Between the two wars, Raymond served in the Army for 21 years.  In addition to his education and training for joining the infantry, he learned to become a cook, baker, supervisor and instructor for the Army.

As a bread and pastry baker, Raymond trained to set up and operate mess halls during the Korean War.  After the war, he managed the Officer Club at Ft. Holabird in Baltimore before having the opportunity to travel back to Europe.  Stationed in Salzburg, Austria, he set up and operated the daily feeding of 30,000 Hungarian refugees.

These days, he is continuing his love of baking and is often seen decorating cakes in between watching sports, catching up with friends and sharing his stories of his experiences in combat. And there is one particular facility he thanks for the ability to maintain these activities: Transitions Healthcare of Sykesville.

Raymond was introduced to the facility in 2010 after he was hospitalized and told he would need physical and occupational therapy. When he was hospitalized a second time the following year, it was never a question for Raymond that he would return there for his rehabilitation services.

“Transitions Healthcare is the place to go for great rehab, a friendly and caring staff, a clean building and good activities,” he said.

According to Raymond, both long and short-term residents are encouraged to participate in different opportunities onsite, whether it is enjoying musical entertainment or competing in Bingo.  Since leaving the facility, Raymond said he feels like his old self, with the exception of having more friends than ever with whom to share his war and horse racing stories.

“I go to breakfast at McDonald’s in Westminster and can still decorate a cake when it is necessary,” he said.  “The important thing is that after the rehab services, I am enjoying living on my own, in my home on my small farm.”

And should he need any assistance in the future, Raymond has peace of mind knowing there is a place where he will always be welcome.

It was the end of a long day when Mary Knapp, Director of Health Services, got an email from a bathtub vendor to enter a contest and “win a one-of-a-kind, pink spa tub, made in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 2011.”  The Mastercare manufacturer was asking healthcare providers to submit stories that described how they supported breast cancer awareness within their community.

Having just completed her annual budget planning meetings, where a State mandate forced her to included a request for funds to purchase an Abington House bathing tub, Mary decided to fire off an essay.  She had fresh memories of a member of Foulkeways healthcare team who had recently completed treatment for breast cancer and she could easily share how the entire team had rallied around their teammate.   When she finished her submission, she hit the ‘send’ button on her computer, then left for home, putting all thoughts of spa bathing tubs out of her mind.  Within a month, she received a call from the CEO of Mastercare, who told her that her essay had been chosen as ‘The Grand Prize Winner,’ and that a new, $13,900, pink, Entrée Bathing System was on its way to Foulkeways from Nebraska.  Mary couldn’t remember the details of what she had written in her essay, and because she never dreamed that her article would be chosen, hadn’t made a copy, so now she and found herself agreeing with the Mastercare CEO’s comments as he went on and on about her award-winning piece being both poignant and expressive.  “I was racking my brain trying to remember exactly what I had written; and he was being so kind and generous.”

By the end of 2011 the tub arrived, and it weighed a ton!  It took most of the Foulkeways Maintenance Department, working together, to move it but move it they did, right into the permanent home that had been created in Abington House just down the hall from the Haircrafters Hair Salon.   Once Jon La Rue from the Maintenance Department installed the Jacuzzi, the healthcare team realized that this magnificent, top-of-the-line, made in America, bathing tub was not just pink, it was HOT PINK….I’m talking bubble gum, flaming, flamingo, PINK!   The team decided that this ‘beauty’ needed to be showcased in the new spa area they had created.   After all, it pre-heats the seat and the water coming into the chamber and keeps the water heated to a preset temperature during the bath. It comes with hot air jets and a wave action to enhance the spa experience.  Aromatherapy and a side door that raises and lowers with a touch of a button, makes this no ordinary bathtub.

The healthcare team decided that this new, big, bright, bold spa tub needed to be surrounded by a big, bright, bold Caribbean theme, since the winning essay was inspired by a staff person from Jamaica who was being treated for breast cancer.  Nursing staff stayed late into the night hanging a wall mural with a fantastic tropical fish pattern found on sale, online, and the Maintenance staff painted the rest of the room and repaired wooden cabinets.  Lisa Cianci, Administrative Assistant in Health Services, found two vintage Foulkeways chairs that she volunteered to paint and recover to match the new décor.  Staff searched every store in the vicinity, and online, to find the perfect big, thick, thirsty, king-sized bath towels, on sale, that also color coordinated with the newly painted walls, the bold fish wallpaper, and of course, the PINK spa tub.  These economical beauties also had to pass the Foulkeways Housekeeping Team’s ‘wash and dry’ test.

“One day,” explains Mary, “when I was heading home on Folly Road, I came across a pile of old wooden window frames, lying along the side of the road.  Some homeowner was throwing them out!  They were nice wooden frames with wooden cross bars, so I slammed on the breaks, got out and threw them into the back of my car.  I took them home to my garage, thinking to myself, ‘I’ll bet I can use them, I’m just not quite sure how.’   After a few weeks my husband, Karl, starting grumping at me about the pile of old windows taking up garage space, but I knew I’d stumbled across them for a reason, so I just let his complaints go in one ear and out the other….

“As the spa neared completion, it suddenly dawned on me that we would have to keep the drapes on the windows in the room closed, for obvious reason!  That’s when I realized my ‘roadside treasures’ would come in handy, so I bought a couple of 99 cent posters printed with beach scenes, tacked the posters behind the old window frames and then had the windows  mounted on the walls of the Spa.  Now when residents are luxuriating in the PINK spa, they can look out the ‘windows’ and enjoy a view of the beach”.

All residents at Foulkeways are encouraged to enjoy the new Spa; its use is not limited to the residents in Abington House.  Creating this new space turned into a labor of love, shared by members of multiple Foulkeways departments.  What began as a tribute to honor the caring and support coworkers willingly extended to one of their own, has grown into a special project that has created a space devoted to relaxation and rejuvenation.  Thanks to our new PINK tub and the hard work of so many Foulkeways employees,  residents can ‘book’ a mini  tropical vacation in our Abington House Spa, without ever leaving our campus.  “For a brief moment, they can step away from their everyday lives and immerse themselves into the soothing warmth and relaxation afforded by our new Pink tub.  We think we’ve come as close to duplicating a tropical ‘HUG’ as we could, and everybody can use an extra hug from time to time!” smiles Mary.

Alan’s story is all too common; in 2009 he was downsized from his job in the information technology field. After spending considerable time and energy looking for similar work, he started to think about changing his career path and other entrepreneurial ideas and business opportunities.

One of the paths Alan followed was an idea of creating a concierge service designed to specifically assist seniors and family caregivers. Steve Gurney, publisher of Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook reviewed Alan’s business plan and asked him one simple question, “What do you REALLY like to do?” Alan responded with passion that he has played the drums for over 30 years, which sparked the idea to organize drum circles in senior living communities.

In less than a month Alan secured his first “gig” at a senior living community and launched his company, The Beat Goes On.

One of the first communities to take a chance on Alan’s innovative concept was Sunrise at Bluemont Park. Activity Director Danielle Nelson says, “It was a huge hit with all of our residents, from independent living to those with memory impairment.”

The staff is equally enthusiastic about the unique activity. When the drum circle is in full swing it is common to see several staff members joining in, dancing in the hallways or sharing a drum with the residents. “Seeing the success of the drum circles inspires you to think outside the box when planning activities,” says Danielle Nelson.

Alan is signing up new communities every week and has been enthusiastically asked to return by nearly every community at which he has conducted a drum circle. Although his new venture has not replaced his previous income, he says, “It’s a dream come true to be sharing my passion for drumming and music with others in such a positive manner.”

“That cemented the relationship,” says Kay. “I always thought of Esther as my kid sister.”

Esther eventually became a boarder at Kay’s mother’s home, where Kay still lived. After Kay’s mother passed away, the twosome moved to a home near Towson, Md. There they made many happy memories traveling across the country and throughout Europe.

“We like to kid each other and we’ve never had a fight,” says Esther. “We don’t always agree, but agree to disagree.”

Unfortunately in 2006 Kay required surgery and had to subsequently move into Stella Maris, a long-term care facility located in Timonium, which separated the duo for two years. However, Esther’s declining health recently made it no longer possible for her to live at home by herself. Once it became known that Esther would be admitted, both Admissions and Nursing staff worked hard to reunite the two gal pals.

Today, 67 years later, they are still best buds and share a room on Three Shehan. They enjoy playing Bingo, participating in “Fun with Food,” celebrating birthday parties and listening to live music. Although they have one another, the two are happy to be in the company of the other residents and staff of Stella Maris.

“Everyone is so kind,” says Esther. “I’m glad that I’m not living alone anymore.”

Photo:
Roommates Katherine Budeker and Esther Allen have enjoyed each other’s company for 67 years.

Observe residents. Is their hair clean, their clothing soiled? What about staff? Are they stressed, are they surly or curt?

Check out the surroundings. Cleanliness is important, so look for uncollected garbage, dust and dirt. (Odors are normal in nursing homes, especially when hallways are filled with bins of dirty bed linens). Check the bathrooms, look under the beds, etc.

Ask to see the menu. Is there variety and nutritional balance? Is the home sensitive to different dietary needs? You can ask for a copy of the menu and later show it to your parent’s doctor for feedback. Check on where residents eat breakfast. Is it served in bed on a tray? Superior homes will have residents up and out in the dining room.

To view this article, visit http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/Articles/a2003-01-21-seniorhousing.html.

The Washington, D.C. native served in the Army for four years, two of which he was an active member and the other two he spent in the Reserve. Eventually, Louis completed a food service course in Fort Jackson, SC and went on to work for a prominent catering company.

When he suffered a stroke due to alcoholism, he was admitted to George Washington University Hospital. For Louis, accomplishing everyday needs such as bathing, dressing or eating on his own had become difficult.

“I was completely dependent on my daily activities,” he said.

After about a month, the hospital recommended a nursing home placement in which Louis would have 24-hour assistance.

He and his father were then contacted by a liaison from Bay Ridge Health Care Center, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in Annapolis. The two were told everything they needed to know and in January of 2007, Louis made the transition to his temporary home.

According to Louis, the entire staff was highly involved in his care and assisting him with everything necessary.

“I could not move by myself, so they had to turn and reposition me at times to avoid any sores,” he said.

After a few weeks, he was able to start moving his toes and ankles and continued a steady progression until he became completely independent.

“That was when I felt ready to come back to the community and this facility even helped me in that process,” said Louis.

In an effort to help Louis assimilate to life outside of the center, the business office applied for Social Security disability benefits as well as Medical Assistance. In effort to help Mr. Armstrong find a stable home they contacted the coordinating center to find housing for him.

Though he ended his residency in October of 2008, Louis moved into a suburb of Annapolis and now works at the center’s Dietary Department.

“I do believe there is a God and I believe God put me here to save my life,” said Louis. “I feel blessed and appreciate working here since Bay Ridge will always be my family.”

He also participates with an AA group that meets every Wednesday at his former home and works with the National Hospitals and Institutions organization bringing messages of hope to hospitals, jails and other institutions in the area.

Though he remains highly involved with the center, there is no way Louis could forget those who helped him flourish again.

“I highly recommend them to anybody who needs help,” he said.

As a Board member, Nell thought it was inevitable that she would someday live at the community. Having grown up in the Sandy Spring area and being a Quaker, it was her obvious choice for where to spend her future years. “I knew there was a great group of people here and that I would learn a lot more about them,” she said.

Another convenient factor was having three of her five children and their families living in the immediate area.

After making her transition to Friends House in 2002, she did not hesitate to get involved and enjoy the activities her new home had to offer. From performing skits to taking advantage of learning opportunities and celebrating group birthdays, Nell was active as ever.

Two years later, Nell had a hip replacement and the procedure required a rehabilitative stay in the community’s Health Care unit. After she was able to return to her independent living unit, the therapist came directly to her apartment for physical therapy treatments.

Nell recalls the convenience of this therapy program. “The therapist could just walk across the courtyard to my apartment, which made it so much easier for me,” she said. Nell believes that the attitude of the therapists was what helped her achieve her good results.

Two years after the hip replacement, Nell suffered a broken hip. She again went through the rehabilitation process and returned to her independent apartment. When asked about her incentive to heal and return home, Nell said “I had to get home to my cat!”

Though Nell is not as active as she used to be, she still enjoys those birthday pizza parties and listening to the choral group at the community. As she is quite content in her apartment with Pumpkin, her constant companion, Nell remains grateful that policies have changed since she was a Board member. These policies have now allowed residents like her to stay in independent living even when they become a little frailer and need the assistance of a walker.

“The care that seems to be going into planning and making a place available for us has been great,” said Carol. The Merediths are among the many individuals looking forward to the 60 apartments and 29 villas that will be added as part of Ware Presbyterian Village’s latest expansion project.

Married for 57 years with three children and four grandchildren, the couple met when Floyd was in the Air Force and located in Carol’s home state, Wyoming. Eventually Floyd was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1965 and retired in 1997.

“I enjoyed being with people, helping them solve their problems and just sharing good news,” he said.

Working as an accounting manager for the Presbytery of Philadelphia for 23 years, Carol loved being part of the church family as well.

With so many happy years behind them, the Merediths wanted to find a home where they could spend their future years together while receiving the health care they potentially needed. When researching their options, however, they also wanted to take into account each community’s amenities and overall cost.

It was when they visited a friend living in Ware Presbyterian Village’s villas that they knew it was a perfect fit.

“It was just so attractive and well organized,” said Floyd. “We were very much drawn to the situation and to it as a possible home when we finally made our move.”

Because he has Parkinson’s disease and Carol has Rheumatoid arthritis, the couple knew it was inevitable they would need the available care at Ware Presbyterian Village. As the community offers assisted living as well as skilled nursing and rehabilitation, the couple could feel secure knowing their needs would continue to be met.

Though they have yet to become official residents of the community, they have already felt in many ways that they are home. The staff has arranged several events, such as an outing to Longwood Gardens and a tea social that has helped introduce future residents to one another and ultimately allowed them to better assimilate to the community.

“We’ve met so many people on the waiting list at various functions we’ve attended,” said Carol.

By attending seminars on how to downsize and sell the family home as well as open discussions on what should be available in the new apartments, the Merediths have already been quite involved with life at Ware Presbyterian Village.

And they have a great deal more to look forward to. While Carol enjoys reading, cross stitch and scrap booking, Floyd has been kept busy through his involvement in the church. For their free time, however, the community features several activities including local lectures, movies, sporting events, theatrical programs and card clubs as well as musical entertainment and ice cream socials.

Having established connections with staff and their future neighbors, the Merediths could not be more excited for a promising future at the home that they know is well worth the wait.

“With the Foreign Service, we’ve made many moves, but this is different,” said Helen. “This is the ‘ultimate’ move.”

And for these D.C. residents of over 50 years, their ultimate move had to be to Fox Hill, a senior living community scheduled to open this year in Bethesda.

“We’re really looking forward to this transition,” said Helen. “We’ll still be inside the Beltway and can continue to take part in the many activities the Washington area offers – the social groups, the music and theater and other cultural aspects.”

It was that interest in different cultures that brought the Lows together initially. The two met in the early 1950s while attending graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. They were married in 1954 and joined the Foreign Service shortly after.

“I had done a doctoral thesis on the Philippines and Helen had studied India, so it was only natural that we would spend our career in Africa and/or Latin America. It was just a fascinating time,” said Steve. After helping open the first American post in Kampala, Uganda, followed by a tour in Senegal, they were sent to Brasilia soon after it was founded.

The Lows then traveled to Zambia where he had been appointed ambassador. It was a particularly interesting time as they were surrounded by wars on four sides. As the American leader of a joint British-American negotiating team, Steve helped reach a settlement that ended the war and provided for Zimbabwe’s independence.

Over the course of 31 years in the Foreign Service, the Lows spent half of their time in the U.S. where Steve was assigned to various positions in the Department of State including director of training at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute. Following retirement from the Foreign Service, he spent five years in Italy as director of the Johns Hopkins University’s Bologna Center.

With such a diverse and interesting history, the Lows should fit well into the vibrant atmosphere of Fox Hill. Though the community’s close proximity to the cultural surroundings of D.C. was an appealing factor for the couple, they will also enjoy the community’s Performing Arts Center with scheduled concerts, shows and movies as well as its artists’ and recording studios.

The opportunities to stay active and connect with other residents, however, do not stop there. Individuals can socialize over coffee in Fox Hill’s own Winter Garden ‘town center’ or pamper themselves at the spa. The indoor virtual driving range, wine cellar, game room, swimming pool, fitness center and five dining venues are even more of the extensive amenities that can be found within the community.

With a variety of options, residents will enjoy flexibility and the chance to maintain self-directed lifestyles. The Lows are certainly pleased with this sense of independence as they plan to continue current projects outside of the community. Steve, for example, has been working with the State Department on establishing the National Museum of the History of American Diplomacy. “We think it’s important because there is no place in the U.S. devoted to looking at the history of our relations with the rest of the world,” he said.

His similarly busy wife has remained active over the past eight years with a group called Zambia Orphans of AIDS. “While it is a small group of volunteers headed by a remarkable Zambian woman, we have helped over 20 projects around the country,” said Helen.

Though they will carry on with those pursuits they are passionate about, they definitely plan to take advantage of all that their future home has to offer. One thing the Lows are sure to enjoy is the community’s beautiful nature trails. After looking at several potential communities, including those directly in the city, the couple felt Fox Hill would best serve as a successor to their current residence.

“The house we’re leaving has a fabulous Japanese-inspired garden that makes it very tranquil and serene,” said Helen. “Finding a place that had some greenery was important to us.”

Also important was security and the quality healthcare at Fox Hill that includes in-home healthcare coordination and on-site assisted living, memory care and occupational, physical and speech therapy.

“We’re both in our 80s and in good health,” said Steve. “We thought it would be a good idea to move into a community and get established while we’re still young and vigorous.” The couple said there is a sense of comfort in knowing that if something were to happen to either of them, the other could continue with a very nourishing lifestyle.

Following in their parents’ footsteps, the Lows knew this was a decision they did not want to place on their three sons living in Australia, Hawaii and Boston.

“It isn’t fair for them for us to leave the burden of settling us somewhere,” said Helen. “With families of their own and demanding jobs, we want this move to require as little effort from them as we can. Even so, all three have been immensely supportive.”

Together, the Lows have ensured that they are well-prepared for the future. They have selected a beautiful condominium and are among Fox Hill’s charter members, a group of early depositors. Individuals joining the community have the benefit of owning their residences and working with designers to personalize them.

The overall setup of Fox Hill, however, is just what the couple was looking for. Helen is especially delighted with the ample kitchen space and for having a place for both the piano and the harpsichord Steve built for her.

While they have close friends also moving to the community, the Lows have been able to meet other future residents at various events arranged by Fox Hill. According to Helen, the sessions have been very informative on many aspects of the move and have enabled them to compare notes on the overall transition with their peers. Future residents are also able to interact through Fox Hill Connection, an online virtual community where residents can chat with future neighbors, play online games, receive community updates and more.

As they approach their moving date, the couple looks forward to the secure, and of course, busy future ahead of them. With an excellent location, endless opportunities and no home-maintenance, they can enjoy the carefree quality of their new community while maintaining their independent and active lifestyles.

While these avid world travelers may not leave their suitcases on the shelf for long, they could not be more pleased with the wonderful new home to which they will be returning.

These individuals are part of a mall walking program, a trend that is expanding as more people recognize its potential health and social benefits. And Aileen England, a Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook (GRL) staff member, has jumped on the bandwagon to share her experiences.

According to Mary Belanich, who works at the Ballston ‘Commonwalk’ through the Virginia Hospital Center, people are not just joining these programs to shed some weight.

“The program makes members feel better, gives them a reason to get out of the house, and benefits their health and spirit because they really care about one another,” she said.

While mall walking provides opportunities to get back on the physical wellness track, doctors and rehabilitation specialists are continually referring individuals to these beneficial programs as well.

And who would be opposed to making some friends in the process? In her program which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, Mary said the participants view their peers as an extension of their families as they participate in the program events as well as outside engagements.

An Insider’s Perspective – Aileen England
Aileen, a former schoolteacher, joined the GRL staff in 1998. Always seeking new opportunities to stay active physically and socially, Aileen was very excited to begin her mall walking adventure.

The first step in her journey as a new mall walker was to call different locations to see who offered such a program. She came up with a chart, as seen on this page, displaying the schedules of each mall’s program.

As she made her rounds of calls, Aileen started a blog through GRL, in which she can now share her experiences as a mall walker, and perhaps inspire others to take part in this beneficial opportunity.

After completing her registration to join the ‘Tyson’s Trekkers,’ Aileen has participated in four different sessions while practicing her newly learned ‘Chi-Walking’ skills. She even received a ‘Tyson’s Trekkers’ t-shirt, a list of stores and restaurants that honor members of the mall walking club with special discounts and information for various health screenings sponsored by INOVA Fairfax Hospital.

Her blog offers insight into the process of joining a program and the information you need to start. According to Aileen, there is a designated parking area, and although Tyson’s is technically closed, there are several places open for participants to enjoy coffee and breakfast before or after their walk.

As she stated in her blog, “There are all ages of people out there walking, having coffee, chatting and meeting with friends.”

Without the shopping crowds, Aileen has enjoyed taking in the surroundings of the mall, as individuals are there to monitor the distance participants have traveled at their desired pace.

No matter your age or your goals, mall walking offers a great opportunity to get involved and enhance your physical wellness.