Local Humorist Performs at Breton Ridge
Well known and much-loved local humorist Judy Schreur performed her signature talk “Smiling After Sixty” at an event at Breton Ridge on Thursday, March 18. Approximately 50 prospective residents enjoyed Judy’s talk, a tour of our new building, Breton Ridge, and some light refreshments.
For more information on Breton Ridge, call 616-643-2730.
March 30th, 2010 | Posted in Breton, General | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Give the gift of help this Christmas
Not sure what to get a friend or loved one for Christmas? Give the gift of help from Holland Home’s In-Home Helpers. Our friendly, caring staff can help with light housework, meal preparation, errands or shopping as well as more skilled tasks like medication set-up, dressing changes and care coordination.
Your gift of an In-Home Helpers gift certificate can provide your loved one with transportation to an appointment or outing, assistance with bathing or dressing or just some one-on-one companionship. There’s no need to worry about size or color—the gift of help is always right and always appreciated.
To purchase your gift certificate for an In-Home Helper service, call 616-643-2525, or, for a free consultation, call 616-235-5113.
We’re on the web at in-homehelpers.org.
December 15th, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, HomeCare, Raybrook | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Remember Me Walk
Holland Home’s first annual Remember Me Walk was held on Saturday October 10th. Proceeds from the walk will benefit Holland Home’s memory care residents.
The week leading up to the walk was damp and rainy, but we were blessed with a window of sunshine Saturday morning. The walk kicked off at 10:00 am with approximately 125 people and 20 canine companions traversing the one-half mile to two mile trails in Stanaback Park. The changing autumn leaves created a perfect backdrop to this beautiful day!
A big thank you goes out to all the volunteers who made this event possible! Another big thank you goes to our donors who, even in this time of economic constraints, reached deep into their pockets and gave so generously to our cause.
A special thank you to our sponsors—Fifth Third Bank and Morrison Dining Services as well as our trail sponsors The Breton Group and Valley City Linen.
October 15th, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, Raybrook | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Living Life to the Fullest—How Occupational Therapy Can Help
“Is the glass half full or half empty?”
Occupational therapists and assistants have the answer: It’s full when client and therapist work together in harmony to ensure that clients are doing their best no matter what challenges they face.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), “Occupational therapy enables people to achieve their goals, function at the highest possible level, concentrate on what matters most to them, maintain or rebuild their independence and participate in everyday activities that bring meaning to their lives.”
Occupational Therapy (OT) aids in maximizing function, including bathing, dressing, grooming, home management (cleaning, cooking, laundry), equipment use, upper extremity strength/range of motion, cardiac rehabilitation, client education and the reduction of pain. OT is not simply getting back to your occupation; instead it is getting back to your daily activities. Some areas of treatment in Occupational Therapy include:
• Enabling recovery after arm and wrist fractures
• Decreasing complaints of shoulder and elbow pain or decreased motion
• Addressing difficulty with self care or Activities of Daily Living
• Progressing cardiac rehab and energy conservation/joint protection
• Obtaining adaptive equipment for self care, dressing, or home modification
Holland Home provides Occupational Therapy (OT) services at all levels of the continuum. With 19 registered Occupational Therapists and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants working at all Holland Home Campuses and throughout the community, the services can be brought to where you live. OT services are provided in skilled nursing facilities, in your home for homebound individuals, and at our three CORF accredited outpatient centers, at Breton Terrace, Raybrook and Fulton.
If you have questions about whether you might benefit from Occupational Therapy services, call the Holland Home Intake Department at (616)235-5113. We can give you more information and arrange for a free in-home screening by one of our occupational therapy clinicians. Occupational Therapy services are covered by Medicare, Medicare HMOs and most private insurances.
“Living Life To Its Fullest”™ is what occupational therapy is truly all about.
October 1st, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, HomeCare, Raybrook | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
The Wellness Series Presents: Staying Healthy This Winter
HomeCare of Holland Home is proud to present Marilyn Schutter, RCN on “Staying Healthy This Winter.” Marilyn will present tips on staying healthy during the cold winter months ahead along with everything you ever wanted to know about the ‘flu!
Tuesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m.
Breton Terrace – Centre Place
2500 Breton Woods Drive
Grand Rapids
RSVP: 616-235-5112
September 29th, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Fulton, General, HomeCare, Raybrook | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Senior Parade of Living Begins Today at Breton Woods
The Senior Parade of Living begins today at the Breton Woods campus of Holland Home. The Parade is an open house that focuses on senior living in Grand Rapids. This year, Holland Home will showcase its newest building, Breton Ridge, as well as Breton Terrace.
Dates and times are as follows:
- Thursday, July 16, 10AM – 4 PM
- Friday, July 17, 10AM – 4 PM
- Saturday, July 18, 10AM – 2 PM
RSVP is not necessary, registration is available at Breton Ridge, 2772 Pfeiffer Woods Drive, Grand Rapids, MI.
July 16th, 2009 | Posted in Breton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
New Retirement Bundle package directly addresses economic concerns of today’s seniors
Holland Home, Michigan’s largest non-profit provider of services to seniors, announced a bundling of services to directly address the economic issues prohibiting those who desire retirement community living. The Retirement Bundle combines a discounted rate on entry, the Home Buy-Out Program, and the lowest monthly fee in the Grand Rapids area.
The Retirement Bundle offers a new 75/25 plan for all independent living homes and apartment suites on the Breton Woods and Raybrook campuses. The 75/25 plan reduces the Entrance Fee by 15%. Second, the Home Buy-Out Program is a six-month process that prices homes based on comparative data.If the home doesn’t sell within the six-month timeframe, Holland Home purchases the home. Last, retirement communities normally charge a monthly fee to cover the monthly costs of a number of items including maintenance, snow removal, security services, health care response system, etc. Holland Home has the lowest monthly fee of any retirement community in the area.
The Retirement Bundle is a temporary program for the remainder of the calendar year. For more information, call the Breton Woods campus at 616-643-2730 or the Raybrook campus at 616-235-5672.
July 6th, 2009 | Posted in Breton, Raybrook | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Independent living to assisted living
In an attempt to familiarize the public with the full breadth of Holland Home’s services, we have created a fictionalized account of a resident working her way through the Holland Home system-from our services available in the home like home health care and hospice-through the full continuum of care from independent living to skilled nursing and benevolent care. We hope you enjoy this three-part series and that it answers some of the questions you might have about Holland Home.
In our previous installment, Ruth VanDyke was widowed and made the decision to sell her home and move to Breton Woods, Holland Home’s independent retirement community. She was settling in nicely, having made new friends and discovered new interests.
Ruth VanDyke looked out her window and watched as the tulips and daffodils danced in the gentle spring rain. She had a lot of errands to run today-a deposit at the bank, a blood draw for her annual physical and an appointment to get her hair cut. She smiled to herself. Everything she needed was close at hand at Breton Woods-a bank branch, beauty salon, a health center with access to medical care and lab work. A podiatrist visited once a month, and the pharmacy delivered prescriptions. If you didn’t want to leave the campus, you really didn’t have to!
Most days, of course, she was out and about so much that she would come home to half a dozen messages from her kids asking where on earth she was. Ruth took her checkbook from the desk drawer in the kitchen and paused for a moment. Life was good at Holland Home.
That afternoon was Ruth’s favorite activity-country-line dancing in Expressions. Her hip was hurting a bit, but she wasn’t going to let that stop her. She changed into her sneakers and took the elevator to the lower level.
Several times during class Ruth had to stop to rest. Her hip really hurt now. She was almost limping as she made her way back to her apartment.
“Have you spoken to the doctor?” Her daughter asked when she called later that evening.
“I’ve got an appointment next week. But it’s probably nothing. I’m sure it will be gone by then.”
Ruth was shocked when the doctor told her she would need a hip replacement as soon as possible. “Are you sure? I think it’s already stopped hurting,” she said trying to ignore the persistent ache on her right side.
The doctor patted her hand. “We’ll take good care of you, don’t worry.” He glanced through her chart and then looked up at her over the rims of his glasses. “You’re at Holland Home, aren’t you? Their Breton Woods community?”
Ruth nodded as she fiddled with the straps of her purse.
“They do an excellent job of rehab at Breton Manor. You won’t even have to leave the campus.”
That was good news, at least. Ruth hated the thought of being somewhere she’d never been before and where she didn’t know anybody. She was pretty sure Marge and Jim from next door would visit her, and probably her friends from Pins and Needles as well.
Ruth’s surgery went well, and there were no complications. She was dismayed when she learned that none of her children would be able to be there, but Marge and Jim visited several times along with other friends and neighbors.
Ruth was nervous about making the transition to Breton Manor, but a hospital liaison from Holland Home stopped by her room to put her at ease.
“Everything is all arranged,” she assured Ruth as they went through the necessary paperwork together. “You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Ruth’s daughter called later that afternoon. She was distraught at being so far away, but Ruth reassured her that she was well taken care of. “A representative from Holland Home has already organized everything,” she told Sarah.
Ruth’s transfer to Breton Manor went smoothly. Her room was light, airy and comfortable, and, best of all, not a day went by without some of her friends stopping for a visit.
Ruth worked hard with the excellent physical therapists at Breton Manor and made great progress. She couldn’t imagine how she would have managed the situation if she hadn’t been part of the Holland Home family.
Life was certainly good at Holland Home.
Ruth’s hip healed beautifully, and she enjoyed many more country-line dancing classes along with all the other activities being offered at Breton Woods. The years went by quickly, and Ruth was as surprised as anyone to have 85 candles on her birthday cake that year.
The kids all came for the big day, and Ruth rented the private dining room for a party which was a great success. Afterwards, Ruth was tired and a little dizzy.
“Have you taken your pills today, mother?” Sarah opened the medicine chest and took out Ruth’s pill box. She looked up in concern. “You haven’t taken any pills since Monday.” She showed the nearly full container to Ruth.
“Oh, dear.” Ruth wiped a hand across her forehead. “I could have sworn I’d taken them.” She looked at Sarah, her eyes troubled.
Sarah patted her mother’s hand. “Probably all the excitement has put you off your routine. Why don’t you sit down while I make us a cup of tea?”
Later, Ruth overheard her daughter talking on the phone to her husband. “…she’s lost weight…hasn’t taken her pills…I’m concerned…”
Ruth felt a sense of dread settle in the pit of her stomach. What if the kids decided she shouldn’t live alone anymore? What would happen to her then?
A month later, Sarah planned another trip to Michigan to check on her mother. She hated having to leave her family again and didn’t want to take time away from work, but she was concerned. The trip from Ohio went quickly, and she pulled into the driveway at Breton Woods not long after lunch. They had an appointment to visit Raybrook Manor later that afternoon where Holland Home offered assisted living. She hated the thought of making her mother move when she was so happy, but being so far away made it impossible to take care of her herself. She needed this for her own peace of mind as well as her mother’s safety.
Sarah knew she’d made the right decision when Ruth greeted her at the door. She was thinner and seemed even more confused than the last time Sarah had seen her.
Sarah was impressed with how warm and friendly everyone was at Raybrook Manor. Her mother was pleasantly surprised as well. There were comfortable lounges for gathering with family and friends, and the room they showed her was spacious and homey.
“What do you think?” Sarah swept a hand around the room. “There’s plenty of space for your things. We can put your favorite chair in that corner and the small table next to it.”
“It’s very nice, of course,” Ruth looked around hesitantly. She remembered when she first moved to Breton Woods. She’d been nervous and scared then but things had turned out so well.
“Do you think you would like it here?” Sarah asked gently.
Ruth smiled and said softly. “I think so. I really do think so.”
Ruth found it a relief to have others helping with certain daily activities. She never had to worry about remembering her pills now, and not having to cook for herself was a wonderful luxury. The chef was excellent, and she enjoyed the camaraderie around the dining table every night.
She’d made some new friends, but her old friends visited regularly as well. She even recognized some familiar faces from Breton Woods at Raybrook Manor, and they had a wonderful time together pursuing all the activities and enjoying trips and entertainment.
Sarah was pleased when she went to visit her mother several months later. Ruth had gained weight, her color was good, and she was taking her medication regularly.
“I do worry about one thing,” Ruth confided as she and Sarah sat outside in the late afternoon sun. “My care must be costing a fortune,” she waved her hand toward the beautiful building. “What if I run out of money? What do I do then?”
“That’s the beauty of Holland Home, Mother,” Sarah replied. “You certainly made the right decision when you chose to come here.” She put a hand on her mother’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Holland Home has guaranteed you a home for life. Their resident assistance fund is ready to help anyone who has outlived their resources.”
Ruth smiled and held her face up to the sun.
Life really was good at Holland Home.
July 2nd, 2009 | Posted in Breton, General, Raybrook | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Holland Home Receives Two Top Awards in 2009 National Media Awards Program
Holland Home received the highest honor for two categories in the 18th annual National Mature Media Awards Program.
The program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for the senior market, recognizes the nation’s finest advertising, marketing and educational materials designed and produced for older adults.
For 2009, nearly 900 entries from across the United States showcased the nation’s very best materials developed for the senior market.
Holland Home received a Silver Award under the TV Advertisement division for “A Different Place – Breton Woods”.
Holland Home was also given a Merit Award for the integrated counterpart under the Radio Advertisement division. Both awards were first place national winners per category.
June 15th, 2009 | Posted in Breton | Share this on Facebook or Twitter
Part one: In-home services and moving to independent living
In an attempt to familiarize the public with the full breadth of Holland Home’s services, we have created a fictionalized account of a resident working her way through the Holland Home system-from our services available in the home like home health care and hospice-through the full continuum of care from independent living to skilled nursing and benevolent care. We hope you enjoy this three-part series and that it answers some of the questions you might have about Holland Home.
Part One: In-Home Services and Moving to Independent Living
It was early morning — Ruth VanDyke’s favorite time of day. She pulled on her gardening gloves, picked up her bucket of supplies and opened the back door. The air was sweet, and the sun’s rays made the drops of dew on the grass sparkle like diamonds.
She would enjoy the warmth on her face while she tended her precious garden. Life was good-she was truly blessed.
Ruth was getting up from weeding around the peonies she’d planted thirty years ago when the children were little, when her leg slid on the wet grass and twisted under her. She closed her eyes against the pain and called frantically for her husband, Bob.
The visit to the emergency room was a blur-all she remembered was the doctor saying she would need surgery to repair her broken ankle and that she would have to stay off that foot for several weeks. How was Bob going to manage-taking care of her and the house all by himself?
The nurses in the hospital took excellent care of her, but Ruth couldn’t relax. What was she going to do when it was time to go home? Finally, the afternoon arrived, and Bob was busy packing up her things. Ruth could control her anxiety no longer.
“What are we going to do when we get home?” she blurted out. “You can’t take care of me all by yourself.”
Bob turned around and smiled. “Don’t worry, darling, we’ve got HomeCare of Holland Home coming. Everything is already arranged.”
Ruth was sitting in her favorite chair, her foot on an ottoman, when the doorbell rang. Bob opened the door and a cheery voice called out, “Hi, Ruth, I’m here.”
The home health aide from HomeCare of Holland Home walked into the room and greeted Ruth with a big smile. “Are you ready for that bath?”
Ruth nodded eagerly. She looked forward to the visits from the aides, nurses and physical therapists sent by HomeCare of Holland Home. They were always cheerful and friendly as well as very knowledgeable. She enjoyed talking to them and always felt better after their visit.
Her ankle was healing nicely, and the doctor was confident that very soon she would be back on her feet and out working in her garden again.
Life was good.
The doctor broke the news as gently as possible. Ruth squeezed Bob’s hand tight when they heard the words.
“I’m afraid there’s nothing more we can do for Bob’s cancer,” the doctor said. “Eventually you might want to think about hospice care.” He took a brochure from his desk and handed it to them. “Faith Hospice would be an excellent choice. Their team will come right to your home. And, if at some point care becomes too difficult, they have a beautiful hospice residence in Byron Center.”
Ruth tucked the pamphlet into her purse. She was determined to care for Bob herself, just as he had cared for her when she’d had her surgery, but it made her feel comfortable that there was someone she could call if that should no longer be possible.
They spent as many nights as they could sitting in their favorite spot in the garden and enjoying visits from family and friends. Bob got tired more quickly, but otherwise, he seemed like his old self. At times Ruth was almost able to convince herself that the doctors had made a mistake, and Bob didn’t have cancer after all.
Eventually, however, his pain increased, and he began to suffer from breathlessness. Ruth called the doctor, and he urged her to contact Faith Hospice.
“They’re the experts in pain control and symptom management,” he told Ruth. “I’m confident that they will be able improve Bob’s quality of life.”
A week later Ruth did call Faith Hospice. The doctor was very understanding and prescribed medication that eased Bob’s pain and decreased his sense of breathlessness. A volunteer came to sit with him, and Ruth was able to get her hair done and do some shopping without worrying. She felt like a new woman.
She and Bob were able to sit in the garden again, enjoying the familiar view and watching as the sun set every night.
Life was good.
It snowed the day Bob died. Ruth was grateful for the bereavement services offered by Faith Hospice. She was able to meet with a counselor and eventually joined a support group for spouses that met every Wednesday afternoon.
Her pain lessened as the months went by, but her loneliness didn’t. The house seemed cold and empty without Bob’s company. She had never wanted to leave the home they’d built together-where they’d raised their three kids and celebrated every holiday as a family-but the place didn’t feel the same anymore. The children had gone back to their own lives after the funeral-Bob Jr. called regularly from Houston where he worked as an engineer; Sarah made the eight hour trek from Ohio to visit as often as her own family obligations would allow and Tommy called every Saturday night from California. But it wasn’t the same.
A surprise snowstorm trapped Ruth in the house for a long weekend. She couldn’t shovel the drive herself anymore, and the plowing service she called was too busy dealing with its regular customers. Ruth hadn’t been able to make it to the grocery store, and by Sunday night the only thing she had left to eat was a bag of microwave popcorn.
By Monday morning, the storm had passed, and a kind neighbor came and shoveled for her. Ruth bundled up and cautiously made her way down the long, sloping driveway to the mailbox. She was nearly there when she almost fell and had to spend several minutes leaning on the mailbox, catching her breath and waiting for her panicked heartbeat to return to normal.
She glanced through the mail as soon as she made it safely back to the house. Junk mail, as usual. There was a colorful, oversized postcard from Breton Woods, a nearby retirement community. It was an invitation to a luncheon and tour of their new building. Ruth noticed they were run by Holland Home, the same company that had provided her home care and hospice services.
Ruth wasn’t ready for that yet. But for some reason, she didn’t throw the card away. Instead, she left it on the foyer table where the cheerful pictures of residents having fun caught her eye every time she went past.
By the end of the week, Ruth had called to reserve her spot at the luncheon at Breton Woods. What did she have to lose? If it really wasn’t for her, there would be no harm done.
Ruth enjoyed the luncheon and her tour of Breton Ridge, the new building on the Breton Woods campus, immensely. She was particularly impressed by Holland Home’s guarantee of lifetime care. She and Bob had always been careful with their finances, but she knew that nursing care was expensive, and it was always possible that she would run out of money. The idea of lifetime care was very comforting.
Holland Home’s mission also struck a chord with Ruth—
“In fulfilling God’s calling to serve others we will:
- Serve with love and compassion
- Commit to excellence
- Follow Christ’s teaching and example in all we do”
It didn’t take too many more snowy weekends to convince Ruth that moving to Breton Woods was the right thing to do. The ground was barely thawed before she was hammering a “for sale” sign into the front lawn.
The transition to her new lifestyle was easier than she expected. Her attractive apartment was large enough to accommodate many of her cherished pieces of furniture, and she had a beautiful patio where she planned an extensive container garden once the weather got warm enough.
Everyone was extremely friendly, and Ruth couldn’t believe the number of activities available. She joined an armchair aerobics class, the book club and got caught up in helping with the jigsaw puzzle that was always available.
It was early spring and Ruth looked out her window to see that a last, late snow was blanketing the ground. She enjoyed watching it, savoring her cup of tea and knowing that the weather could no longer trap her. She was an elevator ride away from a whole host of activities, and, if that weren’t enough, there was free shuttle transportation to Breton Terrace where there were even more things to get involved in.
Ruth was rinsing out her cup when there was a knock on her door.
“Hi, neighbor,” the couple next door chorused when Ruth opened the door. “We were wondering if you’d care to join us for lunch in the Bistro? It’s our favorite-soup and salad day.”
“I’d love to. Let me just get my sweater.”
Ruth turned from the door and smiled.
Life was good.
April 21st, 2009 | Posted in Breton, General, HomeCare | Share this on Facebook or Twitter