A Trip Down Memory Lane
A new senior daycare center in Sarasota, Town Square helps folks to age gracefully in familiar surroundings.
Imagine going back in time. Back to the cars, restaurants and music of your youth. Back to a time when life was simpler and everyone had your back. Well that’s exactly what it’s like for seniors who spend their days at Town Square in Sarasota, a 12,000 square-foot senior daycare center owned by Michael Finn and his wife, Sherri, “Town Square looks like a 1950s Main Street on the inside. With eleven different storefronts, each focused on a specific type of activity, members always have a varied, interesting day with something new on the agenda.
The Glenner Park section of the center, named for George G. Glenner, the dementia research pioneer whose work helped form the basis for Town Square’s concept, is at the center of the facility and features benches for relaxation and conversation. It is also used for performances and large group gatherings such as exercise. Chumley’s Garage brings back the golden era of the American automobile by displaying a rare restored 1950s muscle car, the kind some of the members may have taken for many a ride in their youth. There is an art studio for creative expression, innovative thinking, and improved manual dexterity, a diner where members enjoy healthy, delicious meals and snacks throughout the day and sway along to the tunes from the jukebox, a city hall to pay tribute to veterans, a health club for senior- friendly exercise, a library and newstand. There is even a little blue house in which members can make themselves at home. Designed to mimic a typical family living room, this storefront is used for relaxing appreciation of classic music or television. The recreation center houses all of the vintage amusements that made game night fun in the ‘50s, like board games, card games, and puzzles, as well as a pool table and a theater showing classic films, TV shows, and musicals. This area is also used as a performance space for members’ drama groups, talent shows, and visiting artists from the community.
“When people think about taking care of their parents,” says Finn, “they think about bringing private duty nursing into the home, or moving them into an assisted living or memory care community. I don’t think there’s ever been anything like this. When folks walk in, they gasp because not only does it look fantastic, but we have dementia-trained staff and really caring people that greet members at the door with hugs and kisses every day. It’s a special thing and it probably keeps loved ones at home for a few more years before they might need to ultimately go to a community. And since Hurricane Ian hit the area in late September, we have had lots of families reach out to become members. It’s clear that the isolation that can come from a storm can be very impactful on folks in need.” Town Square offers a welcomed option for people with dementia and their caregivers and their programming helps the staff to accomplish their most important goal: Bringing happiness, fulfillment, and relief to senior citizens, whether or not they have memory or cognitive impairment.
“Right now, the top 15% or so of our members have no cognitive deficit at all,” shares Finn. “Some of them were just unengaged with way too much time at home during COVID, no socialization, and just wanted something to do. The bottom 15% are probably very cognitively challenged and it’s a real struggle to keep them at home. But we can get them redirected to our environment which is secure with nurses and really caring people and we can keep them busy all day long. The middle 70% of the membership likely suffers from early stage Alzheimer’s or some mild cognitive deficit, and while they might not remember that they visited the center yesterday, their days are filled with activities and enjoyment amongst peers.”
The best way to experience the services of Town Square is with a complimentary visit. All potential members get a free guest day to make sure they like it and the family loves what’s happening. During that visit, an assessment is done that screens for cognitive deficit. When the member does come for a day-long experience, he or she will be greeted at the door, get a name tag, and then they will go to their group. Typically, all members meet up in the diner which holds about 50 people. It’s where the day starts and where they can sit back and read their papers until the activities get going. The groups are made up of six to eight people, paired cognitively so that high functioning folks are not paired with low-functioning ones. Throughout the day, groups are moved through all the storefronts by an experienced guide. There is unique programming all day long every day so that there is always something new, yet familiar, to enjoy.
Hours of operation at Town Square Sarasota are Monday through Friday 8:30-4:30; however, members are free to arrive whenever they’d like. Services are offered on a private-pay basis, but some of the cost may be covered by a variety of benefits, including veteran services. Town Square goes beyond what most social adult day cares provide, by having a full-time registered nurse on-staff, giving medication reminders when necessary, and allowing for coordination of care with outside medical providers. “It’s a no-brainer for families to bring their loved ones here,” says Finn. “With us, they are having a blast and they love where they’re going and what they’re doing all day long.” Town Square is located in the Kohl’s Shopping Plaza, 3882 Central Sarasota Parkway, Sarasota. 941-336-5061. townsquare.net
First-Class Happiness
Luxury senior living is coming to Downtown Wellen.
Grand Living, a community known for its upscale lifestyle residences and exceptional hospitality approach to senior living in Lakewood Ranch, Jacksonville and Hernando County, is set to open in Wellen Park late summer of 2023 and is now taking reservations to hold specific apartments.
According to Nick McLaughlin, Regional Director of Sales, Grand Living distinguishes themselves amongst other senior living communities by delivering what they call first- class happiness. While their communities look like lovely home developments, they really resemble more of a grand hotel feel and are built on a culture McLaughlin refers to as the sterling touch.
“It is something that is tangible and taught and learned and educated to our staff every single day. We all start our day with what we call Start Sterling, which is our sacred time to align as a unit, talk about our principles, talk about how they apply to our residents, and certainly talk about how they apply
to each other.” he says.
Grand Living at Wellen Park will be an active environment with a tremendous emphasis on food and fitness. There will be three restaurants, all offering scratch cooking, with made-to-order meals personalized to the residents’ preferences. Full-time fitness directors are staffed at all of Grand Living communities with access to personal one-on-one training, and about 30 group fitness classes that are offered every week. “These classes are not just your typical senior living exercise classes,” says McLaughlin. “They’re highly innovative classes. They all focus on a specific part of the body, but at the end of the day, they’re really just designed to elevate the resident’s mood and allow them to have fun with it.”
The downtown location of Grand Living will provide access and walkability for residents who can have the benefits of living in the community while also participating in the greater offerings of Wellen Park.
One of the unique offerings delivered by Grand Living is an age-in-place concept. This means a person can come in as an independent resident but if they start to need healthcare services or assisted living, they don’t have to move to another part of the building, they can stay in their same residence, maintain all their routines, keep their friends, keep their lifestyle and they can be as active as they want regardless of what level of healthcare they may need. “We provide all of our care privately to each residence,” states McLaughlin. “We come to them. They never have to come to a centralized care location. It’s all done tastefully, privately, and personalized.”
When complete, there will be 192 residences and 12 villas and at full capacity, the community will be home to around 230 residents of different lifestyles and different ages. “We have the 12 villas, unique to Grand Living at Wellen Park,” says McLaughlin. “That typically attracts a younger demographic that still wants some flexibility. They want access to that Wellen Park marketplace and they want a hassle-free, maintenance-free, and a healthy lifestyle. And best of all, they can age with the community and all that it offers.” To learn more about Grand Living, visit grandliving.com
New Memories
At Sunnyside Village in Sarasota, staff members and residents are learning how to use the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® program to create new memories.
Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. While a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is often frightening to patients and their families, a new and unique approach to activities programming that combines rehabilitation principles and educational techniques using physical and cognitive abilities is being used nationally and locally at Sunnyside Village in Sarasota. The goal of the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® program is to inspire independence and provide fun, purposeful opportunities for collaboration by bringing people together through their talents. After experiencing the positive outcomes of the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® at the Bronze Level, the team at Sunnyside Village was devoted to earning the highest possible Gold Level credential. It’s one of the first in the nation to do so and it is paying off.
The focus of the programming is to create an environment that provides respect and dignity to all persons, and to foster development of a true community for residents with dementia, their families, and the staff members who provide care for them. Created by the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, Dr. Cameron J. Camp, PhD, who has earned international renown for his work to improve the quality of life for persons with dementia and memory disorders, and his associates have personally trained the Sunnyside staff team on the Montessori techniques and applications. This group accomplishment has been a three-year initiative that has brought staff from all departments together as one team.
Sunnyside physical therapist Howard Jackson has been singing all his life and that has been a big plus for the residents in the Health and Rehabilitation Center at the Manor. When Sunnyside Speech and Language Pathologist Karen Hudak learned this, she saw it as an opportunity to match his abilities with the desires and needs of the residents. With the training provided by the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle® program, Howard is now leading others in a small choir, a mix of staff and residents singing in the dining rooms every other Wednesday. The Montessori-Based Dementia Programming® has prepared the Sunnyside staff for their new campus addition, Shepherd’s Landing Memory Care which celebrated a grand opening this past November.
Aging in a Modern World
A new way of living is on the way with 81 Oaks
While there appears to be no shortage of retirement communities in our area, plans are underway for a new resort style retirement community to open in Sarasota County in early 2023 that promises to be a state-of-art facility. Developed by N21 Group, LLC., 81 Oaks will be managed by Solvere Living, a highly acclaimed national operator of senior living communities based in St. Petersburg. Why Sarasota? “First of all, the cost of living is reasonable, which means seniors on a budget can consider relocating to Sarasota,” says Marketing Specialist Rob Sorak. “According to the census.gov website, there are 37.2% of seniors ages 65+ living in Sarasota, which shows a demand for more senior living communities like 81 Oaks.”
The new community is over 90,000 square feet and is part of a multigenerational campus including 100 oak trees, a charter school, an all-inclusive non-denominational church, auditorium, trails and a gazebo. Phase one which is leasing now, will focus on assisted living and memory care. Phase two will focus on independent living cottages and villas.
Some of the technology making 81 Oaks a state-of-the-art facility include a 120-inch screen TV with surround sound audio in the theater, a fitness room with a Blue Goji recumbent cyber cycle and Sci-Fit recumbent stepper, recumbent bike and upper body ergometer. Security will be monitored with Accushield, a system that allows the staff to monitor every individual entering and exiting the community and distinguishes visitors from team members. ALIS, the community’s customized electronic health record and medication administration record, allows the staff to meet the individualized needs of each resident by developing a comprehensive plan of care specific to each person. It incorporates a holistic approach inclusive of all dimensions that impact a person’s overall well-being. Historical, Medical, emotional, functional, lifestyle and cognitive needs, wishes and abilities are reviewed and incorporated into a personalized wellness plan. Caremerge, a communication system allowing for frequent communication between residents and team members and families and the community at any time is another modern feature of the community. Communication via email, text, and an app are all utilized to send updates, calendars, photos, videos and “engagement wishes” of residents. Families are able to survey the community in real time and provide feedback on their loved one’s experience living at the community.
In addition to assisted living homes, there will be 41 independent living apartments, 57 villas and cottages, all with similar features and amenities. While the assisted living and memory care apartments are on the same campus, the memory care neighborhood is secured with courtyards and a walking trail.
Some of the many amenities include the Bayfront Salon and Spa where residents can schedule some pampering time, Heron’s Nest movie theater, Oak Branch library, Flamingo art studio, and the Mangrove Dining Room which offers anytime dining with an ever-changing menu of delectable options prepared by experienced chefs. Weekly housekeeping and personal laundry service is provided, along with scheduled transportation, social events, and educational and spiritual programs, coordination of ancillary and medical services by a wellness director, daily wellness checks, personalized fitness plans and wellness programs.
Dr. Larry Baucom of Suncoast Community Church is the owner of the future community. Baucom, a native of Nashville Tennessee and current Sarasotan has been a pastor for over 40 years. “81 Oaks is a resort style intergenerational community. It is a privately owned Senior Living at its best”, says Dr. Baucom. “Adjacent to a charter school and a community church 81 Oaks is the perfect place to live within a community...not in isolation.” 81 Oaks, 7850 Hawkins Rd, Sarasota, 941-278-8801, 81oaks.com
Friendship Dance
The dance floor is hopping at Senior Friendship Center
Sitting is the new smoking according to nationally regarded geriatrician and former Senior Friendship Centers board member, Kevin O’Neill. “The number one thing you can do for good brain health is to go dance,” he says. Local seniors have taken Dr. O’Neill’s message to heart. Five days a week, one of the largest dance floors in Sarasota is filled with senior dancers and musicians, all hoping to stay active, keep their brains healthy and most importantly, make friends.
Shirley Goodman, age 99, is one of the ‘regulars’ on the dance floor. She’s got the rhythm and the moves to go along with it. In fact, a video of Goodman dancing went viral a few years ago, earning her an appearance on Good Morning America. Affectionately known as “The Dancing Nana,” Goodman has survived two open heart surgeries, a pacemaker and a stint, and macular degeneration. “My ears and eyes aren’t too good,” she says, “but my legs are working fine!” When asked what her secret for a healthy life is, she emphatically replies “Music! It’s my medicine!”
Larry Cappetto, the ‘Fred Astaire’ of the Center agrees. “I was married for 61 years to the most beautiful woman in the world. I took care of her for three years until she passed away with dementia. After she was gone I became like a hermit,” he says. “My daughter drove me to Senior Friendship Centers in Venice. Now I love to dance and sing here. They call me ‘Fred Astaire’ and ‘The Italian Stallion’. I do my own dance moves, I don’t dance the way you’re supposed to dance. I do my own style and they all love it. This place saved my life.”
Senior Friendship Centers will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year. The organization started after Brother William Geenen, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, was traveling in Sarasota and discovered that isolation and loneliness were the malnutrition of aging. He had a couple of chance encounters with people that told him the golden years were not what they had anticipated because they felt far from family and friends. They didn’t have a strong social network and they became very isolated and alone. So Brother Greenen took a one year sabbatical to see if he could start some sort of socialization program for seniors in Sarasota. He came with just $79 in his checking account, a folding card table, his black lab, a suitcase and a station wagon. He put out flyers everywhere he thought seniors would gather–coffee shops, doctor’s offices, pharmacies and mobile home parks. He advertised an open house for anybody that wanted to meet other people and find friendship. He went out and bought coffee and cookies for fifty people because they thought they might have a pretty good turnout. When over 450 showed up at his first open house, Geenen realized that people really do need other people and he continued his work. Every day, seniors would show up and ask him, “What can I do to help?” And Brother Geenen would say, “Can you make coffee?” Pretty soon the seniors had purpose and meaning, and they were showing up every day to make coffee, put the folding chairs out, take the folding chairs up, and clean up.
The organization grew rapidly and within just a few years, multiple campuses became necessary. Today, Senior Friendship Centers is a multifaceted organization covering four counties with different services in each county based on the needs in that community. The bigger centers are in Sarasota and Venice, where there is live music daily from 1:00 to 3:00. Different types of classes, including language, art and dance are offered. A typical day there might include ballroom dancing, yoga, Tai chi, a hot lunch and a cup of coffee at the bistro. These locations, as well as some of the satellite locations, are primarily for seniors who are still independent. They may drive themselves there, get rides or take public transportation.
In addition to various dance opportunities, balance movement, a falls prevention class is one of the center’s most popular classes. “We are all on the journey of aging together and the earlier we can start to build our social capital, the earlier we can start to focus on wellness and our balance and our strength, the better and the more solid we’ll be as we go a little further down the road,” says Crystal Rothhaar, Chief Communications Officer.
A huge focus of the Center is on its volunteers. “We focus so much on our finances as we look towards retirement,” says Erin McLeod, President and CEO of Senior Friendship Centers, “But just as importantly is the investment that we’ve made in our social capital. I cannot emphasize enough how important volunteering is for people to feel like they have a reason to get up and get dressed and put on lipstick and shave and go out the door every day. ‘Somebody’s waiting for me, they need me,’ that kind of thing. But it’s also a connection to other people. After a while, they find that they’ve created their own tribe.”
“Our motto is, people helping people, and the idea behind that is that our volunteers are giving back to the community, but by volunteering, it’s also providing them with a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives,” adds Rothhaar. While most attend for the fun and friendship provided, there are also programs that are vital to the health and wellbeing of seniors. For example, there is a program called Friendship at Home providing friendly visitors and reassurance, and a program called EHEAP and Season of Sharing funds. EHEAP allows the Center to provide one time financial support for somebody who can’t pay an electric bill or some type of utility bill. For seniors who are no longer independent, The Caregiving Place provides adult day care for people with cognitive challenges. It allows them to come and have a healthy lunch, spend the day in a comfortable, warm and compassionate place where they receive care from a one to six ratio staff and a registered nurse who helps take care of them during the day. The program offers respite and resources for their caregiver who is often missing out on their own self-care when caring for someone else. There are online and in-person support groups, as well. While a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is often devastating, the seniors who are part of the program are having fun while keeping active and entertained. They are often treated to visits from therapy ponies, guest speakers and singing clowns. The Key Chorale has even visited with their “I Lost My Keys” program.
“It’s really invaluable for a caregiver who is very stressed and overwhelmed, to take their loved ones somewhere where they actually get to thrive, not just be dropped off,” says Rothhaar. Our organization is here for their families, for their loved ones, for their neighbors, and it’s for all of us because we’re all aging, we’re all going to be old, we’re all getting older. So this organization is here to support all of us as we age, not just the old people out there.” To learn more about Senior Friendship Centers, visit their website: friendshipcenters.org
