Medicare and Medicaid Turn 50
Did you know Medicare and Medicaid turn 50 this week? The landscape of health care in America changed forever on July 30, 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the landmark amendment to the Social Security Act, giving life to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Top 5 Blog Posts —July 20
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
Centenarian and Navy Veteran Doris Brand Taught Kids to Read and Pilots to Fly
Doris Brand, who is 100, was born during World War I, taught in a one-room school in the 1920s, weathered the Great Depression, and became a Navy flight instructor in World War II.
Son's Heart-Wrenching Video Brings Attention to Father's Alzheimer's Disease
Brad Swientoniowski has captured the attention of thousands of viewers through a heart-wrenching video of his father's daily battle with Alzheimer's disease. Brad felt compelled to show the world that Alzheimer's is more than forgetfulness.
Ecumen COO Shelley Kendrick Featured in Star Tribune’s Movers & Shakers
In the Star Tribune’s Movers & Shakers column, Shelley Kendrick, Ecumen Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer, talks about Ecumen’s mission, its initiatives to change aging and how the Affordable Care Act is changing the senior living landscape.
Ecumen Volunteers Help Out at the National Senior Games
The Ecumen Business Development Department joined the 2,500 volunteers who are helping run the National Senior Games being held in the Twin Cities this year.
What It Means To Be Old: An Unexpected Lesson for the First Class of Ecumen Scholars
Ten student nurses interested in geriatric care recently came to Ecumen Pathstone Living for the inaugural Ecumen Scholars Fellowship Program. They left with an abiding lesson not taught in nursing school: What it means to be old.
You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org.
TED Talk Video: Older People Are Happier
Not only do we gain wisdom with age, we also gain happiness. Watch this enlightening discussion, presenting the research showing that happiness goes hand-in-hand with age. Watch as Laura Carstensen presents "Older People are Happier" at TEDxWomen.
From the TED website: In the 20th century we added an unprecedented number of years to our lifespans, but is the quality of life as good? Surprisingly, yes! At TEDxWomen psychologist Laura Carstensen shows research that demonstrates that as people get older they become happier, more content, and have a more positive outlook on the world.
Photo: TEDxWomen
100-year-old Becomes Oldest to Compete in 100-meter-dash
A hundred years of life has not slowed down Michigan native and World War II veteran Frederick Winter. At the National Senior Games, which conclude today in Minneapolis, Winter became the oldest man to complete the 100-meter dash, finishing with a time of 42.38 seconds. Read Winter's story and hear how he trained for the games in Sports Illustrated's article.
Top 5 Blog Posts —July 13
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Delight the Ecumen Bethany Community
While in Alexandria, Minn., for the River Songs and Tales with Mark Twain Tour, members of The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers performed at Ecumen Bethany Community in the chapel — which the residents said never sounded so wonderful.
The Classic at Hillcrest Greens Senior Living Community Now Open in Altoona, Wisc.
The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., managed by Ecumen, is now open and new residents are starting to move in.
Ecumen Brooks in Owatonna Celebrates Its 15-Year Anniversary
Ecumen Brooks in Owatonna, an assisted living community, held its 15th anniversary celebration on June 11, 2015, with an open house timed perfectly to coincide with a pouring rain. Still, the turnout was great.
Buzzfeed: 8 Uplifting Tales of Coping with Dementia
Eight very different people living with dementia detail their exceptional coping strategies, such as: "I exercise like an Olympian" and "I've become a more abstract painter."
Sales Office Now Open for Zvago Glen Lake Co-op in Minnetonka
Zvago Glen Lake Cooperative, a new senior housing co-op planned for the north shore of Glen Lake in Minnetonka, has opened a sales office and showroom in walking distance from the site.
You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org.
Top 5 Blog Posts —July 6
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
Two Supercentenarians Believed to be the Last with Birthdates in 1800s
Susannah Mushatt Jones and Emma Morano have each seen 115 years of life, including the start of world wars and the birth of penicillin. Mushatt Jones and Morano are now believed to be the last people alive with birthdates in the 1800s.
Noted Chef Steve Knowlton Brings His Passion for Food to The Classic at Hillcrest Greens
Steve Knowlton has made his mark as a forward-thinking chef who created two successful restaurants and felt the glow of celebrity and rave reviews. Now he’s cooking up a whole new career as the Culinary Director at The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., challenging himself to make this senior living community’s dining experience something to buzz about.
Ecumen Prairie Lodge Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary with a Big Splash
Splashing sounds filled the warm summer night as Ecumen Prairie Lodge in Brooklyn Center celebrated its 10th anniversary last Thursday, June 25, with an open house for the community. A crowd-pleasing dunk tank provided continuous entertainment, along with a jazz band, plentiful food and refreshments and prizes.
Ecumen Promotes Robin Balck and Julie Murray
Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts announced the promotions of Robin Balck and Julie Murray to reflect their additional responsibilities in strengthening Ecumen’s focus on growth and innovation. Balck has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief Strategy Officer, and Murray has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Chief Business Development Officer.
Ecumen-Managed ‘The Classic at Hillcrest Greens’ in Altoona, Wisc.,To Open in Early July
Construction of The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., is well underway, and the new senior living community managed by Ecumen plans to open in early July. The new community, located at 2455 Sawgrass Place in Altoona, includes 99 rental apartments for people 62 and older — 63 designated for independent or assisted living residents and 36 for memory care residents.
You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org.
Buzzfeed: 8 Uplifting Tales of Coping with Dementia
Eight very different people living with dementia. Eight different ways to cope - YouTube, driving tanks, running, painting, television and exercising.
Top 5 Blog Posts —June 29
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
Noted Chef Steve Knowlton Brings His Passion for Food to The Classic at Hillcrest Greens
Steve Knowlton has made his mark as a forward-thinking chef who created two successful restaurants and felt the glow of celebrity and rave reviews. Now he’s cooking up a whole new career as the Culinary Director at The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., challenging himself to make this senior living community’s dining experience something to buzz about.
Shelley Kendrick Named Ecumen Chief Operating Officer
Shelley Kendrick has been named Ecumen’s Chief Operating Officer/Senior Vice President of Operations. Ecumen CEO and President Kathryn Roberts announced Kendrick’s appointment, saying: “As we embark on some of the most exciting and challenging times in our history, we conducted an extensive national search to find the very best person to lead Ecumen Operations. That person is Shelley Kendrick.”
10 Quotes to Honor Fathers
Coming up with words to express the love and gratitude that fathers deserve can be difficult when there is so much to be thankful for. Here’s a list of inspiring quotes.
Ecumen of Litchfield: A Hospice Client Gives His Nurse a Day She Will Never Forget
Roger's last wish was one more tractor ride. And what a ride it was.
Ecumen-Managed ‘The Classic at Hillcrest Greens’ in Altoona, Wisc.,To Open in Early July
Construction of The Classic at Hillcrest Greens in Altoona, Wisc., is well underway, and the new senior living community managed by Ecumen plans to open in early July. The new community, located at 2455 Sawgrass Place in Altoona, includes 99 rental apartments for people 62 and older — 63 designated for independent or assisted living residents and 36 for memory care residents.
You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org.
Top 5 Blog Posts —June 22
Did you miss last week's most-read Changing Aging blog posts? Ecumen's online visitors found these articles most interesting:
Ecumen of Litchfield: A Hospice Client Gives His Nurse a Day She Will Never Forget
Roger's last wish was one more tractor ride. And what a ride it was.
Ecumen Lakeshore Hosts “Longest Day” Sunrise-to-Sunset Event Honoring Those with Alzheimer’s
Ecumen Lakeshore participated in The Longest Day team event to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer's Association® and welcomed the Duluth-area community to join its team. The sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the long and challenging journey of those living with Alzheimer’s.
She's Receiving Her M.D. at Age 102
Inge Rapoport received her M.D. after waiting almost 80 years.
Ecumen Receives National Award for Its Workplace Online Learning Program
Ecumen has received a “Learning Excellence Award” from Total Training Network (TTN), a leading learning management system and online training provider, for its Ecumen University.
Sales Office Now Open for Zvago Glen Lake Co-op in Minnetonka
Zvago Glen Lake Cooperative, a new senior housing co-op planned for the north shore of Glen Lake in Minnetonka, has opened a sales office and showroom in walking distance from the site.
You can read these articles and more at www.ecumen.org.
10 Quotes to Honor Fathers
Coming up with words to express the love and gratitude that fathers deserve can be difficult when there is so much to be thankful for. Next Avenue has provided a list of 10 Favorite Quotes About Fathers.
A few of them include:
"Dads don't need to be tall and broad-shouldered and clever. Love makes them so." -Pam Brown
"His heritage to his children wasn't words or possessions, but an unspoken treasure, the treasure of his example as a man and father." -Will Rogers Jr.
Happy Father's Day to all fathers. Ecumen honors you!