Lutheran Sunset Ministries

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You are here: Home / How to move forward after the one you cared for dies?

Answering the Call

July 12, 2022 by Admin Leave a Comment

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LSM nurse Nicki Foxx poses in the front office in front of a fireplaceAs COVID spread in 2020, the call was put out to former nurses: we need your help. One of the many retired nurses who heeded this call was Nicki Foxx.

“The governor said come on, so I did!” she said.

Nicki and her husband have lived in Clifton for three years, coming to central Texas from Las Vegas. A former coworker convinced her to make the move, and it was a perfect fit. 

As a longtime nurse who had worked in many roles, including obstetrics for more than 25 years, Nicki knew her fellow nurses were struggling. 

“I just wanted to be around my peers and wanted to be in the situation where I could talk to people and be involved,” she said. 

She wanted to be in the trenches with them, so she got her license back at 81.

“[LSM] saw my age and didn’t have any preconceived ideas. They might have thought I wanted a room,” she joked. “It’s good. It’s been kind of my salvation to come here. This is a nice place to work. I really love it. I love the people – the people are really good.”

Working in a nursing home for the first time during a pandemic was an unusual experience for Nicki, especially when Sunset was operating under strict protocols.

“The first day when the residents were able to gather and a couple came in and played music, everyone was so excited and it made me cry,” she said. “It was a side of the place I hadn’t seen. It was a big deal to me.”

She’s really connected with the residents and had many moments where she’s been glad she was there since she has a perspective that a younger person may not understand. Now, even though the COVID storm has calmed, Nicki still shows up at work every day with a smile on her face.

“I worked on the floor for six months until I was passing pills using a walker,” she says with a laugh. Now, Nicki has taken on a different role working with medical records. “I love coming to work. And truthfully, I know there’s a time when I won’t be able to come, and I will cry when I have to leave.”

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It’s All in the Hands

December 5, 2021 by Admin Leave a Comment

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Our Sunset Home activities team created an incredible photo project of our residents’ hands holding something special to them — a Bible, paintbrushes, an American flag, a bingo card — you name it!

For Grandparent’s Day, these photos were displayed in our halls so everyone could see them, but these photos aren’t just meant for us to enjoy. These photos have proved to be meaningful for those our residents care about the most: their family.

“For the residents it is a special gift to give to loved ones and for the families it is a gift to have for a lifetime,” said Activities Director Amy Arthur. “Consider all those hands have done throughout our lives!”

Jamie Jones-Middleton, grandaughter of longtime nurse and Sunset resident Faye Wallace, let us know how much the photo of her grandmother holding a stethoscope meant to her family, especially after she passed.

“Y’all have no idea how much that means to all of us. That photo is priceless. There aren’t enough words. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

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Do Longevity Supplements Work and Are They Safe?

January 6, 2021 by Andrea Hikel Leave a Comment

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What the latest research says about the burgeoning science, and selling, of longer, healthier life.

By Rashelle Brown (provided by Next Avenue)

Aches and pains. A growing waistline. Diminishing eyesight, hearing loss, memory lapses. These are the woes of growing older for some people, once considered inevitable. But recent, exciting discoveries in the fast-growing field of longevity science have some doctors and researchers pronouncing that these “symptoms” of aging may one day be treatable with pharmaceuticals, gene therapies or other yet-to-be-discovered medical technologies.

Many people haven’t been content to wait, though. Dozens of commercial producers are selling hundreds of so-called longevity supplements right now, and sales data suggest an awful lot of people are trying them. But do they work? Are they even safe?

To find out, we scoured the latest research and interviewed two top scientists in the field. What we learned suggests that you may want to hold off on ordering a supply, or at least do your research very carefully.

Why All the Fuss?

There is a solid handful of compounds that look very promising in the scientific quest to slow the aging process. One of the most exciting is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD, which has been shown to extend both the lifespans and youthful function of yeast and animals in clinical trials. Human trials are ongoing, with only a handful published to date.

NAD (also often written as NAD+) is a substance found in every cell in your body, which controls all kinds of metabolic processes, including the regulation of sirtuins, the so-called “longevity genes.” As you age, your NAD+ levels decline, and scientists think it is perhaps this decline that leads to all sorts of other age-related declines.

The working theory, then, is that if we can boost our NAD+ levels as we age, we can slow our decline tremendously. Lab studies on yeast and rodents lend strong support to that theory. The most recent studies have primarily involved the administration of either nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which is then converted into NAD in the body.

“At the end of the day, we just need more knowledge, through more research.”

To learn more about NAD, Next Avenue talked to Dr. Shin-Ichiro Imai, professor of developmental biology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Along with Leonard Guarente, Imai discovered the link between NAD and sirtuin control in 1999. He’s been studying the molecule ever since.

Are NAD-boosters Safe?

“There have been ten human clinical trials using NR, most at very high dose, with no safety issues,” Imai said. Most of those trials, however, lasted for a duration of weeks or months at most.

Is it safe to take NAD-boosting supplements continuously, for years?

“NMN and NR have already been available in Japan and the U.S. since 2015, and some people have been taking it since then,” Imai noted. “Anecdotally, I haven’t heard of any side effects from the taking of these supplements.”

Some trials, however, have recorded mild side effects including headaches, nausea, diarrhea and skin flushing.

More troubling, however, is the conclusion of a 2019 study that showed a possible link between elevated levels of NAD and tumor growth in isolated cells and animals. Rugang Zhang, deputy director at the nonprofit Wistar Institute Cancer Center in Philadelphia, was the lead researcher on that study. The study, published in the UK journal “Nature Cell Biology,” did not find that NAD causes cancer, rather that elevated levels appeared to accelerate oncogenesis (tumor formation) already in motion.

“We don’t want to oversell the results of our study,” Zhang said. “Lots of studies in the literature have clearly demonstrated that as normal cells age, there is lower NAD. So, supplementing NAD could be beneficial. It’s possible that NAD boosters could help people live longer and healthier. We’re not saying that if people take NAD boosters they will get cancer. This was a very early study on mouse models, and more study is needed.”

He suggests a course of action grounded in a deep preponderance of evidence: “At the end of the day, we just need more knowledge, through more research. We need the scientific community to come to a consensus. The risk to potential benefit remains to be seen.”

“I didn’t think it helped at all.”

Mucking up the risk/benefit ratio further is the fact that supplements are only very lightly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with the testing, evaluation and labeling of such products left up to manufacturers. This presents another dilemma for those considering longevity supplements: there’s no sure way of knowing exactly what you’re getting.

What’s Really in That Bottle?

The results of the few published human clinical trials to date unequivocally show that taking NR boosts levels of NAD in the body. But apparently, more NAD doesn’t translate to more youthful function.

“Unfortunately, those studies have not yet shown any significant efficacy,” Imai said.

And that’s when the substance administered is of lab-grade purity. So what about the typical supplements available online?

“There are so many products out there,” Imai lamented, “particularly for NMN, but I’m concerned about the quality.”

Indeed, a 2020 meta-analysis of NAD trials surmised: “it seems likely that side effects linked to interventions that target NAD metabolism more likely arise from impurities rather than the supplements themselves, since this industry generally operates without rigorous control of quality and standardization.”

Imai’s lab has evaluated a number of commercially available NAD-boosting supplements, but found only two of lab-grade purity. Imai wouldn’t disclose the names of the products (both Japanese-made), as he doesn’t endorse supplements. But he did note that “they are extremely expensive.”

Finally, we asked someone who’d taken an NAD-booster to share her experience. Kim Oberdorfer, an air traffic controller in Oakland, Calif., wasn’t impressed.

“I took [a popular NR supplement] for about two months and it just gave me these dull headaches. I was having hot flashes last February, and when I told my sister — I’m forty-seven, she’s fifty-three — about how horrified I was to be having them so young, she goes, ‘Are you sure it’s not just a reaction to an NAD supplement?” said Oberdorfer. “At the time I wasn’t really working out much, but my sleep schedule was really messed up and I heard it was good for that as well. I didn’t think it helped at all.”

 

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Lessons From the Resilience of Older Adults in 2020

December 17, 2020 by Andrea Hikel 1 Comment

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Why the pandemic is an opportunity to recognize their strength as a resource in waiting.

By Paul Irving, a Next Avenue Influencer in Aging.

It has been a year of living dangerously for older adults, and it appears far from over. Vaccines are coming to the rescue, but COVID-19 still rages, and the waiting is hard.

From the first days of the pandemic, older people — particularly those with chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease — have been at high risk, much more likely to end up in intensive care and to die than their younger and healthier counterparts.

Isolation has weighed heavily. With their vulnerability to the coronavirus, social distancing has been a critical safety measure for older people. But it has separated them from friends and colleagues, children and grandchildren. As health experts know, that isolation endangers physical and mental health.

Rough Times for Older Adults in the Pandemic

The pandemic has also jeopardized the financial security of many older people. Workers over 55 have been disproportionately impacted, and millions have been pushed out of the labor force, according to The New School’s Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis (SCEPA).

Many job losses will be permanent, leaving people little time to recover. “Four million people potentially pushed into retirement before they are ready will increase old-age poverty and exacerbate the recession,” SCEPA researchers have warned.

Deep social and economic gaps have been exposed this year. Older women (particularly those of color) often work in physically risky environments, such as hospitals and nursing homes, and in the service businesses most susceptible to the economic ravages of the virus.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, COVID-19 has given oxygen to a range of ageist tropes.

The health crisis has exposed an information crisis as well. Many older people lack access to the digital technologies and skills that are expected in a time of virtual meetings, distance learning, telehealth and on-line shopping.

While there is hope for policy intervention, months of government gridlock and seeming inability to address immediate needs has been distressing. Over the longer term, income inequality, high levels of public debt, a weakened economy and other factors exacerbated by the pandemic imperil the services and health and pension safety nets that so many older people rely on.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, COVID-19 has given oxygen to a range of ageist tropes. Widely shared social media posts suggest that if it was not for old people, the impacts of the virus would have been minimal. Negative stereotypes of older individuals as frail and dependent are being reinforced.

Proponents of “focused prevention” to achieve herd immunity have argued that life can return to normal if young people are exposed to the virus and those who are old and vulnerable are locked down and quarantined from the rest.

After years of progress in making the case that older adults are a valuable resource with roles to play and contributions to make, COVID-19 has done its damage, and the news can be dispiriting.

The Resilience of Elders

Yes, risk might be the word that comes to mind today when one thinks about aging and older people. But that misses what many of us know. The word that should come to mind is resilience. The evidence can sweep away the misplaced notion that older adults are nothing more than a liability and an inconvenience.

Even in the midst of a pandemic, older adults are supporting companies, communities and families. They are innovating, providing care and paying taxes.

AARP’s reporting on the longevity economy underscores the power of older workers and consumers.

As Richard Eisenberg wrote about Next Avenue Influencer in Aging Jean Accius and his AARP report on The Longevity Economy, AARP determined that the nation’s 117 million people who are 50+ contributed $8.3 trillion in economic activity in 2018 and another estimated $745 billion in unpaid benefits. If the U.S. 50+ population was its own country, AARP said, its Gross Domestic Product would be the world’s third largest, after America and China.

Older volunteers remain a central resource in communities and direct service organizations. When state and local officials put out calls this year for retired doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to help, thousands responded.

How can we make sense of these uplifting realities at a time when older people face such daunting health risks?

A Look at Older and Younger People in COVID-19

Experts believe that older adults are at least as resilient as young people. The coping skills, experience and wisdom gained over the years seem to protect them, providing stability in times of adversity. They maintain more positive outlooks and generally seem to be weathering the pandemic storm relatively well. University of California, San Diego researchers determined that despite declines in physical and cognitive functioning, mental health actually seems to improve over time.

A 2020 Stanford University survey of Americans between ages 18 and 76 found that aging is associated with greater emotional well-being, even in the face of prolonged stress. And a University of Georgia study determined this year that the people 71 and above seemed to be handling stress much better than younger participants.

Edward Jones and Age Wave recently surveyed 9,000 people across five generations. The older respondents reported the highest percentages of coping “very well” in the pandemic.

Older adults remain a significantly under-utilized resource, and this might be the time to change that.

Older adults have experienced pain before — the shocks and disappointments that come over the years, the failures and rejections that have made them stronger. They have rebounded from setbacks and overcome hardships, and they know loss.

When all are struggling to survive and thrive during this difficult time, the research tells a very different story about the resilience of age. Just as important, it reveals pathways to healing that offer hope.

Despite their known contributions, older adults remain a significantly under-utilized resource, and this might be the time to change that. Their resilience — their wisdom and perspective — can be put to good use.

Even when the pandemic subsides and we are left to confront the damage in its wake, older people can be called on to help younger people who are struggling in very significant numbers. Intergenerational bonds and mentoring programs can help with the stresses of this extraordinary time. Connections and conversations can promote well-being.

The coping methods and support systems that older adults have developed over years of living can be shared — generation to generation.

Rather than seeing older people as a burden, this is an opportunity to recognize their age as an asset and a source of strength. In this year of living dangerously, many older Americans stand at the ready, wanting to help and waiting to be asked, a resilient resource in waiting in a time of need.

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Alex Trebek: In His Own Words

July 28, 2020 by Andrea Hikel Leave a Comment

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Candid reflections on cancer, family, his role on “Jeopardy!” and finding peace.

By Richard Harris. Provided by Next Avenue.

 

Credit: Jeopardy! Productions

Alex Trebek:  The Answer is… Reflections on My Life is not your typical autobiography or standard memoir. Rather, it’s what the 79-year-old Jeopardy! host calls “a series of quick look-ins, revelations.”

Trebek has been a public figure for most of his professional life. But since he moved to Southern California from Canada in 1973, he has not lived the “see and be seen” Hollywood celebrity life.

Late last year, Trebek openly questioned whether he should have disclosed that he was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in March 2019. “There are moments when I regret going public with it, because there’s a little too much of Alex out there right now. It does place a responsibility on me that I feel I’m not deserving of,” he said.

Trebek last recorded fresh episodes of Jeopardy! in March when the pandemic shut down production. Still in treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer, he managed to record show opens a few weeks ago at his home for some special Jeopardy! broadcasts airing this month and next. But because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there’s no telling when tapings for the 37th season of Jeopardy! will begin.

The New York Times reported that if the current course of his cancer treatment fails, Trebek plans to stop treatment. “There comes a time when you have to make a decision as to whether you want to continue with such a low quality of life, or whether you want to just ease yourself into the next level. It doesn’t bother me in the least,” he said.

The following are excerpts from Trebek’s new book:

On Why He’s Never Written an Autobiography or Memoir Until Now

My life was not particularly exciting. I’m the typical product of my generation: a hardworking breadwinner who looks after his family; does all the repairs he can around the house; enjoys watching television and thinks a simple dinner of fried chicken, broccoli and rice is just fine, thank you very much.

I’ve shown up to work at the same job for thirty-six years and have lived in the same house for thirty years. I respect and like my colleagues, and have a family that I dearly love. I have never seen myself as anything special. That’s why if you listen to Johnny Gilbert’s announcement at the opening of Jeopardy!, I’m introduced as “the host” rather than “the star.” I insisted on that when I took the job back in 1984. But then early in 2019, all of that changed when I was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer.

Alex Trebek, hosting Jeopardy, in his first season (1984-85)
Alex Trebek, hosting Jeopardy! in his first season (1984-85)

On Toughness Following His Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis

I have become in many ways the de facto spokesperson for pancreatic cancer; there are a lot of expectations. I feel a lot of pressure to always be tough — to be stoic and show a stiff upper lip. But I’m a goddamn wuss. I start to cry for no reason at all. I have no idea what sets it off, and it embarrasses me. The thought that I don’t measure up compared to people’s expectations is difficult.

Not long ago, when I was going through a significant bout of depression, I called my doctor and expressed my concern about not being strong enough. “No, no, no,” he said, trying to reassure me. “You’re a great survivor. You’ve helped a lot of people. You don’t know how many people whose lives you have saved just by being out there, speaking out about the disease, what it does to you and how to maintain a more positive attitude.”

“I don’t think the will to survive is a constant. I think there are moments — and there are certainly moments in my life — when that will to survive disappears and I’m ready to pack it in.”

Interestingly, the longer I’ve lived with the cancer, the more my definition of  toughness has changed. I used to think not crying meant you were tough. Now I think crying means you’re tough. It means you’re strong enough to be honest and vulnerable. It means you’re not pretending.

And not pretending, being willing to let your guard down and show people how you truly feel and admit that you’re a wuss, is one of the toughest things a person can do. It’s also one of the most helpful things a person can do. It demonstrates an interest in developing an understanding. It demonstrates a caring. Because you have to figure there are some people out there who are going through the same stuff.

On the Will to Survive

I don’t think the will to survive is a constant. I think there are moments — and there are certainly moments in my life — when that will to survive disappears and I’m ready to pack it in.

Because understand that death is part of life. And I’ve lived a long life.

If I were in my twenties with years ahead of me, I might feel differently. But when you’re about to turn eighty, it’s not like you’re missing out on a great many things.

I don’t have much stamina anymore. It’s not even a question of physical activity that tires me out. Just being awake is enough to exhaust me. Some days are better than others. I had a couple of good days, then yesterday didn’t go so well. Today is fair. Just pain and fatigue and, well, different kinds of agony. Each day brings a new set of challenges.

I don’t like to use the terms “battling” or “fighting” when talking about cancer. It suggests that there are only two outcomes: “winning” and “losing.”

That’s nonsense. I understand why we human beings choose to see cancer in these terms. It’s easier to comprehend and less scary if we see the experience as a boxing match and the disease as an opponent who might be subdued by sheer force of will and determination.

However, cancer doesn’t get demoralized. It doesn’t require a pep talk from its trainer between rounds. It is a fight, that’s true.

There are days when I feel like Mike Tyson just dropped to the canvas by a Buster Douglas uppercut.

But it is by no means a fair fight. Not even close. It is simple biology. You get treatment and you get better. Or you don’t. And neither outcome is an indication of your strength as a person. Yet I still believe in the will to live. I believe in positivity. I believe in optimism. I believe in hope, and I certainly believe in the power of prayer.

On Retirement

For years, studio audiences have asked me, “Have you ever thought about retiring?” And I’ll respond, “Yes, I’ve thought about it. Why? Do you know something I don’t?” Or they’ll ask, “How do you motivate yourself to do the same job year after year?”

And I’ll respond, “They pay me very well.”

One of the elements of my personality has always been — and I’m keenly aware of this — that if something was that important to me, that much of a driving force, then I would do something about it. The fact that I have not done something about changing my job is an indication that maybe I’m pretty satisfied, pretty content with where I am.

It’s not hard to be content with being the thirty-six-year host of Jeopardy! You get a lot of respect. And, as I’ve discovered since the diagnosis revelation, you get a lot of love. There really is no downside to it. It’s not like I trudge to work every week and say, “Oh gosh, I’ve gotta do Jeopardy! again.” It invigorates me.

“It’s not hard to be content with being the thirty-six-year host of ‘Jeopardy!’”

No matter how I feel before the show, when I get out there it’s all forgotten because there’s a show to be done. Yet I know there will come a time when I won’t be able to answer that bell. I know there will come a time when I can no longer do my job as host — do it as well as the job demands, as well as I demand. Part of it is physical. Standing on your feet for eleven hours two days in  a row  is difficult for someone who’s  about to turn eighty, even without getting worn down by chemotherapy.

My eyesight has also deteriorated over the years. It’s not as easy for me to read the clues. The chemo has caused sores inside my mouth that make it difficult for me to enunciate. One treatment also turned my skin dark brown, and the chemo, of course, caused my hair to fall out. But part of it is mental too. I’m the first to admit I’m not as sharp as I once was. I have more and more brain skips. What I call “senior moments.”

And in this job, concentration is imperative. You can have those slip ups in casual conversation with friends. But you can’t get away with that as the host of Jeopardy! Whenever it gets to that point, I’ll walk away. And Jeopardy! will be just fine. There are other hosts out there who can do equally as good a job as me. I think Jeopardy! can go on forever.

On Getting Your Affairs in Order — and Death

I keep reading about people who have different kinds of cancer, and they see their doctor and say, “Well, what’s the prognosis?” And the doctor says, “I think you better get your affairs in order.”

My doctor has not said that to me. He has told me he is there for me, no matter what my decision is. There are different decisions, of course. I could decide to begin a new chemotherapy protocol. I could decide to try a new immunotherapy. Or I could decide to go to hospice. The other day, I talked to my doctor for the very first time about this last option. He explained that hospice is basically there to make you comfortable on your way to the end. They’re not there to administer health care, but palliative care.

But when death happens, it happens. Why should I be afraid of it? Now, if it involves physical suffering, I might be afraid of that. But, according to my doctor, that’s what hospice is for. They want to make it as easy as it can possibly be for you to transition into whatever future you happen to believe in.

Am I a believer? Well, I believe we are all part of the Great Soul — what some call God. We are God, and God is us.

Lately, I’ve been thinking more and more about that old  line they used to use in the military:  “No one’s an atheist in a foxhole.” If ever there was an opportunity to believe in God — a god — this might be a good one, Trebek, now that you’re on the verge. What have you got to lose?

On Life

My life has been a quest for knowledge and understanding, and I’m nowhere near having achieved that. And it doesn’t bother me in the least. I will die without having come  up with the  answer to many things in life. I’m often asked how I would like to be remembered. I don’t think about it much.

“Yep, I’ll be perfectly content if that’s how my story ends: sitting on the swing with the woman I love, my soul mate, and our two wonderful children nearby.”

But I suppose if I had to answer I would say I’d like to be remembered first of all as a good and loving husband and father, and also as a decent man who did his best to help people perform at their best. Because that was my job. That is what a host is supposed to do.

You are there to make the contestants relax enough that they can demonstrate their skills. They are the stars of the show. They are the ones the viewers tuned in to see. And if you do that,  if you put the focus on the players rather than on yourself,  the viewers will look on you as a  good guy.  If that’s the way I’m remembered, I’m perfectly happy with that.

With the coronavirus, [our family] can’t go out to eat, we can’t go out to public places, even the park next door has limited its use. Here I am wanting to enjoy what might be the last of my days, and, what, I’m supposed to just stay at home and sit in a chair and stare into space? Actually, that doesn’t sound too bad.

Alex Trebek

Credit: Andrew Eccles

 

Except instead of a chair, I’ll sit on the swing out in the yard. That’s my favorite spot on the whole property. I used to do it with Mom. Just sit there and rock. No need to talk.

It’s just very peaceful. I suppose the feeling I have sitting on that porch swing is similar to what people feel when they meditate, though I would never call it meditating. I just consider it goofing off, not doing anything.

Yep, I’ll be perfectly content if that’s how my story ends: sitting on the swing with the woman I love, my soul mate, and our two wonderful children nearby. I’ll sit there for a while and then maybe the four of us will go for a walk,  each day trying to walk a little farther than the last.  We’ll take things one step at a time, one day at a time.

In fact, I think I’ll go sit in the swing for a bit right now. The weather is beautiful — the sun is shining into a mild, mild looking sky, and there’s not a cloud in sight.

 

 

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Specially Tailored Meals Can Help You Recover From a Hospital Stay

July 9, 2020 by Andrea Hikel Leave a Comment

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(Editor’s note: This article is part of an editorial partnership between Next Avenue and the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, a Cleveland-based nonprofit whose mission is to advance support for older adults and caregivers.)

Most of us know eating right is one of the most important aspects of healthy living. We recognize that bad eating habits contribute to obesity and chronic conditions like heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and type 2 diabetes, and that by taking steps to eat healthy, we can use food as a preventative medicine against these risks to our long-term well-being.

The medical community is leveraging this “food as medicine” concept one step farther by — in some cases — prescribing specially tailored diets to recently hospitalized patients in an effort to speed recovery and reduce readmissions. Doing so among older adults, however, presents some unique challenges, according to Lisa Weitzman, WeCare administrator and manager of business development at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging.

Recuperating older adults are often frail or struggling physically, which may be a barrier to their ability to shop for and prepare post-discharge meals themselves, Weitzman said. Issues of social isolation and food security — particularly among low-income older adults — are also at play.

Nationwide about 5.5 million adults aged 60 and over, or 7.7% of the older adult population, are food insecure, meaning they lack access to a sufficient amount of healthy food on a day-to-day basis. An inadequate diet can lead to functional disabilities among older adults, exacerbate vulnerability to infection and illness and increase hospital admissions.

In many cases, social isolation compounds the problem. One only has to reflect on the social nature of eating — “how often we eat as a family or share meals with friends,” Weitzman said — to understand the impact of losing that interpersonal connection.

“What we find is that older adults who are living alone and don’t have regular social interactions with others may lose that inclination to eat or to eat healthy,” she said.

A Way to Provide Nutritional and Social Support

To address these issues, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging is currently studying the impact of providing free home-delivered medically tailored meals and social support to at-risk older adults. Physicians at Cleveland, Ohio’s South Pointe Hospital, the Institute’s pilot partner, refer low-income and socially isolated older adults with heart disease, hypertension and/or diabetes to this program, Nutrition Solution, upon discharge. Registered dieticians then create meal plans based on the patient’s specific needs. These medically tailored meals are then home delivered via the Institute’s existing meal delivery service.

“A poor-quality diet can have a negative impact on things like medications, energy, balance and sleep- all of which can make older adults more susceptible to injuries, illnesses and readmission.”

Previous research suggests that medically tailored meals have a positive impact.

In a study published by JAMA Network Open in 2019, people who received medically tailored meals had 49% fewer hospital admissions and 72% fewer nursing home admissions than those who did not receive meals.

A 2018 study, published in Health Affairs, found one insurer saved an average of 16% in monthly medical costs on patients who received medically tailored meals compared with a control group who did not. The savings were derived from fewer ambulance trips, emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

What sets the Benjamin Rose pilot study apart from the earlier studies is the addition of wellness phone calls to combat social isolation and monitor recovery.

“Nutrition Solution volunteers spend approximately 20 minutes each week talking with their matched older adult, reviewing nutritional education materials and helping to reduce the older adult’s social isolation,” Weitzman said.

If medically tailored meals are not available in your community, as a caregiver, you may need to take a more active role to ensure your older loved one has proper nutrition after a hospitalization.

Weitzman says that nutrition should be an essential part of a holistic treatment plan following any older adult’s hospital discharge.

“A poor-quality diet can have a negative impact on things like medications, energy, balance and sleep — all of which can make older adults more susceptible to injuries, illnesses and readmission,” according to Weitzman.

She offered a few more tips for older adults and their caretakers:

Get help with special dietary needs. If you or your loved one suffers from a chronic health issue, ask a physician or dietician for guidance on how to structure meals appropriately. Weitzman noted a diabetic’s nutritional needs are different from someone who is suffering from kidney disease or taking a blood thinner. Health professionals can help ensure you or your loved one’s diet matches any pressing medical concern.

Pay close attention to issues of access. Many times, Weitzman said, “we assume Mom eats pasta and white bread because that is what she likes.” But, maybe it’s all she can afford. Or, maybe Dad eats snacks and sweets rather than meals because he can’t stand at the stove to cook. Identify issues of access that are impeding older adults from making healthy food choices.

Be present. Isolation and lack of support contribute significantly to food insecurity. Consider how you can interact with isolated loved ones during meal times. If you can’t be there in person, perhaps you can dine virtually via a video chat. “Find a way to make that eating experience more social,” Weitzman said.

Finally, if finances are preventing you or your loved one from getting enough healthy food, don’t hesitate to look into public assistance for support. There are several avenues to explore; learn more about the application process for your state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or seek out the nearest Meals on Wheels provider.

By Judy Stringer-Holman

Judy Stringer-Holman is a freelance writer and editor with more than 25 years of experience contributing to media outlets. Many of her frequent articles appear in Crain’s Cleveland Business, where she also writes for the paper’s custom content division, Crain Content Studio. In addition to business, she covers community news and oversees special sections about senior living, wellness and home improvement for ScripType Publishing, a collection of nine monthly magazines in Summit and Cuyahoga counties in Ohio.

 

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Filed Under: news Tagged With: aging, Aging in Place, Aging Well, Assisted Living, Bosque County, Care Giver, caregiver support, Clifton, Companion services, Health and Wellness, Independent Living, Long-term care, Lutheran Sunset Ministries

‘When Can I Hug My Grandchildren Again?’

July 7, 2020 by Andrea Hikel Leave a Comment

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Stay-at-home orders were put in place throughout the country to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus and “flatten the curve” to prevent the health care system from becoming overwhelmed. In initially hard-hit areas of the country such as New York and New Jersey, these measures have worked and there has been a sharp decline in the number of new coronavirus cases.

But as businesses start to re-open, it’s important to remember that COVID-19 is still a threat. According to The New York Times’ live map, more than half of the country has seen an increase in COVID-19 cases since states began to lift shelter-at-home restrictions.

Dr. Romilla Batra, chief medical officer at SCAN Health Plan in Long Beach, Calif., says, “As friends, family and community members re-emerge into public life, please don’t let your guard down.”

Next Avenue readers have been asking questions about what re-entry means for daily life, so we reached out to a group of experts for answers to 10 of them:

If I wear a mask, but others are not, am I at risk of contracting the virus?

Dr. Elsa Thomas, of Atlantic Medical Group’s Internal Medicine Faculty Associates in New Jersey, explains, “When we wear a mask, we reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to people around us. The mask also creates a layer of protection to the wearer by reducing the likelihood of touching one’s nose and mouth.”

If you are out and someone is not wearing a mask, you can either ask them to put one on (many stores will require it for entry), keep more than 6 feet away from the maskless person or leave the area altogether. Also, remember to use hand sanitizer before and after going anywhere and to thoroughly wash hands when you return home.

When can I start babysitting my grandchildren again?

It’s been especially hard these past few months for grandparents not to visit with their grandchildren. It is okay and emotionally beneficial to spend time together if both you and your grandchildren are doing a good job social distancing from others.

Babysitting usually requires a lot of hands-on care. Unless the children are highly independent, it is too risky right now.

However, it is probably not a good idea to babysit, especially for young children. Dr. Faisel Syed, national director of primary care, ChenMed in Lakeland, Fla., says, “Older adults with a weakened immune system must be careful around children who understandably are likely to be less effective in coronavirus infection prevention behaviors (and can transmit the virus inadvertently).”

Can I safely hug my adult children, grandchildren or friends?

Unfortunately, hugging loved ones outside of your household is still considered risky.

Mary Ann Hart, an associate professor within the Online Master of Health Administration Program Director at Regis College in Weston, Mass., explains: “As long as COVID-19 is still in your community and there is no vaccine available, avoid physically touching someone who is not an immediate household member, even if you are both wearing a mask. Throw kisses and give virtual hugs.”

If you do choose to embrace a loved one, Batra says, “Use the utmost of caution. Wear masks, wash your hands carefully before and after, and avoid speaking or coughing while hugging to limit the likelihood of transmission.”

Do I need to quarantine if I travel between states?

On June 24, the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut issued a “joint travel advisory,” mandating a 14-day quarantine for anyone traveling to their states from many states, including Florida and Texas. If you are traveling from one state to another (especially one where COVID-19 is on the rise), see what rules, if any, have been put in place.

Can I safely bake for a friend or eat baked goods someone makes for me?

Thomas says” “I think it is absolutely safe to bake for a neighbor and exchange baked goods. This is a great way to maintain social connections that we all need.” Just be sure to use general food safety rules, including washing your hands, keeping cooking surfaces clean and not preparing food if you are feeling unwell.

Hair salons and barbershops are open, but is it okay for me to go?

Salons and barbershops should look very different when they re-open. Precautions should include everyone (staff and clients) wearing masks, limited occupancy, sanitizing surfaces and using barrier methods to keep patrons separated.

Dr. William Dale, director of City of Hope’s Center for Cancer and Aging in Duarte, Calif., says, “Ask a lot of questions to see what steps they have taken. Personally, because of the close proximity of these spaces, it may be better to wait a while, especially if you have underlying health conditions.”

Consider asking your stylist if he or she would make a house call and conduct your service in your backyard (with both of you still wearing masks).

Can I go on a vacation?

This summer, a staycation may be a better idea than going away.

Batra explains: “Travel increases your chances of getting and spreading COVID-19, regardless of the type of transportation you choose. Airplanes, buses, trains, airports, stations and rest stops are all places where travelers can be exposed to the virus in the air and on surfaces. These are also places where it can be challenging to keep 6 feet apart from other people.”

If you do choose to travel, follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines. When you return from your trip, monitor your health for signs of COVID-19 before visiting others.

Is it safe to go out to eat?

Yes, with precautions. Thomas says, “Sitting outdoors and enjoying a nice dinner is something I consider safe. If you have dinner with another couple, make sure they have also been practicing social distancing and are symptom-free.”

Servers should wear masks, the menus should be online or disposable and tables spaced out.

If you are concerned, consider picking up take-out and eating with another couple in your backyard. This way, you can enjoy each other’s company without being exposed to restaurant patrons.

When can I get back to playing bridge and other games and going to group exercise classes?

Dale says, “Better to avoid activities like playing bridge.”

This also includes games like mahjong. “Players touching tiles will be exchanging droplets that sit on the surface and inadvertently spread the virus,” notes Dale.

Instead, do individual brain-boosting activities such as jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles or playing card games on the computer.

As for group exercise, choose outdoor activities such as golf, tennis or going for a walk (with masks) over indoor activities. Water aerobics classes seem like a good option since pools are relatively safe, although Dale suggests avoiding public pools and larger groups.

Should I go to the doctor?

Emphatically, yes! Thomas says, “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of taking care of your health. Your doctor and local hospital are ready for you.”

If you are sick or have had contact with a person with COVID-19, stay home until you are better and symptom-free (and if you need medical assistance, use the telehealth option health care providers offer.)

“You can’t rely on others to protect you, you have to protect yourself.”

Otherwise, don’t put off seeing your doctor for routine exams and tests such as colonoscopies and mammograms.

Dale says, “Many patients have avoided seeking treatment, ordering their medications or seeing their doctors due to COVID-19 fears. It is time for patients to re-engage with their providers. Cancer won’t stop for a pandemic and neither will heart disease, diabetes or other non-COVID 19 health issues.”

There have also been new procedures put in place in hospitals and medical offices to ensure patient safety when people come in to seek treatment. Thomas explains, “Most practitioners have eliminated the waiting rooms, so you go directly from your vehicle to the physician exam room or the appropriate room to have your test/study. We have screened everyone who enters our buildings with questions and temperature checks. We have created safe, clean environments so that there is little to no risk of virus transmission.”

Be Proactive and Minimize Your Risk

Overall, it’s essential to be mindful.

Dr. Eric Mizuno, internist and Medical Director of Admiral at the Lake, a senior living community in Chicago, says, “When it comes to minimizing your risk of COVID-19, you have to be proactive regardless of your age. You can’t rely on others to protect you, you have to protect yourself. Assume you have it and assume the people around you have it.”

But being cautious does not mean avoiding socialization altogether.

Social isolation itself is a major health concern, especially for older adults. Dale explains, “I have been trying to eliminate the phrasing ‘social distance’ because it gives the wrong message. We need to protect both physical health and emotional health and this means being physically distant but socially close to those we love.”

It’s about accessing and minimizing your risk, while staying active, maintaining relationships and enjoying your life.

Randi Mazzella is a freelance writer specializing in a wide range of topics from parenting to pop culture to life after 50.

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Filed Under: news Tagged With: Assisted Living, Bosque County, CDC, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Lutheran Sunset Ministries, mask, Nursing Home, Retirement living, senior vacation, travel, virus

Loving our Loved Ones from Afar

April 17, 2020 by Christy Wylie 2 Comments

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Photo provided by Ron Eberhardt

Our world has learned a lot through the COVID-19 outbreak. We’ve learned that life is very different when things we have taken for granted for so long are stripped away unexpectedly. Some of us have learned what a financial loss can do to our household; Essential workers have learned to sacrifice in ways they never imagined. And it’s just human nature that most people would yearn for comfort from their loved ones and friends in these times of uncertainty – to visit with them, to get a big hug, to shake someone’s hand. Just being able to stand less than six feet from someone would be nice. Unfortunately, this is a luxury that’s been taken away for the time being.

Luckily, we live in the age of technology where communication is literally at our fingertips. While calling or texting someone is nice, there’s nothing quite like actually getting to see the faces of your loved ones and friends in a time that feels so lonely. With the help of apps like Skype, Zoom and FaceTime, we can see children’s dimples when they smile, the growing baby bump of our first grandchild, and life events that we would have otherwise missed out on.

These times are especially challenging for long-term care residents and Sunset Home, a program of Lutheran Sunset Ministries, has been working to keep people connected. “The activities staff at Sunset Home have coordinated Skype calls with my mother weekly since we haven’t been able to visit her,” says Ron Eberhardt. “Skype has allowed us to show my mom video greetings from the four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren every week. Our hearts are blessed by seeing the joy on my mom’s face as she watches the greetings from the little ones and waves back to them on the screen.” The family enjoyed a bitter-sweet Skype call to celebrate her 95th birthday, and it was all smiles.

Sandra Smith, a family member of another resident, agrees this communication has been a blessing. “I did FaceTime with my mom with the help of the activities staff and there’s no better feeling than being able to see her and talk to her,” says Sandra. “She does not totally understand, but my time with her is precious and I look forward to being able to see her in person one day soon!”

Ron stated, “We appreciate Lutheran Sunset Ministries for providing assurance to us that they are thoughtfully and lovingly caring for my mother. You ALL, including nurses, their assistants, therapists, wound specialists, food preparers, housekeepers, doctors, maintenance, activities staff, and administrative staff, are truly an answer to our prayers and a tremendous blessing to our family!”

Article by Andrea Hampe, LSM Marketing Director and Independent Living Manager.

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Filed Under: news Tagged With: COVID-19, Long-term care, nursing care, Nursing Home, Rest Home

Trouble Sleeping Due to the Pandemic? Try These Suggestions

March 27, 2020 by Christy Wylie Leave a Comment

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A variety of techniques can help calm the mind for better sleep

By Patricia Corrigan, Next Avenue Contributing Writer, March 2020

Sleep is always important for good health, and that’s especially true in this challenging time. When you rest well, you’re better equipped to face the day. But right now, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, heightened anxiety and unstructured time may cause insomnia even in those accustomed to a full night’s sleep.

That’s not good, for more than the obvious reason.

“It’s possible that sleep plays a role in strengthening the immune system and its response to infection,” says Dr. Rachel Darken, the sleep medicine fellowship director in the Department of Neurology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “That could be part of the reason why sleep has been preserved in our evolutionary development.”

These days, many people who are used to going to work and living active lives are spending more time at home, and that has consequences. Darken says that scientists think there is a “bi-directional relationship” between insomnia and anxiety.

“Anxiety influences sleep and sleep deprivation influences anxiety — they feed on each other.”

“Anxiety influences sleep and sleep deprivation influences anxiety — they feed on each other,” she says. And, “even if you’re not particularly anxious about the new coronavirus, the disruption in your routine can lead to difficulty sleeping,” Darken adds.

More bad news for insomniacs: Losing sleep can lead to a level of immune dysregulation, “a kind of pre-inflammatory situation,” Darken says. “That can put the body in a bad state and keep it from responding appropriately to infection or make you more prone to chronic diseases. That’s not good for you.”

An Expert’s Tips on How to Sleep Better

What can you do about insomnia?

First, establish a routine, even if there is no reason to get up or go to bed at your usual time each day. “It’s important to maintain consistency,” Darken notes. “That may decrease some anxiety and help you sleep better.”

She also recommends these standard “sleep hygiene” practices:

  • Spend time in the sunlight or use a lightbox (of 5,000 lux or higher) each day
  • Exercise early in the day
  • Reserve your bedroom for sleep
  • Spend time winding down before bedtime
  • Put clocks out of sight once you’re tucked in

At the end of your day, Darken suggests, keep the lights dim and avoid anything that involves the outside world. That means social media, news reports and emails. Read a book, she says, take a relaxing bath or listen to music you enjoy or a soothing podcast.

Set Aside a ‘Worry Hour’

Leslie Davenport agrees. A licensed integrative psychotherapist based in Tacoma, Wash., Davenport recommends setting aside a “worry hour” each day to address anxieties.

“That helps us develop a strength, just as you would strengthen a muscle, over our mental habits,” she says. “Designate a specific time to let yourself be with your fears, a time when you can write, think or talk with a friend. That allows you to honor your feelings and give them an outlet, and it also gives you more influence over your feelings.”

If your mind is reluctant to restrict gloomy thoughts to just an hour each day, Davenport cautions, you’re not likely to get a good night’s sleep even if you follow the recommended sleep hygiene steps.

She recommends staying attuned throughout the day to when your mind starts to race and then “reeling yourself back” to the present moment.

Davenport offers this metaphor: “If you’re driving 60 miles per hour all day, you don’t keep going at that speed as you pull into your garage,” she says. “Whenever you catch yourself making up a doom story about the future, slow down. Try to let go of projecting, and just be in the moment.”

That can be a challenge, especially because we’re all subject to the “negativity bias,” Davenport says. “Research shows our brains are more tuned in to bad news than good news. And a negative event is amplified five times over a positive one in terms of how our brains or bodies react. That’s another reason why being intentional at this time is so important, so we can get our thoughts and feelings back to a neutral place.”

Try Relaxation Exercises Just Before Bed

A master yoga teacher based in Oakland, Calif., Margi Young teaches classes, trains yoga teachers and leads retreats all over the world. But sometimes, when she slides under the covers at night, her fears for the future rise up.

“Just as we lie down, ready for sleep, sometimes our minds wake up and race toward terrifying thoughts,” Young says. “It’s so easy to put ourselves in a contorted posture and start catastrophizing.”

Young knows how to call a halt to that and her tips are useful for anyone, whether or not you’ve ever practiced yoga. “To calm anxiety and avoid insomnia,” Young says, “I recommend a quieting of the body and the mind through a yoga pose called “shavasana,” which brings mindful relaxation.”

You can do the pose on the floor or in your bed. “With a pillow under your head, lie on your back in a neutral position, with your arms resting slightly away from your body and your legs a little apart,” Young says. “Then scan your body, noticing places that feel tense. Let that tension release until you feel your body softening, melting into the bed or the floor.”

Next, Young recommends, pay attention to your breathing. “This is science; breathing mindfully helps calm your nervous system and helps slow your heart rate and your metabolism,” she says. “Inhale deeply to a count of four, breathing all the way to your fingertips and to the tips of your toes. Then exhale to a count of six. Do this six times, and you should feel yourself sinking into sleep.”

Some people fall asleep easily enough, but awaken long before morning. Others can’t get back to sleep after getting up at night to use the bathroom. “That’s when I always want to think terrifying thoughts, but I make myself breathe with the longer exhale again,” Young says. “Without fail, I put myself back to sleep.”

Rest well!

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Life in Assisted Living

December 31, 2019 by Andrea Hikel 2 Comments

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Article by Sherrie Bradley, RN,BSN, Heckmann Assisted Living Manager

Depending on where you are located and what community you and your family decide is best for you, could mean different levels of care for you. While some communities are large and stand-alone, they may be able to offer much deeper levels of care and price may range according to that care and staffing. Here at Heckmann Assisted Living, we are smaller and a part of a very large campus where different levels of care needs are met by where you live. Some are able to live in our independent community, Rainbow Retirement, and have their own outside help to come in daily or weekly. Some may even be able to stay home with the help provided by our Sunset Companion Services department. Then others, who are not quite in need of daily medical care or a memory care unit, will find themselves at home here in our Heckmann Residence Assisted Living.

We strive to provide person-centered care based on Christian values that are focused on maintaining independence in as many areas as possible, while having someone here day and night to assist them. We strive to promote continued learning and physical, mental, and spiritual growth by offering different types of scheduled activities, outings, and pastoral services all while allowing our residents to maintain their privacy and independence.

A move to assisted living does not mean you have to give up everything. Many find that the things they end up giving up, results in them being able to do more things they enjoy rather than maintaining a home and all that entails. As a resident here, you are able to bring your own furniture, personal effects and decorate your apartment as your new home. This helps to promote your dignity, privacy, choice and continued independence.

We assist by serving dining room style meals three times daily, which is served hot and comes from our campus kitchen where it is prepared fresh daily. You are able to choose your meal the evening before by making your personal selections from the menu provided by Dietary. There is always an open snack bar with coffee, ice, water and other items.

Besides meals, we handle most resident’s medications which helps you to stay on a schedule and maintain health and well-being. Some find that just being here and taking their medications on schedule and getting those fresh, hot prepared meals daily makes a world of difference in how they feel physically as well as mentally and emotionally.

We also provide weekly laundry and linen change services. This seems to be a big one for most of our residents. Along with this, there is weekly apartment cleaning and daily trash services. No more stress over cleaning, taking out the trash, changing the bed linens or working on laundry. I could be happy with all of that myself! With all of this taken care of for you, that leaves more time for you to enjoy family, friends, activities, outings, bible studies, worship services and many other things that we tend to put off to do all of our chores at home!

Our residents are free to come and go and we promote being independent and participating in events in the outside community as well as our own. We highly encourage family and friends to continue to come and visit as you wish, stay and have a meal in our dining room, participate in activities, and bring new ideas to us that their loved one enjoys as others may enjoy as well.

We understand that making a move like this, whether it’s from home/independent living to assisted living or to nursing home, is huge for you and your family. Our goal is to help this move and transition be as smooth as possible and a positive experience to the best of our ability. I have mentioned many positives but a huge positive is the ability to make new friends with your neighbors who will be here to help you as well! They were once new to the community and most are very ready and willing to get to know you and help you to be happy here! No more eating alone or just not eating because you don’t want to make a meal for one! Meal times and activities are the best times to get to know others.

During the holidays, we try our best to make things festive, homelike, and family friendly here at College Hill Assisted Living – Heckmann Residence. We know holidays can be a very difficult time for some. We highly encourage visitors, activity participation, and participation in outside community events as each is able, to help the holidays remain a positive enjoyable time for all of our residents and staff alike. We do our best to help our community to reflect an expression of faith and God’s love every day.

We are thankful daily for our community members, staff members, volunteers, and family and friends who strive to make Heckmann a great place to live!

Best Wishes for a Safe and Happy New Year from All of us here at Heckmann Residence.

 

 

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Celebrating 65 years of ministry and service to the seniors of Clifton and Bosque County, Lutheran Sunset Ministries offers inspired retirement living options at every life stage. Our 32-acre campus is designed as an intimate setting of neighborhoods that accommodate residents at various levels of care. In addition to quality health and wellness opportunities, Lutheran Sunset Ministries provides an enriched lifestyle through innovative programs, interdisciplinary activities, and a focus on physical, intellectual, social and spiritual growth.

Providing the only full continuum of care available in Bosque County—including independent living, assisted living, long-term care, rehabilitation and therapy, memory support, hospice services and companion services—Lutheran Sunset Ministries is a cornerstone of the region. With a state-of-the-art healthcare building, an increase in services and amenities, and a rededication to providing services that allow people to live full and enriched lives, Lutheran Sunset Ministries has created a quality of life unparalleled in the region.

Call us at 254.675.8637 to learn more about becoming a resident at Lutheran Sunset Ministries.

 


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