"Celebrating Life" mural honors aging in Des Moines community

Wesley Homes is proud to have played a part in the “Celebrating Life in Des Moines” mural across from the Wesley campus in Des Moines.  The 12×37 foot mural graces the wall of the QFC complex along SW 219^th street between Marine View Drive and 7^th Ave. S. 

“Wesley Homes has been a sponsor of the annual Bayside Champaign Brunch since day one,” said Sue Padden, Senior Service Manager for the City of Des Moines.  The brunch is the fund raiser for the Des Moines Legacy Foundation that raises money for many senior programs and in this case the mural honoring aging. 

“It took us three years to find a wall,” said Des Moines resident Nancy Stephan who took on the responsibility for finding a wall for the mural and getting the project started in her position with the Des Moines Arts Commission.

Just like a practiced docent, Stephan brought the mural to life through her stories about the people and scenes depicting the rich culture of Des Moines. 

Nancy Stephan shown next to her fiddle-playing image on mural

Stephan is, herself, pictured in the mural.  She’s the one playing the violin. “And the guy on the banjo is the famous American folksinger, Pete Seger,” said Stephan.

The artist, Chandelle Anderson, chose music as the central theme because in addition to being relevant to the local summer concert series it honors the history of the Draper Orphanage and traveling band that was located at the Des Moines beach park in the early 1900s. 

“You may have heard about ‘Daddy Draper’ and the orphanage,” said Stephan, “Some of the descendants of the Draper family are still around. That was the inspiration for Anderson to pick music as reflecting one aspect of Des Moines that is really kind of unique.” 

According to Stephan, the Des Moines Historical Society put together a great little book that has quite a bit about the Draper Family Orphanage. 

Reading and beach activities were also chosen for their relevance to the region and their universal nature.   Jeanie Serrill is depicted on the mural sitting on a bench reading a book,” pointed out Stephan, “Serrill is on the Des Moines Arts Commission and an active volunteer in the community for many, many years.” 

Says Anderson:  “My intention was to capture the vitality of the elderly in the community, through a variety of roles – as education, role models, caretakers and artists.  And to incorporate their wisdom and life experience with children’s curiosity.”

In preparation for the subject matter Stephan took Anderson around to meet people like Carmen Scott on the Des Moines City Council “and a great historian on Des Moines,” said Stephan.  

“We talked to Anderson about the diversity of the people who live in Des Moines so we asked her to please include that as well,” she said, “The mural is not historic – this is a current day look at the Des Moines community.” 

–ilene little for Wesley Homes

Sunday, September 26, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Wesley Homes Des Moines 

Sunday, October 3, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at Wesley Homes Lea Hill in Auburn

You may win a trip for two to Victoria B.C. aboard the Victoria Clipper (a $400 value) or a catered dinner for up to 10 people at one of the Wesley Homes’ campuses prepared by Wesley Homes Executive Chefs.  

Our Autumn Harvest Open House features a farm stand with samples of fresh fruits and vegetables, local cheeses, and bakery items; a tasting of fall dishes prepared by Wesley Homes’ executive chefs; and presentations on safe and healthy edible gardening by a Garden Hotline Educator from Seattle Tilth.

Plus, a host of helpful resources will be available to talk with you. Learn about downsizing, move coordination and Easy Transitions from Benevia; selling your home through SASH, adult day care  from Elder & Adult Day Services, Wesley Homes Home Health care, and Wesley Homes Foundation.

Open House at Wesley Homes offers a great annual opportunity to tour our campuses and see a variety of resident homes, some with views of Puget Sound or Mt. Rainier. Residents will be waiting to greet you and answer questions about living at a Wesley Homes community.  Everyone will go home with a free miniature pumpkin. And those who visit Wesley Homes Health Center will enjoy an old fashioned ice cream cone.

Join us in Des Moines on Sunday. September 26th, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Exit off I-5 at Kent/Des Moines Rd heading west. Turn right on Kent/Des Moines Rd. Turn right again on International Blvd./Hwy 99 for about 1 mile. Turn left on S. 216th Street (Safeway is on the corner). Follow S. 216th to the bottom of the hill. Enter a Wesley Homes parking lot on either side of the street. Call 206-824-5000 for more information.

Join us at Wesley Homes Lea Hill in Auburn on Sunday, October 3rd, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Exit Auburn Way North off Highway 18. Turn right on 8th Street NE and cross the Green River. Turn right on 105th place and wind up the hill. Wesley Homes Lea Hill is at the top of the hill on your right. Additional parking and shuttle service  is available at the south parking lot of Green River Community College just one mile further east on 320th. Call 253-876-6000 for more information.

Established in 1944, Wesley Homes is a not-for-profit organization that offers a comprehensive network of housing and services including residential homes and apartments, adult day care, assisted living, home health care, restorative therapies, and skilled nursing care.  Wesley Homes Community Health Services is a separate Home Health Care agency serving clients throughout the Puget Sound region.

Lois Frank shown with her daughter Lois and son Joe

Lois Frank’s mother, who shared the same name as the daughter, passed away on April 27, 2010.  The elder Frank was a resident of the Wesley Homes Health Center since September of 2005. 

When she first moved into Wesley Homes Lois Frank was in her early 80’s.  She was suffering from mild dementia at the time.  Her daughter described the challenges her mom had adjusting to the move and how her mom’s attitude changed to become positive, and why. 

“She had been in the hospital as a result of a series of falls and the hospital personnel told us Mom needed 24 hour care,” explained Frank. 

“She could talk at that time, but she couldn’t dress or toilet herself.  She couldn’t walk,” said Frank, “After a while she was totally dependent on the Wesley Homes staff which was scary to see.  It was almost like watching the reverse of a baby growing in skills.  It was like my mother lost those skills in reverse.” 

“When we were looking for a place to care for Mom, we wanted to make sure she was safe and would be well taken care of.  Her care and the safety and cleanliness of the facility were our highest priorities,” said Frank. 

“We looked at other places and could not leave her with any of those.  We didn’t feel they were safe.  Some of those places should not be allowed to stay open by the State. It was just heartbreaking,” Frank said, “So when we found that Wesley Homes had an opening we were thrilled.”

The family members were all involved in the process of selecting the best place for the elder Frank. “My brother liked the place, and we even brought Mom’s brother to see it,” said Frank. “Uncle’s opinion was really important.” 

“Mom was not part of the decision making process because of the dementia.  She knew she couldn’t live at home anymore but she was a difficult resident at first because she had never lived alone.  She’d lived with her mother until she married my Dad.  It was very hard for all of us.” 

“Once we moved Mom into Wesley Homes Health Center we could sleep at night because we knew she was being taken care of,” said Frank.

“Mom thought she could do a lot more than she was able to do,” said Frank. “She thought she could walk, and we’d say ‘okay, Mom let’s go for a walk’ and she couldn’t do it.” 

The Period of Adjustment

“There was a period of adjustment.  It took months and considerable cajoling on the part of the family and staff.  We wanted Mom to really take advantage of all of the activities and at first she resisted,” admitted Frank.

“The staff paid a lot of attention to her, like they do everybody else,” said Frank, “the Chaplain was one of the first to get her involved in an activity.” 

“I’d say the first sign of mom adjusting was when she would roll her wheelchair to the doorway of her room,” reflected Frank, “and watch the people go by.  That’s how she started interacting with people.  She was very smart to do that.” 

“Also, because we were there often, my brother Joe and I, and Mom’s younger brother and his wife, Mom began to take notice that we were having fun with the staff and trusted them.  When she saw that, she started to lose some of her hesitation.”  

“We felt comfortable interacting with the staff,” said Frank, “We taught them about Mom: no she doesn’t do this; no she won’t like that; try using humor with her, and so forth.” 

“For example, Mom didn’t want to take her medicine when she first got there,” explained Frank, “and then she only wanted to take it from family or from specific staff.  She had her favorites, you see.  So we communicated that to the staff and they accommodated her.”   

Wesley Homes Staff – A Second Family

“The best way I can explain it is that we felt we had another family at Wesley Homes,” said Frank, “Some of the aides were like other daughters and sons to our mother.  We encouraged them to call her ‘Mama’ or ‘Grandma’ because it made her feel comfortable.  She could associate those terms of endearment with being loved.” 

According to Frank, that “family” extended to the maintenance people, people in the laundry, people in the kitchen, at the reception desk, in housekeeping, restorative care and in activities and the extraordinary people who took care of her every day.  

The financial personnel at the Health Center were invaluable in dealing with Medicare and Medicaid paperwork and procedures. Frank had heard about the nightmare friends experienced going through the process for their parents. With the help of the Wesley staff in that office, it was not difficult.

“Everyone knew my mother and they made a point of getting their work done but when they walked by they’d give her a ‘high five’ and say ‘Mama, how are you doing, how are you feeling’, and she’d smile and point her finger at them or say something in return,” said Frank. 

“Even when Mom started to lose the ability to form recognizable words she still had inflections that went along with her sentences and you could tell if she was happy or sad.  The Wesley Homes staff just surrounded her with love and they surrounded us with love, and there was nothing superficial about it,” said Frank.

“The pastor; my mother would light up when she saw him,” exclaimed Frank, “He was such a tease and he understood her humor and she just enjoyed him to no end.”  That was Chaplin Michael Byrd. 

“Part of our grieving now is that we don’t see the staff every day,” admits Frank.  “They became problem solvers with us, they became comforters of us, they would ask us how we were doing.”

“And towards the end there was a week where some family member was staying all night with Mom.  We were so grateful for the staff,” said Frank, “They took such good care of us.  They understood what we were going through better than we did.  They’ve seen it before and they know how and when to help.” 

They are Angels

“We found that the absolute best at taking care of my mother were the aides and nurses who saw her every day,” said Frank, I wish we could give special recognition to those folks.   They are angels, absolute angels.  They were the ones who would clue in the head nurses and specialized care staff about Mom’s needs.” 

“The importance of the aides is tremendous,” emphasized Frank.  “They are extremely hard-working people.  They enjoy the diverse personalities of the residents and are so patient.

A lot of mom’s aides were originally from countries outside of America, many from Africa.  And I think as part of their culture they respect elders.  Mom responded to that and loved them for it.

By the nature of their work, they have to handle very private and possibly embarrassing needs of residents and Mom was attended to in a manner that kept her dignity intact.

Click Here – to read a letter from the family of Lois Frank to Wesley Homes upon the death of their mother.  

–ilene little for Wesley Homes

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

“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

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!