plank flooring and more. Many feature a bright sunroom or a spacious balcony where you can relax and take in the view.

City of Hope Chicago

Dr. Abed Rahman, an interventional pain specialist at City of Hope Chicago, spends his days helping patients with serious pain issues. Through innovative techniques, he and his team find ways to offer long-term relief

What does an interventional pain specialist do?

We see a hybrid of cancer patients and chronic pain patients. Our goal is to relieve these patients’ pain and get them off pain medications. We know that opioids are immunosuppressants, and the life expectancy for those on chronic opioids is

lower, so our job is to use other techniques to manage that pain. Sometimes that can be as simple as an anti-inflammatory injection for someone with a herniated disc. And sometimes patients need something more definitive for their pain, like surgery.

What are some examples of those surgical options?

One example is a spinal cord stimulator. This works best for limb pain, but it can also help with back pain in some cases. The stimulator is essentially a wire – we’ll place it on the spinal cord on the area that connects to the affected limb. The stimulator will vibrate, blocking the pain that patients feel in that limb. For some patients, we’ll use what’s called a pain pump. It’s a tiny, plastic catheter that we place in the spinal cord, which will drip medications directly into the spinal cord. Imagine all the oral pain medication a person with serious pain takes throughout the day and then divide it by 1,000 –that’s all the medication a patient needs through a pain pump. The pump provides optimal relief with minimal medication so you’re not getting side effects like nausea, constipation, vomiting, and long-term issues that come with large doses of medication.

What are some of the latest developments in your field?

My favorite new treatment is tumor ablation. If [the tumor] is in the vertebral body, we can drill into the bone, burn the tumor, and then place some cement in there to stabilize. It’s exciting because it treats the pain, treats the tumor and stabilizes the spine all in one. Another exciting treatment is dorsal root ganglion stimulation – we thread the patient’s spinal cord wires around the nerve itself. With a lot of patients, the pain is completely gone. That’s been great to see. What’s been really rewarding is hearing from our patients and their families afterward. Caring for someone in pain can be really exhausting, so when we treat them, it’s often like treating their entire family. And to hear how much better they’re doing afterward is amazing. ◆

October 13, 2023 at 7:30pm

October 15, 2023 at 2:30pm

Tickets available at florentineopera.org

Uihlein Hall, Marcus Performing Arts Center

Signature Living Awaits

Cedar Community announces a new definition of distinction for adults 55 and better–The Lofts at Cedar Lake. Carefree, private residences ranging in size from 1,100 to 2,000 square feet offer the opportunity to enjoy, explore, and embrace your best life.

Located 40 minutes north of Milwaukee on 245-acres of wooded campus, the independent residences offer resort-like living on Big Cedar Lake. Shopping, fine dining, entertainment, cultural events, and an award-winning farmer’s market are minutes away.

Every detail has been thoughtfully designed to provide comfort, peace, and spaciousness–while showcasing the property’s amazing views–all year round. Discover lake living in the heart of the Kettle Moraine—surrounded by lakes and prairies, hiking trails, and forests.

Amenities included:

· Outdoor green space, trails, and lake access

· Spacious design and wooded views

· Exercise atrium

· Lounge and gathering spaces

· Pet friendly

· Secure, private storage

· Indoor parking garages