Bel Aire in American Fork Offers Seniors A Place To Call Home

Assisted Living has become a natural transition for seniors and Bel Aire Senior Living in American Fork, Utah has been defining excellence for more than 13 years.

As you enter the newly remodeled facility you will ordinarily be greeted by three beautiful women, all residents, enjoying themselves in the gathering area.  They love to have people stop by and it is evident on their faces.  Rooms are sized perfectly for your loved on to bring their own furniture and set up a "studio" apartment.

Kathleen Zonts is the dietary manager and her meals are amazing!  Everything from traditional thanksgiving dinners to chicken cordon bleu, mashed potatoes and gravy, everything the seniors love.  All meals are prepared in house and with lots of love and attention.

Their caring staff have been there for many years and provide some of the best individualized care I have seen.  Cala, the front desk, will show you around and is extremely knowledgeable about the qualification process. Jennifer is the Care Coordinator, Sherry managers and trains the aides and Marcela plans wonderful, stimulating activities for the residents. The entire staff will make your loved one feel at home, enjoy socially stimulating activities and make new friends.

Check out their virtual tour:

Bel Aire American Fork

Call Cala for more information and to schedule a tour at 801-418-9148.

Namaste Care in Hospice Provides Added Comfort

Namaste   Honoring the Spirit  Touching the Heart

For those who have participated in Yoga, Namaste (pronounced Nah MesTay) is the action of placing both hands together, fingers pointing upward, in front of your chest and accompanying it with a slight bow to another person.  This is a salutation or greeting honoring the person  you are with.  In Hospice Care, Namaste is a unique way of caring for the patient that honors them, their life and their wishes.

Freedom Home Health and Hospice offers Namaste Care in our Hospice program to meet the needs and wishes of those who prefer a more holistic approach to end of life care and comfort.

Namaste Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team of compassionate and knowledgeable health care professionals as well as families and friends.  A holistic approach to care assures that the burdens and benefits of each medical intervention or nursing treatment are weighed so that they support quality of life.  Comfort and Pleasure are goals of Namaste Care.  Every effort is made so that the dying process is a pain-free, easy passing surrounded by people who care.

If you, or a loved one, is facing a terminal illness and are not seeking curative treatment, you may qualify for Hospice Care.  Please call our office today at 801-225-3377 and our staff will help answer any questions you may have concerning care.  

What Would A Caregiver Support Group Do For Me?

Did you know that more that one-third of the US population is providing cares for an aging loved one?  That number is expected to grow exponentially over the next few years due to the baby-boomer population.  If you have already found yourself in a caregiving position, chances are it's just around the corner.

Caregiving is a demanding, time-consuming, sometimes thankless job.  It is also a beautiful way of serving those we love. Being able to see the beauty in it is directly related to the support you have as well as the skills and tools that are available.  Support groups can offer skills, information, resources and tools as well as the knowledge of knowing you are not alone.

Having the opportunity to facilitate three CARE meetings in Utah Valley throughout each month helps me to understand the great need of sharing resources and information with caregivers. Having people come to the meetings is one of the greatest resources.  They are in the trenches of their caregiving experience and are able to share ideas, what worked, what didn't, and help others who may be having the same struggles.

Please come to one of our CARE meetings whether you are currently caregiving, have been a caregiver in the past or know that the time is coming for you with an aging loved one.

There is a CARE (Caregivers Allowed to Rejuvenate and Energize) Meeting tonight at Bel Aire Senior Living, 1088 East 390 South in American Fork tonight at 6 PM.  Feel free to call me @ 801-623-9595 with any questions.  Hope to see you there!

Humor in a Nursing Home

Anyone who knows me, knows how important humor is in my life.  I am all about making someone smile, telling a funny story, hearing and inducing laughter.  Serving in Social Services at "my other house" (AKA the nursing home) I saw the difference laughing and smiling made to each and every resident and tried to share that wonderful phenomenom daily.  Many dreary days could be changed with a conversation that sparked a funny memory for residents.

One great memory involved our activities director having a "Slumber Party" with the residents. Popcorn, movies, games. Everything that made a slumber party fun....including....prank phone calls.  I was the lucky recipient of a few of the phones calls.  All the voices were VERY familiar so I played right along...

Me: Hello?
Caller: Is your refrigerator running?
Me: Well, yes...
Caller: You better go catch it! (followed by muffled giggles and the sound of the phone hanging up)

Me: Hello?
Caller: (In an extremely convincing English accent) Do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Me: Who is this?
Caller: Do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Me: Listen, you don't even sound like you are from the US.  Who are you? Wait, I know who this is AND I know where you sleep!
Giggles....click.

I arrived at my office the next day to find the door and the immediate area covered in toilet paper and a picture of several residents with bags over their heads, to conceal their identity of course, and a hand written statement of "We got you!  The Claw"

Let me just say, whispers and giggles were had for days after this event. What an amazing Activities Director!  What wonderful residents!  This one activity bonded staff and residents so much and provided some great memories in a situation that many would not even think was possible.

I sure miss those days and the fun we had but I have a treasure trove of memories to take with me!