THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE | 13
SUMMER 2017
Reflections of the Woodside Difference
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ary O’Connor has advocated for decades on behalf of Alzheimer’s care and research due to her own a personal experience. In the early 1990s, her husband Dan, a corporate bond lawyer in Atlanta, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at the young age of 58.
“It was then that I began my spiritually-driven journey to seek out not only the best care for Dan, but to help revolutionize the way people living with Alzheimer’s disease were viewed and cared for,” Mary noted in a recent phone interview with us. Mary wished for an environment that was less institutional and less restrictive, a place that could remove the unnecessary barriers and make the environment more like home. Then a miracle happened; Mary received an article from the October 20, 1997 issue of the New Yorker, written by the now famous Malcolm Gladwell. It was about Woodside Place, a development in the Pittsburgh area by Presbyterian SeniorCare and a Perkins Eastman architect, David Hoglund, who had helped design communities like she was envisioning. “And so I began my travels and first-hand information gathering at these modern communities. I was enamored. I saw that it really was the little things that made a world of difference for the residents, their family members, and for my
own perspective. There were cookies baking and they smelled delicious. There was carpet instead of linoleum. It did not feel as if I were in a hospital. I felt at home.” At the time, a model like Woodside did not exist in Atlanta. Although she knew that her husband might not benefit from this new model of care due to his advanced stage of the disease, Mary recalls, “I wanted to make it easier for people who would be coming after my husband.” Dan died in 2002, but Mary persevered, using her compassion and community connections to support the development of Hearthstone, a new memory care center at Presbyterian Village, a ministry of Presbyterian Homes of Georgia. Her dream became a reality in 2005. Today, Mary fondly remembers her quest to find and replicate the Woodside model and shared her gratitude for the Board and staff at Presbyterian Village. “ It feels so good to know that I was part of something that helped make such a tremendous change for the better.” Mary now lives in Washington DC and continues to advocate for Alzheimer’s research, specifically as a member of the advisory committee for Us Against Alzheimer’s. Over 25 years since Woodside Place of Oakmont opened its doors, the Woodside model remains relevant and has been replicated more than 100 times around the world.
1215 Hulton Road Oakmont PA 15139-1196 www.SrCare.org 1-877-772-6500
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WALKING TO END ALZHEIMER’S Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is a proud Regional sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and will have team members, residents and family members represent our organization at five walks across the region that support the communities we serve. We are walking in support of the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association to drive research toward treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. Visit www.SrCare.org/events to register for the walk for your choice.
Sharon
Washington
Erie
Pittsburgh
September 9 – BC3 at Linden Pointe, 9 am September 16 – UPMC Park, 9 am
The Woodside Difference From person-centered programs and pioneering technologies to standardized practices and community outreach and education – it all adds up to a unique model of care and services that is unmatched in our sector.
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
October 7 – Consol Stadium, 8 am November 4 – North Shore, 7:30 am
Clarion
October 7 – Clarion County Courthouse Lawn, 8 am
Excellence in Dementia Care
THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
IN THIS ISSUE Innovation: The Heartbeat of Dementia Care........................ 1 From the Foundation.................. 2 Planned Giving Corner...........3-4 Woodside Workshop.............5-7 Feature Story...........................8-9 The Beat: News from around the Network ........10-11 The Woodside Difference...... 12
SUMMER 2017
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
Excellence in Dementia Care
ABOUT THE COVER As a Dementia Care Center of Excellence, we are transforming the very heart of memory care. Our residents and their families benefit from leading-edge practices with a distinctly personcentered approach. Our innovative team members and collaborative partners help us nurture and grow so that we are able make aging easier for older adults living with dementia, as well as provide support to their families.
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or nearly 90 years, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network has continued to innovate to meet the changing needs and preferences of older adults and their families. We call this our person-centered philosophy. As I anticipate our upcoming 90th anniversary in 2018, I think back to my 30-year history with the organization. There is one particular moment in time that really sticks out. It was the opening of the first specialized dementia care community of its kind in the U.S., Woodside Place of Oakmont. In fact, developing and creating Woodside Place in 1991 is what I believe to be our single, biggest accomplishment and contribution to the field of aging. To take you back a couple of decades, in 1988, I accompanied Charlie Pruitt (former CEO) to England to study their innovations in housing and healthcare for older adults. There we found something happening that was not happening here in the U.S. – a residential Alzheimer’s facility called “Woodside” that looked like home, offered freedom of choice and encouraged residents to live in the moment. It was drastically different from what we knew; in the U.S., the only option was to live in a skilled nursing community where regimentation and restriction, including the prevalent use of physical restraints and medication to manage behaviors, were part of daily life. After seeing England’s model, we knew we wanted that same “home” model and that something, at least in our country, needed to change.
Innovative Team Work Enhances Person-Centered Care
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n June 21, 2017, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network was awarded the Innovation of the Year Distinguished Service Award by LeadingAge PA for our work in developing much needed educational sessions designed to assist emergency teams and hospital staff in the transitional care of residents with dementia. The Distinguished Service Awards recognize people who give their time, talents and abundant energy to the field of aging and demonstrate a deep commitment to serving seniors. LeadingAge PA represents Pennsylvania not-for-profit organizations that provide housing, healthcare and community services primarily to the elderly.
Our dementia care network integration team accepts the 2017 LeadingAge PA Innovation of the Year Award. L to R: Julie Elling, Melissa Tomko, Cheryl Covelli, Carrie Chiusano, John Dickson, Immediate Past Chair of the LeadingAge Board of Directors, Rena Tatka, Amy Rabo, Shawna Bostaph and Janice Mullen.
From Woodside Place, we developed the Woodside model of care, standards and best practices that solidify the specialized expertise and commitment to excellence in dementia care that we provide across our Network in a variety of settings.
In this issue, you’ll read about how we are collaborating on innovative projects that continue to advance the benefits of the Woodside model of dementia care. Thank you for your continued support of our mission!
Paul M. Winkler President & CEO
Our teams taught dementia basics, how to recognize common behaviors, effective communication and how to effectively work with families. A large part of this initiative was the education on the use of a “resident history” form that accompanies the resident during transitions from a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community to the hospital. Pre- and post-tests were given to those who participated in the training. The results reflected 100% improvement in comfort level and/or competency when interacting with individuals living with dementia. Our teams continue to replicate these education efforts, demonstrating our commitment to being socially accountable and to sharing our dementia expertise.
We committed to opening our own Woodside and in 1991 Woodside Place of Oakmont became one of the nation’s first residential care communities designed specifically to meet the holistic needs of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Now, over 25 years later, the Woodside model remains the standard for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and has been replicated in all of the communities across our Network, as well as more than 100 times around the world. Our pioneering work is what sets us apart and is why today Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is known as a Dementia Care Center of Excellence.
As part of our ongoing commitment to community outreach, our team of dementia coordinators from across the Network developed and implemented training modules that increased understanding and provided specialized techniques to improve care for individuals living with dementia. These modules were utilized to educate registered nurses in the ER, nursing units and quality improvement teams at hospitals as well as first responders such as local fire and police departments and EMS teams.
A First Responder Perspective “The Lower Kiski Search and Rescue K-9 Team was looking for a seminar on how to better communicate and approach a lost person who is living with dementia. We reached out to Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and our request was met with infectious enthusiasm. Their innovative and informative program met our expectations and more. We were given invaluable information and creative approaches to interact with someone who is lost and has dementia. The hands-on role playing of various scenarios enabled us to interact and cement our new knowledge. We look forward to working with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network in the future to better serve our community by presenting this mutually beneficial program to other local Search and Rescue teams.” ~ Kathy Otruba, RN, EMT-B, NASR Tech II, Commander, Lower Kiski Search and Rescue Team
Colorful Tool Improves Resident Transitions
Better Transitions Are Happening
ransfer trauma describes the stress that a person with dementia may experience when changing living environments, and for some, the stress associated with the move may be fairly significant. This is why it is so important to equip ambulance crews, emergency room teams and floor nurses with the skills and tools to best meet the needs of a person with dementia.
I have been my mom’s caregiver, advocate and her voice for the last 10 years. Our journey before Woodside Place was a nightmare. My mom was over medicated, misunderstood and given up on.
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When a resident living with dementia leaves a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community, we prepare the teams at the hospital with everything they need to understand how to care for the individual. Here is what happens: • Residents are sent with a “history” form that details any anxiety-producing situations, challenging behaviors and successful interventions. The form is on bright yellow paper and is the first page of the transfer paperwork that accompanies the resident during the transition. • All of the information is packaged in a purple cinch bag that has the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network logo on it, which the hospital team has come to recognize, prompting them to look for the yellow form. Having these two colorful identifiers help to build a relationship with the hospital, which in turn supports the hospital team in more quickly getting to know the patient. This person-centered approach by not only the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network team, but by the medical teams, focuses intently on the welfare of the patient and helps to provide a safe transfer.
Fran, my mom, went to live at Woodside Place three years ago and her world changed for the better. The team just gets the disease; they get her. That said, when I heard that she needed to go to the hospital, I got a little nervous. Before Woodside, our visits to the hospital and emergency room were terrible. To get the hospital team to understand what dementia was, to understand who my mom was – impossible. I’ll never forget the one stay when I was told by a nurse that my mom was wicked. I was shocked and could not believe someone from the medical field would say this about my mother.
When my mom went to the emergency room a few months ago, it was different. And it was different because the team at Woodside Place took a few extra minutes to ensure a safe transfer to the hospital. I couldn’t get there right away, imagine my angst! But when I walked in, there was a bright yellow history/ transfer sheet right on top of all of her paper work. I wasn’t there to be her voice. But that yellow form was. What a relief for me. My mom was taken care of. My mom is back at Woodside Place, continuing to live in the moment. We were lost before Woodside Place and now she has the quality of life that she deserves. Jan Klein, Family member
FEATURE STORY
INNOVATION: The Heartbeat of Dementia Care
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n an effort to improve dementia care, we have spearheaded a unique collaboration between team members from It's Never 2 Late as well as those representing our Rehabilitation Center of Excellence and our Dementia Care Center of Excellence. Our goal is to demonstrate the therapeutic benefits and positive outcomes that can be achieved through rehab therapies for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Steven Zarit, PhD, a world-renowned gerontology expert and one of our trusted advisors, will be overseeing this research project. Dr. Zarit brings to the project over three decades of pioneering research in the field of dementia care. Continued on page 8
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FROM THE FOUNDATION
A New Cornerstone for Dementia Care Excellence Built to assisted living standards, Woodside Place of Washington will cost approximately $9 million to build. To help reduce the amount of debt to be financed, and support our ability to provide benevolent care, we will be conducting the Woodside Place of Washington Capital Campaign.
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we partnered with architectural firm, Perkins Eastman to explore the feasibility of developing a new residential community specifically for dementia care. Perkins Eastman is the same firm that designed the original Woodside Place of Oakmont more than 25 years ago.
A few years ago, we completed a market study that showed the need for Alzheimer’s and dementia care in Washington County far exceeded what was available in the region. At our Washington campus, we have been providing specialized dementia care within a designated wing at our Southminster Place personal care community as well as our Southmont skilled nursing community. These designated dementia care wings, which we call Woodside neighborhoods, are typically 100% occupied.
I invite you to call me to learn more about the Woodside Place of Washington Capital Campaign and to discover how you can join us in our efforts to create this much-needed care community that will benefit the residents of Washington County and beyond. Thank you for making aging easier for older adults in our region.
t Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, we are proud of our strong roots in dementia care and services. When we opened the specialized dementia care community, Woodside Place of Oakmont in 1991, we were at the forefront of offering unparalleled memory care in a non-institutional setting. I am so proud to be part of an organization that, throughout its history, has constantly stepped-up to enhance the lives of older adults, solve challenges in our industry and evolve with the times. As the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias has grown with the graying of our population, we began to see a greater demand for dementia care expertise and programs.
We began to explore new options that could help to meet the future needs of Washington County and beyond. In fall of 2016,
Over the past year, we completed plans to build Woodside Place of Washington, secured a site – expanding our footprint on our existing Washington campus – and successfully addressed various permitting issues. Next spring, we are looking forward to breaking ground for the construction of a 36-bed split-level two-story building with space for adult day services and plenty of green space, completely dedicated to dementia care. It will incorporate what we have learned over the past 25 years and what we know is on the horizon to offer the best in design, programming and expertise.
Jacqueline S. Flanagan, CFRE Executive Director • 412-826-6195
PLANNED GIVING CORNER
Charitable Gift Annuities
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ver the past couple of months, I received several inquiries on charitable gift annuities. A charitable gift annuity is a simple way for you to make a gift to Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and receive a dependable income for yourself. When you make an irrevocable gift of $10,000 or more, we agree to pay you, the donor and/or your spouse, an annual fixed income for life. Charitable gift annuity rates are based on the donor’s age and you must be at least 65 years of age.
If you are interested in learning how a charitable gift annuity can benefit you, I would be happy to put a proposal together for you. The only thing I will need is your birthdate, and if you are interested in a two-life annuity (for you and your spouse), your spouse’s birthdate. I look forward to hearing from you! The current charitable gift annuity rates are: Age
Rate Charitable deduction for a $10,000 one-life annuity*
Annual payment for a for a $10,000 one-life annuity
65
4.7
$3,489.80
$470
75
5.8
$4,577.20
$580
85
7.8
$5,659.90
$780
*As of August 2017 assumes 2.4% IRS discount rate. For illustrative purposes only.
Nancy Hart Director, Planned Giving Phone: 412-826-6087 Email: nhart@srcare.org
Want to learn more about the planned giving options at Presbyterian SeniorCare Network? Visit our new web site: plannedgiving.srcare.org.
The Cornerstone Society recognizes those individuals who make a gift of $1,000 or more, either as a single gift or as the sum of several donations throughout the calendar year, for benevolent care or for unrestricted support for the area of greatest need. The 2016 Cornerstone Society members attended a special luncheon in their honor at Oakmont Country Club. Joining them were members of the Anderson Legacy Society, which recognizes those that have included Presbyterian SeniorCare Network in their will or estate plans.
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DONOR PROFILE
When Your Heart Plants Its Roots
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orothy Pollock grew up in McKeesport, Dorothy moved into her apartment at Shenango on the and held jobs in Pittsburgh and Green in 2002, the first week it opened. She was one of the Monroeville. But the place that her first residents to move in. “Aside from the annoyances of old heart wanted to settle someday was age, there is no reason why anyone wouldn’t love living here. in New Wilmington, Lawrence County. Everything is here for us residents. If we have a problem, it Dorothy first fell in love with the town is solved. If we are hungry, the food is marvelous and we when she went to Westminster College don’t have to worry about doing the dishes or cleaning the in 1942 to study chemistry. After graduating, she took a job table. There are so many advantages to living here; I can stay in Pittsburgh, but would active, I have my friends close “ I am fortunate, love where I live, frequently return to her alma and the team at Shenango on and I want to give back because of mater to volunteer in the the Green serves us well." alumni office. Her road trips all that was given to me.” Dorothy continued to to New Wilmington would ~ Dorothy Pollock volunteer at Westminster eventually end when she College when she moved, but moved to Shenango she also took on responsibilities at on the Green, which Shenango on the Green. She was is located directly across the first president of the Resident the street from the College. Association Council. She also New Wilmington was now facilitated the creation of the her home and her trips to the Resident Directory, a compilation College were now of current residents, including a on foot! photo and a short bio on each, When Dorothy decided she as a way to help everyone get to was ready to downsize, the know each other. plans were just being put into Having a special connection motion to build Shenango to not only the local New on the Green, a Wilmington community, but Presbyterian SeniorCare also to the residents at Shenango on the Green, Dorothy Network independent living community. “At first, I really found it very natural to include Presbyterian didn’t think the building was going to be ready on the SeniorCare Network in her will with a timeline I had to move. So I put in a deposit at a community designation to the area of greatest need. in Murrysville. Right after I made my deposit, Shenango on the Green received approval and construction was soon to “Where you live, it becomes part of who you are. I know that begin. The community returned my deposit so that my New funding is always needed for those who can no longer afford Wilmington/Westminster College plan was going to happen," their care. I am fortunate, love where I live, and I want to Dorothy explains. give back because of all that was given to me,” Dorothy explains, smiling.
WOODSIDE WORKSHOP: EXPERIENCING THE WHY
Woodside Workshop: Experiencing the WHY
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aring for those living with dementia is hard work. It takes passion and patience. It requires the ability to be nimble and adapt quickly to change. We also know it takes an understanding of the disease, learned through experience.
As a Dementia Care Center of Excellence, it is important for all of our team members to get the benefit of our more than 25 years of experience. In addition to the initial certification that we have all team members complete through the Alzheimer’s Association, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network team members who specifically work in our Woodside communities and neighborhoods, receive additional specialized training that helps them individualize their care approaches based upon understanding the “why” of the disease and its various stages. During these training sessions, our team members are not solely watching videos or learning from a presentation, they are involved in hands-on training and in role-playing. They dig deep to understand behaviors, day-to-day care and how to overcome challenges. Team members found this experiential training very beneficial because they really started to “feel” how persons living with dementia may be feeling and what environmental circumstances may trigger behavior changes. Eventually, with the addition of local service organizations attending our trainings, our room wasn’t big enough to hold everyone who wanted to learn more.
We were offering a unique perspective of what it takes to care for someone living with the disease, and as a result, three years ago, we began offering an eight-hour Woodside Workshop catered to ALL working or volunteering with individuals living with dementia. “It is amazing to see how much the Woodside Workshops have grown,” says Carrie Chiusano, executive director of the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence and one of the lead presenters at each Woodside Workshop. “We have about 35 people at each session and we hold at least five sessions each year across our Network. We educate not only our own employees, but we also have employees from other organizations attend the Workshops with the desire to enhance knowledge and programming in their communities. We really have a packed, interactive day. While the topic is serious, we do have a lot of fun doing the exercises.” In addition to 8-hour Woodside Workshops, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network hosts an annual day-long Woodside retreat for team members. Continued on next page
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WOODSIDE WORKSHOP: EXPERIENCING THE WHY CONTINUED
One of the main objectives of the Woodside Workshops is to understand the “why” and the “how” of the disease. One of the best ways to understand what life is like for someone living with dementia is through hands-on exercises, specifically sensory exercises, that help to place the participants in the residents shoes. Pictured right, Beth Deely, dementia care expert/consultant and one of the presenters at the Workshop, offers lunch to a participant. Notice, the participant is wearing shaded glasses, which mimic a condition similar to cataracts. Often, someone living with dementia may not recognize what is on their plate, not only because dementia makes it difficult to interpret the items in front of them, but also because they have a vision condition. Equipped with this firsthand experience, the participants learned a few new techniques. Sometimes, it is better to use a smaller plate or to use dividers on the plate to help the residents better identify what is in front of them. Or, change the color of the plate; a royal blue or a red plate in place of a white dish helps the resident to see the food better. These simple techniques help to make the resident more comfortable at mealtime, keeping them independent longer.
Dr. Cameron Camp Slated as Guest Speaker for October Woodside Retreat We keep our team members in the know through consistent training in dementia caregiving and philosophies. On October 27, 2017, we are excited to welcome psychologist Dr. Cameron Camp, who developed the first Montessori program for dementia patients in the late 1990s. The Montessori program focuses on the individual and the environment, highlighting what the person living with dementia can do, not what they cannot. Dr. Camp will be offering a full day of training to our team members who attend our annual Woodside Retreat. The retreat is an intensive day of training exclusively for our team members across the Network who work in our dementia-specific neighborhoods.
WOODSIDE WORKSHOP: EXPERIENCING THE WHY CONTINUED
The Woodside Workshop gave us more tools to work with, and tips to apply to our clients. The Workshop also gave me a new outlook. I always want to stay ahead of the game, and having the opportunity to share and learn new approaches is a wonderful way to stay connected. I truly enjoyed sharing with everyone, and especially hearing about their experiences. Sue Smith, RN Valley Care, a Lutheran SeniorLife company, Moon PA
Another Workshop exercise focused on understanding the loss of fine motor skills, again using the shaded glasses to represent vision loss. The purpose of this exercise was to identify a certain color of “pill,” pick up the pill and sort it by color. Most participants in this exercise eventually gave up trying to find the right color, and if they were able to find the right color, they had a difficult time actually picking it up to sort it. The team learned that if they find “simple” tasks challenging, imagine how the individual living with Alzheimer’s may feel. The Workshop exercise helped participants to understand a typical challenge, and they were encouraged to find creative ways to help residents remain independent.
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The Workshop provides not only the 'why' but the 'how' when it comes to education about dementia and how the body and mind are affected. The Workshop leaders do an outstanding job using role-play and everyday events that give participants a better understanding of how dementia affects the resident and the family. Pastor Gary Gibson, Chaplain, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network, Washington campus
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FEATURE STORY CONTINUED Over the last decade, we have embraced the use of It’s Never 2 Late® (iN2L), an innovative multifunctional interactive technology system (MITS) in our Woodside communities and neighborhoods. The Problem As the healthcare arena continues to evolve, skilled nursing communities are seeing an increase in acuity of the short-term rehab patient, with a particular increase in the prevalence of cognitive impairment. Today, individuals with cognitive impairments face several challenges when pursuing rehab therapies. Outcomes may not be as evident or attainable due to the person’s inability to remember and follow directions. Often payer sources are unwilling to cover rehab therapy costs because they do not believe that therapeutic benefits are achievable in the person who is living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Historically, rehabilitation of individuals with cognitive impairments has been limited compared to persons without cognitive impairment. One of the primary barriers for persons with cognitive challenges has been the lack of engagement the individual has during treatment sessions.
The Opportunity Design and conduct a research study that evaluates the use of a multifunctional interactive technology system (MITS), specifically iN2L, to determine whether therapeutic intervention time and functional outcomes are increased
during physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions. We are in the planning stages of this study and expect to be able to share results by Spring 2018. Chris Krause, director of rehabilitation, iN2L notes, “The goals in rehabilitation are not very different from those of a dementia-specific care team. Everyone wants to keep residents engaged and up and moving to the best of their ability. It is so important to meet those living with dementia at their level, in that moment, meeting them where they are at any given time. By partnering with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network on this study, we will be able to show how the use of the iN2L system in rehab care plans not only provides good, functional content for each individual that engages them, but also contributes to the desired outcomes.” Lynne Sewell, Senior Director of Rehabilitation Services for Presbyterian SeniorCare Network adds, “We are excited about working with the iN2L system in rehab and are hoping to provide evidence to show that iN2L can improve engagement and functional outcomes for people who have cognitive impairments. iN2L is another tool in our clinical toolbox to assist the patient in achievement of their person centered goals.”
Leading the effort to enhance rehabilitation for those living with dementia are (pictured L to R): Joni Krajcovic, director of rehabilitation, Oakmont; Carrie Chiusano, executive director of the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence; Chris Krause, director of rehabilitation, iN2L; Dr. Steven Zarit, advisor and gerontology expert; and Aime Harrison, rehab quality liaison, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network.
FEATURE STORY CONTINUED
Collaboration Enhances Quality of Care iN2L integrates the hardware, software, media and various components necessary to allow virtually any person with any interest in using a computer – regardless of background, physical or intellectual abilities – to do so pleasurably, engagingly, and without frustration. Through this stationary and visual-based system, our residents have the ability to “touch” their way to personalized content that ignites their passions. With the support of trained team members, residents are taught to use the iN2L to video chat with family members, enjoy mind-stimulating games, view videos and more.
We were given four tablets to test amongst our team, as well as with our residents in our dementia care communities. Our teams volunteered for about three hours per day to test the prototype tablets for usability, navigation and visual appeal. Their feedback is being used to work through bugs, improve the layout of the buttons and navigation, as well as identify games and other program offerings that worked well for residents.
Woodside team members use the iN2L for small groups as well as on an individual basis. To expand upon the number of persons who simultaneously can be having individualized sessions, the firm who developed iN2L is exploring a tablet version of the system. Because of our longstanding working relationship, they chose Presbyterian SeniorCare Network to be one of nine organizations nationwide to participate in the three month testing of the new tablet-based-system.
Using one of the tablets, Lynn, plays solitaire with Tyreesha, a care attendant at Woodside Place.
Do a Little Mingling at Our Memory Café! Memory Cafés originated in 1997 and were designed by Dutch Psychiatrist Bere Miesen. The idea is to provide a casual gathering designed exclusively for people with dementia and their caregivers. The Memory Café is held in a private room and is a relaxed environment where individuals with memory loss and their caregivers can get together.
WASHINGTON AREA Eat’n Park, 320 Oak Spring Road, Washington, 15301 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Held on the 3rd Saturday of every month (Mark your calendar for September 16, October 21, November 18 and December 16.)
Presbyterian SeniorCare Network hosts Memory Cafés in Oakmont, Washington and Erie, where we also have Woodside communities nearby. We encourage you to pop in and enjoy the company of others who relate to your day-to-day challenges and triumphs.
ERIE AREA Wayside Presbyterian Church, Erie, 16505 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month (Mark your calendar for September 12 & 26, October 10 & 24, November 14 & 28, December 12)
OAKMONT AREA Somma Pizza, 380 Route 909, Verona, 15147 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month (Mark your calendar for September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13.)
Memory Cafés are free and open to the public. No RSVP required, snacks are provided. A Presbyterian SeniorCare Network team member will be there to welcome you. Visit www.SrCare.org/cafe for more information.
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10 | THE BEAT: NEWS FROM AROUND THE NETWORK
It's a wrap! Over the last several months, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network has held events to benefit residents at our campuses.
• Mistick Construction: Title Sponsor
22 Annual Golf Outing nd
On May 1, the 22nd Annual Golf Outing featured a sold-out field of golfers at the historic Oakmont Country Club. Proceeds from the Golf Outing benefit the SeniorCARE FUND, which helps us continue our tradition of assisting our care community residents who no longer have sufficient resources to pay for their care. We thank the following for their leadership support:
• National Equity Fund: Signature Sponsor • Cura Hospitality: Door Prizes Sponsor • Huntington Bank: Golfer Gift Sponsor • OC Reilly: Clubhouse Sponsor • PCA Mission Pharmacy: Skill and Score Prizes Sponsor • UPMC Health Plan: Reception Sponsor • UPMC St. Margaret: Luncheon Sponsor • Ziegler: Caddy Sponsor
Walk for a Healthy Community Presbyterian SeniorCare Network participated in the Pittsburgh and Erie Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community, annual fundraising events. The 5K Walks are fun days that bring together employees, residents, families and vendors from across our Network. All funds raised by our Walk teams come directly back to our organization. Led by enthusiastic employee committees at our Oakmont, Washington, Longwood at Oakmont, Erie and Oil City campuses, as well as our SeniorCare Network communities, we had over 200 walkers represent Presbyterian SeniorCare Network in Pittsburgh and Erie. Their combined efforts raised over $24,318 for resident enrichment funds. Resident enrichment funds provide our residents everything from software programs to onsite entertainment to trips off campus. Thank you to all who walked or supported our teams!
THE BEAT: NEWS FROM AROUND THE NETWORK | 11
Donating Made Easy! Many businesses provide a convenient way to support Presbyterian SeniorCare Network through workplace campaigns. Designate your gift to Presbyterian SeniorCare Network by giving to: United Way of Southwestern PA: • #1032 Oakmont Campus • #2872 Washington Campus • #9874 Woodside Place, Oakmont
United Way of Washington County: #42135 PA State Employees Combined Appeal (SECA): #4601-0037
Thank you to our wonderful donors who supported the Caring for Life Fund by participating in Erie Gives on August 8, hosted by the Erie Community Foundation.
Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar! Your Holiday Home The 10th annual Your Holiday Home event benefitting our Washington campus will be held on Saturday, November 11 at 9 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe. Join us for brunch, holiday presentations, a silent auction and fantastic raffles. Registration opens in September; visit www.SrCare.org/give-now to reserve your spot.
Annual Basket Raffle at Shenango on the Green
WCCF Gives Day of Giving – September 12
The 6th Annual Basket Raffle benefitting the SeniorCARE FUND for residents at Shenango on the Green will be held October 8-14. The Raffle features over 60 gift baskets with prizes such as Steelers items, Penguins tickets, a vacation package, gift card trees and more! Stop by Shenango on the Green to purchase tickets. Winners will be drawn on October 14 at 2 p.m. and need not be present to win.
Mark your calendar for this annual day of giving hosted by the Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF). WCCF Gives is your opportunity to support the SeniorCARE FUND for our residents in Washington. Visit www.SrCare.org/events for complete details and a link to WCCF Gives!
12 | THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Woodside Difference
A reflection from Carrie Chiusano, Executive Director, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network Dementia Care Center of Excellence
T
he cutting edge. Everyone strives to innovate and stay ahead of the curve, but few have the determination and commitment to constantly anticipate change and be proactive in their work. Our Woodside model of dementia care has been on the cutting edge for over 25 years. We anticipate change and are constantly finding new ways to engage and care for our residents, many who live in the moment and may not react the same one day to the next. While the physical design and environment of a dementia care community is a strong contributing factor to living well dementia, what is even more important is the proven track record of our people and our person-centered approach to programming. The Woodside model is distinguished in its offerings because of one fact: for more than 25 years, we have been demonstrating how to go into the world of persons living with Alzheimer’s and have them revel in the moment, their moment. Family members are so appreciative of seeing spirits rekindled and catching glimpses of the personalities that once were their constant. It is evident that Woodside is more than a place. It is an experience. In addition to entering the world of the person living with dementia and supporting them in their reality, the Woodside model is leading the way in numerous areas:
• We utilize adaptive technology: It’s Never 2 Late (iN2L), an adaptive technology engages residents with integrated features that connect them to people and content. Through the Music and Memory program, we provide personalized playlists on iPods, which help to rekindle positive memories and minimize anxiety and challenging behaviors. Other non-invasive technology (no disruptive alarms or bells) is used to mitigate resident falls by providing real-time data about resident activities. • We offer advanced training: Each employee at every level of our organization is certified through the National Alzheimer’s Association. Woodside team members receive even more hours of specialized training. Additionally, more than 70 team members share their expertise as certified dementia care practitioners. • We are active in the community: We regularly provide hospitals, first responders and other partners with training, workshops and geriatric assessments to help them better meet the needs of persons living with dementia. All of this makes up the Woodside Difference. Read on.
Look for the CARF Seal of Approval! In 2016, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network was awarded accreditation through CARF in six areas. We are particularly proud of receiving accreditation – the Dementia Care Specialty Program – at every community across our Network that offers memory care services.
THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE | 13
SUMMER 2017
Reflections of the Woodside Difference
M
ary O’Connor has advocated for decades on behalf of Alzheimer’s care and research due to her own a personal experience. In the early 1990s, her husband Dan, a corporate bond lawyer in Atlanta, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at the young age of 58.
“It was then that I began my spiritually-driven journey to seek out not only the best care for Dan, but to help revolutionize the way people living with Alzheimer’s disease were viewed and cared for,” Mary noted in a recent phone interview with us. Mary wished for an environment that was less institutional and less restrictive, a place that could remove the unnecessary barriers and make the environment more like home. Then a miracle happened; Mary received an article from the October 20, 1997 issue of the New Yorker, written by the now famous Malcolm Gladwell. It was about Woodside Place, a development in the Pittsburgh area by Presbyterian SeniorCare and a Perkins Eastman architect, David Hoglund, who had helped design communities like she was envisioning. “And so I began my travels and first-hand information gathering at these modern communities. I was enamored. I saw that it really was the little things that made a world of difference for the residents, their family members, and for my
own perspective. There were cookies baking and they smelled delicious. There was carpet instead of linoleum. It did not feel as if I were in a hospital. I felt at home.” At the time, a model like Woodside did not exist in Atlanta. Although she knew that her husband might not benefit from this new model of care due to his advanced stage of the disease, Mary recalls, “I wanted to make it easier for people who would be coming after my husband.” Dan died in 2002, but Mary persevered, using her compassion and community connections to support the development of Hearthstone, a new memory care center at Presbyterian Village, a ministry of Presbyterian Homes of Georgia. Her dream became a reality in 2005. Today, Mary fondly remembers her quest to find and replicate the Woodside model and shared her gratitude for the Board and staff at Presbyterian Village. “ It feels so good to know that I was part of something that helped make such a tremendous change for the better.” Mary now lives in Washington DC and continues to advocate for Alzheimer’s research, specifically as a member of the advisory committee for Us Against Alzheimer’s. Over 25 years since Woodside Place of Oakmont opened its doors, the Woodside model remains relevant and has been replicated more than 100 times around the world.
1215 Hulton Road Oakmont PA 15139-1196 www.SrCare.org 1-877-772-6500
On the Go? Want to Save Paper?
If you’d like to receive future newsletters in your inbox, visit our web site, www.SrCare.org, to sign up for E-news.
WALKING TO END ALZHEIMER’S Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is a proud Regional sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and will have team members, residents and family members represent our organization at five walks across the region that support the communities we serve. We are walking in support of the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association to drive research toward treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. Visit www.SrCare.org/events to register for the walk for your choice.
Sharon
Washington
Erie
Pittsburgh
September 9 – BC3 at Linden Pointe, 9 am September 16 – UPMC Park, 9 am
The Woodside Difference From person-centered programs and pioneering technologies to standardized practices and community outreach and education – it all adds up to a unique model of care and services that is unmatched in our sector.
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
October 7 – Consol Stadium, 8 am November 4 – North Shore, 7:30 am
Clarion
October 7 – Clarion County Courthouse Lawn, 8 am
Excellence in Dementia Care
THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
IN THIS ISSUE Innovation: The Heartbeat of Dementia Care........................ 1 From the Foundation.................. 2 Planned Giving Corner...........3-4 Woodside Workshop.............5-7 Feature Story...........................8-9 The Beat: News from around the Network ........10-11 The Woodside Difference...... 12
SUMMER 2017
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
Excellence in Dementia Care
ABOUT THE COVER As a Dementia Care Center of Excellence, we are transforming the very heart of memory care. Our residents and their families benefit from leading-edge practices with a distinctly personcentered approach. Our innovative team members and collaborative partners help us nurture and grow so that we are able make aging easier for older adults living with dementia, as well as provide support to their families.
F
or nearly 90 years, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network has continued to innovate to meet the changing needs and preferences of older adults and their families. We call this our person-centered philosophy. As I anticipate our upcoming 90th anniversary in 2018, I think back to my 30-year history with the organization. There is one particular moment in time that really sticks out. It was the opening of the first specialized dementia care community of its kind in the U.S., Woodside Place of Oakmont. In fact, developing and creating Woodside Place in 1991 is what I believe to be our single, biggest accomplishment and contribution to the field of aging. To take you back a couple of decades, in 1988, I accompanied Charlie Pruitt (former CEO) to England to study their innovations in housing and healthcare for older adults. There we found something happening that was not happening here in the U.S. – a residential Alzheimer’s facility called “Woodside” that looked like home, offered freedom of choice and encouraged residents to live in the moment. It was drastically different from what we knew; in the U.S., the only option was to live in a skilled nursing community where regimentation and restriction, including the prevalent use of physical restraints and medication to manage behaviors, were part of daily life. After seeing England’s model, we knew we wanted that same “home” model and that something, at least in our country, needed to change.
Innovative Team Work Enhances Person-Centered Care
O
n June 21, 2017, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network was awarded the Innovation of the Year Distinguished Service Award by LeadingAge PA for our work in developing much needed educational sessions designed to assist emergency teams and hospital staff in the transitional care of residents with dementia. The Distinguished Service Awards recognize people who give their time, talents and abundant energy to the field of aging and demonstrate a deep commitment to serving seniors. LeadingAge PA represents Pennsylvania not-for-profit organizations that provide housing, healthcare and community services primarily to the elderly.
Our dementia care network integration team accepts the 2017 LeadingAge PA Innovation of the Year Award. L to R: Julie Elling, Melissa Tomko, Cheryl Covelli, Carrie Chiusano, John Dickson, Immediate Past Chair of the LeadingAge Board of Directors, Rena Tatka, Amy Rabo, Shawna Bostaph and Janice Mullen.
From Woodside Place, we developed the Woodside model of care, standards and best practices that solidify the specialized expertise and commitment to excellence in dementia care that we provide across our Network in a variety of settings.
In this issue, you’ll read about how we are collaborating on innovative projects that continue to advance the benefits of the Woodside model of dementia care. Thank you for your continued support of our mission!
Paul M. Winkler President & CEO
Our teams taught dementia basics, how to recognize common behaviors, effective communication and how to effectively work with families. A large part of this initiative was the education on the use of a “resident history” form that accompanies the resident during transitions from a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community to the hospital. Pre- and post-tests were given to those who participated in the training. The results reflected 100% improvement in comfort level and/or competency when interacting with individuals living with dementia. Our teams continue to replicate these education efforts, demonstrating our commitment to being socially accountable and to sharing our dementia expertise.
We committed to opening our own Woodside and in 1991 Woodside Place of Oakmont became one of the nation’s first residential care communities designed specifically to meet the holistic needs of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Now, over 25 years later, the Woodside model remains the standard for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and has been replicated in all of the communities across our Network, as well as more than 100 times around the world. Our pioneering work is what sets us apart and is why today Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is known as a Dementia Care Center of Excellence.
As part of our ongoing commitment to community outreach, our team of dementia coordinators from across the Network developed and implemented training modules that increased understanding and provided specialized techniques to improve care for individuals living with dementia. These modules were utilized to educate registered nurses in the ER, nursing units and quality improvement teams at hospitals as well as first responders such as local fire and police departments and EMS teams.
A First Responder Perspective “The Lower Kiski Search and Rescue K-9 Team was looking for a seminar on how to better communicate and approach a lost person who is living with dementia. We reached out to Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and our request was met with infectious enthusiasm. Their innovative and informative program met our expectations and more. We were given invaluable information and creative approaches to interact with someone who is lost and has dementia. The hands-on role playing of various scenarios enabled us to interact and cement our new knowledge. We look forward to working with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network in the future to better serve our community by presenting this mutually beneficial program to other local Search and Rescue teams.” ~ Kathy Otruba, RN, EMT-B, NASR Tech II, Commander, Lower Kiski Search and Rescue Team
Colorful Tool Improves Resident Transitions
Better Transitions Are Happening
ransfer trauma describes the stress that a person with dementia may experience when changing living environments, and for some, the stress associated with the move may be fairly significant. This is why it is so important to equip ambulance crews, emergency room teams and floor nurses with the skills and tools to best meet the needs of a person with dementia.
I have been my mom’s caregiver, advocate and her voice for the last 10 years. Our journey before Woodside Place was a nightmare. My mom was over medicated, misunderstood and given up on.
T
When a resident living with dementia leaves a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community, we prepare the teams at the hospital with everything they need to understand how to care for the individual. Here is what happens: • Residents are sent with a “history” form that details any anxiety-producing situations, challenging behaviors and successful interventions. The form is on bright yellow paper and is the first page of the transfer paperwork that accompanies the resident during the transition. • All of the information is packaged in a purple cinch bag that has the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network logo on it, which the hospital team has come to recognize, prompting them to look for the yellow form. Having these two colorful identifiers help to build a relationship with the hospital, which in turn supports the hospital team in more quickly getting to know the patient. This person-centered approach by not only the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network team, but by the medical teams, focuses intently on the welfare of the patient and helps to provide a safe transfer.
Fran, my mom, went to live at Woodside Place three years ago and her world changed for the better. The team just gets the disease; they get her. That said, when I heard that she needed to go to the hospital, I got a little nervous. Before Woodside, our visits to the hospital and emergency room were terrible. To get the hospital team to understand what dementia was, to understand who my mom was – impossible. I’ll never forget the one stay when I was told by a nurse that my mom was wicked. I was shocked and could not believe someone from the medical field would say this about my mother.
When my mom went to the emergency room a few months ago, it was different. And it was different because the team at Woodside Place took a few extra minutes to ensure a safe transfer to the hospital. I couldn’t get there right away, imagine my angst! But when I walked in, there was a bright yellow history/ transfer sheet right on top of all of her paper work. I wasn’t there to be her voice. But that yellow form was. What a relief for me. My mom was taken care of. My mom is back at Woodside Place, continuing to live in the moment. We were lost before Woodside Place and now she has the quality of life that she deserves. Jan Klein, Family member
THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE
A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
IN THIS ISSUE Innovation: The Heartbeat of Dementia Care........................ 1 From the Foundation.................. 2 Planned Giving Corner...........3-4 Woodside Workshop.............5-7 Feature Story...........................8-9 The Beat: News from around the Network ........10-11 The Woodside Difference...... 12
SUMMER 2017
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
Excellence in Dementia Care
ABOUT THE COVER As a Dementia Care Center of Excellence, we are transforming the very heart of memory care. Our residents and their families benefit from leading-edge practices with a distinctly personcentered approach. Our innovative team members and collaborative partners help us nurture and grow so that we are able make aging easier for older adults living with dementia, as well as provide support to their families.
F
or nearly 90 years, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network has continued to innovate to meet the changing needs and preferences of older adults and their families. We call this our person-centered philosophy. As I anticipate our upcoming 90th anniversary in 2018, I think back to my 30-year history with the organization. There is one particular moment in time that really sticks out. It was the opening of the first specialized dementia care community of its kind in the U.S., Woodside Place of Oakmont. In fact, developing and creating Woodside Place in 1991 is what I believe to be our single, biggest accomplishment and contribution to the field of aging. To take you back a couple of decades, in 1988, I accompanied Charlie Pruitt (former CEO) to England to study their innovations in housing and healthcare for older adults. There we found something happening that was not happening here in the U.S. – a residential Alzheimer’s facility called “Woodside” that looked like home, offered freedom of choice and encouraged residents to live in the moment. It was drastically different from what we knew; in the U.S., the only option was to live in a skilled nursing community where regimentation and restriction, including the prevalent use of physical restraints and medication to manage behaviors, were part of daily life. After seeing England’s model, we knew we wanted that same “home” model and that something, at least in our country, needed to change.
Innovative Team Work Enhances Person-Centered Care
O
n June 21, 2017, Presbyterian SeniorCare Network was awarded the Innovation of the Year Distinguished Service Award by LeadingAge PA for our work in developing much needed educational sessions designed to assist emergency teams and hospital staff in the transitional care of residents with dementia. The Distinguished Service Awards recognize people who give their time, talents and abundant energy to the field of aging and demonstrate a deep commitment to serving seniors. LeadingAge PA represents Pennsylvania not-for-profit organizations that provide housing, healthcare and community services primarily to the elderly.
Our dementia care network integration team accepts the 2017 LeadingAge PA Innovation of the Year Award. L to R: Julie Elling, Melissa Tomko, Cheryl Covelli, Carrie Chiusano, John Dickson, Immediate Past Chair of the LeadingAge Board of Directors, Rena Tatka, Amy Rabo, Shawna Bostaph and Janice Mullen.
From Woodside Place, we developed the Woodside model of care, standards and best practices that solidify the specialized expertise and commitment to excellence in dementia care that we provide across our Network in a variety of settings.
In this issue, you’ll read about how we are collaborating on innovative projects that continue to advance the benefits of the Woodside model of dementia care. Thank you for your continued support of our mission!
Paul M. Winkler President & CEO
Our teams taught dementia basics, how to recognize common behaviors, effective communication and how to effectively work with families. A large part of this initiative was the education on the use of a “resident history” form that accompanies the resident during transitions from a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community to the hospital. Pre- and post-tests were given to those who participated in the training. The results reflected 100% improvement in comfort level and/or competency when interacting with individuals living with dementia. Our teams continue to replicate these education efforts, demonstrating our commitment to being socially accountable and to sharing our dementia expertise.
We committed to opening our own Woodside and in 1991 Woodside Place of Oakmont became one of the nation’s first residential care communities designed specifically to meet the holistic needs of older adults living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias.
Now, over 25 years later, the Woodside model remains the standard for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and has been replicated in all of the communities across our Network, as well as more than 100 times around the world. Our pioneering work is what sets us apart and is why today Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is known as a Dementia Care Center of Excellence.
As part of our ongoing commitment to community outreach, our team of dementia coordinators from across the Network developed and implemented training modules that increased understanding and provided specialized techniques to improve care for individuals living with dementia. These modules were utilized to educate registered nurses in the ER, nursing units and quality improvement teams at hospitals as well as first responders such as local fire and police departments and EMS teams.
A First Responder Perspective “The Lower Kiski Search and Rescue K-9 Team was looking for a seminar on how to better communicate and approach a lost person who is living with dementia. We reached out to Presbyterian SeniorCare Network and our request was met with infectious enthusiasm. Their innovative and informative program met our expectations and more. We were given invaluable information and creative approaches to interact with someone who is lost and has dementia. The hands-on role playing of various scenarios enabled us to interact and cement our new knowledge. We look forward to working with Presbyterian SeniorCare Network in the future to better serve our community by presenting this mutually beneficial program to other local Search and Rescue teams.” ~ Kathy Otruba, RN, EMT-B, NASR Tech II, Commander, Lower Kiski Search and Rescue Team
Colorful Tool Improves Resident Transitions
Better Transitions Are Happening
ransfer trauma describes the stress that a person with dementia may experience when changing living environments, and for some, the stress associated with the move may be fairly significant. This is why it is so important to equip ambulance crews, emergency room teams and floor nurses with the skills and tools to best meet the needs of a person with dementia.
I have been my mom’s caregiver, advocate and her voice for the last 10 years. Our journey before Woodside Place was a nightmare. My mom was over medicated, misunderstood and given up on.
T
When a resident living with dementia leaves a Presbyterian SeniorCare Network community, we prepare the teams at the hospital with everything they need to understand how to care for the individual. Here is what happens: • Residents are sent with a “history” form that details any anxiety-producing situations, challenging behaviors and successful interventions. The form is on bright yellow paper and is the first page of the transfer paperwork that accompanies the resident during the transition. • All of the information is packaged in a purple cinch bag that has the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network logo on it, which the hospital team has come to recognize, prompting them to look for the yellow form. Having these two colorful identifiers help to build a relationship with the hospital, which in turn supports the hospital team in more quickly getting to know the patient. This person-centered approach by not only the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network team, but by the medical teams, focuses intently on the welfare of the patient and helps to provide a safe transfer.
Fran, my mom, went to live at Woodside Place three years ago and her world changed for the better. The team just gets the disease; they get her. That said, when I heard that she needed to go to the hospital, I got a little nervous. Before Woodside, our visits to the hospital and emergency room were terrible. To get the hospital team to understand what dementia was, to understand who my mom was – impossible. I’ll never forget the one stay when I was told by a nurse that my mom was wicked. I was shocked and could not believe someone from the medical field would say this about my mother.
When my mom went to the emergency room a few months ago, it was different. And it was different because the team at Woodside Place took a few extra minutes to ensure a safe transfer to the hospital. I couldn’t get there right away, imagine my angst! But when I walked in, there was a bright yellow history/ transfer sheet right on top of all of her paper work. I wasn’t there to be her voice. But that yellow form was. What a relief for me. My mom was taken care of. My mom is back at Woodside Place, continuing to live in the moment. We were lost before Woodside Place and now she has the quality of life that she deserves. Jan Klein, Family member
THE WOODSIDE DIFFERENCE | 13
SUMMER 2017
Reflections of the Woodside Difference
M
ary O’Connor has advocated for decades on behalf of Alzheimer’s care and research due to her own a personal experience. In the early 1990s, her husband Dan, a corporate bond lawyer in Atlanta, was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease at the young age of 58.
“It was then that I began my spiritually-driven journey to seek out not only the best care for Dan, but to help revolutionize the way people living with Alzheimer’s disease were viewed and cared for,” Mary noted in a recent phone interview with us. Mary wished for an environment that was less institutional and less restrictive, a place that could remove the unnecessary barriers and make the environment more like home. Then a miracle happened; Mary received an article from the October 20, 1997 issue of the New Yorker, written by the now famous Malcolm Gladwell. It was about Woodside Place, a development in the Pittsburgh area by Presbyterian SeniorCare and a Perkins Eastman architect, David Hoglund, who had helped design communities like she was envisioning. “And so I began my travels and first-hand information gathering at these modern communities. I was enamored. I saw that it really was the little things that made a world of difference for the residents, their family members, and for my
own perspective. There were cookies baking and they smelled delicious. There was carpet instead of linoleum. It did not feel as if I were in a hospital. I felt at home.” At the time, a model like Woodside did not exist in Atlanta. Although she knew that her husband might not benefit from this new model of care due to his advanced stage of the disease, Mary recalls, “I wanted to make it easier for people who would be coming after my husband.” Dan died in 2002, but Mary persevered, using her compassion and community connections to support the development of Hearthstone, a new memory care center at Presbyterian Village, a ministry of Presbyterian Homes of Georgia. Her dream became a reality in 2005. Today, Mary fondly remembers her quest to find and replicate the Woodside model and shared her gratitude for the Board and staff at Presbyterian Village. “ It feels so good to know that I was part of something that helped make such a tremendous change for the better.” Mary now lives in Washington DC and continues to advocate for Alzheimer’s research, specifically as a member of the advisory committee for Us Against Alzheimer’s. Over 25 years since Woodside Place of Oakmont opened its doors, the Woodside model remains relevant and has been replicated more than 100 times around the world.
1215 Hulton Road Oakmont PA 15139-1196 www.SrCare.org 1-877-772-6500
On the Go? Want to Save Paper?
If you’d like to receive future newsletters in your inbox, visit our web site, www.SrCare.org, to sign up for E-news.
WALKING TO END ALZHEIMER’S Presbyterian SeniorCare Network is a proud Regional sponsor of the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and will have team members, residents and family members represent our organization at five walks across the region that support the communities we serve. We are walking in support of the mission of the Alzheimer’s Association to drive research toward treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure. Visit www.SrCare.org/events to register for the walk for your choice.
Sharon
Washington
Erie
Pittsburgh
September 9 – BC3 at Linden Pointe, 9 am September 16 – UPMC Park, 9 am
The Woodside Difference From person-centered programs and pioneering technologies to standardized practices and community outreach and education – it all adds up to a unique model of care and services that is unmatched in our sector.
THE STORIES THAT UNITE US
October 7 – Consol Stadium, 8 am November 4 – North Shore, 7:30 am
Clarion
October 7 – Clarion County Courthouse Lawn, 8 am
Excellence in Dementia Care