Dementia talk with Ruth's Circle

Debra Jamerson spoke to a group of women who meet every third Monday for lunch. This group is called Ruth Circle. They meet at Longbranch Community Church in Longbranch, WA, it was founded in 1908. It's celebrating 102nd year. She spoke on Dementia, which is a topic that most people are interested in. Debra defined dementia and it's symptoms, what happens inside the brain of someone with Dementia, how to communicate with people who have Dementia and some things we can do to prevent dementia. The ladies were very interested as they asked a lot of questions and shared some of their personal experiences with Dementia. The group of women were fascinating, because they were mostly elderly and all were widows. They were all so beautiful and sharp. Still engaged in life and pursuing knowledge. Women are amazing creatures!

Annual Elders Conference

May 13, 2010 was a big day for the Haven in Allyn Assisted and long- term care, because we were one of the exhibitors at the Annual Kitsap Elders Conference. It was well attended. They were expecting 600. This was the first booth that the Haven in Allyn has done. I believe we made an impact. Tom and Debra talked to over 200 people. We pasted out 130 free lunch coupons. Gave out over 300 ink pens and lots of brochures. The keynote speaker Margie Jenkins, MSW, LPC, LMFT is nationally recognized for her work with end-of-life planning issues. The name of her speech says it all Live Bodacious and Finish Well. The Haven in Allyn was also made a member of Kitsap Alliance of Resources for Elders (KARE). This is a major accomplishment for the Haven in Allyn. This organization consist of group of professionals that are the absolute best in their field. There is Randy Hardin of Abiding Home Care, Attorney Richard Tizzano, Dr. Narinder Duggal of Liberty Bay Internal Medicine just to name a few. This organization is going to be very beneficial in giving the Haven in Allyn the exposure it deserves.

The Best

Today I pick up a elderly couple who lives at a facility, but they are considering moving into the Haven in Allyn. The wife has dementia and is incontinent and wheelchair bound. The husband is mentally sharp but very unsteady on his feet and he is a diabetic that require insulin injections daily. They were referred by a mutual friend. They were complaining to this friend that their rent was going up 21percent. When I arrived to pick them up they were waiting at the door. Their clothes were dirty. The women was wet, smelled and her face was dirty. When we first got to the Haven they were taken out of the car and sat down at the table for lunch. We took the lady and changed her wet brief and pants. Then brought to the table where they enjoyed a Cesar salad, chicken alfredo with fresh broccoli, fresh yellow zucchini and butter toast. They then have a brownie with walnuts topped with fresh strawberry and whipped cream. Today I also spoke with a lady who told me her mom is in a nursing home where she pays $9,000.00 a month. Her mom stays wet because there is not enough people who can take her to the bathroom especially at night. The Haven in Allyn really is a new model in Assisted living - Long term care. We provide on purpose dignity and honor to our residents. We really work for the money we are paid. We give more than we receive because we understand service and care. If your loved one is in a facility that they are not receiving the care they are paying for, move them out to the Haven in Allyn. We will take excellent care of them I promise.

Choices

I thought the whole idea of Capitalism and free trade, was we as consumers would have choices. Choices would cause greater competition and lower prices. I don't find this to be the case in Assisted Living - Long term care. I recently met several people both providers and consumers of Assisted Living - Long term care who shared, their experiences with me. They are paying so much more then what they would pay at the Haven in Allyn, but they are getting so much less. Facilities have said to me, We charge $2,000.00 a month more than the Haven in Allyn, but we don't nearly offer the care and the service you all do. Do the consumer think they don't have a choice? The Haven is a new model in Assisted Living - Long term care. We focus solely on what's good for the resident and their family. Our goal is to come along side of the family and assist as much as possible. This causes us to have different processes. We take care of the resident from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet. We provide all personal care items. We provide nursing care weekly and as needed. We provide transportation to MD appointment and accommodations to those appointment. Also, each resident care is managed by a RN case manager. All this and more is in our monthly rate. There are no additional charges by the facility. I hate the whole nickel and dimming thing that most facilities do. I think its tacky and the Haven is anything but tacky. We honor our seniors and we love caring for them. I know this kind of thinking is unique to the industry. The word and concept of service is so rare. It seem our world have forgot what it is. They don't expect to receive it. Most companies do what is good for them and what serves them at the expense of the customer. The whole spirit behind the Haven in Allyn is to serve our residents and their family. Our goal is to rewrite the rules for Assisted Living - Long term care. Help us share the message that there is a Haven in Allyn, consumers do have a wonderful choice.