We see it everyday. When it first appears, but never when it goes away. We see it in anxiety and restlessness, tears and laughter. We see it in words and silence. We see it in all shapes, all sizes, all symptoms, all stages. We see the lost. Every day.

Nearly 5 million people in the U.S. have dementia. Over half of individuals over the age of 85. Dementia is a vague term that describes several diseases or conditions that develop when nerve cells in the brain die or no longer function as they should. The most well-known type of dementia is Alzheimer’s Disease.

It is incredibly rewarding and fulfilling to care for the elderly, but it’s also heartbreaking as we watch the residents and clients who have become part of our family struggle with health issues like dementia.

We know you are dealing with it at home too as caregivers of elderly loved ones. That is why we try to share with you tips and resources to help. This time I’m going to talk about warning signs. Although there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and most forms of dementia today, there are treatments that may slow or halt progression or help alleviate symptoms, particularly when started early. In addition, memory loss can also be caused by issues that can be easily remedied such as vitamin deficiencies or medication side effects.

When does memory loss become a cause for concern and not just a normal part of aging?

When it disrupts daily life – it is normal to sometimes forget names or appointments and then remember them later. But if your loved one is forgetting recently learned information or important dates or events, or keeps asking you for the same info over and over, there may be reason for concern

When they struggle to follow a plan or process  - when your elderly mother who loves to cook starts struggling with following a familiar recipe or can’t seem to balance her checkbook like she used to, this may be a sign that something isn’t right.

When they can’t complete familiar tasks – such as driving to their favorite store, operating the microwave, playing their favorite game of dominoes

When they are confused about time or place - when a loved one can’t recall what day of the week it is, after really thinking about it, or gets confused about where they are, this is another warning sign

When language skills decline – a person with dementia will struggle with finding and using the right words in a conversation or when writing a letter or email

When they begin to misplace things with increasing frequency – Did you just think “Uh-oh! I do that all the time!” I do too. I’m looking for either my cell phone or car keys on a daily basis.  The difference between normal absentmindedness and memory loss from dementia is the ability to retrace your steps to find the lost item. For example – I can’t find my cellphone. When did I last have it?  Right before I let the dog out, because I had just talked to my brother. I go to the back door and find the phone laying on the dehumidifier where I absentmindedly placed it while I let the dog out.  The person with dementia cannot retrace their steps.

What should you do if you are worried about any of these warning signs in an elderly loved one? It’s time to talk to the doctor. Here’s a nice blog from the Alzheimer’s Association with tips about how to bring up the subject with your loved one and a checklist to prepare for the doctor’s appointment.

WRC Senior Services will be offering free memory screenings at our upcoming WRC Healthy Aging Fair on June 4 at Laurelbrooke Landing in Brookville. This does not replace a doctor visit but can help reveal an issue or provide a baseline for future memory testing.

If you are already caring for an individual with dementia, you may be interested in the new enhanced dementia services we started offering at Edgewood Heights personal care home in New Bethlehem this month. Join us for an Open House this Sunday, May 19 from 1 – 3 p.m. to learn more.

- Dawn Wise
Director of Marketing and Communications
WRC Senior Services
dwise@wrc.org

Well it’s that time of the year again. Tax season. Everyone collectively sigh in disgust. But good news! This blog is going to share some tips for seniors to help you save on your taxes. Everyone collectively cheer and imagine balloons and confetti.

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate.  Whether you are a homeowner or renter, you can get up to a $650 standard rebate.  To be eligible, you must be age 65 or older; a widower or widow age 50 or older; or a person with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 annually for homeowners and $15,000 for renters. Note, when calculating your income, you can exclude half of your Social Security income, Supplemental Security Income and Tier 1 Railroad Retirement benefits. The deadline to apply for your rebate for 2012 property tax or rent is June 30, 2013. Rebates are mailed out starting July 1. To file, download the form or call 1-800-362-2050 to order a form. If you have filed for the rebate before, you should automatically receive the form in the mail.

Standard Deduction – if you were born before January 2, 1948, you will qualify for an additional standard deduction for 2012 of $1,150 or $1,450 if single or head of household. If you are blind or partially blind, the deduction is even higher. You’ll have to file with IRS Form 1040 or 1040A to claim.

Medical and Dental Expenses – for many seniors on a fixed income, medical expenses can easily exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income. In that case, completing an itemized deduction makes more sense. Nursing home care, home care, assisted living or personal care, insurance premiums, transportation expenses for medical care, co-pays, medications, long term care insurance, wheelchairs, dentures, hearing aids and eyeglasses are all deductible. Click here for a complete list and directions for filing.

Credit for the Elderly or Disabled - to qualify for this tax credit, you and/or your spouse have to be 65 or older and have an adjusted gross income limit of approximately $17,500 if single or $25,000 if married.  The maximum amount for this credit in 2012 is $1,125. Use Schedule R to calculate how much your credit will be.

Sold your house in 2012? If you  lived in your house two of the last five years, the profit you make for the sale (up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married) is not taxable. Here’s more about capital gains.

Free tax preparation - Need help filing your taxes? Call your local Area Agency on Aging. Most have volunteers who will prepare and e-file your taxes for free. Some restrictions may apply. Here are our local AAA numbers:
Jefferson County   814-849-3096
Clarion County  814-226-4640
Elk County  814-776-2191
Clearfield County 814-765-2696.

If you are the caregiver of an elderly loved one, there are also ways you can save! Did you know you can list an elderly loved one as a dependent on your tax return and then deduct costs you pay for their medical or long term care? For more information, check out this blog from TurboTax or even more detailed info from the IRS.

Know of a tax tip, we didn’t mention here? Please comment and share!

- Dawn Wise
WRC Senior Services
dwise@wrc.org

Everyone has a breaking point, when stress overwhelms. Some of us cry, some lash out in anger, some retreat into isolation and some suffer health issues. At WRC Senior Services, we know how stressful caring for an elderly loved one can be. Here are some tips to help you avoid that breaking point.

1. Make the most of community resources – there are resources out there to help with financial management, insurance questions, transportation, housekeeping, meals, socialization opportunities, placement in a facility and much more. The improvement to your stress level and health is well worth the investment. Depending on your loved one’s finances, there could even be little to no cost for these services!

Start out by calling your local Area Agency on Aging and ask what resources area available. You can also contact any of our WRC communities to point you in the right direction. Disease-specific organizations can help as well, such as the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Stay organized with the info you learn by placing it in files for easy reference in the future.

2. Ask for help.  Even if you are the primary caregiver, other family members and friends should be helping. Have a hard time asking for help or don’t know what to ask for? Here’s a great guide.

3. Take a break.  Here’s a few ways to do it. WRC offers DayBreak at Laurelbrooke Landing in Brookville. Clients can come to DayBreak a few days a month, a few days a week, five days a week – whatever works for you. If you don’t live near Brookville, do an internet search to find adult day service providers in your area.

If you need a longer break or want to take a vacation, all of WRC’s personal care homes offer respite or temporary stays for your loved one. If you would prefer they stay in their own home, a home care agency such as our In Home Solutions PLUS is a great option. Other ways to take a break – ask a family member, friend or neighbor to visit with your loved one while you’re away. Even getting out and doing something you enjoy for a few hours will help lower your stress.

4. Let it out.  You might be holding in a lot of feelings – frustration, guilt, fear, anger. It will eventually manifest itself in other ways like health problems of your own. Find a local caregiver support group to attend. In Clarion, there is a group that meets the 2nd Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Clarion. This is open to anyone and is not a church group. For more info, call 814-226-8237.  Brookville has a dementia/Alzheimer’s caregiver support group that meets the 2nd Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the hospital. For more info, call 814-849-2312.

If you are more comfortable talking to someone on the phone, here’s some places you can call:

AARP Caregiving Support: 1-877-333-5885
Alzheimer’s Association: 1-800-272-3900
American Cancer Society: 1-800-227-2345
National Center on Caregiving: 1-800-445-8106

There is also groups you can get involved in online:

AARP Online Caregiver Support Group
Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Forums
American Cancer Society Online Communities
Family Caregiver Alliance Online Support Group

Thank you for what you do every day to care for your elderly loved one. Please on’t hesitate to reach out for help. Feel free to share any tips you may have by posting a comment.

Wishing you all the best in 2013!

- Dawn Wise, Director of Marketing and Communications
WRC Senior Services
dwise@wrc.org

Thought I would share our Ask A Nurse column that will be printing in the Brookville Mirror in December. A very fitting topic for this time of the year.

Q. My elderly mom always gets down around the holidays. Is there anything I can do to help?

A. The holiday season is supposed to be a time for good cheer, celebration and family – or so the movies tell us. But the truth is, as we age, the holidays are a sharp reminder of how much life has changed and the loved ones we have lost. It’s perfectly normally your mom is feeling sad.

There are things you can do to help her. First, can you identify something specific that is causing her sadness?

Is she missing someone who has passed away? If so, be sure to acknowledge that loved one at family gatherings. Make a toast in their honor and spend time sharing favorite stories. Maybe she would like to make a trip to the cemetery to place a wreath or poinsettia on their grave.

Is she lonely? During this busy time of the year, elderly loved ones may feel isolated or even forgotten. You’ll have to make time to contact her more during the holidays. If you live far away, it’s making extra phone calls, perhaps while you’re on the way to shop, and encouraging other family members to call too. If you live close, it’s visiting more often, even for just fifteen minutes. This will help remind her she is cared for and loved.

Does she feel left out? Perhaps she always hosted holiday gatherings and now is unable to do so. Help her still feel a part of the planning and organizing by asking her questions, getting her input and keeping her informed of plans, menu choices and family news.

Make new traditions. Laurelbrooke Landing holds a Light the Night event, including carriage rides, Santa, a bell choir, carolers, and other activities for all ages to enjoy together.

Is she unable to celebrate the holidays like she used to? Was she always a cookie baker or loved to decorate? Help bring those traditions alive again. She would love it if you or your children asked for her help to bake a family tradition or decorate her home. Even if she is living in a long term care community, you could bring her a plate of her favorite Christmas cookies and help decorate her room.

If her sadness lasts longer than the holiday season, and she is having trouble with sleep, loss of appetite, or loss of interest in things she used to enjoy, she may be experiencing clinical depression, which can lead to serious illness if untreated. If you suspect clinical depression, it’s time to talk to her doctor. She may even benefit from home health care. Our nurses assess and monitor depression symptoms and provide education and referrals for other services and treatments. For more information, call In Home Solutions PLUS at 814-849-5913. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and joyful holiday season!

The Ask a Nurse column is brought to you by Brookville resident Kelly Snell, RN, who has been the Director of Professional Services for In Home Solutions PLUS since 2007. 

I steeled myself as I walked up the hallway at McKinley Health Center at Laurelbrooke Landing toward my grandma’s room. She had been living there for about a year and was in the advanced stages of vascular dementia. She didn’t know me as her granddaughter anymore, but still recognized me as someone she cared about as her eyes lit up with a smile. She would still hug me, hold my hand and listen while I talked to her even though she was rarely able to respond. When I would leave, even if she had said nothing else during our visit, she would still manage to say, “I love you too” as she patted my cheeks with both hands. It was the little things like that I held onto.

Alzheimer’s Disease and other types of dementia are heartbreaking. It’s awful to watch your loved one  slip away. You have to find joy in those little moments, cling to your own memories of them, laugh and mourn. At WRC Senior Services, we daily care for many individuals with memory loss. We know too well how hard it is on the caregiver. That is why we try to regularly offer resources to help. Since November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month, I thought this would be a good time to share some of those in a blog.

This Thursday, October 25, we will be holding a free educational program at Edgewood Heights personal care home in New Bethlehem from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. called “Tips for the Caregiver: Coping with Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia.” We still have room for some more folks to join us.

November 13 is National Memory Screening Day, and we will again be offering free memory screenings at our four personal care homes. You may wonder why get a memory screening when there is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia? Well, there are some causes of memory loss that are easily treatable, such as medication side effects, vitamin deficiencies, underactive or overactive thyroid, depression or anxiety, infections and poor sleep.

If the diagnosis is indeed Alzheimer’s Disease, starting treatment early can improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. It also gives you more time to plan for the future, develop support networks and get involved in clinical trials. For vascular dementia like my grandma had, the disease can be slowed or even halted if the underlying factors contributing to brain damage are treated, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or blood vessel blockages. So we hope you will take this opportunity for a free, confidential screening.

A great resource for caregivers and their loved ones is the Alzheimer’s Association. They have an entire section of their website devoted to information about the disease, stages and behaviors, practical tips for providing care and coping, information about care options, guides for financial and legal planning, an online community for support, blogs and links to local resources. Another great link to local programs and services is your Area Agency on Aging.

As a caregiver, you need a support line or many! There is a dementia support group that meets the second Monday of the month at 6:3o p.m. at the Brookville Hospital Education Center. There is a caregiver support group that meets the second Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 600 Wood Street in Clarion.

You may find DayBreak at Laurelbrooke Landing very beneficial. Caregivers can bring their loved ones there while they are at work or for a break in caregiving. Attendees benefit from the safe environment, daily activities, wellness screenings, socialization opportunities  and nutritional meals.

For additional resources, visit our website or contact any WRC location. My grandma lived well with her disease for a number of years. In the beginning her memory loss was  hardly noticeable. For years, she continued to drive, cook her wonderful memorized recipes, serve her church, travel and spend time with her family and friends.  I cherish all that time. In the end, I cherished the little moments of clarity and the comfort I could bring her just by holding her hand. When we said goodbye, although I cried and mourned, I was happy for her. Because she was herself again and whole. So cherish the moments and don’t walk this tough path alone.

- Dawn Wise
Director of Marketing and Communications
WRC Senior Services
dwise@wrc.org

The capital campaign for WRC Senior Services’ newest senior living community The Villas at Water Run officially kicked-off on August 14^th in Clarion, PA, with a goal to raise $500,000 for construction.  Prior to the start of the campaign, our office had already started receiving calls from individuals who wanted to help bring this senior living community to Clarion.  As a result, thirty community members are volunteering their time to help with the project! We are humbled by the outpouring of support. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, we greatly depend on the generosity of our friends in the community.

A window graphic is installed on the capital campaign headquarters for The Villas at Water Run, inside the In Home Solutions PLUS office on Main Street in Clarion.

The role of volunteers is vital, and it would not be exaggerating to say that society would fall apart without them.  In our town of Clarion, we pull together to accomplish all sorts of goals, from planning the Autumn Leaf Festival to caring for our elderly.  We all have a circle of influence within our home, with our friends and in our community that contributes in a positive way.

We thank all the volunteers who are giving of their time to help bring The Villas at Water Run to Clarion, and we thank all those who support the campaign.

I’d like to share with you a letter from volunteer Vicki Smith of Brookville, who is serving as the chair of our capital campaign committee and is also on WRC’s board of directors.

“WRC Senior Services is excited to be entering a new era in senior services in the Clarion area. The Villas at Water Run will embody the vision of WRC to be the foremost innovator of senior services.

Three generations of my family have received care from WRC. As a consumer, I am appreciative of the quality care, compassion and support shown to my loved ones. Now as a board member, I am proud of the care we provide to our residents in beautiful and comfortable settings.

Vicki Smith, chair of The Villas at Water Run capital campaign and member of WRC’s board of directors

Being involved in the development of WRC’s Laurelbrooke Landing in Brookville, I had the opportunity to visit many lovely senior residences across the state. As we toured these communities, I said to myself, ‘The residents of Brookville should and can have such a senior community.’ And now we do.

The residents of Clarion also should and can have a beautiful senior living community. And they will…if we work together to make The Villas at Water Run a reality. I hope you will join me in financially supporting The Villas at Water Run. Generations of your family will benefit from such a community, just as mine has. “

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead

Theresa Edder
Director of Mission Advancement
WRC Senior Services
814-715-3762
tedder@wrc.org

The future site of The Villas at Water Run

If you live in the Clarion area or have been following us on Facebook, you’ve probably seen our big news. In the fall, we expect to break ground for a brand new WRC Senior Services’ community in Clarion called The Villas at Water Run.

We have purchased a 20 acre property on Water Run Road in Monroe Township, just outside of the borough, on which we plan to build an assisted living with accommodations for 75 individuals, as well as a residential neighborhood for seniors with 38 custom-built homes. There is only one other assisted living residence in Western Pennsylvania! Assisted living embodies the concept of “aging in community,” meaning not having to move to another level of care if healthcare needs should increase.

We thought we’d use this blog to track the progress of our journey. (So if you haven’t already, subscribe! Or, Like our Facebook page, and you’ll be automatically notified of new blog posts)

Why Clarion? WRC Senior Services began in Brookville in 1890 to care for disabled Civil War veterans, widows and orphans from the war. Since that time, we have grown into other counties in response to the need. Today in Clarion County, we operate Highland Oaks in Shippenville, Edgewood Heights in New Bethlehem and the In Home Solutions PLUS home health care agency.

We opened Highland Oaks in 1988 inside a former office building and hotel. It is currently our oldest building; and rather than remodeling, our board of directors made the decision to build, eventually moving the residents. Through focus groups, we concluded that Clarion – more centrally-located, larger population and closer to the hospital and shopping areas – would be the best option.

So where are we in the process now? WRC Senior Services is a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization, getting ready to undertake a multi-million dollar project. We have applied for grants and are investigating other financing options. We began a capital campaign to help raise seed money for the project. (More on that in a future blog! Or stop by our capital campaign office at In Home Solutions PLUS, 505 Main Street, Clarion.)

Preliminary master site plan

We have a master site plan and floor plans for the assisted living, subject to alterations as we move forward. We are working on the designs of the residential homes. Because of the amount of interest, we have begun taking priority reservations now for those homes and already have our first potential resident! To get on the list, call our Director Angie Conklin at 814-849-4131 or email her.

These are exciting times at WRC Senior Services, very exciting times! Stay tuned for more news of The Villas at Water Run …

Fran Roebuck Kuhns
President-CEO of WRC Senior Services
814-849-1205
fkuhns@wrc.org

We recently started an “Ask A Nurse” column in the Brookville Mirror and Clarion Mirror, free monthly publications spotlighting local businesses and events. The goal of our column is to answer common questions we get at our home health care agency In Home Solutions PLUS about senior services, diseases and home care in particular. Readers are invited to submit questions. We thought you might be interested in seeing the first column that ran this month. Please help us with future editions by submitting a question below or emailing it to dwise@wrc.org.

Meet our nurse Kelly

Q. My 79 year old mother is in the hospital right now, recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia. I’d really like her to return to her own home after she’s discharged, but she’s gotten really weak. Would we be able to get nurses at home to help her?

 Your mother could very well get skilled home health care to help her gain her strength back. Home health can be paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and some private insurances.

For patients with Medicare coverage, a qualifying factor to receive home health care is they are “homebound.” This doesn’t mean the person can never leave their home. It means that it is physically demanding for them to do so, and their outings aren’t very frequent. Going to church, doctor’s appointments, the beauty shop or out to dinner once a week does not disqualify a person from receiving home health care.

Home health nurses are specialists and will use a multi-disciplinary approach to help your mother regain her strength. This may include visits by a nurse, exercises with a physical therapist and a home health aide to help her with personal care.

To get your mother set up with home health, talk to your hospital discharge planner and hospital nurse now. Your doctor will have to write a script for home health care. Then the discharge planner will contact the home health care agency you choose to set up services. You have a choice of agencies. If you would like our agency, simply tell the discharge planner and your nurse, “I want In Home Solutions PLUS!”  Wishing your mother a speedy recovery! – Kelly

In Home Solutions PLUS is an award-winning home health care agency of WRC Senior Services, which has been providing care for seniors in the area since 1890. Visit online at www.wrc.org or on Facebook. Brookville resident Kelly Snell is a registered nurse and has served as the Director of Professional Services at In Home Solutions PLUS for five years.

Watch for the next edition of “Ask A Nurse” in July!

Dawn Wise
Director of Marketing and Communications
WRC Senior Services
dwise@wrc.org

A few days ago, I was having a conversation with a new friend about toys we loved when we were kids – Star Wars action figures and Legos. I still love Legos. That’s the great thing about having nieces and nephews. They get the toys, and I get to play with them while I “help” build their creations. My friend confessed to buying a Star Wars set last year. I said, “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with that!” But we both know the world gives you a pretty weird look if those toys you’re buying aren’t for an actual child. Why should it? Why are we too old to play? Who made up these dumb rules anyway?

So imagine my excitement to find that this year’s theme for Older Americans Month in May is “Never Too Old to Play.” Now we’re talking.

Older Americans Month was created in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy. At that time, there were 17 million adults over the age of 65 in the U.S. and 1/3 of them were living in poverty with very few programs to support them. The presidential proclamation was to draw attention to the needs and concerns of older Americans and celebrate their contributions to building our nation. We’ve come a long way since that first May.

The Administration on Aging picked this year’s theme “Never Too Old to Play” to encourage older Americans to stay active and engaged in their lives and the community. So have some fun this month! “Play” doesn’t mean you have to break out those favorite toys from childhood, but if you want to… by all means. Play is about doing something that you find fun, that gives you joy, that makes you forget what time it is. For me, that’s kayaking. I could spend all day on the river, meandering and floating along, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the beauty of nature all around me. What is it for you?

How can you celebrate Older American Month and get in some quality play this month?

1. Get moving! Exercise is good for the body and soul. Challenge friends to a Wii bowling or Wii sports tournament. Go for a group walk/hike. Take a new exercise class at the local Y. Like watching “Dancing with the Stars” on TV? Why don’t you learn how to do that rumba?

2. Get thinking! Host a get-together to play some board games. Take a class about something you’ve always wanted to learn more about.

3. Get some new friends! Attend an event or club meeting you’ve never been to before. Volunteer for a local organization you believe in. Get a Facebook page and start connecting with others from all over the place.

4. Get creative! Start working on a project with others – quilting, gardening, painting, acting, building. There are so many things you could use your talents for and have fun doing.

I’ll leave you with an interesting quote from George Bernard Shaw said, “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” Have a fun month!

-Dawn Wise
Director of Marketing and Communications
WRC Senior Services
dwise@wrc.org

Being diagnosed with a chronic health condition is overwhelming, whether it’s diabetes, heart disease, cancer. Chances are you’ll have so many questions, so many tests and doctor’s appointments to attend, life changes to make. How do you cope with this so that you can manage your condition in the best way possible so that you feel the best possible? By carrying around a little secret weapon – a never-give-up positive attitude. You may feel like you have no control over what’s happening to your body, but you do have control over what’s going on in your mind. There are countless studies showing you will only benefit from having a positive attitude, so why not give it a try?

Walking in sunshine...

I’m not saying positive thinking is going to cure you, but wouldn’t you rather be walking in the sunshine than under a dark cloud of pouring rain? Are you wondering – what does she know? Who am I to tell you about being positive in the face of a chronic illness? I am walking this road too. I was recently diagnosed with a chronic inner ear disorder.

So on those days we are feeling poorly, how do we keep a hold of that sunshine? This is what I do. Spend time with your loved ones. If not in person, on the phone, through the mail, email or Facebook. Just being around those who love you can lift your spirits.

Find others going through the same thing. Whether you attend a local diabetes support group or find an online group or forum. The internet has opened up a whole world of people you can meet, going through the exact same thing.

Laugh. Read a funny story. Watch a funny movie. Look at funny pictures. Anything that will bring a smile to your face and a laugh to your belly.

Help somebody else. It will get your mind off your own situation.

Focus on your blessings. Do what the old hymn says and “name them one by one.” Even with the bad things going on in your life, there are good things too. By focusing on those, you’ll boost your positive spirit.

Block out those negative thoughts. Negative thoughts are like a snowball at the top of the mountain. The more you think them the bigger they become until you’re buried at the bottom of the hill with your skis in the air. So be prepared. Have a mental shield ready to block those negative thoughts when they come up. Whether it’s a truth, a quote, a Bible verse, a favorite song. Whatever works for you. Instead of thinking “I’m always going to feel this badly,” think “There will be good days, bad days and better days. Today might not be a very good one, but tomorrow will be better.”

Now I mentioned in the last blog that I would also share some ways WRC Senior Services can help you or a loved one cope with a chronic health problem. From the resources on our website to a phone call to any one of our communities, we are here, and we are experts in caring for individuals with chronic health problems.

If taking care of your own home and yard becomes too much, WRC offers three different residential neighborhoods for older adults - The Village and North Fork Heights and The Laurels. The relief of those extra burdens can help you tremendously.

In Home Solutions nurses can monitor your symptoms.

Want to stay in your own home but need help to do so? WRC Senior Services offers In Home Solutions PLUS, a home care and home health care agency. They can also help you recover after a hospital or nursing home stay with a full range of skilled nursing and therapy services.

There is also our newest service DayBreak at Laurelbrooke Landing. Participants come to the center 1 – 5 days a week, full or half days, depending upon your needs. Those with chronic health issues benefit from a service like DayBreak because of the regular wellness monitoring, supervision, medication management, assistance with personal care and socialization opportunities.

People who were really struggling at home often see their condition improve after moving into a WRC personal care home, because of the regular nursing supervision, medications being administered regularly and in the correct dosages by trained professionals, regular, nutritious meals and the social aspect of living in a community full of others, instead of home alone.

So keep a tight hold on that sunshine and don’t hesitate to tap into the resources available to you so that you can live the best life possible, regardless of your health issues! Please feel free to leave comments or ask questions below.

- Dawn Wise
Director of Marketing and Communications
WRC Senior Services

Email me at dwise@wrc.org