DeLand Senior Stuff October 2010

National Residents’ Rights Week October 3-9

Residents’ Rights

When individuals enter a long-term care facility, they gain a special set of rights in addition to those they maintain as citizens. This special set of rights is called “Residents’ Rights.”
Below are a few highlights of the rights of people in assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

In assisted living facilities, they have the right to:
—Live in a safe and decent living environment, free from abuse and neglect
—Retain and use his/her own clothes and other personal property
—Share a room with a spouse if both are residents of facility
—Reasonable opportunities to exercise and go outdoors at regular and frequent intervals
—45-day notice prior to relocation or termination of residence

In nursing homes, people have the right to:
—Civil and religious liberties
—Private and uncensored communication
—Manage his/her own financial affairs -Refuse medication and treatment and know the consequences
—Be treated courteously, fairly and with fullest measure of dignity

To see the full list of Residents Rights, please visit
http://ombudsman.myflorida.com/ResidentsRights.php

One-Week Celebration October 3 – 9
For the second year in a row, the United States, Florida, and the City of DeLand will celebrate the observance of Residents’ Rights Week, October 3-9.

The week is designated each year to highlight all residents living in long-term-care settings. It is time to reflect on the importance of the Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987 that promises quality of life and care rights for each resident.

Residents’ Rights Week provides us the opportunity to pay tribute to residents as well as support ombudsmen, citizen advocates, facility staff and family members who work to promote and support residents’ rights. 

Your city of DeLand Senior Council has as its primary objective, the improvement of the quality of life for the seniors in our community. As a result, we have urged our Mayor to offer a formal “Proclamation” recognizing Residents’ Rights Week. Mayor Apgar will, we believe, issue that proclamation Tuesday night.

Defining Dining…It’s About Me

The theme for National Residents’ Rights Week this year — Defining Dining…It’s About Me— reminds us that long-term care residents deserve the same high quality dining experience to which the rest of us have access. Residents should be given choices as to what foods they eat. It should be tasty, well prepared, varied, and visually appealing. Moreover, they should have flexible meal times. If a resident has been sleeping during the day and wants a meal at night, she should have it delivered. Snacks should be readily available.

Dining is an integral, systemic function of our lives. It is a resident right. It is just one of many rights that a resident has that must be honored. To the extent we can, we must insist these rights be granted.

Senior Journal News You Can Use

Some articles in http://seniorjournal.com of significance to seniors appear below:

• National Broadcast of U.S. Elder Abuse Film Set for International Day of Older Persons 9/28/2010
   
• Friends, Family Detect Early Alzheimer’s Disease Signs Better Than Traditional Tests 9/27/2010
   
• Affordable Care Act Grants to Help Seniors, Caregivers Meet Health, Long-Term Care Needs 9/27/2010
   
• Medicare Patients Falling Into Donut Hole in 2011 Will Get 50 Percent Off Brand Name Drugs 9/23/2010
   
• Medicare Advantage Rates to Dip 1% in 2011 9/22/2010
   
• Flu Shot Lowers Risk of Heart Attack 9/20/2010

Long Term Care Housing?
Making a long term care housing decision? Go to: www.snapforseniors.com. Outstanding!

Need Help Selecting a Nursing Home?
 We offer two suggestions when selecting a nursing home. Outstanding.!

First — go to www.medicare.gov/NHCompare You will find a listing of several nursing homes in the DeLand area, each rated and compared on a variety of factors. Very helpful.

Second — check out Ombudsman Outlook, the official newsletter of the Florida Long-term-Care Ombudsman Program. Every quarter, they publish a list of facilities that have the highest number of complaints being investigated. The Fall issue lists 15 facilities having between 12 and 24 complaints (including rough details). 

No facility in DeLand made the list during this quarter. http://ombudsman.myflorida.com

Each year, about 90% of nursing homes were cited for violations for federal health and safety standards. Moreover, 15% of the homes had deficiencies that caused “actual harm and immediate jeopardy” to residents. Clearly, checking these places out before checking in is a no brainer.

More October Stuff

It’s Autumn: Fill Your Cup
by Inez Bracy

Autumn is the perfect season to fill your cup by reflecting on your relationship with yourself.
There is no season more suitable to cozy up and give thanks and show your appreciation than this golden season. Before this season ends, be sure to take a day or a few moments to add spice to your life.

• Take a walk in the woods.
• Drink champagne or wine under a tree in a secluded area. Reminisce about the past and resolve to live in the moment and create the future you desire.
• Sit on your porch, with a good book and a glass of wine you’ve been saving for this perfect time.
• Take a bike trip along the mountains and watch the overlooking view of the beautiful colors of autumn.
• Take the time to enjoy the colors of the sunset and the autumn because they blend well together.
• Go to your porch, turn on some slow ballads and dance as if no one is watching.
• Go to county fairs and festivals. Drink some cinnamon apple cider as you wander from booth to booth.

The more you take time for yourself, the more you will enjoy the season. Preparing now empowers you and gives you the strength to get past little annoyances and enjoy the upcoming season fully.

Taking care of yourself fills your cup so that when you are in the holiday season, you’re giving from a full cup. Giving from a full cup helps you give joyfully and fully. Having a full cup supports you in staying connected with yourself and your intentions.

Inez Bracy, BS, MS, CNLP, CGC
Lifestyle Transitions Coach, Speaker, Author www.InezBracy.com Living Smart & Well Radio Show, Tuesdays, 7 pm http://livingsmartandwell.com

Volunteer!
 

Volunteering is the surest thing in this issue that extends life. Call Pat: 736-5016. Or e-mail her at: volunteers@deland.org Today!

Meetings
(Have a meeting? Email us the details.)
Alzheimer Support Group meets October
4th at 2 pm and October 19th at 6:30 pm at Woodland Towers. 738-2700.

The regular meeting of the Rotary Club of DeLand will be held each Thursday at 12 noon at the DeLand Conference Center 310 E. International Bl vd. DeLand, FL To attend or join phone president, Al Bouie at 386-717-5590

Children's Cancer Foundation, Inc. annual fundraiser, Red White and Blue Gala will be held Oct. 2 at the Daytona 500 Experience in the Winner's Circle at Daytona Speedway. You may donate all year. If you missed the Gala, please go to their web site. www.childrenscancerfoundationinc.org 

The super monthly book sale at the Library will be held October 8  and 9. Buy ‘em buy the sack. Honest!

Regular Events at the Sanborn
M—
Shuffleboard 1:30 PM
Monday Dance 2 PM
Square Dance 6 PM
T—
Chorus Practice 2:30 PM
Pinochle 6:30 PM
Ballroom Dance Lessons 6:30 PM
W—
Tai-Chi 8:30 AM
It’s All About Art 9:45 PM
Bridge-12 noon
Chess Club 12 noon
Scrabble 12 noon
Mexican Train 12:45 PM
T— Quilters-8:30
Canasta 11 AM
Ballroom Dance Lessons 2:30 PM
F— West Volusia Artists 9 AM
Shuffleboard Open Play 1:30 PM

Almost Enough Stuff!

October Calendar

13—Nora’s Will (sometimes the best love stories are hidden in the strangest places— like under the bed)
23—Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (award-winning documentary of the great artist)
30—Phantom of the Opera, (Theater Organist, Ron Carter Joins Lon Chaney (spiritually) in a performance of this film classic)

Opera
10 & 28—L’Orfeo (Monteverdi)
17 & 31—Tosca (Puccini) (war, rape, and murder may be too vulgar for the Romans, but we love it)
Call the box office at 736-1500, W-F noon-4, or night of performance, or go online at: www.athenstheatre.org  

At Stetson

Music
6—Jazz Ensemble
8—University Opera (at The Athens)
12—Organ Musicale,
19—Chamber Music
22—University Symphonic Band
24—Wind Ensembles
26—Guitar Ensembles
29-31—Schumann Festival (Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music, Faculty and Guest Recitals

Lectures
8—The Literate Brain
18—Death Penalty in America
19—Sexual Exploitation of Women and Girls
20—A Media Ecologist’s Perspective on the News-sphere, 28—TheLucifer Effect: How Good People Turn Evil (Check local papers for details)

At The Athens
Live entertainment:
3—Amazing Illusions, magic show
8—Stetson Opera Theater Opera Gala
15 & 16—Tony Stevens, Slow Ride: Foghat Classics and Wailing Blues
16—The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Hey, it’s a legend! See it with a kid!)
23—Fab Follies: Sentimental Journey (A dancing, high kicking, smiling, singing group of seniors perform like you won’t believe) 29, 30, & 31

Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Sondheim’s musical thriller (A Sands Theater Production)
A Bloody good show, for sure!

Film
1 & 22—Monty Python-Life of Brian (the operational definition of a “hoot”)
2 & 27—I Am Love (Saw this one last month; it’s a gem!)
2 & 14—Orlando (Queen Elizabeth I commands Orlando to stay young forever; he does—through the end of the 20th century!)

The City of DeLand Senior Council is responsible for producing this phenomenal document on a monthly basis. Council members include:
Deborah Tolan, Chair
Virginia Comella
Vivien Powis, Vice Chair
George Sherman
Jack Allen
Nan Smith
Ron Burgher
Jennifer Wilder
ex officio members:
Maria Becker
Michael Pleus
Pat Caccavale

Enuff Stuff! If you have questions call Ron.