Answers For Elders Radio Network

This segment delves into the day in the life of a senior living resident, having a sense of purpose every day so they can feel like they're a vibrant member of a community that is supporting them. It looks at how Chateau Retirement Communities integrates and sustains care to make sure that residents' quality of life is as great as possible. Nicole Bosancu and Amanda Krueger join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast, recorded onsite at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington. Nicole is Heath Services Director at the Chateau at Valley Center community in Renton, Washington. Amanda is Vice President of Health Services. Nicole explains, "We really rely on our housekeeping and culinary staff, because it really takes a team. We might have a resident who's a little more independent, so housekeeping will come and say, 'Hey, Nicole, this person didn't come down, we haven't seen them in a couple of days either in the dining room, or I went in their apartment and it seems like they need a little bit more help.' So that we can go in and then either have a care conference or talk with them and [ask] what do you need from us to make sure you're taking care of." Nicole says, "If they fall, they can push their call button and the staff can come. But we also have a new AUGi system that is like a motion detector. So somebody falls, it sends us an alert that we can go in and right away. Amanda adds, "One of our mottos is happier, healthier, longer. And so with this new AUGi technology, it's very proactive and that it can hopefully give motion alerts to the team before that resident even has a fall. So that way we're hoping to prevent a fall that could potentially be detrimental if it turns into an injury fall. So it's an amazing technology and we're excited to have it in our communities." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

This segment discussed senior care options, and the different ways that loved ones join a senior living community like Chateau Retirement Communities. Laura Smith and Amanda Krueger join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast talk about the Chateau Retirement care model. Laura is Health Services Director at Chateau Pacific. Amanda is Vice President of Health Services. This show was recorded onsite at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington. Laura says, "We are very fortunate to have the number of nurses that we have in our buildings... The benefit that I see from having so many nurses is that we get to know our residents on a more individualized basis, and then we get to know little details about their lives that guide the way we care for them. Amanda adds, "Really getting to know our residents is very important. In fact, one of the stories that we have recently is that we learned from a family member, or [possibly] a staff member, that a resident was having a hard time showering, getting into the shower and agreeing to that. And they found that offering her a banana before the shower allowed her to forget about the process. And [then] she was able to take the shower without any any behaviors, and never refused to shower after that point. And, making sure that gets to the service plan, so all the staff then learn of that." Laura says, "We have families that don't see necessarily what we see, because their loved one may act differently when they're around, or they've maybe had some walls up that they let down and they have a little bit of dementia or whatnot. So we do see things that the families don't see, so we do have to sit down and and have those conversations, this is what Mom's doing lately. Her mom's not wanting to necessarily go out to activities. Let's figure this out. So we do like to have families come in and talk about these things. We want people to be able to live their best lives that they possibly can here, and have that quality." Suzanne noticed a vibrancy about the culture at Chateau Pacific that has a lot to do with the overall view of how they treat people. Laura says, "Our philosophy here is that we are privileged to work in their home. This is their home, and we get the privilege to work here. So we're serving them. They're not here for us, we're here for them." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Amanda Krueger joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders podcast to talk about senior living, recorded on site at Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Washington. Amanda is Vice President of Health Services, and oversees the health and care provided at Chateau Retirement Communities. Amanda says, "We are a family owned small business. And it's very much our philosophy that's carried on then within our our communities. We believe in letting residents live life on their terms. We treat them with dignity, respect, compassion – when we do need to come into their home and assist them in their daily living. And then we also believe in treating the staff the best we can because it's going to trickle down that if we take care of our staff, they'll take care of our residents. And so those two platforms are something we really strongly believe in, and it's just carried forward for over 25 years now." "Maybe dad has Alzheimer's and mom doesn't. Well, they can both live here. We have that quite often, where one spouse is living independently or even with assisted living, and then their spouse is safely in memory care. And [there's] peace of mind knowing they're okay and they're not going to wander off, or anything like that, and being with them during the day to connect with them in that way." "Our assessment is based on an individual service plan. So we meet the needs, we assess the resident, each individually at various times in the year, if there's a change of condition or annually at minimum, and then whatever that resident needs, we are able to provide. And so from there we have levels, but each person's level and what they do could be different because of what that need is for the resident. It makes the care plan sometimes different for the staff to learn. But we're making sure that that is exactly what the resident needs, and that's what's really important." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Who will care for the family caregiver? Daphne Davis from Pinnacle Senior Placements in Seattle, Washington joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to suggest various ways to provide some relief for your family caregiver. Daphne says, "Recognizing what someone does day in and day out – and it gets to be month after month, and sometimes year after year – just articulating your gratitude to someone has more power than you can even imagine. It lifts the spirit. And it can just be verbal, and just be, 'Thank you. I don't know how you do what you do. Your energy is incredible. You always have a smile for Dad, no matter how confused he is.' The simplest of things can go so far. When you're in a place of gratitude, you can have a heart more of abundance." Reach Pinnacle at 1-855-734-1500 or visit PinnacleSeniorPlacements.com. Learn more: * Pinnacle Senior Placements at Answers for Elders. * About Daphne Davis * Hear more podcasts with Daphne Davis Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Daphne Davis from Pinnacle Senior Placements in Seattle, Washington joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about family, starting those tough conversations about aging parents and senior living, and being guided by your highest family value. Daphne says, "We need to just stop and decide: What are our highest values for me individually, or for our family, or for my relationship with my mom and dad? And for you to have a benchmark – or a litmus or an understanding – of what your highest value is and then work toward that highest value... One [example] would be that I want my parents to be as happy and as healthy and safe as possible while honoring their own wishes. That could be a very standard highest value. You, as an advocate for whoever those people are, parents or otherwise, tweak that in terms of, how can I help them gracefully get into this next chapter of life and still honor their wishes? Because sometimes we have to be very proactive and sometimes we have to say the words that are not easy to say. "And so I'd like to give you just some ideas of how to do that. As an adult child, that could be, 'Mom and dad, this is a tough place for me to be at, and I respect you completely, but I'm seeing the following.' And I would love to have a conversation about this without anybody getting defensive, if we can. And throw some humor in it, if that's your personality. Or if you're a friend and you see something from a distance – maybe it's a couple or somebody that you see at church that's a caregiver for everybody in the church – be able to say to them, 'My heart is is kind of hurting for you right now. And I am your friend. And I feel almost a responsibility to kind of have a conversation. We can have it once and be done, but it's on my heart and I really want to point out some observations that I have.' These are words off the top of my head. And I don't know your personality. These are my personality words, but have the courage to talk about what's going on. Even though someone is saying, 'I'm going to die in my house and go out for feet first,' even though somebody says, 'Nope, I'm not leaving my home,' even though somebody says, 'We're fine,' you still have the courage to push through that, because people aren't fine." Reach Pinnacle at 1-855-734-1500 or visit PinnacleSeniorPlacements.com. Learn more: * Pinnacle Senior Placements at Answers for Elders. * About Daphne Davis * Hear more podcasts with Daphne Davis Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

By 2030, more than 70 million people in the United States will be serving as family caregivers. What do families typically know and don't know about the resources that are out there? If you're a family member of a senior loved one, this is something that you can do to help. Gathering information doesn't mean you're making decisions yet. Daphne Davis from Pinnacle Senior Placements in Seattle, Washington joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about the importance of asking questions. Daphne says, "If you're an adult child, or if you're a power of attorney, for someone, I implore you, ask questions. Any question, it does not matter. If somebody is at the hospital and you see on the board in the hospital room that they are on a no-salt diet, ask about that. Why? It might be something that's very prudent for right now, or it might be something that's in their chart from years ago and isn't germane to today. "When people go to their doctor's office, or when they go to get admitted to the hospital or you're in the E.R. As the patient, you have the right to ask any question.. If [the answer] didn't make sense, or you're not clear about it, ask again. It's your body. It's your life. Be bold, and just ask questions." Regarding resources that are are available to help. Daphne says, "Most counties have a resource called Aging and Disability, and that's a really good source of information to find out what services are in your county or in your community. It is a good resource. Many of those resources are free, or they can be at a reduced rate through the county and that's [paid for] through your taxes. Make use of those services that your county has. "Another resource in your community: You may have a person that's called a placement navigator, or someone who does placement and referral for housing and care for seniors. And that's what I do. I'm a resource for people. Typically our services are free to the consumer. And so we're a point of information, an information post. And when you reach out to someone, that's not saying, 'Oh, I'm ready to move,' it's a place to gather information. "Another place that you can sometimes find resources is through your church. If you've got a faith system, your pastor, your rabbi, a priest, they may know of some resources for you or people to help you get through a situation, or just to inform you about how how does this system work." Reach Pinnacle at 1-855-734-1500 or visit PinnacleSeniorPlacements.com. Learn more: * Pinnacle Senior Placements at Answers for Elders. * About Daphne Davis * Hear more podcasts with Daphne Davis Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa were both in the news recently. Both had been found dead at their home, her from a rare hantavirus and Hackman from advanced Alzheimer's. She had been his primary caregiver. Daphne Davis from Pinnacle Senior Placements in Seattle, Washington joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about caregiver burnout. Currently 53 million Americans are family caregivers, providing unpaid assistance to their loved ones with either health conditions, disabilities or aging issues. Suzanne says, "The thing that's so overwhelming is, she didn't take care of herself. She let her disease progress to the point where she passed away – and she was on the phone with her doctor. Of course, we will never know exactly the facts of that phone call, but the whole point is, it's overwhelming. They tend to ignore their own health, their own symptoms, their own lives. They let themselves go down the rabbit hole, all in the sacrifice of caring for someone else. And this is a classic scenario. " Daphne says, "It is. But it also isn't necessarily something that's front and center, it sneaks up on them. The power of stress on our bodies is not always able to be seen when you're in it. And sometimes even from your family, if you've got daily routine with your family, they may not see the effects of your added responsibilities and being a caregiver. But internally, your body is is fighting to hang on. And that changes from decade to decade. The more birthdays you have, the more profound stress can be on your body functions. And so when you have a doctor – or a friend, or someone who's visiting you after seeing you maybe a few months ago – really, really listen to what they're saying. Please don't dismiss it." Daphne adds, "If you're the caregiver, you are in the thick of it and you are in the routine of doing what you do on a daily basis. I'll speak as a daughter. I remember when my mom would say, 'Daphne, today wasn't that bad,' or when she had a really bad day, she'd say, 'Tomorrow will be better,' or one that was really stressful and she was caring for my dad, who had Lewy Body dementia and Parkinson's, when it was a very stressful day and things really were falling apart, that's when she was most often ready to get some additional care. And then the sun comes up the next day, and she says, 'Now, Daphne, I can go another day.' "It's those deepest days that you really need to listen to, because that's the denominator that determines how much stress you have. Yes, you are a caregiver, and your heart is going to be full of compassion to keep going... You're on this roller coaster, and your body is spitting out adrenaline and cortisol with that roller coaster. And the faster that wave gets on the roller coaster, the more stress you're going to have. We’ve got to give ourselves a break. We have to do it." Reach Pinnacle at 1-855-734-1500 or visit PinnacleSeniorPlacements.com. Learn more: * Pinnacle Senior Placements at Answers for Elders. * About Daphne Davis * Hear more podcasts with Daphne Davis Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Senior Care Finder's CEO and Co-Founder Christie Stukenholtz joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about how is technology changing the way for families to connect. She also shares advice on what to look for on other websites to make sure you're getting impartial information, or not getting sent to a call center where your contact information will be be shared. Christie says, "By 2030, all Baby Boomers will be of retirement age or older, and that's about 73 million people. And about 70% of them will end up needing some sort of care. And I will tell you that the industry as a whole is not prepared for this level of demand. Thinking about home care, that's very much something that many, many people are considering these days. And there are tremendous, amazing technologies that leverage AI, and different things that allow people to stay at home longer. "We leverage AI on our platform Senior Care Finder to really help guide someone through the process. It's more than just selecting a community, or finding a home care agency that can you or your loved one. It's everything else that goes with that process. If someone has to move, what do I do with their stuff? How do I manage their finances? There's so many questions. And so we want to be that place that you can land, take a deep breath, and at least feel confident in your next decision, and know you have technology and tools that are aiding you in that process. "One of the things we talked about is really being in control of your search and feeling confident of the resources that you have, in their transparency, and all of that good stuff. As I think about tips that I would give people as they're searching, if you get to a site and the first thing you have to do is give all of your contact information, press pause. They're going to do something with that information. And so just be aware of that. If you get to a site where it looks like a directory site, but suddenly you start to notice that the phone number on every single listing is exactly the same, pause. Think about what that might mean. They're going to fail to filter you to a call center and probably leverage your information in your experience to a lot of communities that weren't relevant. Have your antenna up and listen to your gut, that that is important, and we want to be a resource that's non-biased and transparent, meeting the consumer where they're at, and in holding their hand through the process." Check out the Senior Care Finder website. Senior living communities and senior care providers can claim their free listing. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Trying to find care or a senior living community for a senior loved one? Senior Care Finder's CEO and Co-Founder Christie Stukenholtz joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to share her top tips. Listen in as she explains: Check out the Senior Care Finder website. Senior living communities and senior care providers can claim their free listing. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

If you're in that process of later life care, or caring for a senior loved one, this is a very important conversation. Senior Care Finder's CEO and Co-Founder Christie Stukenholtz talks with Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show about the first steps families should take when they come upon a crisis about their loved one. Christie says, "I'm from Lincoln, Nebraska... With my grandmother being in Washington state, or my grandpa now being in San Antonio, Texas, a platform like Senior Care Finder can help. Using and leveraging those virtual tours, looking and reading at consumer reviews, those help you. And a site like Senior Care Finder can also give you the tools to be able to narrow down your search, find the top priorities that your loved one needs, and then also arm you with those questions to ask." "My first piece of advice is, if you don't think you need to have the conversation, it's the perfect time to start the conversation. Because nobody wants to be a burden. But people have wishes and they have desires of how they would like to spend their days, and that matters. As soon as you can start the conversation, the better. But secondly, really understanding, what are their non-negotiables? What are their most important things, that if nothing else matters – they need a place that's pet friendly, or they need a place that is in close distance to family so that they can come visit, or they need a private room. Something is at the top of that list. And so having that conversation will help you research, and do the navigating, will help you prioritize and get really clear on what places might be the best fit." Check out the Senior Care Finder website. Senior living communities and senior care providers can claim their free listing. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Senior Care Finder's CEO and Co-Founder Christie Stukenholtz shares her personal story with Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show. Suzanne recalls that she needed a resource like this years ago to help her make the right decisions for her mom. Christie says, "My first interaction with senior care and searching for options was for my grandmother, who lived in Washington state. I lived in Nebraska, and my dad called and informed me that she could no longer live independently at home, and asked if I could be helpful in figuring out where she could go next. And quite frankly, my husband, Heath, worked in the senior living industry. I was pretty savvy. I was a smart researcher. I did not think it would be very hard. So I confidently said yes, and quickly had a rude awakening of how hard that process was. "We were fortunate to get on a plane and rent a car, and drive around to a number of different communities, and tour them – many of which did not look anything like the few pictures I found online – and ultimately found a great place for her. But on that flight home in 2015, I told Heath, this cannot possibly be the experience that everyone is going through. Not even a place to see a comprehensive list of my results, or really understand the differences of care types, or how you pay for it. It's a big, confusing world... And if I can't be the one to care for my mom or my grandma, it's a really, really big deal who that person is, or community is. And so I really felt a pull to to jump in and do something about it." Christie adds, "Now, consumers, in my opinion, are much more educated, because they're doing research on their own right. And they want to learn and gather information, and they don't want to be sold to. And we really study the behavior of that person, and try to meet them where they're at. So that's really the need that Senior Care Finder is trying to fill, is being a place that people can go take a deep breath and really start educating themselves, and start that process that so many times can feel very overwhelming." Check out the Senior Care Finder website. Senior living communities and senior care providers can claim their free listing. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Hear some memorable success stories from seniors who have followed through with the Whole Life Living Approach at GenCare Lifestyle from Leon Grundstein and Danielle Parker. Leon is Founder and CEO, and Danielle Parker is COO, Leon shares the story of a Parkinson's patient determined to be able to get our of her wheelchair and walk again. "We had a woman move into our Ballard community. She had Parkinson's and she was in a wheelchair. One of her goals was, 'I really want to be able to walk again.' So we have, certified trainers included in the rent in all our buildings... We started developed a program for this woman that started off in the pool, so it allowed her to walk. She did weight training and she slowly, from walking in the pool, graduated to a walker, and she was using a walker instead of a wheelchair. And she was very excited about that. "And she continued the program and she was dedicated herself, and had the drive to complete the program. Then she started lifting weights and doing boxing, a good thing for Parkinson's. Anyhow, she hit the next level and she was able to use a cane. She had all the gumption going, and [eventually] she was able to stand up and walk 100 feet without any support. She was able to be much more mobile and manage her disease much, much better. And we were always very proud of that, and proud of the trainer that helped her get there." Danielle shares the story of a woman with diabetes. "She's still living at our Renton community. When she moved in, she self-described as overweight. She did have type-2 diabetes and she was on insulin. She joined our walking program. And in the program, they would wear a pedometer and they would track the stats and ultimately at the end of the program, they were walking to Las Vegas, so that they would celebrate with a casino. Casino Royale night at the Community, which was lots of fun. But the real reward for this resident was she went and saw her doctor after the program. She was no longer diabetic, no longer taking insulin. And felt better than ever. She had lost 70 pounds. She's a testimonial on our website, and she's wonderful, just a wonderful resident. She would later go on to beat cancer, and attributes a lot of that to the program." Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

No matter where you are in the U.S., here's good advice when researching senior living communities. Leon Grundstein, Founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle, and Danielle Parker, their COO, join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show. Leon talks about the questions people should ask and things they should look for in a senior living community. Danielle talks about looking at reputation scores and online reviews, but also points out that a community should be asking you about your values, interests, and wishes too. Leon says, "In my opinion, when you walk into a community, the first thing you want to see is activity. You want people out and about, talking to each other, doing stuff, because that is an indicator of what kind of energy is in the building. The most people want activity. You want to be in a place where you can hang out and have fun and meet people and socialize. "Second is when you engage with staff members like the housekeeper or even the maintenance guy, when you walk by, do they say hi or do they look at the floor? So you want them to engage with you. "You want to have a meal there. See what the food’s like. You want to meet the executive director, because you can get a feeling of how the leadership is in the building." Danielle addresses what to look for in online research. "Looking at reputation scores, of course, reading reviews online, are critical to know what the current residents and family feel about the community. Looking at any compliance information that's available online. Most cities and states have public information about the care and wellness services that are being provided at the community. "But I think the one of the most important things is, really, pay attention to the questions that you're being asked. The first time you go, how well are they working to get to know you and your needs as a person? [Do they ask] what does your day look like? What's important to you? What do you value? What are your traditions, and how do you spend your holidays and days at home? And and what do you want to do, if you could do anything? You really want to find a community that matches those values and aligns with who you are as a person, who you aspire to be as a person, and is ready and willing to partner with you on that journey." Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Socializing is a critical aspect of our well-being. Leon Grundstein, Founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle, and Danielle Parker, their COO, join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show to talk about this part of our lives. Leon explains how GenCare tracked the effects of longevity when they began their Whole Life Living Approach program. Leon says, "One of the worst things that can happen to you is being in solitary confinement. That's why it's so oppressive. And that speaks to why, if a person just decides to stay home with a caregiver and they don't socialize, they're really going to deteriorate mentally, emotionally and physically. So when you come into an environment like ours where you're around people, whether it's at a meal, an exercise class or discussion about a book or you're watching a movie together, or you're having a political debate together, no matter which side of the fence you're on, it works your brain and it gets your juices flowing and it just makes you feel more alive. As human beings, we need that kind of contact. "You get a few hugs along the way. And physical touch is important, not just the verbal interaction, the visual interaction. We develop relationships and bonds, and people are happier, and they live longer when when they're in that type of situation." Danielle shares a success story. "I met a daughter of a current resident. Now, he was a prospective resident then, and she was looking for senior housing communities specifically related to nutrition. Dad was home alone, independent, still driving. And he was he was eating a lot of frozen TV dinners – the number one ingredient is sodium, for shelf life. And he had heart failure, and his legs were swelling, and he couldn't figure out why. And it was having a very negative impact on his quality of life, and his ability to navigate at home, navigating the kitchen. "About six weeks after he moved in, the swelling in his legs was nearly gone. And he was walking better. He was participating in activities. He actually said he hated TV dinners. He said they had their time and place, but didn't want them any more. And his daughter just felt so relieved. Her dad was back. He would opt to go with her out on outings, and go to the grocery store, and run errands." Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

The Whole Life Living Approach help seniors improves their lives in key areas for senior living. Leon Grundstein, Founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle, and Danielle Parker, their COO, join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about their program. Leon explains its origins. "I was looking at really what what we as humans really need, not just in our age group. Whatever we eat is the fuel that drives our engine. So we want we want good food, without preservatives, we want special diets for vegans and vegetarians. We don't want processed food. We want to make food that's fresh on-site. We want to have adaptations for people who have gluten intolerance, or [for] diabetics. This ... makes you feel better, makes your heart run better, manages diabetes, manages weight, all those things. "And then the next step is exercise. You want exercise to take advantage of the fuel to keep your body strong, allows you to sleep better, better management of diabetes, for example. And we know it reduces the incidence of cancer when you're active, and we just wanted to take that step as one of the four facets. "The third facet was the socialization. And we know that human beings do better in a social environment than being isolated. It stimulates us both socially and emotionally. So we have a very socially-active program with residents, that we track what they do and how often they do it, to make sure they're participating. "Lastly, no matter what age you are, you still want some purpose in your life." Danielle talks about how the plan is implemented. "It's the four facets: eat better, move better, think better, live better. And if we're doing the four things the way Leon outlines, then the residents' quality of life is enhanced and they might live longer as well, with a higher quality of life. And we're looking at residents holistically, deliberately, and specific, and making sure that we're addressing their needs." Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Will Senior Living leverage AI and other technologies in the future? Chief of Staff Tamra Godfrey, SHRM-SCP at Chateau Retirement Communities continues her conversation with Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show from Chateau Boston Landing. Tamra shares her vision to care for the next generation of staff and residents. Tamra says, "My dad has always been ahead of the curve technology-wise, and I think he's really embedded that in all of his children. And so it's fun to to be looking ahead and bringing in what is really innovative. I think we might be a little ahead of the curve as far as succession is going. And I'm really excited about leveraging that and the new perspective and embracing AI where we can, streamlining, and enabling technology as much as as much as we can." "I love connecting with people. I love work. I love seeing our employees. I love working with a leadership team. It's, it's really fulfilling to help seniors live their lives with as much respect and dignity as possible, and say anything is possible." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Chief of Staff Tamra Godfrey, SHRM-SCP joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show from Chateau Boston Landing in Washington State. Tamra discusses how employees are hired and developed at Chateau Retirement Communities so they can be supported and mentored. Tamra describes growing up at Chateau and gaining her background. "I kind of grew up at the Chateau, so my very first job was as a server at Chateau Pacific. During college, I was a prep cook, so I was just working part time. I was going to school full time and then post-college, I became a full time cook in a community in Renton, so I was cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of our veterans down there. And then I made the move to our home office as an executive assistant. And then I started as an H.R. manager at Chateau Valley Center. Eventually I moved into a community relations director position, then into a marketing position at our home office. And then that's when I decided to jump out of the nest and go do things on my own. I went to work for a property management company out of Seattle, and I did that for about seven years. And that's amazing background to for coming into that now where you're going to be managing these properties. I learned so much. It was really complex and I had a great time there. [Eventually] I understood how to do it, I got a little bit bored. And so I called my dad and I'm like, I think I'm interested in learning more and possibly coming back to this business, and taking it to the next generation." "I think it all comes from our shared values. In addition to being a family-owned and operated company, really focusing on people and investing in people. We see so much value in this. If our employees are happy and engaged and feel valued, they are going to take care of our residents exponentially better than if they were not engaged. So, really investing in them, in their emotional, physical well-being, in making sure our leaders are great leaders and taking care of the employees at work. That's been a big investment and a big value. "We have three nurses at every single one of our campuses. It's incredible, and nurses are not cheap. They are truly an investment. And what we've done to support them is, we have resident care coordinators, who are really focused on the staff management alongside their nurse, so that all of the caregivers can be a cohesive unit and have the right support for managers, while nurses are really focused on the nursing care that they're specialized in." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Suzanne Newman continues her conversation with CEO and President Jim Godfrey at Chateau Retirement in Washington State. In this segment, Jim talks about his experiences living at the senior living community he founded. Jim says, "I've been living here in Chateau now for what, 16, 17 months? And I've gotten to know a lot of the residents, and as of yet, I don't know whether they're just being nice — I don't think so, I think they’re being honest — they say they love it here. They love the staff and they love the food. They love everything we do. So, you know, I thought, Oh God, I’m moving here. I’ll have somebody at my door every day complaining about something. It hasn’t happened." When it comes to improving the lives of other people, Jim says, "That's what kept me in the business after I first tried it out. I felt it was very it was a good feeling, frankly, to be able to give these senior citizens who built their country a happy and peaceful life as enjoyable as possible, seeing your face in their life. And that, to me, seemed like – I think the Buddhists call it right to work. And I felt it really was right for doing that. So that's what kept me in it, and I was enjoying it too. "We focus on the residents and their well-being, not the bottom line. I mean, we we have to keep ourselves profitable and operating efficiently, and all that. But we're not going to suddenly jump the rates 15% or 20% just to make some goal. Jim explains, "Our mission was to work with each resident as they come in, get to know them, and then work with them to help them develop a lifestyle which they like and they want to build on. And so they can live happier, healthier and live longer, and they do it on their terms. One of my initial feelings about these buildings [decades ago], it’s sort of like an army camp where you all go into a big barracks and we all have the same routine, and I didn't want that. "I wanted our residents to be able to choose their own lifestyle and live life to the fullest. And I think they they do that. We have people sit down with them after they move in, and talk to them, and then try to help them meet other people, and other veterans who have maybe similar backgrounds, who they might connect, and introduce them to them. So they start to make friends. They get here for a few months and their circle starts to expand. And human beings are social, right? Yes, they are. They need friends, they want to talk, have friendships. So trying to help them make friends is a big part of it." Regarding the future of his communities, and setting the foundation for the next 25 years, he says, "I've always had [my] children working here for me. I wanted to let them dip their toe in the water and see how they liked it. And so I had two or three children, son in law, daughter in law, working for us from time to time. And then Tamra was, and then she moved out. Then one day, I got a call, 'hey dad, what if I came back to Chateau to work?' Yeah, you know, thank God. Cause I thought she'd have the capability to take it and run it. [I told her] I want you to go and get an MBA, as well as your psychology degree. I think we're in good hands." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Suzanne Newman broadcasts this week's radio show from Chateau Retirement in Washington State, talking with CEO and President Jim Godfrey. Jim describes his start in the industry, coming from a construction background and partnering with a person who ran nursing homes in the 1980s. Jim helped redefine retirement living. Jim says, "It's a kind of business that I felt good about, retirement. Here I am giving back to people who built this country, seniors who worked hard, and scraped, and saved, and built this country. Now I have a chance to give back something to them, and where they can live in happiness and reasonable health — depending on whatever afflictions they may have — but do do the very best to give them happy, happy final years of their lives, as enjoyable as possible." Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton. Visit them online at https://www.chateauretirement.com or call 800.960.1944. Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Volunteer groups advocate to make a difference in the lives of people facing Alzheimer's and dementia. Jim Wilgus, Executive Director for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about various ways you can help the search for a cure. Jim says, "There's a lot of ways for folks to engage with the Alzheimer's Association, whether you're in need of services yourself, or you want to volunteer for a clinical trial, or you want to volunteer for an event, or be a community educate educator in your home community. We're present with Walk events in 600 communities across the United States and over almost 30 in my territory. "There's all kinds of ways for people to get involved. Certainly if you're in need of services, that's a place to start your journey, to access services at the local level or at a 24/7, 365 day year level. Contact our helpline at 1 800 272-3900. We have master's level social workers that work at that helpline to provide care and support services and advice to individuals, but also they're available with our central information around what's happening locally that you can get involved with. "Another great place to go is our website www.alz.org, and you can access a myriad of resources there, but also find your local chapter. Getting involved as a volunteer, or seeking our services, is a good first step to begin your journey of supporting the Alzheimer's Association or gaining services from the Alzheimer's Association. "A one time opportunity could be to participate in your state's Advocacy Day, which actually has individuals from all parts of the state. We held ours last week in Olympia here in Washington. We had over 100 individuals at the state capitol in Olympia who visited with every legislator on a scheduled appointment to talk about the agenda that we were promoting to support Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. We were in Juneau last week in Alaska. If you're in Des Moines, if you're in Santa Fe, if you're in Annapolis, there's a state advocacy day for every single state. It's just as easy as finding the information on our website and learning about when those dates are, and how you can register." Visit https://www.alz.org/trialmatch to find clinical trials in your area. Alzheimer's Association websiteAbout Alzheimer's and DementiaAlzheimer's AssociationWalk to End Alzheimers Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks