She was born in Chester, South Carolina on January 4,1917, to Thomas and Dora Buckson. Her mother was a teacher, while her father commuted to Baltimore to work at Sparrows Point.

Following several brief hospitalizations, Mrs. Ardis Watkins has enlisted the services of P-B Health Home Care Agency to remain in her home while recuperating.

As a young woman, Miss Ardis Buckson moved to Baltimore City to start her adult life. Here, she met and married Mr. Norbon Watkins, and from this union three children were born.

“We had a wonderful life together until his death in October of 2005,” stated Mrs. Watkins.

Throughout her adult life, Mrs. Watkins worked at Johns Hopkins Hospital and then the old City Hospital. After retiring from City, she volunteered at Bon Secours Hospital for seven years, earning many awards for her service.

Additionally, Mrs. Watkins has been a long time member of The Village Baptist Church and retains her membership today.

After so many years of caring for others, the time came when Mrs. Watkins needed care for herself. Through the Department of Aging, the family was put in touch with P-B Health Home Care Agency.

Following a thorough evaluation of her needs, P-B Health began providing personal care and chore services to Mrs. Watkins. Olivia Cross, a CNA and home health aide, was assigned to her care.

“Olivia has been very courteous, caring and helpful in assisting with my personal needs,” said Mrs. Watkins. “Ms. Cross is a fine representative for P-B Health, and my family and I have become very fond of her.”

In her later years, Mrs. Watkins has had several brief hospitalizations, after which skilled home health services were prescribed. These services have provided Mrs. Watkins with the benefits of nursing care, physical and occupational therapy, and nutritional counseling in the comfort of her own home.

“Each [staff member I have worked with] was skilled and provided exceptionally good service,” reported Mrs. Watkins.

Mrs. Ardis Watkins continues to do well and to live in her home. If she ever needs services again following a hospitalization or illness, she will not hesitate to call P-B Health to help her recuperate.

 This article was contributed by Brenda Becker, founder of Top-Drawer Resources, LLC

 Fortunately for residents of Maryland, there are many excellent options available for senior living. Where one chooses to live is really a matter of personal preference, need and opportunity.  One of the very best options available is the continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also known as a lifecare community.  In exchange for a monthly service fee and a refundable or non-refundable entrance fee, residents of these communities enjoy a variety of activities, access to facilities for dining and recreation, and varying levels of healthcare.

The relationship between the resident and the continuing care retirement community is spelled out in the Residence and Care Agreement created by that community. In the state of Maryland, these agreements are approved and regulated by the Department of Aging.  These are legally binding agreements that detail the obligations between the community and the resident.  While the communities may appear similar on the surface, it is very important for prospective residents to understand the contents of each contract and the services that are available to residents.  Here are just a few of the questions that anyone considering a move to a CCRC should ask before making a final decision.

- Will this initial Residence and Care agreement cover the entire continuum of care, or will I (or a representative) be asked to sign new contracts for assisted living and nursing care?

- How much of my entrance fee will be refunded to my heirs, and under what conditions?  What fees will be charged to my account when I leave the community?

- What is the historical annual monthly fee increase? What was the increase this year?

- What other fees may I be exposed to (e.g. housekeeping, maintenance, etc.)?

- Are pets allowed?

- What type of medical care is available to me onsite?  Is there a clinic staffed with geriatric professionals?  Is there a fee for these services or are they included in the monthly fee?

- If I need temporary care in my residence, who will come to assist me?

- If I move from independent living to assisted living or nursing care, how will my fees change?  Will I have a private room?  Is there a surcharge for a private room?

- How does my long term care insurance factor into the services that are offered?

- Will the community pay for my prescriptions?

- What transportation is available to me and what are the associated fees?

- What are the qualifications of the executive staff and what is their tenure with this community?

Be sure to visit ALL areas of the campus. Ask to see the assisted living rooms and the skilled nursing (or nursing home) area of the community.  Sample the food and by all means, spend time with the residents of the community.

Continuing care retirement communities provide more than just housing and easy access to healthcare, they offer residents the opportunity to enrich their later years through deep new friendships and social opportunities that otherwise may be difficult to access.  Let these questions be your guide to a wonderful new lifestyle opportunity.

This afternoon, PANPHA participated in a conference call with staff from the Department of Aging, the Office of Long-Term Living, and the Department of Public Welfare on the issue of Personal Care Homes marketing themselves as an “Assisted Living” facility.

As you are aware, the Chapter 2800 regulations governing Assisted Living Residences goes into effect on January 18, 2011. These regulations indicate that no facility may market itself as, or hold itself out to the public as being, an Assisted Living Residence without holding a current and valid Assisted Living License. This means that any Personal Care Home that currently uses the term “Assisted Living” in its name, on its signs, in marketing materials, on contracts, etc., must have the phrase “Assisted Living” removed by January 18th.

In recognizing the concerns providers may have in coming into compliance with this regulation by the January 18th deadline, the administration has indicated that it will “exercise prosecutorial discretion” in enforcing this specific provision. Personal Care Homes that currently use the nomenclature of “Assisted Living” will be issued a letter upon completion of its next survey by DPW””be it an annual inspection or a complaint survey””indicating that the facility is not in compliance with 2800.11(d). This letter will request the Personal Care Home to issue a Plan of Correction indicating how and in what timeline the facility expects to “come into compliance.” The administration indicated that acceptable Plans of Correction can be as simple as “we will be applying for licensure in __ months” or “we will have the sign changed within __ months and other written materials changed within __ months.”

Acceptance of the Plan of Correction will be done on a case-by-case basis. A number of issues were discussed with Administration officials, including the matter of homes waiting to learn the structure and amount of the Assisted Living Waiver before deciding whether or not to pursue Assisted Living Licensure. The Administration indicated that this is a valid concern. They will make allowances for homes to await information on the waiver before ultimately deciding whether to pursue licensure. However, it was indicated that while administration officials will make these allowances, once information relating to the waiver is published, the expectation will be that Personal Care Homes not incompliance will “move expeditiously” to remove all references to “Assisted Living”.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Nick Luciano at nick@panpha.org.

While 100 may sound like a lot of years, and it is, Maggie shows almost no signs of slowing down. She is one of the most energetic, happy people you might want to meet.

On May 4, Maggie Rollman turned 100 years old. While 100 may sound like a lot of years, and it is, Maggie shows almost no signs of slowing down. She is one of the most energetic, happy people you might want to meet. Fiercely independent, when offered an electric wheelchair recently, she turned it down because she is determined to keep moving on her own!

Born in 1910, Maggie grew up in Baltimore. She loved fishing. Once she caught a 5 lb. flounder in Ocean City, Md. Another time she caught 39 sea trout when she was 39 years old. Maggie also loved dancing. “I’d rather dance than eat!” she says. She even won a waltz contest with a date. She met her husband Frank while dancing. They were married for 39 years before he died in 1980. They didn’t have any children.

Maggie loves to travel. She has enjoyed trips to Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Mexico, Germany, Italy, France, and Switzerland. She even climbed two Swiss Alps (after a bus took her up half-way). While in Mexico, she climbed a lot of rocks to reach the cliff dwellings used by Mayan Indians.

Maggie also loves to meet people. She had a friend who worked at the Hippodrome Theater in Baltimore and would get her in for free. Subsequently she met some of the famous people who performed there, including Amos and Andy.

Maggie worked as a bookkeeper all of her professional life. She loved the detail-oriented work, and retired at the age of 77. During her retirement she volunteered for the Department of Aging for 19 years, until she was 96!

Maggie learned about Augsburg Lutheran Village, a faith-based independent senior living community, from her association with the Lutheran church. She remains a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Baltimore where she was baptized about 100 years ago. Her mother also lived at the community in 1951. At the age of 97, she moved to the Village, where she enjoyed the company of many friends. Recently she has moved to Augsburg assisted living.

Maggie brings a sparkle to everyone she meets. She is truly a joy to know.