CountryHouse at 70th & O

Lisa Graham is Agemarks Director of Human Resources. A member of the Agemark family since 2013, Lisa focuses on hiring and developing an engaged workforce a key to providing top-notch care for seniors. She is in a unique position as both an employee of a senior living company and an adult child of a father who lives with Alzheimers Disease and resides at CountryHouse, an Agemark memory care community.I remember getting a call from my mom. She was crying and did not know where Dad was. He had left the house in the middle of the night. We found him, but it was terrifying. Even more so because my dad had been diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease. My mom worked hard as his caregiver but was having a difficult time keeping dad safe. So, in August of 2016, we made the difficult decision to move him to memory care at CountryHouse in Omaha.Luckily, he settled in very quickly at his new home. I am so grateful to have an amazing community and wonderful, loving care for my dad as we walk the path of this horrible disease. Here are some of the reasons Im grateful for memory care.Caregiving is toughMy mom was his caretaker, but she hadn't been sharing how difficult it was with us. She had been battling terminal cancer and could barely take care of herself, but she insisted on caring for dad as well. The worry and stress took an extra toll on her health. My brother and I had no idea it was affecting her so much because she hid it from us. I know many caregivers suffer from guilt and stress when taking care of someone with Alzheimers and my family was no exception. Moving his daily care off our plate helped our family focus on our own health. My brother and I were relieved and so was my mom.He's happy and busyWith two kids and a full-time job, I knew there was no way I could keep Dad happy and occupied, and truly give him the care he deserved. The team at CountryHouse is so good at keeping him busy with fun, meaningful activities but only if he chooses to. Sometimes he can be a bit stubborn! His caregivers are so patient, kind and encouraging.He's safeDads community is secure, with locked doors to ensure safety. But with long hallways, multiple common areas and a large outdoor space, theres plenty of room for him to walk and wander. Gone are the days of us worrying about him leaving home and getting lost.He has people to monitor his health each dayAbout a year ago, dad contracted a UTI and pneumonia two things that seniors are particularly susceptible to. The staff identified these problems right away and got him to the hospital for treatment. He ended up needing rehab to recover. His experience in rehab was not positive. He would no longer talk and he wouldnt eat. The rehab suggested we move him to skilled nursing. Instead, my brother and I chose to move him back to his home CountryHouse. He was designated as being on hospice, which can mean someone is near the end of life. However, in just 4 weeks he was walking on his own again! I am so grateful for the expert care he has in place and how quickly they helped him recover.Im even more relieved my dad is in a safe environment during the coronavirus crisis. Now more than ever, we know that he is ok and has great care. Because visitor limitations are in effect and we cannot see him in person, its a relief to know he is loved by all who work there and that he feels right at home. Seeing photos and videos sent by staff members ensures us that hes happy and healthy, and relieves some of the guilt we feel by not being able to be there by his side.My dad no longer likes to even leave CountryHouse its very much his home and his comfortable place. Although it was a very difficult decision to move him at the time, looking back, we are 100% positive it was the right one for our family.

The transition from home to a memory care community can be challenging not only for the new resident but also for family and friends. Although some individuals adjust very quickly, getting truly comfortable takes time perhaps weeks or even months. During the first few days or weeks following a move to memory care, our staff encourages family and friends to visit as much as they are able. The presence of loved ones can help reassure the resident that they have not been forgotten and will help them accept their new home. However, some friends and family arent sure how to react (what do I do what do I say what do I talk about?). Here are seven suggested activities for visiting with your loved one:Read and write letters. To further assist individuals adjusting to their new home, ask friends or family members to send letters, cards and other correspondence. You can also help your loved one send letters and cards to grandchildren, friends and others.Keep up with current events. Read the local newspaper, a magazine article or talk about current events. Keep the topics lighthearted and positive.Join resident activities. Whether its enjoying a sing-a-long, watching a movie, or going on an outing, join your loved one in experiencing life at the community. We guarantee youll smile.Reminisce about the good old days. Everyone loves stories. Talking about past holidays, fun times growing up, or past experiences can be fun, and can trigger good memories. Just avoid putting someone with memory loss on the spot. Avoid asking, Do you remember? Just tell the story. They may even surprise you and join in!Embrace the silence. Dont feel like you need to talk the entire time. You may even consider bringing things to work on while you visit, such as knitting, or a book to read. You may even know some of their favorite activities and bring something you can enjoy together such as a puzzle, crochet project or their favorite movie.Bring in their favorite treat or meal. Does Aunt Penny love pretzels? Is Grandpa crazy for chocolate chip cookies? Bringing their favorite treat will surely bring a smile to their face and yours!Help decorate their room. Bring their favorite items from home and add to the familiarity of the space. If its close to a holiday, bring decorations to mark the occasion.All are opportunities to create a moment of joy for your friend or loved one and make their day more special. Remember: Agemark staff are here to help. If you need suggestions, want advice, or simply need support, please ask. Were here for you!

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.