Aging Resource Center Update

If I told you there were basic steps you could take to enhance your quality of life and reduce or delay your chances for memory decline, would you take them?

Research suggests that when we are informed, most of us will take proactive steps.

That’s the idea behind Menorah Park’s Aging Resources Center. We want people to have access to information that supports overall wellbeing, independence and reduces crises and the resulting stress (a major cause of memory loss). The site within our main Menorah Park website, www.menorahpark.org/arc includes a library of comprehensive information to help our community find many answers to questions that arise during the aging process. It includes search capability to make the information even easier to find.

Please explore the site and let me know what you think. I always welcome and appreciate input that supports our Menorah Park mission as experts in the field of aging.

In addition to the site, thanks to the Myers fund, we hold quarterly free Dinner Conversations for the entire community. The next one is about fraud prevention and protection and will be held on March 22^nd at 6:30 p.m.

I will send more information closer to the date.

I want to jump back to some brief information about ways to reduce memory decline, but first I want to thank Howard Epstein for his leadership of the Aging Resources Committee and all of the board members and staff involved in making this program a success.

Ways to reduce risks of memory decline:

According to Johns Hopkins, you will be in a better position to keep your memory strong well into later life by knowing to the following:

• New studies show that getting adequate sleep plays an essential role in learning new information, relating to names, dates, faces, facts, specific events - in short forming memory.

• Recent evidence-based research reported in the Annals of Neurology suggests that people who closely follow the Mediterranean diet have a 40 percent lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. The Mediterranean diet incorporates basics of a healthy diet plus a splash of olive oil and sometimes a glass of red wine along with other components that characterize the traditional cooking style of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. (Most healthy diets include fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains, and limit unhealthy fats. While these basic elements to diet remain tried-and-true, subtle variations or differences in proportions of certain foods may make a difference in your risk of heart disease.)

• Studies investigating the exercise/memory/dementia link have shown positive outcomes in recent years so keep moving.

• Johns Hopkins researchers have linked high levels of the stress hormone cortisol with poor cognitive performance in older adults. And another study, reported in the journal Neurology, found that depressed and anxious people are 40 percent more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment.

• Evidence from recent studies in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicates that controlling high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease are absolutely critical to cognitive function. This can often be accomplished by losing extra pounds (just 10 pounds can help), exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, reduce sodium and limit alcohol.

Wish me luck as I work to take off those 10 pounds and more!

I wish all of you ongoing health and wellbeing!!

New Officer Installation

A very important aspect of life here at Wiggins Place is the Tenant's Association.  Through this organization tenants vote on important matters that affect their everyday lives, donate money, bring ideas to the table for future Wiggins' projects and keep in touch with what is going on around Wiggins Place.

Each organization needs strong, organized leaders and we are proud to introduce the latest Executive Committee of the Wiggins Place Tenant's Association.

Left to right Millie Mandell- Vice President, Art Glassman- Treasurer, Natalie Gelfand- President, Elise Rosenberg- Corresponding Secretary and Harriette Stern -Recording Secretary, were installed as the latest Executive Board for the Wiggins TA on Sunday in an official ceremony and reception

Our new Board joined by Rabbi Howard Kutner (l) and Nancy Sutula, Wiggins Place Administrator (r)

After the ceremony there was a beautiful reception complete with a chocolate cake from Contempo Cuisine

New Years at Wiggins Place

Getting ready for the big night!  Happy New Year!!

New Years is always a fun and special time at Wiggins Place.  The Dining Room staff always out do themselves and this year was no exception.  The food was delicious and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. 

Help is a Phone Call Away

Help is a Phone Call Away

At Menorah Park, we understand how stressful it can be when a loved one becomes ill, develops chronic conditions, must undergo surgery or encounters other challenges that are frequently associated with aging.

These are often referred to as crisis situations where we find ourselves trying to figure out what’s next without much planning time.

We wrestle with answers to the questions –

· How do we help them get better? 

· How do we help them adjust to life changes?

· How do we help ensure their safety and well-being for the long-term?

· If they’ve made the decision to enter a senior community, what kind of help is available in the interim if they are placed on a waiting list?

· If we live in another city and sense that something might be wrong even though they say all is well, how do we make sure they are o.k.?

As a spouse or an adult child there is typically no escaping the emotions that we experience in these moments of crisis. This is someone we love and we desperately want to make everything o.k. We need someone who objectively and logically can help us figure it all out.

Menorah Park’s Community Liaison Kathy Parrino is a licensed social worker knowledgeable in the needs of older adults and in the support services that are available in the community. She can help reduce challenges that they may be experiencing by evaluating their strengths and limitations and confidentially discuss options with them and us that would best fit their individual situations. She can then help to coordinate the needed services.

Fortunately, Menorah Park helps to simplify management of services, because the Campus provides so many here.

· If they’ve been in the hospital

o       Menorah Park Marcus Post-Hospital Rehabilitation is a good first step toward returning home.

· Once home

o       Menorah Park Home Health Services in Beachwood along with offices in Akron, Canton, and Streetsboro has aides who help with personal care and homemaker services, skilled nurses, and physical occupational and speech therapists.

· Ongoing support

o       Often Home Health Services can be put in place to address many needs at home.

o       The Peter B. Lewis Aquatic & Therapy Center can help speed up the recovery process after surgery by providing physical therapy before the scheduled date and encourages strong recovery from injury, surgery or illness through individualized, one-to-one aquatic and land-based physical therapy, and occupational and speech therapies. 

o       Menorah Park Adult Day Care provides daily enrichment and social opportunities while supporting personal care needs. The family caregiver can gain respite, or work while knowing their loved one is safe and having an enjoyable day.

o       Menorah Park’s Adaptive Living Shoppe – M Pal can provide the tools that support fall prevention and safety, medication management, low vision, hearing loss, self-care, dressing, dining, and health maintenance.

o       Housekeeping Plus provides light and heavy cleaning services, will rearrange items in cabinets for safety, and many other household chores including packing in preparation for a move. Just ask – staff members are very accommodating.

· While waiting to move to a senior community that might include R.H. Myers Apartments,

Wiggins Place

, Stone Gardens or Menorah Park

o       Menorah Park Campus staff at each location can help suggest options that may help in the interim and can also rely on Kathy for additional consultation, which is especially helpful for out-of-town family.

Kathy Parrino may be reached at 216-402-0895. Remember to call her or tell someone you know to give her a call if ever in need of social work help to determine and coordinate the right services.

Also, remember a full range of helpful information can be found at  www.menorahpark.org/ARC. There is even a search capability so you don’t have to hunt through all of the pages to find what you need.

Thomas W. Adler is guest speaker at Wiggins Place

Thomas W. Adler, a prominent Cleveland business man and highly regarded member of our Jewish Community member, will be at Wiggins Place on January 9th at 7:40pm to discuss his experiences and extensive contributions  to Playhouse Square and the Downtown Cleveland area. The Wiggins Place tenants are looking forward to listening to Mr. Adler and Wiggins Place is very honored to host this special evening.

We hope you will join us for this special event.

Tom Adler Bio

Tom started his business career in 1962 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin.  He became a Partner at Cragin, Lang, Free & Smythe in 1968 and was Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Executive Committee there when he left in 1979 to be a co-founder of Adler Galvin Rogers, Inc.  In 1986 AGR sold to a national real estate company, Grubb & Ellis.  Tom served as President of the company’s Investment Services Group and in 1991, tired of extensive business travel, left and co-founded Cleveland Real Estate Partners.  Tom was Of-Counsel at the time Deloitte & Touche acquired CREP at the end of 1998.  He currently serves in a pro-bono senior advisory position at PlayhouseSquare Real Estate Services, which he helped form to manage the real estate assets of Playhouse Square Foundation as well as those of other clients.

During his real estate career, he was very active in leadership roles nationally, serving on the Boards of the National Association of Realtors, American Society of Real Estate Counselors, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, and in 1990 as National President of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors.  He also served in leadership positions with the Urban Land Institute.

During the mid–1990’s, Tom began to transition more and more of his time into the community and today, other than some real estate investments and a board position with Highwoods Properties, Inc., a large NYSE R.E.I.T., he devotes 100%  of his time and energy to community service.

In the general community, his primary focus is in  the economic development of Greater Cleveland.  He is immediate Past Chairman  of Playhouse Square Foundation (the largest performing arts center outside of NYC) and previously co-chaired the $27 million capital campaign for Idea Center, a partnership between Playhouse Square Foundation and Ideastream. Currently he is serving on the Steering Committee of the Power Of Three Campaign,a partnership between Playhouse Square, The Cleveland Playhouse and Cleveland State University to redo the Allen Theater. He served as Chairman of the Downtown Cleveland Partnership (2003-2005) and currently is a member of the Downtown Alliance Board and Executive Committee and chairs its Advocacy Committee.  Tom is a past trustee of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and co-chaired their Regional Physical Development Committee.  He was very involved with the Euclid Corridor Improvement Project and co-chaired the Stakeholders Committee.  He has served on the Visiting Committee of the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and currently is a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee  at CSU and is Trustee Chair of Development.

His interest in community development is also focused in Shaker Heights, where he has lived most of his life.  He has been Finance Chair for three school levies and one tax levy campaign and was co-founding Trustee of Friends of Shaker Square.  He has served as a real estate advisor, helping the City to implement their strategic redevelopment plan, is a past Trustee of the Shaker Heights Fund for the Future, serves on the Shaker Schools Foundation Advisory Committee and is a Director of Shaker’s Community Development Corporation.

Other community activities include having participated in the first Leadership Cleveland Class (1977-78) and he is past Chair of Alumni. He is an officer, trustee and member of the Executive Committee of United Way Services where he serves as Co – Chair of the Philanthropist Society (formerly ten Plus) Campaign and he received their 2010 Volunteer of The Year Award.  He is also a Trustee of University Hospital (Chairs the Orthopedic Department Development Council), the Diversity Center of N.E.Ohio (Vice Chair of the Board) and Global Cleveland.

Tom’s involvement within the Jewish Community is extensive.  At the Jewish Community Federation, he is currently serving as a Trustee, member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Development Committee.  He is past Chair of the Endowment Fund Committee, Human Resource Development and Planned Giving Committees. In 2004 he received the Gries Award given for outstanding service to both the Jewish & General Community and in 1979 he received the Kane Award for outstanding young leader. He is also a Life Trustee of the Cleveland Chapter American Jewish Committee (AJC), a Trustee of The Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation where he co-chairs the Grants Committee.  He serves as Chairman of the Adler Family Foundation and is a past  member of the Visiting Committee of the College of Jewish Studies at the University of Wisconsin.

He is a member of The Union Club, 50 Club, Bluecoats, Mayfield Sand Ridge Club (Oakwood Club Pres. 1996-98) and The Pepper Pike Club.

Tom and his wife, Joanie, have been married for 49 years and have 3 wonderful and successful children.  The oldest, Peggy, received her MFA degree from the University of Michigan and is now teaching writing and writing a novel in Israel.  Sally received her graduate degree from the Art Institute in Chicago and is an Art Therapist.  Bill, the youngest, is President and CEO of True Fit Corp.

Just Wake Up and Dream!!

Menorah Park is an organization that help adults live life to their fullest during their golden years.  This year give a gift that will keep on giving.  Join the Wake Up and Dream Challenge!  The Wake Up and Dream Challenge is a revolutionary self help book by Dr. Barbara Lavi.  It is not your ordinary self help book.  Not only will it transform the lives of every reader, but it will also change the world by giving to multiple nonprofit organizations.  Half of the profits from every book sold via Menorah Park's link on the book's website will be donated to their outstanding programs. Go to: www.wake-up-and-dream.com to learn more about the book and help yourself and the residents of this caring senior living community reach their dreams.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

T-Shirt Decorating

Florrie Weiss shows her creative side with her fabulously decorated t-shirt

Lois Katz (r) and her daughter, Jody, work together to create something special

Pat Howard shows off her Sponge painted t-shirt