Moving can be filled with emotional and physical challenges, especially for senior adults who need to transition into smaller, more manageable spaces.

Linda Lammers specializes in alleviating the stress.

She is the founder and owner Change Is Good, a business that helps seniors move and downsize. The company is part of a growing industry that specializes in “senior move management.”

These services fill a gap for families who live far away or are not physically able to help an elderly family member move. Staff also provide a neutral outlet for families who may disagree about what should happen to household and personal items.

“We go to great lengths to show compassion to our clients and their families,” Lammers says. “We tell families: let us do the hard stuff.”

Lammers started the business after moving her parents, who had been the third generation to live in their family farmhouse. Even with adult children willing to help, downsizing and packing was difficult. Details, such as confirming movers and ordering window treatments for the new residence, almost were forgotten.

“I told my sister there had to be an easier way to do this,” Lammers says.

Change Is Good is a certified member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers, an association dedicated to helping older adults relocate or age in place.

When Lammers works with clients, she assures them that they’re the boss. Her first question to them: What’s important for them to look at or use? The answers vary.

Some clients want to take very little with them when they move into a smaller living space, whether that’s a condo, senior living or a long-term care residence. Others want to take everything and only want help packing.

Lammers will not make decisions about what her client’s should take unless it’s a safety issue, e.g. no step ladders, no expired food. But Lammers and her staff will present options if a client doesn’t know what to do with stacks of magazines or a closet full of old coats. For example, they’ll offer to donate them or arrange an estate sale.

“Most of the time, people just want to be know that their stuff has value to someone,” Lammers says.

As part her services, Lammers will visit the space that her client is moving into and design a floor plan. Armed with this information, she can recommend what items will fit in the space.

One client assumed a hutch constructed by her late husband wouldn’t fit into her new apartment. Lammers measured it and assured the client that there would be space for the hutch, if she wanted it. The woman was delighted.

“People already feel like they’re losing control,” Lammers says. “Many are moving because of medical issues or other things outside their control. We let them have control over this.”

And, on moving day, Change Is Good will unpack items and get the new space ready for living. The coffee pot will be plugged in, the bed will be made, and the television remote will be in a familiar place.

“It’s a huge change and everyone’s emotions are high,” Lammers says. “We try to make it a little easier.”

CHANGE IS GOOD WEBSITE: http://changeisgood.us.com/

TIPS FOR DOWNSIZING

Whether you hire somebody to help or do it yourself, here are some tips for tackling your downsizing move.

1. Start early. Don’t wait until there’s a medical crisis to pare down belongings. Even if you’re not planning a move soon, it doesn’t hurt to prepare.
2. Make a plan. Do you need help? Who will be involved? What steps need to be completed? Where will you start? For some seniors, it makes sense to start in the rooms with items that have the greatest emotional value and are used every day, i.e. kitchen, living room, bedroom. For others, it’s easier to start with rooms that are less cluttered.
3. Involve the family. Every family has different dynamics and expectations. Have a heart-to-heart with family members about items that have both monetary and emotional value. Do the children or grandchildren want them? If not, what will be done with items?
4. Create piles. When going through items, separate them into four categories: keep, donate, give to family members, and trash. Do some research to determine who/what organizations may benefit the most from donations. Could a local preschool use old magazines for art projects? Are household items or winter gear needed by a local homeless shelter?
5. Keep memories without the clutter. Make DVDs of photo albums. Save two or three pieces of a cherished collection and take digital photos of the rest.
6. Ask what you need and what makes you happy. Downsizing means paring down to the essentials. When going through items, ask if it is needed or if it brings joy.
7. Can’t decide? Set aside. If you are struggling to decide what to do with something, it’s okay to set it aside. A few packed boxes can be placed in storage or a second bedroom or even along a wall (if it’s safe). Make a pact that if the box isn’t opened in six to nine months, the items inside can be given away, sold, or thrown. One you live in the new space, it may be easier to give up some things.
8. Be kind. Downsizing is hard work. Going through a lifetime of stuff can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Acknowledge this is stressful work and find ways to celebrate even the small steps.

Gale Scherbenske

Gale Scherbenske, of Eventide Jamestown, has been honored with the North Dakota Long Term Care Association Caregiver of the Year award. This distinguished honor is awarded to caregivers who are recognized and nominated by residents and/or families.

“Gale goes above and beyond to ensure our residents are living their best lives at Eventide.” said Doug Panchot, Eventide Jamestown’s executive director. “I think I can speak for everyone at Eventide when I say that Gale’s dedication to the residents and our organization is what earned her this award. She genuinely cares for our residents and wants them to have the best experience possible each and every day.”

Gale has been an Eventide Senior Living Apartments team member for one year. She officially serves as the office assistant, but is always willing to fill in other roles such as activities coordinator, dining assistant, housekeeper and cook.
Gale has true passion for the work she does and she exemplifies this every day. She is an advocate for residents and treats them all with love and compassion, always wearing a pleasant smile. Gale has a wonderful rapport with all she is in contact with, earning the trust that is so integral when it comes to caring for others.

“Gale was the first person I saw on a tour and greeted me with a smile,” said one resident. “She made me feel like I was at home.”

Another resident stated, “Gale goes above and beyond her duties to make Eventide Jamestown our home and enhance our lives.”

Gale was nominated by numerous families and residents. Eventide Jamestown held a celebration in honor of Gale and her award on March 2, 2018.

In this issue of Eventidings, you will find:

• Ethos Home Care Expands with Hospice
• Meet Mary, Eventide’s Senior Living Advisor
• Your Gifts in Action
• And More!

Jon Riewer
President & CEO

Jon Riewer, CEO, and Nathan Johnson, Executive Director, Eventide Senior Living Communities, have been named to LeadingAge Minnesota’s 50 for the Next 50. 50 for the Next 50 recognizes innovative and influential leaders who are charting the course for the next wave of older adult services that will empower Minnesotans to age well and live fully.

“50 for the Next 50 are pioneers, challenging the status quo to transform and enhance the experience of aging” said Gayle Kvenvold, President and CEO, LeadingAge Minnesota. “These leaders are making forward-looking innovations in service delivery, elevating the profession of caregiving and best preparing Minnesota for the future needs of its aging population. We are energized by what lies ahead with the mix of these experienced and next generation leaders at the helm.”

The 50 for the Next 50 represent a broad array of professionals who work on behalf of older adults in senior living, adult day services, home care and skilled nursing as well as organizations that support long term services and support throughout Minnesota.

Nathan Johnson
Executive Director, Eventide Moorhead

Riewer has over 24 years of experience in healthcare administration serving the communities of Fargo-Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Cokato, Minn., and Cando, ND. Riewer has a BA in Health Services Administration from Concordia College and an MBA from the University of Mary. Under his leadership, Eventide has grown to serve more than 1,200 seniors daily with more than 1,400 staff. He has also served as Chair of both the LeadingAge MN Board of Directors and the FMWF Chamber of Commerce. He is a past-president of the Moorhead Rotary Club and has served on the board of the Moorhead EDA and various NDLTCA, LeadingAge MN and LeadingAge national committees.

Johnson has over six years of experience in healthcare administration and has been with Eventide since 2016. He is a graduate of Concordia College’s Healthcare Management Program. Johnson is a board member with the political action committee for LeadingAge MN, is a on the board for the Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators and is a member of the Moorhead Rotary.

The 50 for Next 50 were recognized as part of LeadingAge Minnesota’s 50th Anniversary. Founded in 1967, LeadingAge Minnesota is the state’s largest association of organizations serving older adults. Together with more than 50,000 caregivers, our members provide quality, compassionate services and support to nearly 70,000 older adults every day in all the places they call home.

The day that Dr. Lucy Kalanithi’s husband was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, he turned to his wife and said: “I want you to remarry after I die.”

To outsiders, it may have seemed like an odd or even inappropriate comment. As Kalanithi describes it, the declaration gave the couple permission to talk openly about often taboo subjects: the time they had left together and Lucy’s future without him.

Kalanithi is the widow of Dr. Paul Kalanithi, author of the New York Times bestseller When Breath Becomes Air. The memoir documents the young neurosurgeon’s cancer diagnosis and his quest to determine what makes life worth living.

Lucy Kalanithi wrote the epilogue to her husband’s memoir and now speaks about patient-centered care and end-of-life care. She presented at Eventide’s Leaders in Living, an annual community education series, in late September. Kevin Wallevand, reporter at WDAY-TV, moderated the event.

Kalanithi’s message was one of hope and love, even in the shadows of death. She emphasized a line from the memoir: “The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.”

Lucy and Paul met in 2003 as first-year medical students at Yale University. They married in 2006 and funneled their energies into their residencies: his as a neurosurgeon; hers as an internist. Just as the end of those stressful years came into sight, Paul received his diagnosis.

Prior to those circumstances, both young doctors practiced matching medical treatments to the values of their patients. They believed that physicians had a responsibility to understand how their patients wanted to live before helping them determine a course of medical action.

Overnight, that philosophy became personal. The couple not only faced mortality, but followed the question of what makes one’s life meaningful.

“In healthcare, we treat everything as an acute problem,” Kalanithi said. “That isn’t always the best decision when treating a person with a terminal disease.”

Paul believed deeply that until he died, he was living. For the Kalanithis that meant that Lucy supported Paul’s decision to return to work after his diagnosis. “I told him that whatever makes this time meaningful for you and keeps your claws on this world, do that,” she said.

It meant choosing to have a child, even knowing that Paul would not live to see him or her grow up. As they discussed the possibility, Lucy asked Paul if having a baby would make it harder to die. His response: “Wouldn’t it be great if it did?” Their daughter, Cady, is now 3.

There were challenges to Paul’s transition from physician to patient. Both Lucy and Paul were surprised at the upheaval of identity that accompanied his terminal illness.

“Your future concept of yourself reflects on who you are now,” Kalanithi said. “If your purpose evaporates, it takes real work to rebuild that.”

Paul spent the last year of his life writing. His book proposal was accepted for publication a few months before he died at age 37. Now Lucy carries his message to others, encouraging individuals and families to face taboos and fears as they navigate serious illness and care.

Every individual, every family will face death, “and you can be resilient through these things,” Kalanithi said. “It’s a human thing to hope for the best.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

During her presentation, Dr. Lucy Kalanithi recommended additional resources for families facing serious illness and care.

Being Mortal by Atul Gawande
After the Diagnosis by Julian Seifter, MD
The Conversation by Angelo E. Volandes, MD

Sifting through information about living options for older adults can be overwhelming. 

What kind of housing is there? Is my mom ready for assisted living? How much will it cost? What services will I need as I age? Will Medicare pay for anything? Do I have enough financial resources to live in a senior community?  How long can I live comfortably in my current home?

Mary O’Brien wants to take the fear and confusion out of those questions.

Mary is a senior living advisor at Eventide Senior Living Communities, which offers a continuum of care from home services to hospice. Her role, new to the organization, is to serve as a first-stop resource for families and individuals who have questions about senior living options, payment and more.

“Lots of times people don’t even know where to start,” she says. “I’m here to give validity to every question somebody has. Even if you have no idea what to ask, you can call me.”

As a faith-based nonprofit, Eventide strives to meet the needs of the Minnesota and North Dakota communities it serves. Helping families navigate options for aging adults is just one more way it lives out its mission to empower older adults and families to thrive.

Mary sees her role as twofold: being an advocate for families and serving as a resource for the public. She believes strongly in the value of senior living arrangements that nurture relationships and security. That conviction comes from her own experience.

She has a deep relationship with her own grandparents, often Skyping with them three times a week. Her mother passed away when she was young, and her grandparents stepped in to help raise her. Some of her fondest memories include going to church on Sunday and then having a big family dinner at her grandparents’ home.

“I want every person who is aging to have connections like that, whether they are residents at Eventide or somewhere else,” she says. “Everyone deserves to be valued throughout their entire lives.”

Accompanying families as they gather information and sort through options is a privilege, she says.

Mary has talked with Eventide residents, asking what it was like to move into a senior living community. Those conversations help her to guide others as they seek the right care and amenities for themselves or their loved ones.

“It’s really about helping everybody find their community, that warm, home-like setting where they feel safe, encouraged and engaged,” Mary says. “If I can help take away some of the stress as families make those decisions, I’ll have done my job.”

If you have any questions about senior living or services, contact Mary at 218-291-2200 or mary.obrien@eventide.org.

Benefit Auction and Wine Tasting

October 20, 2017 at 6 p.m.

Avalon Event Center,  2525 9th Ave S, Fargo

Please join us for an evening of fine wine, a silent auction, and entertainment by C. Willi Myles.

All proceeds benefit the residents of Eventide.

NEW THIS YEAR – Mobile Bidding! Bring your smart device to make bidding easy! If you don’t have one, don’t worry! Bidding stations will be available.

Get your tickets here!

When it comes to volunteering, it’s hard to know who benefits more: the person donating the time or those who are on the receiving end.

After all, research has proven that volunteering provides mental and physical health benefits for those doing the helping. The Corporation for National and Community Volunteering has found that people who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who don’t volunteer at all.

This is good news for Eventide Senior Living Communities, where more than 400 people volunteer each year.

“Volunteers are a huge asset to us,” says Kaley Harms, Director of Life Enrichment. “They bring an energy to our facilities that you can’t match.”

Volunteers serve in a variety of ways: one-one visits with residents, leading worship services, assisting with activities, gardening and more. Regardless of the role, volunteers provide a connection to the outside community, Harms says. That’s especially important for seniors who can’t easily leave their residence.

“We find that most of our residents improve their quality of life when they move here,” Harms says. “They socialize more, and volunteers are a part of that.”

Volunteers can devote a few hours each week, a few hours each month or can be available on an “as needed” basis. They share coffee and conversation or take a walk outside. Some volunteers help residents with computers and other technology.

Other opportunities include:

• assisting with activities and special events
• gardening
• escorting residents to salon and wellness center
• assisting in the office
• performing special music
• leading educational programs
• accompanying to worship services
• bringing pets to visit

Students as young as 11 can volunteer at Eventide. These junior volunteers often help by transporting residents from their room to an activity area or serving coffee. Church confirmation groups, school groups and youth organizations can work with Eventide to find an appropriate time and activity where lots of students can volunteer.

The senior living community also works closely with the area’s colleges. Some courses and programs require students to volunteer, Harms says. This requirement helps to bridge a generation gap and encourages seniors to learn from younger generations, and younger generations to learn from seniors.

Unless an individual is strongly committed to volunteering in a certain way, Harms encourages new volunteers to start by being matched to a resident. Regular one-on-one visits can be scheduled at any time, making it a flexible option. Once a volunteer is comfortable in the setting, he or she can choose something else based on interest or skill.

“The important thing is to know you’re making a difference in the lives of others. Our residents look forward to volunteers coming. They appreciate the connection,” Harms says. “And most of our volunteers say that they get a lot more than they give.”

To volunteer at Eventide, contact Kaley Harms at kharms@eventide.org or (218) 291-2258. Or you can sign up online at: http://eventide.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/

Long-Distance Caregiving: 4 Ways to Stay in Touch from a Distance
Long-distance caregiving comes with a unique set of challenges, but it’s important for families to stay connected – no matter how many miles separate them. With technology and consistent communication, it’s possible to be intimately involved in your loved one’s care when he or she moves to assisted living or needs skilled nursing care.
“It’s really important for our population that families stay involved,” says Sarah Sjaaheim, Director of Social Services and Admissions at Eventide Senior Living Communities. “Nobody has to feel excluded because of distance.”
The National Institute on Aging defines a long-distance caregiver as anyone who lives an hour or more away from the person who needs assistance. These caregivers can take on any number of caregiving roles ranging from money management to clarifying insurance benefits to arranging care in a senior living community.