Senior Living 2014 by MyNorth

Senior Living 2014

RETIREMENT LIVING & RESOURCES IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN

INSPIRED PLACE, INSPIRED LIFE HELP FOR

Downsizing WHY TO

Fix Those Small Aches GET FIT

Outdoors GIVE YOUR BRAIN A

Workout ADVANCES IN

Hearing Aids

NGADE I US M R HO MS EA R L TE C

Celebrating Over 10 Years of Service

n the West side of Traverse City, The Village at Bay Ridge welcomes you to our premier Continuum of Care Community. We are conveniently located close to Munson Medical Center, shopping, and beautiful Grand Traverse Bay. You are in control of your future as our caring professional staff helps you design a lifestyle that bridges your needs for your years ahead. Working together with our various apartment styles and optional services, your new home may be tailored to meet your retirement needs. Our Continuum of Care Services include Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Secure Memory Care.

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Independent Living 231-995-9385 Assisted Living 231-932-9757 3850 Scenic Ridge, off Silver Lake Road Traverse City, MI 49684 TTY# 800-649-3777 www.villageatbayridge.com

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Senior Living 2014

A MyNorth Media Publication

PRESIDENT/ EDITOR IN CHIEF Deborah Wyatt Fellows

debwf@traversemagazine.com

VICE PRESIDENT EDITORIAL/EDITOR Jeff Smith

MANAGING EDITOR

smith@traversemagazine.com

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Elizabeth Edwards

Advanced Awnings.............................................................................................................. 17

lissa@traversemagazine.com

ART DIRECTOR Bob Wilcox bob@traversemagazine.com

PRODUCTION DIR. GRAPHIC DESIGNER WEB DIRECTOR WEB DEVELOPER

Theresa Burau-Baehr theresa@traversemagazine.com

Claire Stortz claire@traversemagazine.com

Michael Thompson michael@traversemagazine.com

Roger Lamb roger@traversemagazine.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Todd Zawistowski

todd@traversemagazine.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jim Driver jdriver@traversemagazine.com

Ann Gatrell anng@traversemagazine.com Lisa Gillespie lgillespie@traversemagazine.com

Jeff Hale jhale@traversemagazine.com

Jill Hayes anng@traversemagazine.com

Amy Artz Joslin amyj@traversemagazine.com

Cyndi Ludka ludka@traversemagazine.com

Candace Morse cmorse@traversemagazine.com

Drew Warner drew@mynorth.com

MARKETING DIRECTOR Rachel North

rnorth@traversemagazine.com

CIRCULATION FULFILLMENT MGR. Jodi G. Simpson

jsimpson@traversemagazine.com

MARKETING/ EDITORIAL COORD. Evan Perry

eperry@traversemagazine.com

MEDIA PROJECT COORDINATOR Rachel Fournier

rachel@mynorth.com

TICKETING DIRECTOR,

MYNORTHTICKETS Lori Savage

lori@traversemagazine.com

TICKETING COORD.,

MYNORTHTICKETS Dana Allen

RETIREMENT LIVING & RESOURCES IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN

dana@traversemagazine.com

OFFICE MANAGER Monterey Wheeler monterey@traversemagazine.com CONTROLLER Kirstin Gorney kirstin@traversemagazine.com FROM THE PUBLISHER OF

BASA…………………………………………..............................................................................26 Boardman Lake Glens Senior Community...........................................................20 Cedar Run Eye Center........................................................................Back Cover Charlevoix Area Hospital………………………………………….........................................16 Cherry Suite Assisted Living................................................................................24 Cindy Anderson/Coldwell Banker Schmidt.................................................. 20 City Mac........................................................................................................................ 17 Compassionate Care Home Health Services............................................ 20 Cordia at Grand Traverse Commons................................................................. 12 Country Pleasures, Traverse Victorian, Waters Edge..................................16 Covell Funeral Homes…………………………………………...............................................18 Curry House Assisted Living & Memory Care...............................................22 Gauthier’s Shoes and Repair...............................................................................25 Grand Traverse Pavilions........................................................................................14 Great Lakes Orthopaedic Center........................................................................14 Harbor Care Associates…………………………………………...........................................18 Hearing Solutions Of Northwest Michigan.................... Inside Back Cover Hope Village................................................................................................................19 Horizon Financial........................................................................................................ 11 Integrity Home Health & Skilled Care................................................................ 12 Leelanau County Senior Services.......................................................................18 Mercy Home Care/Mercy Hospice....................................................................24 Michigan Shores Cooperative..............................................................................24 Monarch Home Health Services…………………………………………............................ 11 Munson Healthcare Rehabilitation Services………………................................... 2 Munson Healthcare Rehabilitation Services..................................................... 8 Munson Medical Center..........................................................................................13 Nancy Albrecht/Real Estate One/SRES.........................................................24 North Flight EMS.......................................................................................................19 Northern Vision Eye Care....................................................................................... 4 Northwest Michigan Surgery Center.................................................................. 5 Paul Oliver Living and Rehabilitation Center.................................................26 Perry Farm Village...................................................................................................25 Reynolds Jonkoff Funeral Home.......................................................................... 8 Senior Helpers............................................................................................................19 Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge.......................................................................... 10 Swensen Memorials................................................................................................ 20 The Reverse Mortgage Center.............................................................................. 6 The Village at Bay Ridge.....................................................Inside Front Cover The Vein Center........................................................................................................22

Editorial & Advertising Offices

Traverse Vision..........................................................................................................22 Senior Living

Hear again. Don’t miss the tender moments. The William and Leni Carls Hearing Clinic at Munson Medical Center has been treating patients since 1964. The Clinic’s Doctors of Audiology can address all of your hearing needs. • Hearing evaluations and diagnostic testing • We sell hearing aids and can help you select the right hearing aid to fit your lifestyle • Fitting of hearing aids Let us help you. To schedule an appointment, call (231) 935-6455, or visit munsonhealthcare.org/hearing.

Live again. With locations throughout northern Michigan, high quality care is never far away. Munson Healthcare’s Rehabilitation Services include: • Aquatic Therapy • Pain Management • Occupational Therapy

• Hand Therapy • Speech Therapy • The Healthy Weight Center

• The Memory and Attention Training Center • Physical Therapy • Hearing Clinic

Find out how Munson Rehabilitation Services can help you live life to the fullest. Call (231) 935-7331 or 1-800-255-1231, or visit munsonhealthcare.org/rehab.

Senior Living

Inspired Place, Inspired Life

ANGELA BROWN

TEXT BY HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

It seems the more researchers learn about health and longevity, the more they find that staying active and engaging your mind and physicality in varied ways is key. People who retire to Northern Michigan find a community that offers plenty of opportunity to keep active socially, mentally and physically. The region’s collection of “best of” awards—for golf, biking, beauty, food, boating, and more—supports that notion. But the most convincing proof is seen in the lives of people living an active retirement in this beautiful place.

Diane Hubert

In the words of Diane Hubert, a former Detroit-area resident who found her way north 30-some years ago and is now happily semi-retired in her beloved Northern Michigan, “I think Traverse City is a very sophisticated small town.” Indeed, it’s a sense of quaint meets cosmopolitan that makes the area such a desirable place to be, perhaps particularly so for those seeking to downshift later in life. “It’s a paradise in so many ways,” says Hubert, 73. “The water is fabulous, the food, the craft beer and wine … I

FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

think it’s a mecca for intelligent people, and there’s plenty to do here—there are options for concerts, there’s the National Writers Series, Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Dennos Museum. There’s just so much here even though it’s a small town.” It was a commitment to art that played a role in Hubert relocating all those years ago. She sought more space for a studio—not to mention surroundings that would inspire—and she found all of this in Leelanau County, a destination she discovered while taking her son to a Northern Michigan summer camp. “I moved here in ’78 and I never looked back,” she says. In the years since, she’s been a creative force within the local arts community, working with the Old Town Playhouse, helping administer grants for the arts, teaching metalsmithing at Northwestern Michigan College for 24 years, and today works a few days a week at the Great Lakes Children’s Museum. Her husband, Richard Sutton, is an artist as well, painting with pastel. Hubert also is drawn to the area for its opportunities to live an active, healthy lifestyle. She walks regularly, goes to the gym, downhill skis with Sutton, and is an avid sailor. “I raced my boat every Wednesday night this past summer. I had an all-women crew, with the women ranging in age from 17 to 73.” As for staying active, she says, “I don’t think there’s any other way to be.” And she’s also convinced of the importance of staying plugged into her community—something that’s easy to do in a vibrant place such as Traverse City. “It’s nice to stay connected. I think you get old way too fast when you’re not connected. I’m trying to live my life doing all the things I want to do. There’s just no time but the present.” Senior Living

Macular I Degeneration Losing Central Vision By Robert K. Butryn, MD

Northern Vision Eye Care delivers state-of-the-art medical, surgical and optical eye care with a passion for excellence, individuality and community service.

4033 Eastern Sky Drive Traverse City, Michigan 49684 231-932-9000

t sometimes takes losing something for us to appreciate what we had. The ability to read this sentence, for example, is a luxury many people with Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) have lost. While our entire retina gathers light, which allows for a broad, 200-degree view of our environment, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the fovea in the macular region that gives us sharp reading vision and subtends only 15 degrees. To illustrate this point, look at the edge of this page and try to continue reading. This is similar to the visual frustration many with AMD experience because they cannot see with their central vision and are forced to look near but not at their target. AMD is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss in those over 40 years old. AMD is caused by a degeneration of retinal cells within the eye causing pigment changes and an accumulation of waste products known as drusen, which can be seen on examination. There are two main types of AMD. Dry AMD, which is most common and is characterized by drusen and pigment changes in the retina, and wet AMD, which is characterized by the formation of new blood vessels, which often leak or bleed. Wet AMD causes 90% of the severe visual loss in AMD patients. Significant risk factors include increasing age and cigarette smoking. Other factors that play a role include hypertension, atherosclerosis, antioxidant deficiency, dietary fat, hormonal status, sunlight exposure, alcohol use, and heredity. The retina is the most metabolically active tissue in the body, and while there is no cure for AMD, we do have clinically proven methods for treating both the wet and dry form. The Age Related Eye Disease Studies (AREDS) found that antioxidants plus zinc reduced the risk of wet AMD and vision loss in those with intermediate and advanced AMD. While laser and photodynamic therapy were originally used to treat wet AMD, intraocular injections have now become the most common form of treatment for the wet form. These injections use medications designed to inhibit the new blood vessels found in wet AMD. With the proven treatment options at various stages now available for AMD, accurate screening and diagnosis are of the utmost importance. In addition to a complete and comprehensive dilated eye examination, Northern Vision Eye Care utilizes diagnostic studies including fluorescence angiography, ocular coherence tomography (OCT), and Optomap laser scanning with auto fluorescence analysis to help determine the stage of AMD and the best course of treatment on an individualized basis. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent the progression of vision loss associated with AMD. Call us today to schedule your appointment at 231-932-9000. We look forward to helping you with your eye care needs.

www.northernvisioneyecare.com ADVERTISEMENT

Celebrating 10 Years of Providing Quality Care at the Lowest Cost. Breaking New Ground In 2004, Northwest Michigan Surgery Center (NMSC) was developed by local physicians, in a unique partnership with Munson Medical Center, to create a state-of-the-art surgical care center. “It was an exciting time,” recalls Tina Piotrowski, RN BSN and Clinical Director at NMSC. “We were breaking new ground by bringing the very first multi-specialty ambulatory service to this area. Outpatient procedures could now be handled more efficiently and cost effectively, with great care.” An Amazing Group of People The Northwest Michigan Surgery Center team is comprised of 80 board-certified or board-eligible physicians, 43 anesthesiologists and a dedicated staff of over 120 health care professionals. Pictured are many of the original staff members who have been a part of the NMSC team for all 10 years. “It’s an amazing group of people,” says Mary Herweyer, Business Manager at NMSC. “Our staff, leadership, and physicians are completely engaged in our mission. We work as a team with a common goal: To provide excellent care at the lowest cost. Period.” Designed to Run Efficiently Our highly-specialized approach to outpatient surgeries and procedures allows NMSC to lower the cost of health care and pass along direct savings to patients through lower copays and out-of-pocket expenses. “We are able to offer lower rates because we are designed to run efficiently, without waste,” states Mary Herweyer. “We work very hard to keep our operating costs low. It’s particularly important today with high deductible health care plans.” A Great Place for Surgery NMSC is equipped with the finest and latest technology. Our facility is meticulously maintained and is state and federally regulated to ensure that we provide the highest quality of care under safe conditions. “I tell patients, family and friends that the Center is a great place to have their surgery performed,” says Dr. Ward Gillett of Bay Area Urology Associates. “And they won’t regret having it performed there. The Center serves the residents of Northern Michigan in a cost efficient, high quality way.” What We Do Best In 2014, our tenth year of providing care to the community, we expect to surpass 100,000 total patients

Back Row: H. Dziedzic, C. Schmucker, C. Bingham, S. Mika, P. Wyers, J. Schmuckal. Middle Row: P. Bevelhymer, K. Smith, M. Wangseng, C. Stevens, A. Bell, C. Zaki. Front Row: M. Polanski, D. Phillips, T. Piotrowski, K. Roop, J. Carpenter, D. Jordan, D. Hubbell, M. Herweyer. Not Pictured: M. Petersen, C. Kroupa, S. Noteware, G.Bultsma, C. Lawson, M. Welch, G. Brzezinski, A. Meeder.

served at NMSC. While no one can accurately predict the future of health care over the next decade, you have our promise that we’ll continue to provide you with the highest quality surgical care at the lowest cost. “I’m very proud to be a part of the Northwest Michigan Surgery Center,” Dr. Kurt Sanford of Digestive Health Associates stated. “As a board member and one of the founding physicians, I’m pleased that we’ve been able to offer such high quality, patient-centric, multi-specialty surgical care right here in Traverse City. And we’ll continue to do what we do best, outpatient procedures, and work with existing health care plans to offer new outpatient procedures in the coming years.” To learn more about Northwest Michigan Surgery Center, please go to: surgerytc.com

4100 Park Forest Drive • Traverse City, Michigan 49684 231-392-8900 • 877-392-9800

Reversing the Tide

Using your home as a liquid asset - a viable tax-free strategy for those 62 and older.

elebrating 62 can mean many good things, but for some homeowners, that age can also be a financial lifeline for the years ahead. Making use of assets is a smart and prudent approach to managing the rising costs of goods and services. The one asset that is often overlooked is the home and, beginning at age 62, homeowners can apply for a reverse mortgage. Reverse mortgages are special types of loans that enable homeowners to receive either a lump sum, a tax-free monthly amount, or to open a line of credit. The home and the remaining equity stay in the homeowner’s name. Reverse mortgage loans do not have to be repaid until ownership is transferred. They are insured by the Federal Housing Administration, therefore protecting the homeowner from ever outliving the loan or owing more than the value of the home. Reverse mortgages are relatively simple to obtain provided that the homeowner is at least 62 years of age or older, the home is the primary residence, and the home is paid off or has substantial equity. For some homeowners, a reverse mortgage can be a financial lifesaver. They are a good choice for those who want some extra spending money, who need a reliable monthly income, who would like to pay off debts, or perhaps pay for in-home health care services, medications, or travel. Following are a few facts regarding reverse mortgages: • Sixty-two is the minimum age to qualify. There is no maximum age. • Reverse mortgages work for homes completely paid for or with substantial equity. • The mortgage company does not own the home. The reverse mortgage is simply a lien that is added to the property that gets repaid when the property is sold or transferred. • You can’t outlive the loan or be kicked out of your house, regardless of your age or the remaining home equity funds as long as the property taxes, maintenance, and insurance is kept current. • Heirs are not liable for repaying the debt because reverse mortgages are government-backed loans. Homeowners and their heirs are protected from ever owing more than the future value of the home. • Credit scores and income are not currently factors during loan processing. To find out more information about reverse mortgages, call Lisa Parks with The Reverse Mortgage Center at 231-218-0307 for a personalized analysis to determine if a reverse mortgage would benefit you. ADVERTISEMENT

Call Lisa for a free consultation to see if a Reverse Mortgage is right for you!

Team Member of Security Mortgage Corp.

Moving Forward in Reverse

Lisa Parks

Certified Reverse Mortgage Specialist Traverse City, MI

231-218-0307

www.RevMortgageCenter.com NMLS 171640 & 135633

Senior Living

DAVE FOX

Kelly Sites

Assisted Moving Services TEXT BY HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

At some point in just about everybody’s life, there comes a time to downsize. Some people feel the urge in their 50s, others in their 80s, but whenever the urge or need happens, it can mean a lot of work and tough decisions. Enter Assisted Moving Services, a Traverse City–based licensed moving company that “does a little bit of everything,” says owner Kelly Sites. “We get involved in things that other movers would not,” Sites says. “We focus on senior moving and downsizing … At 80 years old, how do you pack your dishes and encyclopedias and all the things that maybe your husband left in the garage if he passed away? It can be an overwhelming situation.” Assisted Moving Services will handle an entire move for you, from going in and packing up everything to transporting the items and unpacking them in a new residence or storage facility (or both). “We will pack everything down to the shampoo that is still in the bathtub, and we will unpack everything, make the beds, hang the pictures, get the TV and computers hooked up,” Sites says. The company also will help with tasks such as canceling your cable and arranging for mail delivery changes. The business often cleans out garages and attics, and will donate items to local charities. In the summer, Sites and her staff host “downsizing sales” open to the public out of the company’s warehouse. Here’s what Sites suggests if you’re thinking about downsizing in the nottoo-distant future: Get organized. Take stock of what you have in your home and all that you would like to keep. Go through closets and cupboards and label things—

try a sticky note, color-coded system such as red for ‘donate,’ green for ‘keep’ and blue for ‘sell.’ “This way you’re not going back and saying, ‘What was I going to do with this?’” Sites says. Explore storage options. Consider what may need to be stored and whether you’ll need climate-controlled space for certain items. “I recommend storage buildings, which are hard to come by in this area,” Sites says. “So if you’re planning to move, plan ahead and make some

FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

of those phone calls.” Just be sure to consider your new living space and how much room you truly have. “Sometimes people keep way too much stuff,” she says. Talk with family. You may prefer passing on items to family members rather than placing them in storage or giving them away. “People don’t like to get rid of things that they have had forever, so call the kids and the grandchildren and see what they may want.”

Senior Living

Live again without pain The Spine and Nerve Pain Treatment Center offers a comprehensive approach to pain management. Our physicians will work with you and your physician to reduce pain and improve quality of life. We can help with: • Urgent pain conditions (shingles and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) • Back and neck pain, chest wall pain, ischemic and phantom limb pain, and fibromyalgia • Cancer pain management A physician referral is required. Talk to your physician. Spine and Nerve Pain Treatment Center Munson Community Health Center 550 Munson Ave., Traverse City, MI 49686 munsonhealthcare.org

“Preplanning covers all areas of a funeral thereby ensuring all details are dealt with. It is a big relief to know that my family will not be burdened with my funeral arrangements after I die. Preplanning helped my mother too as she had made plans and we followed through with all of her directions.”

“I was able to discuss with and let my loved ones know exactly what kind of funeral service I want or don't want, not to mention sparing them of the burden of worrying about funeral costs or having to make difficult and often confusing decisions during an emotional time of stress and grief.”

Sylvia Burns

William Miles

“We made our funeral prearrangements together, precisely spelled out our wishes and even prefunded so everything is all taken care of. It was a wise decision resulting in great peace of mind. Our family now knows what our wishes are so they won't have to guess.” Jim and Ida Tompkins

305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684 • 231-947-6347 w w w. r e y n o l d s - j o n k h o f f . c o m locally owned • family owned Dan Jonkhoff, Manager

Senior Living

Treat That Pain Early! TEXT BY HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

LEFT: COURTESY OF SUPERIOR PHYSICAL THERAPY. RIGHT: ISTOCK

That nagging lower back pain. On-again, off-again shoulder aches. These are the kinds of situations Andrew Gorecki, physical therapist and owner of Superior Physical Therapy in Traverse City, would like to hear about before they become chronic problems for his patients. That early communication Andrew Gorecki doesn’t happen as often as he’d like, but he’s working on it. “We’re trying to take our own proactive approach,” Gorecki says of his clinic’s commitment to “prehab” sessions that address early onset achiness before it blossoms into a full-blown injury or serious problem. We talked with Gorecki to learn more about the classes—the clinic introduced Superior Prehab late last year—and how physical therapy addresses “the three planes of movement” which in turn boosts our flexibility, balance and endurance. First, tell us about the clinic, you opened two-and-ahalf years ago. We specialize in treating lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, foot pain, knee pain, post surgical rehabilitation, and any orthopedic musculoskeletal dysfunction. We have the referral-based physical therapy—you go to your doctor and they recommend you see us because your pain is coming from a movement problem, something to do with flexibility or strength or balance. We also have an exercise setting where we do exercise classes, or prehab. This is pay-out-of-pocket, and the issues are that people aren’t moving the same and haven’t been able to enjoy life as well and have to slow down a bit. Prehab sounds like an interesting approach. Yes, it is designed to proactively address common movement dysfunctions that are seen in the reactive world of physical therapy. Each class is for six weeks and is held two times per week for a total of 12 sessions. There are three levels available: beginning, intermediate and advanced. These sessions focus on mobility, strength, balance/stability, endurance/sustainability, recovering/restoration, and motivation/ FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

empowerment. We started this three months ago, and it’s really taking off. We’re getting a lot of good feedback. Your clinic works with a fair number of older clients, yes? Yes, about 50 percent are older, and are coming here for our outpatient orthopedic setting. Typically it’s pain, or they’ll tell us their balance is bad, or they can’t do things they want to do or used to do. Predominantly the majority of people we see have low back pain. When exactly should someone consider physical therapy? Ask yourself, “can I do the things I want to do?” If you are avoiding things in your life for any reason, that’s when the conversation needs to happen. You might say to yourself “maybe I can seek out an expert and maybe they can teach me some things.” We see some people wait too long. If we could have seen them six weeks after their shoulder started bothering them it would have been easier. What are some specific ways that Superior Physical Therapy helps with these issues? A lot of older people have difficulty walking. If you look at the statistics, falls come when people are walking—it’s the highest cost for the health care system as a whole, something like $80 billion dollars a year. We try to target what they need to do when they’re walking. We spend a lot of time with people doing single leg activities—stepping and lunging—because balance becomes a huge issue. As we move through life, we’re Senior Living

AT YOUR SIDE, EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. We understand that aging issues are often complex and emotional. We can help make it easier.

231-929-4878 Ann Arbor Find us on:

www.shrr.com

GrAnd rApids

MuskeGon

TrAverse CiTy

Senior Living Superior Physical Therapy moving through one plane of motion predominantly. But we are three-dimensional. Some people lose side-to-side movement and rotation—their body has lost the ability to move in these other planes of motion. You’re giving people tools that they can use on their own, right? Yes, our ultimate goal and purpose is to teach you what to do. We give people pictures and videos so that they can have a 15- to 20-minute program they can do at home.

WORRIED ABOUT

Retirement? It’s time for a second opinion.

Now more than ever you need a plan to help you reach your financial goals. We’d love to help.

Independent

Fee-Based Advice*

Financial Planning*

What’s on YOUR horizon?

Superior Physical Therapy, 3899 Front Street, Traverse City. 231.944.6541, thesuperiortherapy.com

Holly Gallagher CFP®

Wealth Management & Retirement Specialist

Horizon Financial Independent • Fee based • Since 1992

12935 S. West Bayshore Drive Suite 220 Traverse City 231.941.6669 • Toll Free, 800.495.3462 www.horizonfinancialtc.com • hollyg@cfnmail.com *Securities and Advisory Services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network. Member FINRA/SIPC. A Registered Investment Adviser

RNs | LPNs | CNAs

ANGELA BROWN

Parade of Senior Residences The Alliance for Senior Housing makes finding a home later in life much easier, thanks to its annual Parade of Senior Homes. The free daylong tours, which take place in Grand Traverse County, offer glimpses into a variety of residential options. These include independent living retirement centers that have many amenities to help you stay independent, and also assisted-living homes. Tours typically are held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are scheduled on three dates throughout spring, summer and fall. The Alliance charters a bus for up to 29 people per tour, and the tours all begin at the Traverse City Senior Center. Each tour features a different set of housing options. The rides are laid-back and fun; expect games, prizes and good conversation. Pre-registration is required. Call the Senior Center at 231.922.4911 for more information. allianceforseniorhousing.com.

FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

When life changes, we help.

Serving all of Northern Michigan 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

C O M PA S S I O N AT E Q U A L I T Y C A R E (231) 932.0708 | www.monarchhomehealth.com

Senior Living

Providing Custodial, Medical, and Medicare billable care in your home PRIVATE DUTY CARE Med management Personal care Homemaking Meal prep 24/7 care SKILLED CARE Nursing Physical Therapy Home Health Aide/CNA

231.946.3000 Home Health & Skilled Care

www.integrityhomehealthcare.com www.integrityskilledcare.com 2062 N. US31 S., Ste. A, Traverse City, MI 49685

Now Accepting Inquiries

A luxurious year-round Senior Residential Club at Grand Traverse Commons awaits. Designed for both independent seniors and those who require assistance, members enjoy a vibrant community lifestyle of fulfillment, companionship, and meaning. 12

Senior Living

Our Experience Improves

We know our way around hearts. The Munson heart team has provided advanced heart care longer than any other team in northern Michigan. We do more heart procedures than anyone else – and our experience improves yours.

Yours.

Great care and great outcomes make us the regional leader in cardiac care. Ask your physician to refer you to the Munson team – the most experienced and advanced heart team in northern Michigan. We’ll feel better when you do. 1-800-637-4033 | myheartexperts.org

Healthy Living Is Our Way Of Life It’s time to get serious about your lifestyle choices. Healthy living is not an attitude. It’s a way of life. Grand Traverse Pavilions focuses on optimal health and all aspects of your health, mind, and body. Grand Traverse Medical Care Intergenerational Community Center Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation The Cottages: Independent & Assisted Living The Wellness Center 1000 Pavilions Circle | Traverse City | (231) 932-3000 | gtpavilions.org

45,000 4,000

ANNUAL OFFICE VISITS

SURGERIES

12 SPECIALIZED SURGEONS 10 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS 5 PHYSICAL THERAPISTS

ONE EXPERIENCED ORTHOPAEDIC TEAM DEDICATED TO YOU

Get back to your active life! orthopaedic care • physical therapy • orthotics

Senior Living

gogloc.com t r av erse ci t y / 231.935.0 9 0 0

Senior Living

Key Housing Terms Clarified Deciding where to live as one ages is challenging enough. The jargon of senior housing doesn’t make it much easier. We’re here to help with a quick-reference list of common terms. Independent Living: A straightforward term describing living situations for seniors who are still able to live on their own and manage the necessities and social aspects of their lives. In some communities, subsidized independent living apartments are available for low-income seniors.

DAVE FOX

Aging in Place: Often used to describe strategies for designing new homes or modifying existing ones to accommodate aging seniors. A growing number of builders and contractors specialize in Aging in Place design and modification. The term can also refer to staying in a facility that takes a person who is high-functioning all the way through end-of-life. Continuing Care Retirement Community: Usually defined as a “one-campus” system of independent housing, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes. Residents shift easily from one type of housing to another as their needs change, preventing disruptive moves. A spouse who is healthy enough to live independently can stay near a husband or wife in an adjoining nursing facility. FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

Retirement Communities: A term for seniors-only apartments with amenities such as meals, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, carports, storage and activities. Amenities are optional in some retirement communities but included in rent at others. Retirement communities provide less care than assisted living facilities. Most offer annual leases with early-out clauses for medical situations. Assisted Living: A broad category that describes options between independent living and skilled long-term care. In many facilities, residents live in private apartments or rooms but receive care tailored to their level of ability. Services may be as simple as meals and cleaning, but could also include more extensive care, such as dressing, bathing, monitoring medications and transportation for appointments and shopping. Most assisted living facilities serve residents through hospice and end-of-life. Depending on the services they provide, assisted living facilities are not necessarily licensed in Michigan. Medicare does not provide funds for assisted living. Senior Living

Bayside

Your Place To Call Home Countryside

Close To Town

ASSISTED LIVING Tr a v e r s e C i t y, M i c h i g a n

Located on East Grand Traverse Bay 27 Private Rooms each with a view of the Bay All Levels of Care (opening Spring 2014) US 31 North Acme 231-392-9284

Quiet Country Home

Minutes from Downtown Traverse City 24-Hour Awake Staff

24-Hour Awake Staff Private Rooms 1818 River Ridge Dr. Traverse City 231-392-9284

Large Private rooms Vibrant Community Setting Assisted & Specialized Care 461 Munson Ave Traverse City 231-947-4626

For additional information and to arrange a tour of one of our homes please call Debbie at 231-392-9284

If pain is your constant companion, it’s time to break up. Charlevoix Area Hospital

If pain is your constant companion, it’s time to break up.

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rgery performs spine su R. Blaine Rawson, MD . l a t i p s o H ea t Charlevoix Ar ms spine surgery a R. Blaine Rawson, MD perfor

Senior Living

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Senior Living Key Housing Terms Clarified

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Skilled Nursing Facility: Describes facilities for people with mental or physical impairment and extensive medical needs. Skilled nursing facilities, commonly called nursing homes, have in-house activities for stimulation and rehab services for short-term stays. They are also the most expensive option. According to federal statistics, Medicaid pays for seven out of every 10 nursing home patients. So unless a senior is wealthy or has good long-term care insurance, the number of Medicaid beds in a nursing home may be an important selection criteria.

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Adult Day Services: A service that allows seniors to drop in at a residential care facility for specific periods during the day, especially helpful for people with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers. The senior at adult daycare gets assistance and social interaction while the caregiver is able to go to work or run errands, or just take a break. When caregivers need more time, they may use overnight respite at certain residential facilities. Such short-term stays helps seniors become familiar with the staff and environment of a facility that may eventually become their full-time residence.

DAVE FOX

Adult Foster Care and Homes for the Aged: These are state licensing definitions for facilities that care for seniors who can no longer live independently but do not need continuous medical support. In addition to on-site supervision, seniors at these facilities get help with bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, walking, toileting and medications. (The state defines smaller operations, often based in private homes and residential neighborhoods, as adult foster care. Facilities with more than 20 residents are licensed as homes for the aged.) Some seniors prefer the cozy atmosphere of smaller residential homes, while others find more stimulation at larger facilities that offer a range of activities. Medicaid is accepted at some of these homes. Long-Term Care: General term for 24-hour medical and personal care. Most commonly, long-term care is provided in a skilled nursing facility. FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

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Senior Living

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Senior Living

Agencies, Here to Help

Senior Citizens and their families are often surprised at the extensive resources for seniors available free or at low cost, thanks to tax support. The following Up North agencies offer services to seniors of all income levels and situations. Area Agency on Aging in Northern Michigan (AAANM) Although much of its work is behind the scenes, AAANM provides a key public service as an information clearinghouse. AAANM information specialists are a good place to start for an overview of programs and services available to older adults and their caregivers. Benefits counselors are also available by appointment to answer questions and troubleshoot problems with Medicare, Medicaid or prescription drug policies and claims. This information and counseling is the best deal around—free, unbiased and available to all. The agency also provides some direct services to specific populations, such as job searches for low-income seniors and care management for the “frail elderly” who need multiple services to stay in their homes. Most direct services, however, are provided through local Councils/ Commissions on Aging and private pay agencies. This regional organization, with local headquarters in Traverse City, has overseen and distributed government

funds to service providers throughout 10 counties in Northwest Lower Michigan since 1974. AAANM Information Specialists are available in person at 1609 Park Drive, Traverse City, by phone 800.442.1713 or 231.947.8920, or by e-mail under the “Contact Us” feature at aaanm.org. Council on Aging or Commission on Aging Each county in Northwest Lower Michigan has either a council or a commission that provides services directly to seniors. Subsidized by local millage funds and/or state and federal dollars, these agencies help eligible seniors with yard work, house cleaning, personal care, transportation, and much more. Some services may have waiting lists or limitations on the number of hours provided. Payment is usually required, typically on a sliding scale. Services and terms vary widely from county to county—important to remember for seniors who plan to relocate. Senior Centers Many communities have senior centers that provide recreational and social activities, including some that are run by county aging commissions or councils. In Traverse City, the Senior Center is the hot spot for everything from pickle ball to computer classes. The center brings in other services such as foot care and legal assistance, in addition to being a senior nutrition site for the Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency. To connect with your local Commission or Council on Aging, Area Agency on Aging, or the senior services available in your area, contact the AAANM 800.442.1713, aaanm.org, or the nationwide ElderCare Locator service 800.677.1116, eldercare.gov.

DAVE FOX

The Alzheimer’s Association The Alzheimer’s Association serves Northern Lower Michigan with two regional offices in Traverse City and Alpena. The association offers many programs and services that benefit caregivers as well as people living with Alzheimer’s disease. A support group for caregivers can be found in each Northern Michigan County as well as care consultation, care management services, education and training, and lending libraries with books, videos and DVD’s. A helpline is available 24 hours a day at 800.272.3900 or call the Traverse City office at 231.929-3804 or Alpena at 989.356-4087. alz-org-northernmi.blogspot.com/ and www.alz.org/gmc/. FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

Senior Living

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Get Fit Outside!

JOHN HEIAM

TEXT BY HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

When Lois Goldstein and her husband John Heiam moved north from Chicago in 2000, the couple made two decisions that have guided them and their active lifestyle ever since. “We decided to do something outdoors every day, and most of the time that works out,” says Lois, 65, a retired math teacher. “And we also decided because we were teachers, we didn’t want to go anywhere at Christmastime. When you’re a teacher, that’s the only time you can travel in the winter, but it’s always crowded and always expensive. There was always that angst—we’d plan a trip to cross-country ski and wonder would there be snow? When we moved up here, you know if it’s snowing, fine, we’ll ski. If it’s not, we’ll hike.” Retiring in the Traverse City area was a no-brainer, they say, given all that’s available to those who enjoy Northern Michigan’s beautiful landscape. “One of the major reasons we moved here is because of the outdoor activities,” Goldstein says. “It always surprises me when people move here and don’t take advantage of what we have here, or complain about the weather. Didn’t you notice we’re on the 45th parallel?” The couple enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, from paddling and cycling in the warmer months, to cross-country skiing and snowshoeing throughout winter. Hiking, kayaking and canoeing are favorite activities. “John was president of the Traverse City hiking club and also involved in the paddling club. We usually paddle, if possible, 100 days a year,” Goldstein says. “Usually just when the snow is disappearing we try to go south and

start paddling in Florida. When we’re here during the spring, summer and fall, there are lots and lots of places we go, both on the rivers and lakes.” Indeed, the couple knows the very best places (and lesser-known spots) to paddle. Heiam, 68, says it all began when they read Michigan author Jerry Dennis’s book of paddling experiences shortly after moving to the area. “We started looking, going through the trips he described,” Heiam says. Just from his book, there are tons of places to paddle here. There are probably 30 to 40 different one-day paddle trips just on rivers within an hour from Traverse City. We even know places to go on holiday weekends where you’re not in the crowds.” “We also organize a lot of river cleanups,” Goldstein says. “We do one or two on the Lower Platte every summer before the hordes come in, and one near the end of summer.” Through their involvement in the Traverse Area Paddle Club, Goldstein and Heiam take about 120 trips per season, from April through fall. They mix up their trips, taking easier routes at times and others going for a more challenging adventure. Much of the time they are paddling with a group totaling three to a dozen paddlers. “We have a website that is updated often, so if we’re sitting watching the weather at six in the evening and we

FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

see it’s going to be beautiful the next day, we can post a trip on the calendar for the next day—we don’t have to be planning these things too far in advance,” Heiam says. The couple also serves as ambassadors for Traverse Area Recreation and Transportation Trails, or TART Trails. They often bike the in-town paved trails, sometimes from their home in Acme. “This past year we rode 1,000 miles,” Goldstein says. Come winter, they take to the trails for snowshoeing, usually on a stretch of the North Country Trail that runs the perimeter of Traverse City. “There’s a section of the trail that is gorgeous for snowshoeing,” says Heiam, who mentions spots along the Manistee River and near the northern end of the Boardman River. Goldstein’s favorite snowshoe stretch: an out-and-back they enjoy traveling with friends. “Once you’ve broken trail, it doesn’t really matter if you’re in a group—if you get tired, you can go back and the trail is already made,” she says. Whatever the outdoor activity, Goldstein and Heiam say they never take where they live for granted. “I’ll be going down the river and I will think, ‘God, I am so lucky to live here.’ I only had to drive 20 minutes, and I am on this incredible river, looking at the fall colors,” Goldstein says. “Or we’ll be out with friends, like friends who just Senior Living

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Since 1985, Mercy Home care has provided the best in personalized healthcare services in the most important environment of all, the home.

Hospice When the end of life is near Mercy Home care / Hospice provides comfort, safety, and compassionate care for patients and their families. To get more information on home care or hospice services, please call or see us online at www.trinityhomehealth.org.

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Senior Living

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Senior Living Get Fit Outside! moved here from Chicago this summer, and ever since then we’ve taken them to all of these wonderful places. We were skiing along, and I said, ‘This is why you moved here. Here it is, a Tuesday afternoon and we have this incredible snow and incredible scenery.’ And it’s accessible. It’s accessible even if you’re not a great athlete.” “The happiest people you ever see are the people on the Vasa trail or the Timber trail or Muncie Lakes or Sand Lakes Quiet Area immediately after the first big snow,” she says. “Everybody out there is happy.”—Heather Johnson Durocher

PHOTO COURTESY OF NMC

NMC Classes Eager to expand your knowledge? Interested in mastering a new skill? Sharpen your mind (and beef up your dinner party conversation) by heading back to school. Enroll in one of countless community classes offered through Northwestern Michigan College’s Extended Education. Choose from a wide variety of non-credit classes, from photography, culinary and music, to health and fitness, mobile technology (“Getting the most out of your iPhone” is one such class) and small business courses. New courses begin each week. Yet another option: NMC’s LIFE (Learning is Forever) Academy, a series of non-credit classes for those age 50 and older, nmc.edu/extended-education. If you’re looking to earn academic credits, consider one of NMC’s more than 60 areas of academic study. NMC offers transfer courses, two-year associate degrees and professional certificates, with access to BA and advanced degrees through its University Center. Online learning options also are available, nmc.edu.

FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

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Senior Living

YOUR BRAIN

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF TRAVERSE AREA NEUROLOGY CLINIC. BOTTOM RIGHT: COURTESTY OF NMC.

Dr. P. Callaghan

Give It a Workout TEXT BY HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

It may start with forgetting a word during a conversation. You know what you want to say, but you just can’t express it, even when the word is one you’ve used many times in the past. We all can be absent-minded and have a momentary lapse in our vocabulary from time to time, but your brain likely is trying to tell you something if it’s happening frequently, says Dr. Paul Callaghan, a neuropsychologist at Traverse Area Neurology Clinic. “It’s a common complaint—you might be having trouble thinking of a word, and it happens often enough that you feel clumsy when you’re expressing yourself,” Callaghan says. “So when this happens, a person who is really social and has been comfortable talking in small groups all of a sudden may be quite self-conscious.” To cope, you may choose to stop putting yourself into these social situations—a decision Callaghan says is understandable but not wise to make. “That starts a decline,” he says. “Not only are there social costs, there are brain costs. Now you’re not stimulating your brain.” Callaghan points out that memory issues are now affecting those much younger; it once was that he saw people when they reached their 70s, but today he’s seeing individuals in their 50s more often. “I think people are much more interested to know what can be done to maintain capacities throughout life. I think people are more aware,” he says. He also believes the amount of stress in everyday life contributes to this trend. “From my perspective, there’s much more stress than there was 20 years ago. The demands on our brains are much higher—we’re talking on our smart phones, we’re multi-tasking. It’s really challenging for our brains,” he says. “When a 50-something thinks they are losing capacity, often times stress is the culprit. There are sleep disturbances. It becomes hard to shut our brains off.” The good news: as health care advances prolong our lives, and more information about brain health is discovered, greater options become available to ensure mental sharpness for as long as possible, Callaghan says. “It has everything to do with maintaining independence and staying active,” he says. Callaghan’s work centers on assessing neurocognitive and brain functions as they relate to persons who are experiencing memory loss. FROM THE PUBLISHER OF TRAVERSE, NORTHERN MICHIGAN’S MAGAZINE

“We use neuropsychology testing to determine if it’s normal age-related changes or if there’s something more going on that we need to jump on,” he says. “Everybody is interested in how to have a healthy brain.” From there, Callaghan works with patients to boost brain health. “There are a variety of recommendations. Some have to do with lifestyle things—getting better sleep and getting more physical exercise, which is a huge thing,” he says. “But we sometimes prescribe certain brain activities—approaching the brain like a muscle.” This is where the clinic’s Train Your Brain program may come into play. This is specifically for seniors who have developed some problems that are worrisome, Callaghan says. “They are having trouble doing things that previously were automatic, like keeping track of medicines or balancing their checkbook,” he says. “It’s that kind of person we want to help boost how they are exercising their minds.” “We get people to play games, everything from board games to taking classes to reading to getting involved in community activities where they are doing a variety of activities that are social and challenge their minds,” he says. “What we want to do is help people design a weekly calendar where they are doing different things. We have found that variety is very important.”

Senior Living

Hearing Aids

ARNE TRAUTMANN

TEXT BY HEATHER JOHNSON DUROCHER

The words “hearing aid” may bring to mind something clunky that’s visibly attached to your ear, but this image is far from what’s reality in today’s devices made to enhance hearing. “The technology has improved dramatically,” says Dr. Kathleen Sawhill of Hearing Solutions of Northwest Michigan, and so has the look. One example of this: the cosmetic factor. “They’re much more cosmetically appealing,” Sawhill says. A lot of them go behind the ear, are small and discreet and have a wire going over the ear. Or they are worn deep into the ear canal.” Some of these ear-canal hearing aids may be removed as needed, such as for sleeping or swimming. Longterm hearing aids, meanwhile, are put in by a professional and remain there for weeks at a time. “I think people are embracing the hearing aids more,” Sawhill says. “It’s not your grandfather’s hearing aid, if you will.” Another advancement is improved connectivity with other devices, Sawhill says. “So many hearing aids we dispense have Bluetooth capabilities,” she says. “We are able to bring patients’ cell phone signals or TV directly into their hearing aids.” 28

Senior Living

A product expected to be released in coming months is a hearing aid that allows an iPhone to act as a remote control for the device. If hearing loss is a concern, Sawhill suggests first talking with your primary physician. A referral to an audiologist would be the next step. An audiologist can properly assess and diagnose the hearing issue. “Everyone has different needs for hearing,” Sawhill says. “Some people are active and busy and social, and others are quiet. It’s a very individualized approach about their hearing loss and what they think they need. We make recommendations from there. Our first priority is always to make patients hear as well as they can.” Sometimes people are reluctant to address their hearing loss. “The process

of losing your hearing is so gradual, sometimes over decades,” she says. “And so you can get used to hearing with hearing loss.” But once patients discover how well hearing aids can work, their life can be transformed. The improvements in recent years only make things more exciting. “Most people don’t know those things are available,” Sawhill says of the technological advances. “When they want to maintain that lifestyle, it’s fun to be able to introduce those kinds of products. We’re definitely seeing a need for introducing products to patients so they feel confident in noisy restaurants, in meetings, or while watching movies with their family. People are realizing the benefits of the hearing aid … they are feeling younger.”

We hear with our brain; not our ears

earing and listening are not the same. However, you must have good hearing to be a good listener. If a person does not have normal hearing sensitivity, hearing aids can help ensure the ear receives the signal so that the brain can process it. Listening is an active process and takes some effort. Listening takes even more effort when hearing loss is untreated. As reported by Robert Sweetow, PhD, Professor of Otolaryngology, University of California, San Francisco, there is evidence that loss of hearing in the ear literally produces physical changes in the brain. These changes are called neural plasticity and data shows that when parts of the brain aren’t being used, they actually change their function (not in a positive manner). Thus, the old adage “use it or lose it” actually applies to listening because the hearing impaired person’s brain may not be receiving the kind of stimulation it needs to maintain proper function. Unfortunately some people with hearing loss refuse to wear hearing aids and develop coping strategies that cost them in the long run. They may withdraw from social situations and stop doing the things they once enjoyed because it becomes too difficult and they are afraid they might make a mistake. They may lose self confidence and become isolated and depressed. And others may monopolize conversations so that they don’t have to do the listening. Hearing loss affects quality of life. Today’s hearing aids can make speech audible for the hearing impaired person, but good listening skills are important too. Here are some strategies for better communication with hearing impaired people… Coping strategies for a hearing impaired listener… • be patient • watch faces and gestures • repeat back what you heard to verify you got it right • think of new ways to ask for repetition other than “huh” • tell people about your hearing loss • use captions on TV and consider using a caption phone Coping strategies for friends and family of a hearing impaired person… • get the person’s attention before speaking • repeat once, if the person still doesn’t get it rephrase the message, use different words • don’t shout or talk too fast • use visual cues (look at the listener, move closer, sit at eye level, and don’t talk with your hand by your mouth) • use gestures and facial expressions • mustaches and beards make it more difficult to lip read

If you think you have hearing loss, talk to your physician about it and rule out any possible medical causes. Then ask your physician for a referral to an audiologist who can evaluate and treat your hearing loss and come up with a comprehensive communication plan.

Helping people hear better ultimately improves their quality of life and is very rewarding.

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www.hearingsolutionstc.com

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