Filed under nursing home …

Nursing Home? Be Prepared to Learn

No one ever wants to think about the possibility of a nursing home. Yet long-term care may figure prominently in many of our lives. The New York Times recently published two articles by Jane Brody about how to choose a nursing home community carefully. In part one, Nursing Home Unthinkable? Be Prepared in Case It’s Inevitable, she interviews people … Continue reading →

Will Adult Children Be Liable for Parents’ Nursing Home Bills?

From a posting on Facebook by A Bittersweet Season author, Jane Gross. A bit scary, I think. Son Liable for Mom’s $93,000 Nursing Home Bill Under ‘Filial Responsibility’ Law Some 29 states currently have laws making adult children responsible for their parents if their parents can’t afford to take care of themselves.  These “filial responsibility” laws have rarely been enforced, but six years … Continue reading →

Celebrating the Opening at Woodland Park – Part I

“Now I don’t mind getting old,” exclaimed Marie Detwiler, age 91, as she explored a new Woodland Park Green House Home at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC). She understands the Woodland Park philosophy as do lots of others attending the first of two grand opening events in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After chatting with Mrs. Detwiler, I remembered … Continue reading →

Woodland Park Green House Homes in the Snow

Lots of people are working all over the place at the Green House Homes at Woodland Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) the staff is in training, the furniture is arranged, and everywhere people are making last-minute tweaks. Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the kitchens? One of the homes will … Continue reading →

Inside the Dementia Epidemic: A Book Review

A few  years ago, when my mother-in-law was sinking deeper and deeper into dementia, my husband and I suddenly realized, with some help from professional geriatric counselors, that the devious brain disease had been lurking for some time. Although we had noticed a number of memory issues and behaviors, we continually chalked them up to … Continue reading →

Helping Parents Stay Out of a Nursing Home?

The Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times recently published an instructive article explaining in detail what adult children can do to help our parents stay out of nursing homes. Written by Karen Ravn, the article suggests focusing on nine specific issues that make an enormous difference in the safety and security of a senior parent’s home environment — … Continue reading →

Dale Carter’s Eden Alternative Interview on BlogTalk Radio

The past two posts here on AsOurParentsAge have described the Woodland Park groundbreaking for Green House® homes  at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC). A good deal of the Green House project philosophical basics grew out of Eden Alternative, and Dale Carter over at Transition Aging Parents has an excellent interview on the Eden Model at her blogtalk radio … Continue reading →