Move Day - Herman and Marcella Wright watch their belongings loaded into moving van supervised by SASH client service managers

Herman and Marcella Wright, a couple of young and spritely seniors were all packed up and ready to move Friday July 16th to their new apartment at Wesley Homes Lea Hill. 

The Wrights have some interesting stories to tell about living through three different economic turndowns; they moved several times as a result of their careers as Boeing employees.     

The process of selling homes, even during a recession, is not new to them.  They’ve weathered the storms and the challenges of multiple relocations philosophically – and it’s made them very adaptable.   You get the feeling they have “broad shoulders”. 

So when they got a call from Wesley Homes that the floor plan they wanted was available, they accepted the opportunity and made the move within 60 days. 

“We had anticipated making this move a couple of years down the road,”  said Marcella, “ but we’ve both said we’re glad we made the move now. “

Geri Montoya, Wesley Homes Community Relations Director,  provided them with the resources that helped them through the process.  “She gave us the options and we contacted the company SASH and made the arrangements”, said Herman. 

SASH is a company that prides itself in accommodating seniors.   When SASH buys your home they provide three distinct unique advantages: 

1. They buy the house as is, so you don’t have to worry about repairs, and your life is not disrupted with buyers coming and going.
2. They let people pick their own closing date.  At no time are you between places to live, and
3. They handle the move out and the move in from A-Z – so you do not have to coordinate different moving-related services.  It’s all done with one company; all the packing and unpacking and all the moving and furniture arranging, including mapping out the furniture placement in advance. 

Both Pete Gallagher and Anne Tripp, SASH Client Service Managers, were on hand to supervise the SASH moving personnel and assure that the transition was an easy one for the Wrights.

In this case the Wright’s were all packed up and ready for us; everything was categorized and labeled,” said Gallagher, “By 5pm tonight they’ll be in their new home at the brownstone apartments  at Wesley Hills, Lea Hill”

“It’s the best job of packing and organizing that I’ve ever seen anyone do,” said Tripp.  

The Wrights have four adult children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.  As they stood in their garage amongst the packed boxes, they reflected on leaving their home of nine years.  “Our great grandchildren are going to miss climbing the trees,” said Marcella, “they’re kind of sad to see us move out of this house.  We’ve lived in this house for nine years but before that we lived 40 years in the same neighborhood in a big house up the street”.  So this is like the family homestead. 

“But there’s such a wonderful space at Lea Hill that the grandkids will probably like that too,” said Marcella.  “The swimming pool – they’re all excited about that,” said Herman. 

In the Wright’s case, both Herman and Marcella have a lot to offer as new neighbors, and a lot of wisdom they can impart to the younger generation on how to survive economic downtimes.  They’ve been there and done that.  “About every 10 years,” reflected Marcella, “Young people wouldn’t believe us. “

I look forward to posting more information about the Wrights – so stay tuned for a “after the move” follow up.

–ilene little for Wesley Homes

Campus Administrator, Scott Hulet, proudly displays Results of The Arbor's compliance survey

On June 2^nd Wesley Homes Arbor “passed with flying colors” the annual licensing and compliance survey conducted by the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). 

The unannounced survey is conducted yearly and for the third year in a row The Arbor received the highest results – that of zero deficiencies in the resident environment and services provided by Wesley Homes Lea Hill and their talented staff. 

The Survey

“It’s the job of the DSHS nurse surveyors to find and note anything that’s not going well,” said Doris Crowe, LPN, The Arbor Nurse Manager, “They do a full environmental survey, dig deeply into the medical records, and select a sample of residents to talk to as well as talk to the residents’ family members to determine the standard of care residents are receiving.” 

The DSHS survey team was on campus for a full day, and during their “exit interview” they complimented Crowe and Campus Administrator, Scott Hulet on the standard of care they witnessed. 

“They gave us high compliments,” said Hulet, The survey team told us ‘When we say thank you for your service to the community, you exemplify what that means’.”  Such a sterling record is a matter of personal pride for both Crowe and Hulet. 

“Our team works to sustain that level of care every day,” said Campus Administrator, Scott Hulet, “it’s not like you can just cram for a test to pass and then put it out of your mind.” 

 “What DHSH likes to see is that the same nurse manager is there, the same activity director, etc., year after year,” said Crowe.   Familiarity is important to residents living with dementia, and the State surveyors recognize the negative impact of staff turnover on a stable environment. 

The Arbor has the same management staff they started with in 2007. “In a demanding industry that often sees a lot of turn-over in staff, that is quite an accomplishment,” said Crowe.      

 “Better Homes and Gardens” type Memory Care

The Arbor reflects in elegance the quality of an Arbor resident’s lifestyle.  Every activity room, the courtyard, the dining room and the strategically placed common sitting areas within spacious passage ways are appointed with items reminiscent of a private home. 

Next to a comfortable chair, you’ll find a basket of brightly colored yarn.  You might find stuffed animals in a comfortable family room setting.   Pull open a drawer in any cabinet and you’ll find familiar and decorative items, like collections of bead work and on the walls displays of hats and pictures that one would find in a home entry way. 

Individual resident apartments are roomy and the floor plans have the ambience of a typical home setting.  For example every apartment has a full kitchen.  The breaker switch to certain appliances is turned off and on to provide a safe environment.  “If a resident’s visiting family wants to bake cookies or prepare a meal, we turn the breaker on” said Hulet, “that way we can accommodate private family visits. 

Couples Habitats

The Arbor has both studio and one-bedroom apartments to accommodate residents.  “We currently have 18 residents living here, and two are couples,” said Hulet.  This allows for support of the person needing assisted living while allowing their spouse to continue living with their life partner. 

Accommodating Families

It is not unheard of for a family member to spend a night in the apartment of a resident.  And according to Hulet, Wesley Homes Lea Hill keeps two guest rooms in the main lodge available to rent to family members who might be traveling from a distance to visit a resident.

Individualized Care – The Arbor’s unique model of care

The Arbor model of memory care is called “universal care workers”.  “We do the serving of meals, wash all the dishes, and do all the housework as well as the patient care,” said Crowe.  According to Hulet, having staff care for a resident as if they were family allows the staff to get to know the residents really well.   

“We have very special residents, “said Crowe, “they really do get into your heart.”   

“There’s no distraction of unfamiliar people coming and going,” said Crowe, “that allows for a calm and peaceful continuity of care.  Our residents are here to live, not to get well” so we enter into their world, not the other way around.”

Arbor residents choose when they want to eat and what they want to eat.  According to Crowe, residents come to breakfast when they want.  “There’s no set time they need to get up,” said Crowe, they create their own schedule and we accommodate them.”   

It’s not a “cookie-cutter” plan,” said Crowe, “We have a process of quarterly assessments and annual meetings with families to tailor individual plans of care.

“Now the fun begins,” said Kevin Anderson, President/CEO for Wesley Homes. “We have a lot of work to do with our architect, development agent and the city of Puyallup to make sure the numbers make sense. We expect to begin preliminary marketing within the next six months.”

Puyallup will be Wesley Home’s third campus offering retirement housing and care for older adults. “We strive to serve retirees from moderate income professions such as school teachers, clergy, small businesspeople and firefighters/police officers,” said Anderson. “To make housing affordable, we count on private donations and  business partners that share our vision.”

To receive information about the new Wesley Homes in Puyallup, please contact Christine Tremain at ctremain@wesleyhomes.org or 206-870-1104.

When she interviewed for the position she was truly amazed by the residents and the vibrant community.  “When you walk through Wesley Homes and see them filming, or participating in social activities – and even the resident council – they’re alive and full of energy and that’s what I was looking for,” she said.

“I was also looking for an administration that would empower me to do my job, and I really felt that immediately from Mark Gustafson,” said Meinecke.  Gustafson is Campus Administrator for Wesley Homes Des Moines.

Listen to: Live interview with Lisa Meinecke

What’s different about her new position with Wesley Homes

“Before, I worked in the health center setting where you work with people who are in skilled needs care,” said Meinecke, “Here it’s very different because I’m working with people who are more highly functioning.  It’s very uplifting to be with people who are what I call “deliberating aging”.

What I mean by “deliberate aging” is that people are making deliberate choices about staying active,” she said, “For example they’re very involved socially.  They’re very involved with their physical fitness.  They’re very health conscious and concerned about their diet.  They are saying, ‘I’m going to age well’”.

The Resident Council Interview

What really sold her on Wesley Homes was the interview with the residents.  “One of the ladies said to me ‘Lisa, we want you to partner with us.  We don’t want you to create things for us or make things for us.  We want you to work side-by-side with us.’  And what they really wanted was someone who could link them to resources,” said Meinecke.

“If one of them is struggling, personally, they want to be able to come to me for resources so that I can connect them to a support group or to a physician or expert who can help them,” she explained.  She also assists several support groups; like Parkinson’s or low vision groups.

According to Meinecke, if a resident has a problem they are struggling with, she is the “Go-To-Person”.  “And that’s really what a social worker does,” she said, “They do counseling, and they link people to resources.”

“I have my tool belt I can pull out and say ‘have you considered this’, or ‘let me go research that and find that out for you’.  It’s been very fulfilling for me to be able to go home at night and say I made a difference,” said Meinecke.

Leaving a Legacy

“I guess I’m huge on leaving a legacy behind,” she said, “And I’ve learned so much from the seniors I’ve interviewed about how important it is to do something that is meaningful.  And so I really feel blessed to be able to do this and I go home at night happy.”

“I’ve probably done a hundred social histories with seniors who have reached the end of their lives and are looking back at what they have accomplished and what meaning their life has had.  They might not know that they are imparting words of wisdom, but they are – they are sages,” says Meinecke.

My role as Transitional Counselor

“When people are changing often there will be a need to move to the next level of care,” said Meinecke, “I help assist moving from residential living to assisted as well as moving from the assisted to the health care setting.”

“Just recently I had an opportunity to be involved with a gentleman here who was beginning to have some cognitive loss”, said Meinecke, “His time clock was a little off and he was not quite keeping track of things.”

“This gentleman is quite aware that he’s changing,” she said, “He doesn’t want to distress the community or his family so he is actively taking a role in the transition.   He and his brother approached me and said, ‘we think it’s time to make a move’.”

“This was my first opportunity to help someone move on this campus and it was delightful”, said Meinecke.  “At the contract signing we were laughing and planning different apartment arrangements.  So it was a very positive and uplifting experience.  They both said ‘we’re really glad that you walked us through this.  This has really been a positive experience for us’.”

“It doesn’t always happen that way,” admits Meinecke, “A person might be thinking they don’t want to make a move because it means they’re getting older.  The message you’re getting when you’re moving is that you’re getting older and that things are changing.  My job is to help them so that it’s not a scary move.

Lisa Meinecke was introduced to Wesley residents at several town meetings will be interviewed on Channel 28.

–ilene little for Wesley Homes

Standing: Andy Herron, Bob Witman, Bill Humphries, Mal Bailey, Bill Nelson, Gordie Hefford, Ed Miller, Harry Keiffer. Kneeling: Will Gerring, Doc Huff, Dr. Ralph Reed, Ken Hoben

Wesley Homes veterans were honored on June 3, 2010 at the Second Annual GRCC Veteran Coin Ceremony at Green River College. 

The ceremony was presided over by Deb Casey for Veterans Council Recognition and included presentations by faculty members and veterans Carsh Wilturner, Marianne Jacobs, and honored speaker and veteran Pete Lewis, Mayor of Auburn.

Each resident was presented with a “challenge coin” in the tradition of the highly coveted military coins worn by military personnel to signify pride, honor, achievement, unity and espirt de corps. 

Dr. Ralph Reed holds the "Challenge Coin"

The tradition of the challenge coin began in World War I, when a downed U.S. Army Air Service pilot escaping capture by the enemy used the coin bearing his squadron’s insignia to identify himself as an American when crossing back over into US occupied territory.

 “It was a very nice program,” said resident Ken Hoben, “I thought it was very impressive, very complementary, and very generous.  The coordinating council did a great job and the speakers had some interesting stories.  I had no idea they were going to do anything like that.” 

Eye Witnesses to History

Several Wesley Homes residents served on the front lines and witnessed history in the making. 

“I was there on the second day that Americans went into Hiroshima, about a month after the bomb was dropped,” said Dr. Ralph Reed who served on a 214 ft. armed fleet tug boat, “After we went in, the Army declared it off limits.  I’m writing a book and the pictures I took that day will be in there.”

Dr. Reed also witnessed the famous flag raising on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima.  “Our tug took a landing craft up to the beach where we stayed with it until the next high tide,” he said, “from there I saw that flag go up.” 

Bill Nelson served as a torpedoman in the Navy.  Four weeks after the war ended he was reassigned to shore patrol on Okinawa.  There he saw the after effects of the battle site where so many Japanese either committed suicide by jumping off the cliff or died in the trenches.   

Cyril VanSelus, served with the 99^th infantry division in WWII, in a battalion aid station on the front lines picking up the sick and the wounded and getting them to the rear for medical equipment. VanSelus wrote his memoirs of the Normandy Invasion for family and friends.

“The invasion was in June in July and I got there in October and was there in the front lines for the rest of war,” said VanSelus.

Doc Huff served as a third-class quartermaster (QM3c) in the Navy Reserve.  “After they dropped the bomb and the war ended we went into Japan as part of the occupation.  Our ship went over to Shanghai China to pick up Japanese prisoners and bring them back to Japan to be repatriated.  Then we took the Chinese nationalist troops back to Manchuria,” said Huff, “we did two trips like that.   

Serving Stateside

Ed Miller was a pilot and flying instructor in the regular Air Force.  “I was drafted when I was 19, and for five years I was an instructor at a training command in the middle of Arkansas.  I trained the twin-engine advanced courses for pilots – teaching them how to fly at nights and in formation.” 

At least three of the Wesley Homes residents who served their country proudly were not present for the photograph.  They are Ed Pawlowski, Edward Miller and Cyril VanSelus.

–ilene little for Wesley Homes

Chef Neff teaches how to pick a tomato for taste, not looks.

Make changes in your diet to bolster your health.  You’ll feel better, have more energy and be able to maintain your active lifestyle.  That was the advice of Chef Cary Neff, as he entertained a full auditorium of Wesley Homes residents and guests invited to “Flavors 450”, a live cooking and tasting event May 27, in Des Moines, WA. 

You can re-train yourself – how to look for food, how to shop, how to store, and how to cook healthier, OR . . . you can go ahead and make the move to Wesley Homes, Des Moines Campus and be well ahead of the game. 

A healthy diet and how Wesley Homes is making that lifestyle change easy was the focus of the Flavors 450 event.  The term stands for Bursts of Flavor and only 450 calories per meal.  The food cooked and served was a sneak preview of recipes to appear on their dinner menus – created in conjunction with Morrison Management Services and Neff’s revolutionary cookbook, Conscious Cuisine. 

We’re not talking low-calorie, low-fat equals no flavor type of “change”.  We’re talking flavor bursts that you’ve probably been missing for years; especially if you remember a time where you grew healthy, flavorful food in your own garden.” 

Don’t you miss a tomato that tastes like a tomato – but that you can only get when it’s home grown or bought fresh from a local farm? 

Eating fresh, and learning how to plan a meal first around the vegetables in season and adding the protein as a compliment, was emphasized by Neff. 

Back to The Old Way

Neff teaches to select vegetables that are in season, like you did before canned vegetables and “better living through chemistry” confused “shelf life” with “fresh”.

A Second Chance for Peas

Neff also demonstrated simple ways to prepare fresh vegetables, like peas; the same dishes he prepared as a chef for Miravel Life in Balance Spa and Resort in Tucson.  Creamy English Pea Arborio Rice Risotto finished with Prosciutto and Parmesan Cheese, was one of several dishes he prepared for the event.

“I always hated peas when I was kid,” said Neff, “The reason I couldn’t stand peas and considered them “yucky” was because my Mom overcooked them.  As a chef I took to eating vegetables raw and experimented with cooking methods from different cultures.  That’s what allowed me to give peas a second chance.” 

Price vs. Quality

According to Neff, “the ingredients in the meals you shop for should not be bought directly on cost, but on quality.” 

For example the Arborio Rice he used in one recipe today costs more than Uncle Ben’s white rice, “but it also has more flavor,” said Neff, “And Prosciutto ham costs more, but because it has more flavor you can use less.” 

“That can of parmesan cheese that’s been in your refrigerator for months?  You’re going to have to use a lot more of that to get any flavor than if you use a freshly grated cheese,” said Neff, and if you consider that cheese has calories, less is better.

The Audience Response

Neff took questions from the audience, after which residents helped themselves to an elaborate array of food and drink samples which they enjoyed at their covered round tables adorned with fresh herbs. 

The cooking presentation was complemented by side table displays of fresh fruits and vegetables, many of which were the same ingredients used in the recipes and offered to the audience to experiment with at home. 

“What I found by watching my own mother in a retirement community is that seniors look forward to their meals,” said Neff, and the positive responses he was getting from talking to individual residents after the event seemed to validate that observation. 

Many residents commented on the flavorful Copper River salmon and vegetable skewers they sampled.  “They delivered what was promised,” said one resident.

“I wondered what do we need a cooking demonstration for,” said Evelyn Young, a long-time resident of Wesley Terrace. “But it was so much fun and I’m excited to see the changes that are coming to our dining program.”

It’s so much easier to make a change to healthy eating when it’s fun and organized for you. 

Such a holistic look at food source and preparation is not what one expects in continuing care facilities, but it is at Wesley Homes.  They have made a commitment not only to incorporate the Flavors 450 concepts of using fresh in-season ingredients, but also to provide entertaining and fun events, like the one today, to engage residents in developing healthy eating habits.

–ilene ltitle for Wesley Homes

Chef Cary Neff brings Flavors 450 to Wesley Homes

Residents at Wesley Homes – The Gardens were treated, literally treated to an entertaining and enlightening demonstration by Celebrity Chef Cary Neff today. He talked about using fresh, in-season, local ingredients to create meals that are rich in flavor, low in calories and beautiful to look at.

Holding copies of books to be signed, fans of Dee Molenaar enjoy his 5/6/10 presentation at Wesley Homes Lea Hill.

Residents and guests of Wesley Homes Lea Hill were treated to an autobiographical presentation by legendary mountaineer Dee Molenaar whose story proved to be as compelling as it was historically accurate.

A thorough narration on the origin of Mount Rainier was intermingled with stories of the mountain men who made it their home.  “It’s my favorite mountain”, said Molenaar, “and to mountaineers the best mountain in the States to test your gear for the Himalayans.”

Molenaar, a resident of Burley, WA, recounted the personal history of himself and his brother; weaving their personal escapades into tales of how they integrated themselves into the mountaineer culture of Mt. Rainier in the 1940’s.

He described the brothers motoring West from California in search of bigger mountains to climb; stories of their road trip financed by mowing lawns and how they were received by the veteran climbers of their day – showing up in improvised climbing gear including California high-top “snake-bite” boots.

His first-hand accounts of climbs and his relationships with other climbers both challenged and fascinated the audience.  Many, hearing him speak for the first time, were nevertheless fans from their childhood years and brought with them copies of Molenaar’s book The Challenge of Rainier dating back to the early 1970’s.

Molenaar stirred recollections of everyone’s favorite memories of being young and adventurous.  He had us all there with him in spirit as he described being “stormed off” the mountain – remembering our own attempts to push the limits of a hike or a climb on “our mountain”.

He bestowed his respect for the difficulty of ascents by declaring, “Any time it’s snowing on Mt. Rainier it’s a ‘winter climb’.”

Proclaimed as “the best mountain for all the flowers,” Molenaar awakened a deeper appreciation for what mountaineers recognize as a “unique” of Mt. Rainier.

How many of us have taken for granted those wildflower fields that so often appear in the background of our own snapshots celebrating even casual hikes on Mt. Rainier with our friends and families?

Jeff Berrens, an avid climber and Maintenance Supervisor for Wesley Homes Lea Hill, is to be applauded for making this presentation possible and staging the event with an impressive display of antique climbing gear.

–ilene little for Wesley Homes

Once the sale is closed, we will announce the exact location. Our preliminary timeline calls us to begin pre-marketing and accept reservation deposits in approximately 6 months.

If you would like to receive more information as it is available, please contact Christine Tremain, VP Marketing at 206-870-1104 or ctremain@wesleyhomes.org. Thank you for visiting the Wesley Homes blog!

At the home of legendary mountainer Dee Molenaar with the mural he painted of Mt. Rainier

If you’re from the Northwest, you’ve got a connection with Mount Rainier.  Everyone has a story about Mount Rainier- and no one more than the Northwest’s own legendary mountaineer Dee Molenaar.

On May 6^th at Wesley Homes Lea Hill Campus in Auburn, Molenaar will share his life experiences as a mountain climber celebrated the world over for his “Brotherhood of the Rope” feats talked about even today in climbing circles.

He is best known as the author of The Challenge of Rainier, first published in 1971 and considered the definitive work on the climbing history of Mount Rainier.  This is not a book-signing event, but Molenaar will sign books for those who bring copies.

His slide-show presentation is going to be about his early guiding days in 1940 on Mount Rainier and later in the 50’s when he was a Mount Rainier Park Ranger.  He’s looking forward to meeting everyone and especially to reconnecting with his friend, Ken Walters, who is a resident of Wesley Homes.

At Home With the Molenaars

With the firm handshake of someone one-third his age, Molenaar and his wife Colleen greeted me at their country home in Burley, WA where they have lived for 43 years raising three children into adulthood.

As you walk out their door into a pastoral setting the first thing you see is a large mural of Mt. Rainier painted by Molenaar on the side of a 1 ½ story out-building.  Molenaar painted it so that he’d always have a view of Mt Rainier.

What makes Molenaar’s presentation at Wesley Homes such a special event is that, at 91 years of age, he is still “larger than life” in terms of energy, and he can bring a story to life as if it were yesterday.

Brotherhood of the Rope

In 1953 Molenaar was a member of the Third American Karakoram Expedition’s attempt to ascend K2 the second highest mountain in the world which, according to climbers, is a harder climb even than Mount Everest.   The team was trapped in a storm at 25,500 feet for 10 days which, at the time, was the longest period of time any human being had spent over 25,000 ft.

On that ascent, one of their team members came down with high-altitude sickness.  Anything above 25,000 feet is considered the “death zone” meaning sick people are left to die.  What is so significant about Molenaar and the team is that they tried to self-evacuate their sick team member.”

While trapped on the mountain Molenaar painted two pictures of K2 – remarkable for being rendered at the highest ever altitude.  “I propped myself up on my elbow, and with the tent beating down on my head I painted a couple of pictures of our camp and the mountain from memory,” said Molenaar, “I had to drink the water after I finished using it for the paints because water was precious up there.”

These are just two of the stories that Molenaar will bring to life when he visits on May 6th.

In honor of the life-long friendship of Ken Walters and Dee Molenaar, Wesley Homes is hosting a luncheon earlier that day so that the friends can reconnect.

–ilene little for Wesley Homes