Nebraska - East, Iowa - West

The older we are, the more frustrating it can be getting back into good health after an illness or injury. Slower rehabilitation happens because older adults have whats called a decreased physiological reserve. (Thecapability of an organ to carry out its activity under stressis known as physiologic reserve). Generally, a healthy individual will attain the peak of their physiologic reserve at 25 years of age. After that, the reserve starts to decline as the individual ages. Because of this decrease, it takes older adults longer to recover from illness and injury.For older patients, its not just about recovering from an injury. Its often about recovering other cognitive, balance, and strength functions that could decline during a hospital stay.Post-acute care provided by Hillcrest Health Services provides for a smooth transition from hospital to home. It promotes the functional recovery of older adults, prevents unnecessary hospital readmission, and avoids premature admission to a long-term care facility. Hillcrests post-acute facilities are Medicare-certified and accept Medicare and most private insurances.Hillcrests Post-Acute Care ProgramHillcrest Healthcare offers post-acute care rehabilitation at 4 different locations in Nebraska:Hillcrest Health and Rehab in BellevueHillcrest Country Estates: Rehab Cottage in PapillionHillcrest MillardHillcrest Firethorn in LincolnThese programs help to transition from the hospital to home. We know how to help the patient recover most quickly without causing another injury or hospitalization. At Hillcrest, our facilities offer a comfortable environment for all guests by providing only private transitional care. While were focused on rehabilitation and ensuring our guests get the most out of their experience, we also respect their independence. At Hillcrest, we haveover 25 years of experiencewhen it comes to post-acute rehabilitation. As a result, we understand what it takes to get our guests back to their optimal level of function.Our Post-Acute Rehabilitation Team:Chief Medical Officer Dr. Anthony Hatcher oversees our medical care. Before joining Hillcrest Health Services, she spent more than 20 years working for Alegent /CHI Health as a practicing clinical physician. Additionally, our team of therapists are not third-party contractors that we invite in a few days per week; instead, they are exclusively employed by Hillcrest. We take great pride in our team and make sure they have state-of-the-art therapy equipment to provide innovative physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help speed up recovery.Our Excellent Rehabilitation FacilitiesWe encourage you to take a virtual tour of all four of our post-acute rehabilitation facilities. Just click on the name of the facility below:Hillcrest Health and Rehab in BellevueAt Hillcrest Health and Rehab, we began developing our post-acute care services in the early 90s. Since then, we have assisted thousands of patients in the transition from hospital to home, utilizing a variety of therapies, including physical, occupational, speech, and aquatic. In addition, we host the largest rehab gym in the region (10,000 square feet).Hillcrest Country Estates: Rehab Cottage in PapillionStart your road to recovering from an injury, illness, surgery, or hospital stay. At the Rehab Cottage located in the Hillcrest Country Estates, our guests feel an incredible sense of warmth, compassion, and support from a team that is 100% dedicated to their recovery.Hillcrest MillardHillcrest Millard offers over 25 years of experience in post-acute rehabilitation. Among staffing our professionals, we also provide 19 specialty rooms with piped-in oxygen for guests with cardiopulmonary diseases.Hillcrest Firethorn in LincolnHillcrest Firethorn offers years of experience providing best-in-class care for aging adults through our continuum of services. We have been recognized nationally for our leadership and innovation. In addition, Firethorn provides post-acute rehabilitation services in the newest and most beautiful post-acute center in Lincoln.Learn more about our post-acute rehab programs, Contact us today to learn more about our post-acute rehab programs. You can also learn more about it from our website.

For many older adults, the past year has been a difficult one filled with social isolation and loneliness. Its led to a more sedentary lifestyle and less time exercising, especially if their previous schedule involved going to a gym or working with a trainer. This, in turn, has triggered an overall decline in senior health, particularly in the areas of anxiety and depression.Exercise can be the key to healthy aging, especially during pandemic times. Beyond improving mental health, exercise is important when it comes to strengthening the immune system and lowering risks for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and issues with cognition and memory. Movement and exercise are also vital for those with joint issues, pain and arthritis.Another reason to get moving: Senior Health & Fitness Day is May 26, 2021The good news is that with the weather breaking and COVID-19 vaccine access on the rise, its a great time to start fresh with a senior fitness program. Plus, with National Senior Health and Fitness Day just around the corner on Wednesday, May 26th its yet another reason to get moving. Where do you begin?Start SmallWhen it comes to senior fitness, aim for around 30 minutes of physical activity per day to start. If thats too much at once, break it up into smaller chunks. For instance, go for one 15-minute walk in the morning and one 15-minute walk in the afternoon. Work on improving your endurance and build up to exercising in full 30-minute blocks.In addition, incorporate other activities into your day that add more motion and exercise. If youre watching TV, for instance, take breaks to get up and move by doing things like:Walking laps around your houseSimply stand up from a seated position several times during a commercial breakUse weights to do upper body exercises while watching TVOver time, youll build up strength and be able to perform more exercises over longer periods of time.Play MusicIf youre having a hard time getting started, turn the TV off and put on some upbeat music. This will give you the motivation you need to start moving, even if its simply stretching.Beyond serving as a source of motivation, music can also help cognitively since it relieves depression and anxiety. In fact, according to Harvard Health, bright, cheerful music can make people of all ages feel happy, energetic and alert, and music even has a role in lifting the mood of people with depressive illnesses.Music also helps those seniors with health conditions, like Alzheimers and dementia. Studies have shown music may reduce agitation and improve behavioral issues that are common in the middle-stages of the disease.Find a FriendAs social creatures, it makes sense to find a friend to exercise with. If you have both been vaccinated and its safe to socialize, get a workout in together. This will keep you both motivated to stick to a schedule and be consistent with your senior fitness routine. Your exercise time will also be more enjoyable and go by faster as youre chatting and socializing. As a result, your workout will not only boost your physical health, but your emotional and social well-being too.Practice BalanceEach year, approximately 2.5 million older adults are treated for fall injuries in the U.S. The good news is there are some exercises to prevent falls and improve balance.Standing on one foot or walking from heel to toe across a room are good options, as are leg raises. Strengthening the core can also help to improve overall balance. If youre concerned that a loved one is at risk for a fall, there aremedical alert systems to consider as well.Make Senior Fitness FunPart of the reason fitness and exercise can feel like a chore is because its not fun for many seniors. However, there are ways to incorporate enjoyable activities. For instance, take a walk to a park and have a picnic with a friend there. Attend a fitness class or join a local gym or community center. Having a professional by your side can help ensure exercises are performed properly, lowering the risk for injury.You can also participate in hobbies that are active, such as working in your garden. These keep you up and moving, while allowing you time to be outdoors and enjoy nature. Another option is to put on music and dance. This can be in a formal class or simply at home in your living room.Find Workouts OnlineIf you or a loved one is comfortable going online for senior fitness workouts, there are countless ones to choose from. These can replicate what its like to work with a trainer or attend a fitness class. Everything from YouTube to Instagram, as well as paid subscription options, are available online.Make sure when you use an online source for senior health and fitness, you stick with it and schedule it into your week. Its easy to get started with a class or two and then let exercise fall by the wayside. If you commit certain days and blocks of time to working out, youll have a better chance of meeting your goals. Once exercise becomes a habit and a regular part of your routine, its easier to keep up with it.Eat WellExercise and a healthy diet go hand in hand. While youre focused on adding movement into your daily routine, its also important to ensure youre eating a balanced diet.Talk to your doctor about a diet that will work well for you or turn to a nutritionist to design one that best supports your needs. There might be a specialized one if you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. However, in general, your diet should be filled with fruits and vegetables, lean meats and healthy grains.Staying active is a challenge at any age. As we get older, though, its even more important. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to many physical issues and trigger anxiety and depression. However, studies show that maintaining regular physical activity can prevent common diseases and boost immune function. Exercise also produces endorphins (the feel good hormone), which serve as a stress reliever.If youre concerned about a senior loved one and their physical health and activity, talk to their doctor about designing an exercise and nutrition program thats right for them. Its also a good time to perform a general health screening to check for any new issues and keep tabs on their overall health.

As both a member of the Agemark management team and a daughter of nearly-90-year-olds in senior housing, my perspective during this unprecedented time of a national pandemic is unique. Here are all the reasons why Im grateful.Professional oversight is 24/7I have wonderful siblings. One lives three states away; two of them are RNs, with years of elderly patient experience. Only two of us could reach my parents within 45 minutes when called upon, depending on the weather and other obstacles. But because were all still working theres no way any of us can make the daily visual checks theyre getting now from Community staff.It gives me incredible peace of mind to know that a caring professional will respond to my folks in minutes, whether its an emergency or not, and let me know if they observe any troubling changes.I know my folks are safeSafety is a priority at my parents senior living community. In addition to all the regular protocols for cleanliness and safety procedures, I know the staff are following all the recommended guidelines to protect my parents from unsafe conditions and disease transmission, including exposure to coronavirus.Communication is so much betterMy dad has early dementia; my mom does not. One cannot tell me and the other doesnt want to tell me everything thats going on. Neither has gotten the hang of email or cell phones or texting, so when I need information, I know I can contact someone at the community and get an immediate response with objective, professional insight.In addition to this access, I appreciate the regular emails, letters and phone calls from the Communitys management especially regarding updates to its COVID-19 precautions.They still have places to go, people to see!If my parents were still living at home, their leisure activity options would be severely limited now with the threat of COVID-19. Access to a well-rounded activity program is a Godsend, and I love that theyre getting extra exercise every time they walk down the hall to join a Bible study or use the NuStep. More than once my mom has said, If we hadnt moved in when we did, I think I would have been in a wheelchair by now.Now that they cant go to church or invite non-resident friends to a bridge game, Im even more grateful that my parents Community is showing movies, streaming worship services, planning extra Bingo games, rotating library books, and so much more. In a good congregate setting, social distancing does not have to mean social disengagement.Services are even more important nowLaundry, housekeeping, nutritious meals, medication delivery, transportation my siblings and I had cobbled together good people to provide delivery of these services to my parents when they were still living at home. But there were gaps. For example, help with grocery shopping didnt ensure a well-rounded menu. And when it came to transportation, we uneasily accepted the fact that our parents were still driving.What a relief now to know that Community management will not only ensure these services but has systems in place to meet quality standards. This includes background checks and providing substitutes when employees cannot fill their shift. In this time of pandemic, it is critical that my mom and dad have the consistent and reliable services that can only be provided by a senior living community environment.

The cross was intended by the Roman Empire to be more than a means of execution. It was a tool of humiliation, a symbol of public shame and a final declaration of total defeat. Most criminals executed in Rome or its conquered territories were put to the sword or beheaded. Crucifixion was reserved for those cases in which the rulers wanted to send a message to anybody who might still admire or follow the condemned.They crucified leaders of bandit gangs, instigators of rebellions and, most notably, the wisest and most compassionate man who ever lived, Jesus of Galilee.God forgave us all our sins, erasing the charges which stood against us in condemnation. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and the authorities, making a public example, triumphing over them through the cross. Colossians 2:13b-15Which is why Colossians takes such pains to point out the beautiful irony of the cross. That which was intended to punish now and forever ends up being the source of forgiveness. An instrument of death becomes the path to everlasting life. The nails meant to be used on human bodies, in the hands of God, relegate the very accusations against us to the cross, killing them forever.We are pardoned, declared perfect, because the perfect Son of God was declared guilty.If you paused in the Scripture reading right there, it would be one of the most important things ever written. It shows how Jesus, who reversed so much about the world, continued to do so even in his death. The man who told us that the last shall be first, the poor are the blessed, and that we know we are doing the right thing when we receive scorn, suffered relentless shame in order to show forth eternal glory.But it goes one step further. Colossians tells us that in addition to our salvation, the Crucifixion also judged the rulers of our world. It showed us that earthly justice can be completely wrong, its methods can be needlessly cruel, and that it doesnt live up to Gods Will. The rulers and authorities of our world had a chance to weigh in on Jesus, and they got it so wrong that the Resurrection had to reverse their decision.I say this at the end of a month of political chaos not to give up hope, but to remind you that Gods justice endures, even when its triumph is through the cross.Rev. Chris Wheatley serves PHS as Senior Director of Pastoral Care Services. He is an ordained Lutheran pastor and has served in hospice, eldercare, hospital, HIV/AIDS and congregational settings. He and his wife Nicole are perpetually outnumbered by cats and Dobermans.The Light for the Way series provides staff with an examination of a biblical reading to deepen our focus on scripture. Thank you for engaging with this series as we seek wisdom through prayer and reflection as a Christian Ministry.