Memory Care America - August 2019

Memory Care America - August 2019

Memory Care Moments

AUGUST 2019

1.833.MEM.CARE • 833.636.2273

www.MemoryCareAmerica.com

TAWANA MCDANIEL TAKES A CHANCE ON MEMORY CARE OF WESTOVER HILLS Growing With Memory Care America

Prior to joining Memory Care America in February 2018, I had a big decision to make.

Our Communities Memory Care of Naples 2626 Goodlette Frank Road Naples, FL 34103 239.403.0826 memorycarenaples.com

The vice president of the company I worked at for more than three years — most recently as a residential service director (RSD) and the

T o this day , I’ m proud to say M emory C are of W estover H ills took a chance on me , and now , it ’ s just history .

interim executive director — called to offer me more money if I stayed with their company. It was a tempting offer, especially when you consider the fact that this company

to join Memory Care America’s executive team as the vice president of the company.

Memory Care of Little Rock

was just five minutes away from my home. The job I had been offered at Memory Care of Westover Hills meant less money and a 30–40-minute commute.

In July of 2018, Charles stepped down from his executive director position after realizing

2501 Aldersgate Road Little Rock, AR 72205 501.260.7407 memorycarelittlerock.com

management wasn’t the career he wanted. Instead, he craved the patient care he found in nursing. Still, our facility was in need of an executive director. I found myself in a similar position: There was an open leadership role, and I had the desire to do more and a willingness to help. To this day, I’m proud to say Memory Care of Westover Hills took a chance on me, and now, it’s just history. I’ve been serving as Memory Care of Westover Hills’ executive director for more than a year, and I truly love what I do. I immediately took the lessons I gained during all the years I spent as a nurse and in leadership positions in Mississippi and Texas and began looking for opportunities to help our employees improve. I promoted our former PRN nurse, Tracy Gutierrez, to the vacant RSD position I previously held, and I continually look for ways our certified nursing assistants can advance in their careers and education. I believe there’s no better place to grow than within our facility.

I still chose Memory Care of Westover Hills.

What I saw in Memory Care America was a dedication to their employees. I saw a company that knew their families relied on consistency and felt safe, cared for, and understood when they were receiving care from dedicated employees. At my former company, I filled in as interim executive director four times while the company sought outside candidates to fill the position. When I approached those above me about possibly permanently filling the position, I was never given a direct answer. I know I’m not perfect, but I had longevity, a dedication to nursing, and an obvious knowledge of the position after running the facility four different times. Instead, I felt unappreciated and used. In February of 2018, I joined the Memory Care of Westover Hills staff as the RSD — a clinical term for head nurse — while the former RSD, Charles Chester, became the executive director of the facility. Former executive director Linda Carrasco left the facility

Memory Care of Westover Hills

10910 Town Center Drive San Antonio, TX 78251 210.802.6653 memorycarewestoverhills.com

Memory Care of Simpsonville 645 Scuffletown Rd. Simpsonville, SC 29681 864.962.3038 memorycaresimpsonville.com Memory Care of New Braunfels 2022 State HWY 46 W New Braunfels, TX 78132 830.420.5882 memorycarenewbraunfels.com

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1.833.MEM.CARE • 833.636.2273

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Do Not Keep Our Work a Secret!

Margie Girl and Family Find Support in Memory Care America Sharing Your Stories

You’ve probably heard of pickleball, especially given its rising popularity in the United States and Canada, but you may be wondering what the big deal is about this relatively new fad. Pickleball is an awesome, low- impact sport that people of all ages can enjoy. It’s great exercise and great fun, and it’s the perfect game for family get-togethers. Pickleball originated on Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965. It was the creation of three fathers — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum — who needed to come up with something to keep the little ones entertained and out of their hair. Soon, however, it became popular among the adults, and they ended up spending more time on the court than their children. “Frankly,” McCallum says, “the kids got pushed out.” Since its early days, pickleball has transformed from an ad-hoc game to a full-fledged sport, complete with official rules, equipment, and leagues. Despite the more formal structure in place today, pickleball is incredibly easy to pick up and play. Investing in some paddles and balls won’t cost more than $100, and you can easily convert a tennis or badminton court for pickleball. One of the appeals of pickleball for older adults is that it is not excessively strenuous. It also doesn’t have the steep learning curve and high barrier to entry that sports like tennis or golf do. Due to the nature of a pickleball, which contains strategically placed holes similar to those of a whiffle ball, the game is much more about finesse than pure power or athleticism. While you can definitely hone your skills with practice, you’ll start having fun from day one. In addition to being a fun form of exercise, pickleball also offers older adults the chance to socialize with their peers. Leagues often lead to long-term friendships. Courts are small, and each game consists of only four players, making it easy to engage in some casual conversation or playful, competitive banter between points. If you’ve never picked up a paddle, consider joining a league or buying a set for your next family outing. You can introduce your grandkids to a fun new sport — and then school them for the bulk of an afternoon. THE INCREDIBLE RISE OF PICKLEBALL A Sport for All Ages Becomes a Craze Among Older Adults

Marjorie “Margie” Hawkins and Jerry Hawkins were married on Aug. 14, 1964, and for more than 50 years, they built a life, raised two kids, and shared a home.

That’s what made Margie’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis a year shy of their 50th wedding anniversary that much more of a jolt. “They've done everything together; they've never been apart,” their daughter and eldest child, Heather Trevilion said. “For him, letting someone else take control and realize that you need help is very difficult.”

The deterioration of her mom wasn’t easy for Heather either. Margie was always put together, loved to do her hair, kept a spotless house, and was the ultimate super stay-at-home mom. Heather says she suspected her mom’s severe memory loss years before an official diagnosis, when Margie would do things like eating steak with a spoon. For nearly six years, Jerry and the family kept Margie in her home. They took care of her each day and eventually hired a home health care worker. Around 2018, Heather says she knew her mom was in need of full- time care that her family could no longer provide her. Jerry was becoming Margie’s full-time caregiver instead of her partner. Margie’s home health care worker suggested Memory Care of New Braunfels in New Braunfels, Texas, so Heather did her homework. She visited the facility during various shifts, talked to families and staff members, and dug deeper into the living environment. What she found was a home she knew her mom could thrive in. Margie moved into Memory Care of New Braunfels in December 2018, and she is affectionately called Margie Girl by many staff members. The dedication to care that is best for her mother is the most comforting for Heather, who admits that she still feels guilty sometimes. But then a staff member will bring a smile to her mom’s face simply by saying, “Good morning, Margie Girl,” and Heather says she knows this is where her mom needs to be. “It’s very hard to leave someone that you care about with other people, but I can tell you I know that she is loved here,” Heather says. “I know that she gets hugs, they braid her hair … they meet my mom where she is, and I just really appreciate it.”

Don’t keep our work a secret; referrals are the best compliment you can give us. If you would like to be featured in our newsletter or if you know a family that could benefit from our services, please call 833.MEM. CARE (636.2273) or visit MemoryCareAmerica.com.

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Do Not Keep Our Work a Secret!

www.MemoryCareAmerica.com

Caring Communities Memory Care America Honors the Good Ol’ USA!

Memory Care of Naples’ reception area gets the White House treatment!

July was a joyous month at Memory Care America! Our communities celebrated America’s independence and 243rd birthday with Fourth of July celebrations, decorations, and crafts. Memory Care of Naples easily won the “best decorated” contest, with their festive reception area, but Memory Care of Simpsonville sure

A Memory Care of New Braunfels resident paints a T-shirt design.

brought the competition with festive signs and decor. Staff and residents at Memory Care

Memory Care of Simpsonville displays many festive decorations.

of Little Rock were decked out in their best USA gear for a patriotic parade, while Memory

Care of New Braunfels created their own Independence Day shirts. Memory Care of Westover Hills kept the creativity flowing with a painting event!

There’s always something to celebrate at one of Memory Care America’s five communities. Don’t keep our work and celebrations a secret! If you know a family who could benefit from our services, direct them to

Memory Care of Westover Hills residents display their creativity with paintings.

MemoryCareAmerica. com or find us on Facebook.

A Memory Care of Little Rock staff member leads residents on a Fourth of July parade!

August Word Search

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L C K S C J Y C S

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Memory care touches the heart. I can’t know for sure, but I pray that our families feel supported by the team of professionals we have at our

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F L E M N P O K C A B R B X N Z B D H L A Z O N A E Q C R M L S N I C N S P L M W Z T E I I L E S K A H P M L E A V E S W S A T J L E U H U J A Y W I V R K F U C S T W T U E F H O U Q J Q T H N B Z A D U F J T D A A S E I E F J U T K G V S R W M R Y L O W D Q M J G X U F X O J V L F O Y W K J K S G D U Y F R Y H E K Q T Y T Q U Y I H G M N I L F M F Y O I A

facility. We have our areas in which we can improve, and like every facility in the medical field, we experience turnover. But I’m proud of the team we have supporting our residents and their families. We work together to make this place home.

This job is far from easy, and it certainly takes a toll on my life. I’m on call 24 hours a day and find myself pulled in many directions at all times, because I always allow family members and our staff to come talk to me whenever they need to. But

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I feel that if I can make a difference in one person’s life, that’s enough for me to get up and do this all over again the next day. This is where I am meant to be, and I’m so grateful that Memory Care America took a chance on me.

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Do Not Keep Our Work a Secret! — Tawana McDaniel

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1.833.MEM.CARE www.memorycareamerica.com

2211 NW M ilitary H wy ., S te . 201 S an A ntonio , TX 78213 Inside 1 Memory Care of Westover Hills Director Celebrates 1 Year 2 Why You Should Play Pickleball 2 Family Stories: A Family Learns to Lean on Memory Care America 3 Photos from a Creative July at Memory Care America 3 Word Search 4 The Ingredients for Holistic Health

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Memory Care Wellness

PERFECT PAIRINGS Ingredients for Better Body Balance

Beans and Rice This simple staple meal for many Latin American families is prevalent for a reason. Together, beans and rice make a nutritious and protein-packed meal to fuel your body. Keep this dish interesting by creating new combinations with avocado, zesty sauces, cilantro, and radishes. Peas and quinoa is another pairing that completes the essential amino acid profile, and the two work well together in a salad or scramble. Cherries and Spirulina You may not always think about your blood health, but you should because your blood distributes crucial nutrients throughout your body and floods toxins out. Iron, folic acid, vitamin B-12, and protein are the building blocks for better blood. You can find these nutrients in dark red foods, such as cherries, raspberries, beets, and kidney beans, and in dark green foods, like spinach, spirulina, and wheatgrass. Holistic nutritionist Sarah Britton, author of “My New Roots: Inspired Plant-Based Recipes,” suggests starting the day with a refreshing smoothie made with some of these foods.

We seek balance through many methods, like morning yoga poses and guided meditations before bed. But another important part of a balanced, holistic lifestyle is diet. When your body is missing nutrients, you suffer from all kinds of physical and mental ailments. Based on a holistic nutrition perspective, here are some foods you can pair together to promote better body balance from the inside out.

Citrus Fruits and Dark, Leafy Greens The vitamin C in citrus fruits helps your body absorb the iron in kale, spinach, and other leafy greens. Unlike the iron found in animal proteins, the iron in leafy vegetables isn’t as easy to absorb. Get the most out of those greens by tossing your spinach salad with a lemon vinaigrette or brush some lemon or orange juice onto your grilled kale.

These ingredient combinations bring out the best in each other, so your body can function at its best. Pair them together and enjoy!

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