Announcing the Remember Me Walk on 10-10-10!
This year Holland Home is launching our first annual Remember Me walk to support our memory care programs as well as help with the benevolence needs of our memory care residents.
The Remember Me walk will take place on October 10 at 10:00 a.m. (10-10-10!), at Stanaback Park, adjacent to the Breton Woods campus. Humans and canines are both welcome to walk! Donate $20 and receive an official “Remember Me Walk” t-shirt!
T-shirts will also be available for your canine companion at a nominal cost.
Remember Me donation envelopes will be available on August 3 at each of our manors and at Trillium Woods and the corporate office.
It’s going to be a fun morning with refreshments, prizes, friendship and the good feeling that comes from knowing you are contributing to a worthwhile cause. We hope you’ll join us!
(visit our web site at www.remembermewalk.org)
Donations can be sent to:
Remember Me Walk
Holland Home
2100 Raybrook Street, SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
July 31st, 2009 | Posted in General | 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
For all AFC or HFA administrators
Did you know that residents of Adult Foster Care homes and Homes for the Aged may now be eligible for Michigan’s Home and Community Based Waiver Program while continuing to live in their current facilities? HomeCare of Holland Home invites assisted living administrators to learn more at one of the short information sessions we will be hosting with a presentation by representatives for this program.
Date: Tuesday, July 7 at 3:00 P.M. OR Thursday, July 9 at 3:00 P.M.
Location: HomeCare of Holland Home Corporate Office
2100 Raybrook Street, SE, Suite 303, Grand Rapids 49546
Presenters: Mary Inglot, LMSW and Mary Rynbrandt, LBSW of HHS Health Options’ Waiver Program
RSVP: Nicole Snow, 616-235-5112 or nicole.snow@Holland Home.org
There is no charge for these sessions.
The MI Choice Waiver Program pays for services that provide eligible AFC and HFA residents an alternative to moving from their current residence to a nursing home. It offers seniors great quality of life by allowing htem to stay in the setting where they have become comfortable, and allows AFC and HFA facilities alternatives to help defray the cost.
July 1st, 2009 | Posted in General, HomeCare | Share this on Facebook or Twitter