Answers For Elders Radio Network

Socializing is a critical aspect of our well-being. Leon Grundstein, Founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle, and Danielle Parker, their COO, join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show to talk about this part of our lives. Leon explains how GenCare tracked the effects of longevity when they began their Whole Life Living Approach program.

Leon says, "One of the worst things that can happen to you is being in solitary confinement. That's why it's so oppressive. And that speaks to why, if a person just decides to stay home with a caregiver and they don't socialize, they're really going to deteriorate mentally, emotionally and physically. So when you come into an environment like ours where you're around people, whether it's at a meal, an exercise class or discussion about a book or you're watching a movie together, or you're having a political debate together, no matter which side of the fence you're on, it works your brain and it gets your juices flowing and it just makes you feel more alive. As human beings, we need that kind of contact.

"You get a few hugs along the way. And physical touch is important, not just the verbal interaction, the visual interaction. We develop relationships and bonds, and people are happier, and they live longer when when they're in that type of situation."

Danielle shares a success story. "I met a daughter of a current resident. Now, he was a prospective resident then, and she was looking for senior housing communities specifically related to nutrition. Dad was home alone, independent, still driving. And he was he was eating a lot of frozen TV dinners – the number one ingredient is sodium, for shelf life. And he had heart failure, and his legs were swelling, and he couldn't figure out why. And it was having a very negative impact on his quality of life, and his ability to navigate at home, navigating the kitchen.

"About six weeks after he moved in, the swelling in his legs was nearly gone. And he was walking better. He was participating in activities. He actually said he hated TV dinners. He said they had their time and place, but didn't want them any more. And his daughter just felt so relieved. Her dad was back. He would opt to go with her out on outings, and go to the grocery store, and run errands."

Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

The Whole Life Living Approach help seniors improves their lives in key areas for senior living. Leon Grundstein, Founder and CEO of GenCare Lifestyle, and Danielle Parker, their COO, join Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about their program.

Leon explains its origins. "I was looking at really what what we as humans really need, not just in our age group. Whatever we eat is the fuel that drives our engine. So we want we want good food, without preservatives, we want special diets for vegans and vegetarians. We don't want processed food. We want to make food that's fresh on-site. We want to have adaptations for people who have gluten intolerance, or [for] diabetics. This ... makes you feel better, makes your heart run better, manages diabetes, manages weight, all those things.

"And then the next step is exercise. You want exercise to take advantage of the fuel to keep your body strong, allows you to sleep better, better management of diabetes, for example. And we know it reduces the incidence of cancer when you're active, and we just wanted to take that step as one of the four facets.

"The third facet was the socialization. And we know that human beings do better in a social environment than being isolated. It stimulates us both socially and emotionally. So we have a very socially-active program with residents, that we track what they do and how often they do it, to make sure they're participating.

"Lastly, no matter what age you are, you still want some purpose in your life."

Danielle talks about how the plan is implemented. "It's the four facets: eat better, move better, think better, live better. And if we're doing the four things the way Leon outlines, then the residents' quality of life is enhanced and they might live longer as well, with a higher quality of life. And we're looking at residents holistically, deliberately, and specific, and making sure that we're addressing their needs."

Learn more at gencarelifestyle.com.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Will Senior Living leverage AI and other technologies in the future? Chief of Staff Tamra Godfrey, SHRM-SCP at Chateau Retirement Communities continues her conversation with Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show from Chateau Boston Landing. Tamra shares her vision to care for the next generation of staff and residents.

Tamra says, "My dad has always been ahead of the curve technology-wise, and I think he's really embedded that in all of his children. And so it's fun to to be looking ahead and bringing in what is really innovative. I think we might be a little ahead of the curve as far as succession is going. And I'm really excited about leveraging that and the new perspective and embracing AI where we can, streamlining, and enabling technology as much as as much as we can."

"I love connecting with people. I love work. I love seeing our employees. I love working with a leadership team. It's, it's really fulfilling to help seniors live their lives with as much respect and dignity as possible, and say anything is possible."

Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau's specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Chief of Staff Tamra Godfrey, SHRM-SCP joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders radio show from Chateau Boston Landing in Washington State. Tamra discusses how employees are hired and developed at Chateau Retirement Communities so they can be supported and mentored.

Tamra describes growing up at Chateau and gaining her background. "I kind of grew up at the Chateau, so my very first job was as a server at Chateau Pacific. During college, I was a prep cook, so I was just working part time. I was going to school full time and then post-college, I became a full time cook in a community in Renton, so I was cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner for all of our veterans down there. And then I made the move to our home office as an executive assistant. And then I started as an H.R. manager at Chateau Valley Center. Eventually I moved into a community relations director position, then into a marketing position at our home office. And then that's when I decided to jump out of the nest and go do things on my own. I went to work for a property management company out of Seattle, and I did that for about seven years. And that's amazing background to for coming into that now where you're going to be managing these properties. I learned so much. It was really complex and I had a great time there. [Eventually] I understood how to do it, I got a little bit bored. And so I called my dad and I'm like, I think I'm interested in learning more and possibly coming back to this business, and taking it to the next generation."

"I think it all comes from our shared values. In addition to being a family-owned and operated company, really focusing on people and investing in people. We see so much value in this. If our employees are happy and engaged and feel valued, they are going to take care of our residents exponentially better than if they were not engaged. So, really investing in them, in their emotional, physical well-being, in making sure our leaders are great leaders and taking care of the employees at work. That's been a big investment and a big value.

"We have three nurses at every single one of our campuses. It's incredible, and nurses are not cheap. They are truly an investment. And what we've done to support them is, we have resident care coordinators, who are really focused on the staff management alongside their nurse, so that all of the caregivers can be a cohesive unit and have the right support for managers, while nurses are really focused on the nursing care that they're specialized in."

Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau's specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Suzanne Newman continues her conversation with CEO and President Jim Godfrey at Chateau Retirement in Washington State. In this segment, Jim talks about his experiences living at the senior living community he founded.

Jim says, "I've been living here in Chateau now for what, 16, 17 months? And I've gotten to know a lot of the residents, and as of yet, I don't know whether they're just being nice — I don't think so, I think they’re being honest — they say they love it here. They love the staff and they love the food. They love everything we do. So, you know, I thought, Oh God, I’m moving here. I’ll have somebody at my door every day complaining about something. It hasn’t happened."

When it comes to improving the lives of other people, Jim says, "That's what kept me in the business after I first tried it out. I felt it was very it was a good feeling, frankly, to be able to give these senior citizens who built their country a happy and peaceful life as enjoyable as possible, seeing your face in their life. And that, to me, seemed like – I think the Buddhists call it right to work. And I felt it really was right for doing that. So that's what kept me in it, and I was enjoying it too.

"We focus on the residents and their well-being, not the bottom line. I mean, we we have to keep ourselves profitable and operating efficiently, and all that. But we're not going to suddenly jump the rates 15% or 20% just to make some goal.

Jim explains, "Our mission was to work with each resident as they come in, get to know them, and then work with them to help them develop a lifestyle which they like and they want to build on. And so they can live happier, healthier and live longer, and they do it on their terms. One of my initial feelings about these buildings [decades ago], it’s sort of like an army camp where you all go into a big barracks and we all have the same routine, and I didn't want that.

"I wanted our residents to be able to choose their own lifestyle and live life to the fullest. And I think they they do that. We have people sit down with them after they move in, and talk to them, and then try to help them meet other people, and other veterans who have maybe similar backgrounds, who they might connect, and introduce them to them. So they start to make friends. They get here for a few months and their circle starts to expand. And human beings are social, right? Yes, they are. They need friends, they want to talk, have friendships. So trying to help them make friends is a big part of it."

Regarding the future of his communities, and setting the foundation for the next 25 years, he says, "I've always had [my] children working here for me. I wanted to let them dip their toe in the water and see how they liked it. And so I had two or three children, son in law, daughter in law, working for us from time to time. And then Tamra was, and then she moved out. Then one day, I got a call, 'hey dad, what if I came back to Chateau to work?' Yeah, you know, thank God. Cause I thought she'd have the capability to take it and run it. [I told her] I want you to go and get an MBA, as well as your psychology degree. I think we're in good hands."

Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau's specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Suzanne Newman broadcasts this week's radio show from Chateau Retirement in Washington State, talking with CEO and President Jim Godfrey. Jim describes his start in the industry, coming from a construction background and partnering with a person who ran nursing homes in the 1980s. Jim helped redefine retirement living.

Jim says, "It's a kind of business that I felt good about, retirement. Here I am giving back to people who built this country, seniors who worked hard, and scraped, and saved, and built this country. Now I have a chance to give back something to them, and where they can live in happiness and reasonable health — depending on whatever afflictions they may have — but do do the very best to give them happy, happy final years of their lives, as enjoyable as possible."

Chateau Retirement provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. They have been locally owned and family operated for more than 25 years. Chateau Retirement has three communities in Washington's Seattle/Puget Sound area: Chateau Pacific in Lynnwood, Bothell Landing in Bothell, and Chateau Valley Center in Renton.

Visit them online or call 800.960.1944. Also visit Chateau's specialist page on Answers for Elders to hear more of their shows.

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks.

Volunteer groups advocate to make a difference in the lives of people facing Alzheimer's and dementia. Jim Wilgus, Executive Director for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about various ways you can help the search for a cure.

Jim says, "There's a lot of ways for folks to engage with the Alzheimer's Association, whether you're in need of services yourself, or you want to volunteer for a clinical trial, or you want to volunteer for an event, or be a community educate educator in your home community. We're present with Walk events in 600 communities across the United States and over almost 30 in my territory.

"There's all kinds of ways for people to get involved. Certainly if you're in need of services, that's a place to start your journey, to access services at the local level or at a 24/7, 365 day year level. Contact our helpline at 1 800 272-3900. We have master's level social workers that work at that helpline to provide care and support services and advice to individuals, but also they're available with our central information around what's happening locally that you can get involved with.

"Another great place to go is our website www.alz.org, and you can access a myriad of resources there, but also find your local chapter. Getting involved as a volunteer, or seeking our services, is a good first step to begin your journey of supporting the Alzheimer's Association or gaining services from the Alzheimer's Association.

"A one time opportunity could be to participate in your state's Advocacy Day, which actually has individuals from all parts of the state. We held ours last week in Olympia here in Washington. We had over 100 individuals at the state capitol in Olympia who visited with every legislator on a scheduled appointment to talk about the agenda that we were promoting to support Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. We were in Juneau last week in Alaska. If you're in Des Moines, if you're in Santa Fe, if you're in Annapolis, there's a state advocacy day for every single state. It's just as easy as finding the information on our website and learning about when those dates are, and how you can register."

Visit https://www.alz.org/trialmatch to find clinical trials in your area.

• Alzheimer's Association website
• About Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Call their helpline at 800.272.3900
• Hear more podcasts about the Alzheimer's Association
• Hear more podcasts about the Walk to End Alzheimers

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Jim Wilgus, Executive Director for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about the need for participants in Alzheimer's clinical trials.

Jim says, "There are circumstances, certainly, where Alzheimer's disease is prevalent within family units, but there's also incidents where it's not. And that's what makes Alzheimer's disease such a mystery, and why research and clinical trials are so important. There's also known evidence that Alzheimer's disease and other dementia are more prevalent in certain populations, particularly African Americans and Hispanic Americans.

"There are needs for all kinds of individuals. And certainly some trials don't require a diagnosis, some trials do. But the bottom line is we need participants in trials. They're safe, they're ethically sound and founded. Many of them are at universities and hospitals, and new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other dementia are nearly impossible without clinical trials. Many more participants are needed, including people, as I mentioned, with dementia or those who are at risk of developing it. Also, for caregivers, or healthy volunteers, with no dementia issues. All are urgently needed for the hundreds and hundreds of trials that take place throughout the United States."

Visit https://www.alz.org/trialmatch to find clinical trials in your area.

• Alzheimer's Association website
• About Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Call their helpline at 800.272.3900
• Hear more podcasts about the Alzheimer's Association
• Hear more podcasts about the Walk to End Alzheimers

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

If you have a loved one who was just diagnosed — or if you've been diagnosed yourself, maybe you are taking care of someone — with Alzheimer's and dementia, the Alzheimer's Association is an amazing resource. Jim Wilgus, Executive Director for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show to talk about clinical research, and opportunities to participate in clinical trials to cure Alzheimer's.

Jim says, "Today, many trials are done online or over the phone. Sometimes they may just require one initial visit. So there's a lot of opportunities for engagement and opportunities for people of any walk of life. We need anyone that wants to be in a trial to get engaged. Inquire about trials that are available in your area, if you're disposed to, because some trials accept individuals who are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. Sometimes even in the middle stages. And sometimes trials have opportunities for the caregiver to participate as well. So it's a very important part of finding a cure to the disease."

Visit https://www.alz.org/trialmatch to find clinical trials in your area.

• Alzheimer's Association website
• About Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Call their helpline at 800.272.3900
• Hear more podcasts about the Alzheimer's Association
• Hear more podcasts about the Walk to End Alzheimers

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks

Jim Wilgus, Executive Director for the Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, joins Suzanne Newman on the Answers for Elders Radio Show. Suzanne and Jim talk about the Alzheimer's Association accelerating clinical research into cures for Alzheimer's and Dementia, funding about $430 million for 1,100 projects in 56 countries. The Alzheimer's Association has a division of medical science leadership and officers, plus hundreds of volunteers and researchers.

Jim says, "The United States is funding at an exponentially higher level, significantly of nearly $4 billion at the federal level compared to when I started in 2010. It was at just about 40 or 50 million. And so now the research funding is rivaling that of cancer and heart and HIV AIDS and the urgency of getting that funding advanced from 2013 14 or so to where it is today means largely through the efforts of the Alzheimer's Association and our thousands of advocates that are that go to D.C. and that work at their districts and home as volunteers in all 50 states."

"One in nine over 65, and one in three over 85, [are at risk for Alzheimer's]. And when I started in 2010, one of the things that we did as an association was participated with a corporation to have a float in the Rose Bowl Parade, which is on January 1st every year. And it was 2011, which was the very first day that Baby Boomers turned 65. And it was to bring attention to the fact that this generation, over an 18-year span, is going to be turning 65 at 10,000 people a day."

Visit https://www.alz.org/trialmatch to find clinical trials in your area.

• Alzheimer's Association website
• About Alzheimer's and Dementia
• Call their helpline at 800.272.3900
• Hear more podcasts about the Alzheimer's Association
• Hear more podcasts about the Walk to End Alzheimers

Check out our affiliate podcast Alzheimer’s Speaks