It’s time for our annual Wesley Homes Autumn Harvest Open House!

Wesley Homes Des Moines retirement community is once again opening its campus for its annual Autumn Harvest Open House. This year, the Des Moines campus has a new day and time for its Open House: Saturday, September 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 206-824-5000 for more information.

“We’ve found that guests couldn’t see everything they wanted during our old open house hours because our campus is so spacious,” said Wesley Homes Campus Administrator Mark Gustafson. “The extended hours allow visitors more time to explore our campus, sample delicious food and participate in demonstrations.”

The OmniVR™ Virtual Rehabilitation System is sure to be a popular demonstration at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Wesley Homes Health Center. The OmniVR uses an advanced 3D camera and specialized software to track a patient’s precise movements and allow them to interact in a virtual world.

Other activities include:

• Morning and afternoon tastings of Autumn delights prepared by select Northwest chefs and by Wesley Homes’ executive chefs;
• Free fall-themed desserts, popcorn fall fruit pastries, breads, coffee, tea and ice cream;
• Self-guided tours of our expansive campus, including Cottages, Wesley View, The Gardens, The Terrace Assisted Living, the Health Center, Wesley View and Elder & Adult Day Center;
• Opportunities to visit with knowledgeable and friendly residents;
• Free blood pressure checks;
• A chance to win one of several prizes through our Autumn Harvest Treasure Hunt:
  • An overnight trip on the Victoria Clipper
  • A three-day Christmas in Victoria trip with Alki Tours
  • A day trip with Alki Tours
  • Gift certificates to local restaurants

Additionally, a host of helpful resources will be on hand at the Resource Fair in The Terrace Auditorium. Learn about downsizing, move coordination and Easy Transitions from Benevia; selling a home through SASH; adult day care from Elder & Adult Day Services; and local and worldwide travel through Alki Tours.  Representatives from Wesley Homes Home Health and Wesley Homes Foundation will also be available to share the programs and services they offer.

Also join us at Wesley Homes Lea Hill in Auburn on Sunday, October 2nd from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. The Lea Hill campus activities include:

• An Autumn Harvest farm stand;
• Savory Autumn tastings prepared by Wesley Homes’ executive chefs;
• Self-guided tours of our beautiful Lea Hill campus, including Village Homes, Brownstone Apartments, Commons Apartments, Fitness Area, Craft Room, Wood Shop, pool and Library;
• A Resource Fair that includes Benevia, SASH, EADS, Alki Tours, Wesley Homes Home Health and Wesley Homes Foundation;
• An Autumn Harvest Treasure Hunt;
• Chances to visit with welcoming and gracious residents.

Additional parking for Lea Hill will be at Green River Community College with shuttle service every 15-20 minutes.

There is good news all the way around. According to the Reality Times, pending home sales rose 8.2 percent in May. Markets like Houston, Indianapolis and Seattle have made a quick turnaround with contract signings rising by as much as 30 percent over a year ago. All regions are experiencing higher pending sales rates than in May 2010.

Now that the housing market is recovering, it’s time to look inside our homes. There is a big difference between what we love and what we have been carrying around for the past 20 years.  Although it seems almost impossible, moving should be seen as an opportunity to lead an uncomplicated and refreshing life.  Downsizing opens up our living options and gives us the chance to be creative in a new space. It is also a chance to be generous and to give to those we love or donate to those in need.

There are so many items that we hold on to just because they are there. There have been studies in Europe regarding a “happiness index” as associated with living in smaller spaces. They found that the level of happiness for Europeans was much higher than that of Americans. Reducing the junk in our lives really can lighten our emotional load.

“We have worked with Wesley Homes residents who moved from very large homes to Village Homes and Cottages,” said Linda Kladnick, Director of Services at Benevia. “Although the process seems daunting to them at first, we have very successfully helped clients to downsize and bring their favorite things to what will become their favorite place. Some clients have shredding and donations, a home to put on the market and repairs to be done prior to that.  Some clients want to consign some items and ship furniture to children in other states. The process is never the same.”

Whatever the situation, just know that moving to a Cottage at Wesley Homes Des Moines or a Village Home at Wesley Homes Lea Hill is a great way to continue an independent and active way of life. These bright, roomy homes make the transition from a high to a low maintenance lifestyle easy. Call us today to begin the transition to your new home.

Contributions to this article made by Linda Kladnick, Director of Services, Benevia

Overwhelmingly, the mature mover’s main motivation when choosing a retirement community is to be closer to family and friends. This stands true for both retirees and pre-retirees.

“It’s nice to have familiar faces around,” said Wesley Homes’ reservation list member Ted Gary. “I know other residents at Wesley Homes, and my wife is getting care at the Health Center.”

“I know a lot of people here because they were friends of my brother,” said Des Moines resident Janey Smith. “There’s such a feeling of safety and security in living in a community like this because you know people.”

Being able to stay in one place for the rest of their lives, what care providers call “aging in place,” is also an important factor for seniors. A continuing care retirement community (CCRC) like Wesley Homes will provide health care onsite through assisted living, a home health agency and a health center. Personal circumstances change, and current and new residents want access to a full range of health care options when they need it.

“Once I decided to stay in the area I was living in to be around friends and family, I looked at the concept of continuing care,” said reservation list member Marty Kemp. “Multi-level care became very important to me.”

“I like the idea of being able to stay in place but receive care when I need it,” said reservation list member Susan Wineke. This continuum of care allows residents to recover from ailments while they are near their support system of Wesley Homes residents.

High on the top of Susan’s list of desires was an outdoor setting. “I wanted an open campus,” said Susan. “Some other places didn’t have a campus at all. Even if I were 85 and hobbling around, I’d want to be outside. The views from the buildings are icing on the cake.”

“The view is great,” said Marty. “I love that I can just step outside and enjoy the grounds at any time.”

Social connections help make us all happy and healthy, so providers need to offer programs inside and outside of their retirement community to help prevent social isolation. Intellectual stimulation and meaningful activities help provide the arena where social relationships can be cultivated.

“At Wesley Homes, there’s a sense of community,” said Susan. “I will make friends, and I will be a friend.”

Another way to cultivate social relationships is through health and wellness programs and services, which are top priorities for the next generations of residents. Marty found the portfolio of amenities and recreational activities at Wesley Homes high on her list of requirements. “The programs, the activities, libraries, exercise programs – I was looking for that feeling of gracious living. There are different interest groups, like the bridge group and the Bible study groups. And there’s meeting space on campus for my outside interests to get together,” said Marty. “Wesley Homes has been most welcoming!”

Wesley Homes offers adult day programs through its partner, Elder and Adult Day Services (EADS), on the Des Moines campus. There are also several health and wellness programs, day trips, interactive video game consoles, support groups, arts and crafts groups and movie nights. In addition to this myriad of activities, there is a closed circuit TV station run by residents.

Above all, consumers want value and choices. One size does not fit all anymore, and retirement communities are adjusting to this new reality. The new model of senior living is about convenience, choices, community and control. This includes customizing services that reflect individual expectations and add personal value to their current and future lifestyle. The ultimate aspiration of a retirement community is to create environments and lifestyles where people want to live, not where they need to live.

• Indicators show that our economy is recovering
• Home prices are beginning to stabilize
• Washington was “late in” and will be “early out” of the recession
• We must absorb the inventory of foreclosed and distressed properties for a complete recovery
• There is pent-up demand
• Current home prices and interest rates make home buying affordable
• Your home is still a sound investment
  • $100,000 in 2000
    • Purchase of a Washington home is worth $120,428 today
    • Invested  in the S&P 500 Index Fund is worth$68,689 today
    • Put in a mattress is worth $77,574 today
    • Homes are selling if they are
      • Priced competitively
      • In good condition and show well

“It is a price war and a beauty contest”

• Homes that are “staged” by a professional will sell on average in 29 days or less
• One alternative to a traditional home sale is a sale through SASH
  • www.sashprogram.com or 1-888-400-7274
• Easy Transitions by Benevia is a program through Wesley Homes to help incoming residents navigate the moving process
  • www.benevia.com or 1-888-236-3842

Thank you to our presenters: Robert Kuehn of Fulcrum Capital, Al Franzen of Windermere Real Estate , Nancy Colson of Windermere Real Estate, Edi Keech of Staging Puget Sound, Rebecca Bomann of SASH and Linda Kladnick of Benevia.

The panel of local professionals includes:

Al Franzen, Windermere Real Estate (Des Moines)

Nancy Colson, Windermere Real Estate (Auburn)

Edi Keech, Staging Puget Sound

Rebecca Bomann, SASH (Sell A Senior’s Home program)

Eric Rovner and Linda Kladnick, Easy Transitions by Benevia

Bob Kuehn, CFA, Fulcrum Capital

Locations:

Des Moines: The Terrace Auditorium

Wednesday, March 9

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Lea Hill in Auburn: Assembly Room

Wednesday, March 16

2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CALL TODAY! RSVP to 206-824-5000 and bring a friend!

Refreshments will be served.

1.     Create a master plan, goals and schedule.

2.     Pace yourself. This allows time to make good choices, avoid regrets and reduce stress.

3.     Begin with items and locations that are not part of your daily life, such as the attic or garage.

4.     Ask the following questions regarding your belongings:

• Does this enhance my quality of life?
• Do I really use this? Have I used it this year?
• Would this item physically fit in my new location?
• Does it have much financial value?  Should I sell it? If you’re uncertain of the value, have it appraised!
• Would this item fit into my new lifestyle?
• Do I really need a full set of this item (i.e. dishes)?

5.     Use removable adhesive colored dots to sort items into groups without creating chaos in your current home. Sort in groups such as: KEEP, SELL, DONATE, GIVE AWAY and DISCARD.

6.     Share family heirlooms sooner than later, making them easier to let go and taking pleasure in watching them received.

7.     Return all borrowed items and ask family to remove any belongings stored in your home.

8.     Consider how you will transfer or ship things to relatives and have donations picked up.

9.     Plan for the disposal of hazardous materials. Some areas have special curbside pickup.

10.  Shred all personal financial and insurance documents that are no longer needed.

The single most important tip for a successful downsizing process is to Start Now! Even if you are considering a move in the distant future, life sometimes surprises us with change. Having a plan and beginning the process now will help to alleviate move anxiety and make your future home a place in which you can be really happy.

The best way to begin the process is to define your priorities and create a master transition plan with a timeline that works backwards from your target move date. This approach offers many benefits, including avoiding the cost of moving unnecessary items, ensuring that your new living space is uncluttered and reducing much of the stress and anxiety associated with your move.

In terms of downsizing, Benevia encourages you to start in areas of your home with belongings that do not have significant financial or emotional value to you.  Tasks such as shredding unnecessary documents, having trash hauled away or emptying the junk drawer in the kitchen will give you a sense of accomplishment. This will help you move into the more complex tasks without feeling completely overwhelmed.

Please join us for “Downsizing to Simplicity,” an entertaining and informative afternoon learning tips to “right-size” your life one step at a time. This seminar is presented by Eric Rovner from Benevia, Wesley Homes’ Easy Transitions partner.

Tuesday, January 11th, 2:00 pm at Wesley Homes Des Moines

Tuesday, January 18th, 2:00 pm at Wesley Homes Lea Hill

The Easy Transitions program at Wesley Homes has been designed to assist you every step of the way through the process of making a move.

• Bring a friend for a chance to win a $100 Gift Certificate to Anthony’s Homeport Restaurant.
• Enter to win a coupon for a free pedicure and 10% Off any service for your first month of Home Health.
  

Call 206-824-5000 to RSVP because seating is limited.

Marcella and Herman Wright enjoy the patio of their new home surrounded by family members left to right: ): Katie Meredith, Ryan Meredith, Elaine Meredith, Ellen Joslin, Morgan Joslin and Megan Joslin

The day I arrived to follow up on how Herman and Marcella Wright were doing in their new brownstone apartment at Wesley Homes Retirement Community, I met six of their family members who have been very involved in helping the Wrights get resettled. 

The Wrights moved into Wesley Homes Lea Hill on July 16^th.   This is the 2nd part of a two part “before” and “after” the move series. 

The first interview “Moving Day into the Wesley Homes Lea Hill Brownstone Apartments” covers their thoughts on selling their home during a recession, why they made the move now, and the move-out experience.

Today there wasn’t an unpacked box in sight and everything appears to be in place and arranged comfortably. 

The conversation this morning revolved around the family “taking Grandma shopping” and the discoveries made about the lay of the land. 

“This is like a ‘fun park’ is how one daughter described the grounds.  “We like the theater,” said a granddaughter.  “The pool is awesome, “shouted out another.   “I want to be old”, said Ryan, age 11, joining in to express his enthusiasm for his grandparents’ new home.

 “I told the kids it’s going to be fun; It’s going to be like a little community,” said one of the adult children, “And now Ryan wants to stay overnight.”  “That’s because he likes the ‘tree house’ bedroom,” said Marcella, pointing to the sun room.

The place really is lovely; two bedrooms, big closets, and the kitchen and living room look out over an expanse of manicured lawn.  “And we don’t have to mow it,” exclaimed Marcella. 

I was impressed that the Wrights and their family members, even the grandchildren, were aware they were celebrating a rite of passage in the lives of the Wrights.

 “Well, the thing is children learn first-hand when they participate,” said Herman, referring to events that mark milestones in the lives of family members. 

 “It’s different than being told and then them trying to absorb it”, he explained, “When you’re involved it will stick with you for life.” 

And so the Wrights are continuing to influence future generations by exposing the children to the art of making deliberate choices that affect quality of life and shape family memories.

– 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

New Kids on The Street - Hazel and Fred Douglas

Following the excitement of seeing their plans turned into reality, the Douglas’ say everything is going well.

“We’re still going through boxes, of course,” said Hazel, and of course every move carries with it some trauma.”

Once the Dust Settles

“I admit we’ve had our “blue” moments,” said Hazel.  It’s a big move to leave what you once called home.”

“It’s the little things that you took for granted that you miss”, explained Hazel, I went out to our back yard in our old home and looked at the Aspen tree and realized I won’t get to hear it get its spring leaves.  That brought a blue moment.  I didn’t realize that was so special.”

“But we’re glad we made the decision we did,” she said, “and our new place is starting to look like home now.”

New Friends in New Places

Hazel and Fred have started exploring the lay of the land and participating in the activities of their new community.  According to Hazel, Fred drove down one nice day and found the fishing dock.  “He walked all the way to Safeway, so he’s getting more oriented in that manner.” She said.

Together they attended a flower show recommended by another resident.  “Now I have a bunch of little baby plants on my back patio,” said Hazel, “and a new friend down the street who just happens to be a master gardener.”

Fred and Hazel have discovered new ways to enjoy activities they have found pleasurable for years.  “We drove up to Burien and found out how to catch the Seattle Light Rail,” said Hazel, We’ll take it down to go to Beneroyal for the April 10^th Pops Concert.

New Ways to Enjoy Favorite Pastimes

“That’s a new experience for us, and I’m looking forward to riding the Seattle Light Rail,” said Fred, it will make going to concerts so much easier.”

They’re finding other residents who hold season tickets to the same events and look forward to having the choice to travel as a group by Wesley Homes Van.

In addition to special resident-scheduled outings, the van makes trips on a regular schedule to accommodate residents running errands, making doctors appointments, going to the swimming pool or into town for the ladies lunches and men’s’ breakfast.

“It’s all in the residents’ handbook,”says Alice VanHouten with Wesley Homes Environmental Services, “there are really a lot of activities and we are happy to accommodate them.”  She named trips to Intiman Theater, Seattle Symphony and Issaquah Village Theater as popular destinations.

“The residents call me and I arrange a driver,” said VanHouten, “some of our drivers have been with us for 17 years.  They’re all Wesley approved drivers with training which includes being certified in CPR and first aid.

Designing a Lifestyle

Fred has already contacted Alice VanHouten to discuss volunteering as a driver.  “Fred said he wouldn’t mind driving the van,” said Hazel, “and we’ve always volunteered at something.”

So, there’s a lot to discover and having lived in their new home less than a month, Hazel and Fred have already begun adding in activities that will define their new lifestyle.  “I went to the crafters a couple of times, so we’re beginning to make headway and feeling like part of the community,” said Hazel.

– ilene little for Wesley Homes