PARCR POST L5.4 July 19 FINAL · ˇ #˙()(ˇ˘ , * *eˇ % ˛ , ˇ06% ˛"˘ )3!3" ˇ"=ˇ * : #2,2...
Transcript of PARCR POST L5.4 July 19 FINAL · ˇ #˙()(ˇ˘ , * *eˇ % ˛ , ˇ06% ˛"˘ )3!3" ˇ"=ˇ * : #2,2...
(con�nued on page 2)
PARCRPOSTVOLUME 5, ISSUE 4 JULY 2019
A NEWSLETTER FOR PENNSYLANIA ALLIANCE OF RETIREMENT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS
PARCR MEETINGS
July 10, 2019
LOCATION: Bethany Village
Mechanicsburg, PA
HOST: LeadingAgePA
TOPIC: “Future of Social Security
Benefits, Its Future, Increases”
October 9, 2019
LOCATION & HOST:
SpiriTrust Lutheran
(Sprenkle Drive) York, PA
TOPIC: “Demen�a”
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Page 2:
♦ Fraud Preven�on (con�nued)
Pages 3 :
♦ PARCR Communica�on & Info.
Pages 4 & 5 :
♦ Georgia Goodman LeadingAgePA
♦ PA Seniors Facing Nursing Crisis
Page 6:
♦ Share An Idea: Quincy Village
♦ Calling All Train Enthusiasts
Page 7:
♦ Normandie Ridge “Plarn” People
Pages 8 & 9:
♦ I Didn’t Know What I Didn’t Know
♦ Li<le Free Library @ Landis Homes
Page 10:
♦ Senior Sr. Prom @ Brethren Village
Page 11:
♦ CraAing Cross-Genera�onal Memo-
ries @ Garden Spot Village
Page 12:
♦ PARCR Mission Statement
♦ PARCR Exec Commi<ee Changes
♦ PARCR POST Informa�on
FRAUD PREVENTION Bruce Myers, AARP Consumer Issues Task Force Linda J. Heck, PARCR Post Editor, for Bill Stelger, Program Chair
Bruce Myers
AARP Consumer Issues
Task Force
Quincy Village, Waynesboro, PA served
as the host community for the April 10
quarterly mee�ng of PARCR. Mr. Bruce
Myers, Re�red Detec�ve Sergeant Bal�-
more County Police Department, was
guest speaker. He served the Bal�more
County Police Department for 22 years.
Myers first spoke of today’s fraud
challenges:
• Skimmers that can’t be detected
• People in posi�ons of trust who misuse your informa�on
• Computer hacking, phishing, pharming, spy-ware, pop-ups, just to
men�on a few challenges, with phone spoofing, the leading type of
fraud today.
He then offered the following ac�ons to help protect yourself:
• Monitor your credit reports regularly, annualcreditreport.com
Equifax 800-525-6285
Experian 888-397-3742
TransUnion 800-680-7289
• Monitor your bank accounts and credit cards regularly
• Use technology to assist you, i.e. My Mobile Money App
Other ways to protect yourself:
• Use Good Passwords
• Op�ng Out — Preapproved credit offers; check with banks about
op�ng out; place telephone number on “do not call” registry
• Telephone Scams — Do not answer unless you know the number
Today’s Top Scam Trends are:
Can you hear me? Arrest Warrant
IRS, Tax Collec�on Travel/Vaca�on
Debt Collec�on Employment
Page2 PARCRPOST5.4
FRAUD PREVENTION (con�nued from page 1)
Topics also discussed were computer safety, in-
person scams, and what persons do with your
stolen iden�ty. He advised that your best de-
fense is to KEEP YOURSELF INFORMED.
Myers was humorous at �mes, with the topic
“How to Become a Vic�m”; he kept your a<en-
�on, all the while educa�ng you on what to do if
you become a vic�m.
Looking ahead to July, mark your calendar for
Wednesday, July 10, and plan to a<end the next
PARCR mee�ng to be held at Bethany Village.
This mee�ng will be hosted by PARCR Partner,
LeadingAgePA. Topic will be “Future Status of Social Security Benefits, Its Future and Promised Increases,
with John H. Johnson, Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security.
PARCRPOST5.4 Page3
COMMUNICATIONS
AND
INFORMATION
LeadingAge Pa has asked for help from PARCR members with the following plea:
Tell the General Assembly About Medical Assistance Funding Shor4alls!
LeadingAge PA needs our help!
We must engage with elected officials in the general assembly NOW about the shorRalls in
medical assistance for our nursing facili�es. We must tell them how the cost of providing
care under the medical assistance program is significantly more than our communi�es get
reimbursed.
Use the resources provided by LeadingAge PA, which are a<ached. Every �me we call, write,
or invite our elected official to our nursing facility, we all get a step closer in making an
important impact!
LeadingAge PA has provided the following informa�on regarding efforts to include assisted
living in medicaid funding which will be managed by the Community HealthChoices
program.
***********
Bill to Include Assisted Living in Community HealthChoices Introduced
Early in the week of May 13, 2019, HB 1442 was introduced by Steve Mentzer
(R-Lancaster). This bill is a result of the advocacy efforts of LeadingAge PA on one of their
major ini�a�ves. The bill would require the Department of Human Services (DHS) to include
assisted living services in the Community HealthChoices program. The bill would also
require DHS to review waivers of assisted regula�ons such as room size and bathroom
capacity. These are some of the issues most oAen given by personal care homes that might
otherwise want to convert to assisted living.
Page4 PARCRPOST5.4
Represen�ng LeadingAgePA at the April 10 mee�ng was Georgia Goodman,
in the absence of Anne Henry. She spoke about the status of former HB 2291
Individual Living Privacy Act, its changes and that the logic is being refocused
for a new introduc�on, hopefully some�me this year.
But the major topic of her presenta�on is the push being put on the PA Legis-
lature for inclusion of a rate increase for Medicaid Long Term Care facili�es.
Page 5 contains two illustra�ons provided by Anne Henry with the facts and
details of the $631 Million dollars in loss CCRC’s in Pennsylvania are experiencing. Please read this infor-
ma�on. LeadingAgePA is seeking our support of their effort to get a 2.8% Medicaid increase in this year’s
State budget. See prior page for PARCR support request.
Georgia Goodman
Director, Government Affairs,
LeadingAgePA
PARCRPOST5.4 Page5
May 23, 2019
This is the Year to Give Our Nursing Facili9es
Some Relief!
This year, Pennsylvania's revenues are more
than what is expected. Instead of the legisla-
ture puYng the surplus into the state's "Rainy
Day" fund, let's ask our legislators to put that
money into covering some of the $631M Medi-
cal Assistance shorRall because it's raining hard
on our state's nursing homes!
Ask your state legislators to add 2.8% ($47M)
to nursing facility Medical Assistance rates and
fund the Nonpublic Medical Assistance Day
One Incen�ve Payment at $17M.
Use our resources to help tell your story. Every
�me you call, write, or invite your elected offi-
cial to your nursing facility, we get a step closer
in making an important impact!
Please let
Georgia Goodman know
about your efforts at
Page6 PARCRPOST5.4
At each PARCR Quarterly Mee�ng, the host commu-
nity is asked to “Share
An Idea” of something
happening in their indi-
vidual community. At
the April mee�ng,
Laura Glass, Communi-
ty Life/Volunteer Direc-
tor, shared with the
audience the partnering of
Quincy Village with Master-
piece Living. The goal is to
create more than just a Wellness Program, but to
create a more sa�sfied community, which results in
sa�sfied residents and team members.
The first step on this journey is for the residents to
complete a survey/ques�onnaire, then developing
measurement tools, and tracking the outcome.
There is emphasis on celebra�ng accomplishments.
To list a few from her presenta�ons are: Crea�ng
opportuni�es for team members to join along side of
residents; Crea�ng a family-like atmosphere; CSA
(Successful Aging Accredita�on); Increased balance
awareness/decrease falls; Increased technology
awareness. Another step in the process is to change
the language oAen associated with CCRC’s to a more
posi�ve approach and how society views aging. An
example used is changing the iden�fica�on to living
in a “Community” rather than the “Home.” The em-
phasis is to have the language more posi�ve, em-
powering and suppor�ve.
There are four major components addressed in this
program which are: Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual
and Social, all used in combina�on to provide a com-
munity of sa�sfied residents with lower risks for de-
cline.
A ques�on, answer and comment segment followed
the presenta�on, ending with the comments from a
Quincy Resident sta�ng that he is healthier and hap-
pier with the seYng of individual goals while cele-
bra�ng achievement and success.
Laura Glass,
Community Life/
Volunteer Director,
Quincy Village
PARCR QUARTERLY MEETING
“SHARE AN IDEA” REPORT:
Quincy Village Partners with Masterpiece Living
CALLING ALL MODEL TRAIN ENTHUSIASTS Does your community have a model train club? Lowell Starling of
Bethany Village would like to communicate with model train en-
thusiasts in other CCRC’s. If you are interested, please contact
Lowell at the following:
Cell Phone (717) 712-6773; Email [email protected]
PARCRPOST5.4 Page7
THE PLARN PEOPLE OF
NORMANDIE RIDGE Allison Kauffman, Marke�ng Assistant/PR Writer,
Albright Care Services
A group of residents at Normandie Ridge are working
hard to help homeless veterans. “The Plarn People of
Normandie Ridge” have been busy making sleeping
mats from recycled plas�c bags. This involves cuYng
recycled plas�c bags and joining the pieces to make
plarn, which is plas�c yarn. The plarn is then
crocheted into mats. It takes an average of 500 to
700 bags to complete a 2.5 foot by 6 foot mat and
approximately 40 to 50 hours of work. Each month,
the group meets to con�nue working on the mats,
although a lot of the work is also done individually at
home.
Plenty of bags have been donated to the cause by
residents and local stores. Jinny Foor is organizer of
the Plarn People, “It’s reported that Americans use
100 billion plas�c bags a year with the average family
taking home almost 1,500 plas�c shopping bags a
year. However, according to waste management, only
one percent of the bags are returned for recycling.”
Foor says reusing the recycled bags not only will help
homeless veterans, but will reduce waste. The group
formed in November to start making the mats. They
will be donated to LifePath Chris�an Ministries in
York, a non-profit agency helping the homeless and
those living in poverty.
Another benefit of “The Plarn People” is the fellow-
ship the women enjoy when they meet as a group.
Foor said, “When the idea came about, I was so
surprised at the number of people that wanted to get
involved and help. We meet once a month and really
Pictured above from le@ to right: Elizabeth Petrick,
Joyce Brown, Virginia Foor, Fran Wyre, BeCy Shive,
Vickie Eisenhart, Karen Naumann, Fern Shanabrook,
Ruth Carrozza
Not pictured: Zelda Jones, Shirley Kirsopp,
Jane Crowder
enjoy the �me together.” “The Plarn People of
Normandie Ridge” are always looking for more
volunteers to join the group. They are willing to
teach interested members how to crochet, but you
don’t need to crochet to join the group.
I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW Judy Sargent, Resident of Landis Homes
When my husband and I were exploring the idea of a
move to a re�rement community, one of the reasons we
chose to move to Landis Homes was that it offered learn-
ing opportuni�es with The Pathways Ins�tute for Life-
long Learning.
Twice a year, a catalog full of courses appears, from
which we can select from an array of classes. The cost is
extremely reasonable, so we both take full advantage.
Fred and I make individual selec�ons in addi�on to clas-
ses and events we a<end togeth-
er. In our almost eight years of
par�cipa�on, we’ve taken well
over 100 courses and I’d be hard-
pressed to think of one we
didn’t enjoy. Classes have been
entertaining, educa�onal, thought
-provoking and even ac�on-
inducing.
For the Spring 2019 semester, Dot
Landis, a Landis Homes resident
offered a class en�tled “Pallia�ve Care: What is it and
why do I need to know about it.” I found that intriguing,
so I signed up. Dot is a re�red clinical social worker who
worked in pallia�ve care in a large teaching hospital for a
number of years. She is passionate about the subject and
communicated eloquently. It proved to be what I consid-
er one of the most important Pathways experiences I’ve
had. Graciously, Dot agreed to do it a second �me, for
the benefit of the en�re Landis Homes community, in
the chapel here.
Prior to the class, I’d have defined pallia�ve care as hos-
pice care – care offered to individuals at the end of their
lives. I learned it is SO much more than that!
My husband and I were involved in caring for his parents
and my mother at the end of their lives. We knew the
importance of planning ahead, health care proxies, living
wills and other such documents. I’d have said we were
fairly well informed, but we were completely ignorant of
the concept of pallia�ve care.
Looking back on our parents’ situa�ons, I can detect
glimpses of such care being given, but not in any formal
sense. I’m grateful for a compassionate primary care
physician who gently nudged us to the
realiza�on that it was �me to consider
stopping cura�ve treatment for our
mother, and also for a nurse who re-
minded us that painful tests and proce-
dures that had no real purpose could
be refused. Those were flee�ng mo-
ments, though, in what was a lengthy
situa�on.
Pallia�ve care is an approach that improves
the quality of life of pa�ents, and those they
consider family, who face life-threatening illness – at any
stage or any age. It aims to prevent and relieve suffering
by means of early iden�fica�on and impeccable assess-
ment and treatment of pain and other problems – physi-
cal, psychosocial and spiritual. In short, it sees the indi-
vidual as a whole being. You are not defined by your ill-
ness and your family is not ignored.
As a medical specialty, pallia�ve care is recent. It is holis-
�c and interdisciplinary by inten�on. Imagine – medical
people working together, for the benefit of the pa�ent!
Fellowship training and board cer�fica�on are required.
It is becoming more and more available. One sta�s�c is
that in 2000, 658 of the 50+ bed hospitals in the US
offered pallia�ve care. By the year 2016, that number
Page8 PARCRPOST5.4
(con�nued on page 9)
Judy & Fred Sargent
Landis Homes Residents
had increased to 1,831. Presently, around 80% of such
hospitals are involved. S�ll, it is a new-ish concept, and
you might have to ask for it. You might even need to
educate your physician a bit.
On the con�nuum of care offered, hospice is a part of it.
But it is so much more than hospice. Pallia�ve care
func�ons alongside cura�ve treatment and remains in
place when cura�ve treatment ends. It con�nues aAer
hospice care and death by providing grief support to
loved ones.
A helpful emphasis of the presenta�on I a<ended –
twice! – was the importance of conversa�ons with
family, the thoughRully considered appointment of
informed health care direc�ves/proxies and the prepa-
ra�on of necessary legal documents. Talking about end
of life ma<ers is not easy, but it’s extremely necessary.
AAer all, every person has the fatal disease called life!
Resources, in the form of links to helpful informa�on,
were provided, too. Two I’ll men�on here are h?ps://
getpallia�vecare.org/ and h?p://www.caringinfo.org/
i4a/pages/index/cfm?pageid=3277. Also suggested
was a booklet called “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie
Plate?” That’s a very helpful workbook which serves as
a guide for passing on personal possessions. The Path-
ways Ins�tute website is: thePathwaysIns�tute.org.
WHAT I DIDN’T KNOW (con�nued from page 8)
PARCRPOST5.4 Page9
The rough weather predicted on April 26 held off long enough for the dedica�on of the Li<le Free Library in Leaman
Woods. More than 50 residents, team members, grandchildren and even a dog, gathered for a short ceremony. The
library, craAed from an ash tree stump, is open to all who visit our campus. The library has a charter number (85407)
and is registered on the world map at li?lefreelibrary.org. It contains a variety of excellent books for both adults and
children. Residents act as stewards. Anyone is free to donate or borrow a book!
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY COMES TO
LANDIS HOMES Deborah Laws-Landis, Director of Marke�ng & Communica�ons
Residents & Team Members who
helped make the library a reality Prayers & Litany led by
Pastoral Services Director
Donna Mack Shenk
Dedica�on of Li?le Free Library
Residents, Team Members,
Grandchildren & Dog a?ended
MANHEIM TOWNSHIP SENIOR CLASS
HOSTS A “SENIOR” PROM Tara Marie Ober, Vice President of Communica�ons &
Resident Life
Page10 PARCRPOST5.4
On April 5 the 2019 Manheim Town-
ship senior class officers hosted a
“senior” prom for the Residents at
Brethren Village. Brethren Village is
the official sponsor of the Manheim
Township senior class prom, and the
class officers wanted to do something
special to give back to the Residents.
The students replicated their own
theme at BV, chose refreshments and
photo props, and crowned a prom
king and queen!
Prior to the dance at BV, the senior
class officers met with our Resident
dance class and learned some of the
“old �me” line dances so they could
feel right at home at the BV Prom!
Our BV dance club, The Rock’N Sen-
iors Dance Club, welcomed them
with open arms and came to help the
students decorate the auditorium for
the big event. The rainy evening
didn’t stop Residents from coming all
dressed up ready to have a great
�me. For one BV Resident, it was her
very first prom as she did not a<end
her high school dance event. The stu-
dents and Residents danced for hours
to music of the 50’s and 60’s, line and
specialty dances including The Con�-
nental, Cab Driver, The Twist, YMCA
and they even took a Stroll!
Instead of a �cket price for the dance,
Residents contributed a free will
offering in support of the Manheim
Township Educa�onal Founda�on.
$1,125 was raised for MTEF, and
Hannah Bartges, President of the
MTEF Board of Directors, was on
hand to accept the dona�on.
Dr. Robin Felty, MT Superintendent,
Mr. David Rila<, MT High School
Principal, Dr. Dan Weber, MT High
School Assistant Principal and John
Snader, CEO of Brethren Village also
a<ended the event. It was truly a
remarkable night, and one that won’t
be soon forgo<en by BV’s Residents,
or the student leaders.
View a video recap of the Prom event
at hCps://youtu.be/zJ59mg6d4Ko
BV Residents
Terry Wilhelm
and
Nancy Sweigart
were crowned
Prom King and
Queen.
MT Senior Class officers Nick Tufano (back row,
2nd
from right), Lucy Svetec (back row, 3rd
from right),
Ben Banzhof (back row, 2nd
from leK) and
Charlie Gingrich (not pictured) hosted a special night at
BV to thank Residents for their generosity and support.
PARCRPOST5.4 Page11
CRAFTING CROSS-GENERATIONAL
MEMORIES AT GARDEN SPOT VILLAGE Juanita Fox, Storyteller, Garden Spot Communi�es
In November 2018 Meghan Clisham,
a 5th
grade teacher at New Holland
Elementary, contacted Garden Spot
Village, asking if it was possible to
work together to create an aAer-
school club for her students.
Larry Knepper, Garden Spot Village
resident since August 2009 and Wood
Shop member, approached the Wood
Shop leadership to see if there was
interest crea�ng a woodworking club.
The men, recognizing the opportunity
to posi�vely impact the lives of
children in the community, willingly
accepted the challenge. Gordon Lash,
John Moore, Bob Collins and Paul
Dodge volunteered to mentor the
students and Larry coordinated the
projects, drawing on experiences
leading similar sessions with
Grands & Kids Camp.
Larry says, “The students seemed to
be very interested. Some of them
have a li<le bit of background with
woodworking. I chose the projects to
get them acclimated to all of the
equipment in the shop.”
Each week 16 6th
graders a<ended
the club, which ran four weeks on
Monday aAernoons in February and
early March, from 4-5pm.
Meghan and 5th
Grade Teacher Rachel
Smith chaperoned the group. Meghan
says, “We inten�onally piloted the
program with 6th
graders because we
knew the students well. Plus, the stu-
dents were already familiar with
Garden Spot Village because they had
pen pals from Garden Spot Village last
year.”
Each Monday the students broke into
four groups and decided on their
project for the day. Larry provided
plans and materials for four projects
each week. Students chose between a
bird house, a stool, a toolbox and a
paper towel holder. Some of the
groups chose to make individual
projects and others chose to work
together on a project for the school.
For example, one group made a bird
house, which will be used in the
school courtyard, while others chose
to make individual bird houses.
Rachel says, “We were really pleased
to offer this opportunity to do some-
thing different. It’s cool to watch
them use a ruler to measure the
wood, learn about the safety of the
equipment and interact with the resi-
dents.”
New Holland Elementary Principal Jeff
Starr says, “We are blessed to have
Garden Spot Village, an invaluable
resource, just a mile and a half from
our school. We have a need—kids
thirsty for learning –and Garden Spot
Village residents have a desire to
transfer their hands-on wisdom.”
Garden Spot Village Wood Shop
donated the materials for the
projects, allowing the school to offer
the club to the students at no cost.
Because the students were so
engaged, Bob Collins invited them to
a fiAh week, this �me at the Metal
Shop. Eight students a<ended the
extra session and enjoyed demonstra-
�ons of welding, steel and sheet
metal bending and soldering.
Students working in the
Wood Shop at
Garden Spot Village
PARCR POST is to act as an informal no�fica�on of things happening in PARCR Member not-for-profit
CCRC’s with a primary focus on Residents — their ac�vi�es; par�cipa�on in events and their inclusion in de-
cisions made within their Communi�es; items of interest involving residents; Community announcements,
etc. However, the key focus is to be on Residents, and not that of Marke�ng.
NOTICE: DEADLINE FOR THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF PARCR POST IS SEPTEMBER 9. Ar9cles are accepted any-
9me prior to that date. The earlier, the beCer! However, if the maximum printable space has been
reached by the 9me your material arrives, and if appropriate, your ar9cle will be held for next edi9on of
the PARCR Post. Thank you.
Linda J. Heck
PARCR POST Editor
65 Circle Drive
Li�tz, PA 17543
J H L
This newsle?er and prior
issues are available on the
PARCR website at
www.parcr.org, under the
PARCR POST heading.
Page12 PARCRPOST5.4
325 Wesley Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
www. parcr.org
MISSION STATEMENT OF PARCR
♦ To educate and inform residents of not-for-profit retirement
communities in Pennsylvania by promoting the exchange of ideas, education,
and civic responsibilities of residents.
♦ To encourage members to seek to be a part of informed
decision- making in their community.
Revised September 2018
PARCR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHANGES
Thank You: JANET POLAK , Green Ridge Village, who served as PARCR Secretary
LEON BIRD, Cross Keys Village, who served as Member-at-Large
Welcome to the following Execu9ve CommiCee members:
CHERYL RHODES, Quincy Village, Interim Secretary*
ELVIN HECK, Brethren Village, Member-at-Large
LOWELL STARLING, Bethany Village, Member-at-Large
*If you are interested in serving as PARCR Secretary, contact Ida Jeanne Smith at [email protected]