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August 25 2023

Retirees honor teachers with donations before start of school year

By: Marin Murphy | Jul 27, 2023
Source: wane.com

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — Residents of the Towne House are coming together to honor teachers at Holland Elementary at the 8th annual luncheon where donations to buy supplies for the upcoming school year will be given.

What began as a tutoring program with students has grown into the Holland Elementary Teachers Fund, where residents contribute financially to help teachers buy classroom supplies. Residents, many of them being retired educators, worked to donate $8,755 also getting help from BHI Foundation and United Art and Education to raise a total of $10,600 for Holland Elementary school teachers.

“This is completely a resident-driven initiative and illustrates the heart of our community,”
Doug Vogel, The Towne House Chaplain

Holland Elementary is a Title 1 school meaning most of the students qualify for free or reduced lunch and assistance with book fees. Many students often come to school without needed supplies, making teachers have to spend their own money to help the students.

The residents will host more than 40 teachers at their annual luncheon where teachers will be presented with a $304 gift card each. The luncheon will happen on August 5 and is not open to the public.

August 3 2023

Dr. Marwan Mustaklem Receives Board Certification from American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine

webadmin Wesley Manor News

FRANKFORT, IN – July 19, 2023 –Wesley Manor, a BHI Senior Living Community, is proud to announce that its Medical Director, Dr. Marwan Mustaklem has earned the esteemed Certified Medical Director (CMD) credential from the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (ABPLM).

The CMD credential is a highly respected recognition demonstrating mastery of the professional competencies required in medical direction in post-acute and long-term care. By earning this notable credential, Dr. Mustaklem has further distinguished himself as an exceptional leader within our healthcare team, showcasing his unwavering commitment to continuous professional growth, and to providing our residents with the highest standard of care.

“I am thrilled to congratulate Dr. Mustaklem on this remarkable achievement,” said Brent Waymire, Executive Director of Wesley Manor. “His commitment to the highest standard of care and dedication to his professional growth are truly exceptional. His achievement reinforces his role as an indispensable asset to our team.”

In the state of Indiana, only 75 physicians hold this prestigious credential, making this accomplishment even more noteworthy. This achievement marks a significant milestone not just for Dr. Mustaklem, but for Wesley Manor as a whole, demonstrating our commitment to bringing the highest level of expertise and care to our community.

We congratulate Dr. Mustaklem on his commendable achievement and look forward to his continued leadership and contribution to our team and residents at Wesley Manor.

Dr. Marwan Mustaklem is a Board-Certified Internist (Internal Medicine) focusing on Geriatrics, healthy aging, and wellness.

Dr. Mustaklem attended medical school at Damascus University in Syria, after which he completed his Internal Medicine Residency training at Brown University – Rhode Island in 2003. He and his wife relocated to Indiana in 2007.

Through this practice, he has been able to focus on other areas of interest, such as Cardio-Metabolic Syndrome, Anti-Aging, and Longevity, to produce healthy outcomes for the orthopedic aspect and create better overall health outcomes and improve health status in all patients.

Dr. Mustaklem has been a Medical Director for Long Term Care facilities in Indiana since 2016.

He is certified Medical Director through The Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine / American Medial Directors Association.

His professional interests include educating patients about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention through Evidence-Based Medicine. His medical passions are Geriatrics and Healthy aging. His objectives are practicing Precision Medicine, Comprehensive Patient Care, and helping patients feel great, inside, and out.

He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP), a fellow of Hospital Medicine (FHM), and an active member as well as Certified Provider (IFM-CP) of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM).

He is married and is a proud Dad to three children. His hobbies include Pickleball, Tennis, fishing, and traveling.

Wesley Manor

Located in charming Frankfort, Indiana, Wesley Manor has been providing security and peace of mind to residents since 1961. Wesley Manor was founded by the Northwest Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church as a Christian-based, non-profit continuing care retirement community.

A continuing care retirement community, or Life Plan Community, offers quality senior housing, freedom from the responsibilities of home maintenance, and the security of an on-site continuum of care. In 2016, Wesley Manor affiliated with and became a BHI Senior Living Community.

BHI Senior Living

The seed of BHI Senior Living was planted in 1904, when Edward and Sarah Crawford donated 185 acres of land in Boone County, Indiana, to the American Baptist churches. With additional funding from American Baptist churches, their gift became The Crawford Baptist Industrial School — a non-profit orphanage and industrial school that opened in 1905.

In 1952, a new era began for the organization with the opening of our first Life Plan Retirement Community, Hoosier Village in Indianapolis. With Hoosier Village, Indiana seniors were introduced to a new approach to retirement living — one that places the needs of residents as our highest priority.

Today, BHI Senior Living has seven Life Plan Communities and two Active Adult Communities in the Midwest. Hoosier Village, The Towne House, Prairie Landing, Four Seasons, Wesley Manor, Athens Crossing, and The Barrington of Carmel are located throughout Indiana, Clark Retirement in Michigan, and Maple Knoll Communities in Ohio. Each community provides high-quality, maintenance-free residences; a full continuum of healthcare services, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services; and a fulfilling lifestyle for active seniors.

July 6 2023

Hoosier Village fundraiser supports Alzheimer’s Association

webadmin BHI News

By Edward Redd | July 3, 2023

Source: Current Magazine

Hoosier Village started the summer with a day of excitement, supporting the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day event.

On June 21, the retirement community at 9875 Cherryleaf Dr. in Zionsville hosted a fundraising event with a day filled with entertainment. Family and friends enjoyed activities and events that included a pickleball tournament, cookout, and concert.

The event raised more than $4,500 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

June 21 was the day with the most sunlight, making it the longest day of the year. Nancy Nelson, vice president of public relations for Hoosier Village, said the Alzheimer’s Association created The Longest Day event on that day to raise funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s.

“For people who are living with Alzheimer’s disease, some days can feel very long,” Nelson said. “It’s become a neat day for lots of people to recognize Alzheimer’s disease.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s website, the event happens annually around the world. Participants support the battle against Alzheimer’s through a fundraising activity of their choice. Hoosier Village used the day to give family and friends a way to enjoy the first day of summer while supporting the cause.

Nelson said donating activities included car washes, a big cookout, and a pickleball tournament. Less mobile guests were able to watch movies at the campus’ Reagan Center.

“This is the biggest event that we have coordinated so far,” Nelson said. “We have lots and lots of ideas for next year.”

May 19 2023

What Is the Difference Between a Skilled Nursing Facility and a Nursing Home?

webadmin BHI News

Discover the nuances between skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes with US News as we unravel the distinctions to help you make informed care decisions.

By Payton Sy, RN | May 18, 2023

Source: U.S. News & World Report

It’s overwhelming enough when the doctor tells you that your elderly mom can’t be discharged home after a fall. Then, when searching for where she should go, you’re inundated with unfamiliar senior living terminology: What is a skilled nursing facility? What is a nursing home? Are they the same?

The answer isn’t so straightforward. In some situations, the terms “nursing homes” and “skilled nursing facilities” are interchangeable. In others, they can mean two distinct levels of care. Read on to learn about the subtle differences between the two names.

Nursing Home vs. Skilled Nursing Facility

The main distinction between nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities lies with the length of care in question, says Sue Johansen, a San Francisco-based executive vice president with A Place for Mom, a senior referral service. Care can be either short-term (temporary) or long-term (sometimes permanent). Let’s start with the latter.

Long-term nursing home care

Let’s say your mom fell because of worsening Alzheimer’s disease and has experienced continued difficulty keeping her balance. The fall caused minor scrapes and bruises, but her doctor thinks she needs to be discharged to a location where she has around-the-clock medical supervision.

In this situation, your mom would mainly receive what’s known as “custodial care.”

Custodial care includes:

Aid with activities of daily living, like toileting or grooming.
Basic health care that unlicensed professionals can provide. This care, for example, can involve giving an over-the-counter oral medication or administering eye drops.

Short-term skilled nursing care

Going back to our situation, let’s say your mom’s fall caused her to need a hip replacement. After surgery at a hospital, she would require short-term nursing care, such as physical therapy and IV pain medication.

At a skilled nursing facility, she would likely receive custodial care as well as a higher level of care, or “skilled nursing.”

Skilled nursing care includes:

Care that is done by a licensed professional. This kind of help can include catheter care or tracheostomy care.
Specialized therapy, such as physical, occupational or speech therapy.

The main distinction with short-term skilled nursing care is that Medicare coverage may be an option (more on that later on).

“For most people, a Medicare rehab short-term stay in a skilled nursing center is often their point of entry to this type of care,” explains John Dattilo, the president and CEO of BHI Senior Living in Indianapolis.

After that, where they go is determined by insurance coverage and bed availability.

“It’s also likely that families will need to make decisions quickly based on when their loved one is discharged from hospital care,” Datillo says.

May 18 2023

HEALTHTAC East Panel: Dining with Technology

webadmin BHI News

by David Berman April 26, 2023

Source: seniorlivingnews.com

Technology has altered the dining experience at senior living communities in recent years, allowing new options for customization and automation at each meal.

Three executives from top senior living firms spoke on technology in dining at the 2023 HEALTHTAC East conference on March 21 at the Trump National Doral Miami. Speaking in front of a sold-out audience, the panelists gave their perspectives on recent senior living trends during the 20-minute session titled “Dining with Technology: Improving Your Resident Experience.”

Andrew Allen, Corporate Food & Beverage Director for Otterbein Senior Life, reflected on when his company was investing in their first POS systems. The POS company suggested IPads for servers to put in their orders, a concept that seemed so foreign at the time.

“That was probably the first big purchase I’ve made with technology as far as its high (correlation) with dining and beverage that was a huge game changer for us, especially when we have large restaurants and dining venues,” Allen said. “It’s not just about the residence, it’s all about the staff. Your staff in dining are mostly younger employees who use technology. So the more technology I believe that you have with dining, not only would it make the seniors’ dining experience better, but it also creates some type of fun atmosphere for your employees as well.”

Katie Griffith, Principal for Bright Solutions, said incorporating technology for the dining experience also makes residents happy for the staff with whom they’ve developed relationships.

“When we’re giving the staff tools to make their life easier such as robotics … they’re seeing that the staff are not having to run back and forth to the kitchen,” Griffith said. “They’re saving footsteps for our wonderful team members that are out there loving on our residents. Residents love to see that.”

The panelists went into specific technology they’ve implemented into dining. Allen said self-checkout kiosks, similar to what you would see in a grocery store, cuts down on wait times during busy meals. Elwood Conaway, Vice President of Information Technology for BHI Senior Living, circled back to robotics to talk about the serving bots they deploy on a few of their campuses. He said residents get “a really big kick out of” having a robot serve them dinner.

When implementing technologies such as these into living facilities, Conaway said training employees on how to use them is crucial. He said he always tries to find a “champion” at each campus to help push along any changes. This empowers individual staff members to be leaders in their teams while also giving the whole team a person to unite behind.

Allen cautioned to not go all in on new technology, as not all residents respond well to it. Having a balanced approach that mixes human interaction with the ease and efficiency of technology can be the way to go.

“Technology changes,” Allen said. “And you know, as the different generations come in, we have to know that. Right now, I believe we have multiple generations that are living in our senior living communities, right. So maybe the older generation right now is still (saying) ‘you know what, when I come into dining, I want a waiter or waitress to take my order. That’s what I’m paying for.’ Whereas now we’re getting some people who are saying, I like to do online ordering.

“Sometimes having more than one answer can still be the right answer.”

The panel ended with a discussion on how to measure success after implementing a new technology. Conaway said he looks at how well and how often a technology is used.

“That’s how I measure success is if everyone is using it the way it’s meant to be used,” he said. “So if it’s, before we had it at 0%, and now we’re using it, we’re at 85%. And I can track that number. And for me, the key factor for me is 80-85%. That to me is a success. 50%, it’s not really a success, it’s kind of a waste of time, because we’re not getting the true ROI out of what we spent the money on to make it happen.”

May 17 2023

Living History Day returns

webadmin BHI News

By Jessica Todd
news@currentzionsville.com

Source: https://issuu.com/currentpublishing/docs/ciz_051623_final

North Central High School hosted its annual Living History Day April 26. The event had been on a three-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty-one U.S. military veterans shared their stories with students. Ten of the veterans were from Hoosier Village Senior Living Community at 9891 Purple Plum Lane, Zionsville.

“The veterans divided amongst small tables throughout the day, where they told students about their military experience,” said Ron May, chaplain of Hoosier Village.

Living History Day began 18 years ago. Since then, Chris Vermillion, the social studies department chair at North Central High School, has worked to enhance the event each year.

“This event was started by a former librarian and social studies department chair,” Vermillion said. “The librarian’s dad was a World War II veteran, and she noticed that he and some friends did not have an outlet to share their experiences.”

Vermillion said Living History Day honors veterans who sacrificed so much for the freedom of others while giving sophomore U.S. history students a chance to see significant historical events through someone else’s eyes.

“Since our students have grown up without major U.S. wars or conflicts, it is natural that they would not fully understand the price our veterans have paid,” Vermillion said.

The 10 participants from Hoosier Village were all Vietnam War-era veterans.

Veterans who attended from Hoosier Village were John Bellinger, Don Bievenour, Richard Cohee, William “Bill” Dunbar, Al Grayson, Jerry Klavon, Regis Kline, Don Murdoch, Tom Schemmel and Rick Wheeler.

Kline served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1972 and enrolled in Officer’s Candidate School. He did a tour of duty in South Korea as a first lieutenant.

“I enjoyed meeting the sophomores and answering their questions, because most had no clue what the Army did,” Kline said.

Bellinger served in the U.S. Navy and was as an officer in the Naval Civil Engineering Corps.

“I was able to talk about my life through that period and how life was much different from today, especially for a young male U.S. citizen,” Bellinger said.

Wheeler served in the Army from March 1970 to November 1971.

“I liked having the opportunity to interact with mature high school students and bring a voice and perspective to a subject they have studied in class,” Wheeler said.

Schemmel served in Vietnam as a military advisor from January to December 1963 as part of a small special force sent by President John F. Kennedy.

“The students were most interested in the part of history leading to the war,” Schemmel said.

Murdoch served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1993.

“I liked interacting with the students,” Murdoch said.

Cohee served in the Army from 1969 to 1971. “I think the students were glad to hear my story about serving at Headquarters Company at Ft. Benjamin Harrison,” Cohee said.

May 17 2023

Hoosier Village Flea Market benefits community initiatives

webadmin BHI News

BY NATALIE GARGIULOMAY 16, 2023

Source: https://www.youarecurrent.com/2023/05/16/vintage-finds-hoosier-village-flea-market-benefits-community-initiatives/

For the past 15 years, the residents of Hoosier Village, a nonprofit life plan community in Zionsville, have come together to host an annual flea market to raise funds for a good cause.

The Hoosier Village Flea Market, which will sell household items no longer needed by residents, will be presented May 18, 19, and 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5300 W 96th St., in Zionsville. It is open to the public.

The Hoosier Village Flea Market has grown through the years, raising nearly $200,000 to fund a variety of initiatives, including community park benches, wheelchairs and an art gallery, to name a few.

The Baptist Homes of Indiana Foundation, which oversees the proceeds, is partnered with the flea market and matches up to $10,000 to what the market raises throughout the year.

“This is a huge benefit for people to buy really nice stuff for a low cost, and the items that are left over are donated to a wide variety of charitable organizations,” said Nancy Nelson, vice president of communications and public relations at Hoosier Village. “So, the impact of this flea market goes a long way.”

The flea market was launched in 2005 by Hoosier Village resident Marcia Schoonaert, 82, who led community efforts to reuse, repurpose and recycle for more than 20 years as a recycling educator in the 1970s.

“I don’t like to waste things. It’s not in my nature,” Schoonaert said. “I’ve always been a volunteer for everything and anything, so starting the flea market at Hoosier Village was a natural fit. I’ve got a team of volunteers that feel the same way I do about helping others.”

The residents and volunteers wanted to organize an event that would bring their community together to help others in need.

“Young people that are just starting out with their first home have come to the flea market and have been delighted by what they were able to get with what little money they had to furnish their home,” Schoonaert said.

Residents of Hoosier Village volunteer to organize, sort and price items donated to the flea market.

“By the end of the week, as the market gets closer, there will be close to 50 volunteers that will have helped the market open,” Schoonaert said.

The flea market is a special event for the residents of Hoosier Village, not only to raise funds but also for the comradery.

“We all work together to make this market happen, and we all have the same goal, to help the residents which has brought all of us together as a community and as friends,” Schoonaert said.

With vintage and antique items for sale at the market, the items are often imbued with a sense of nostalgia and history that cannot be replicated by new products.

“Most of the items are very old. You can’t buy these items at the store,” Schoonaert said. “The original owner might have been a collector or an artist. People buy some of the items for presents for their families.”

Collectables are also sold at the market, ranging from wood-carved figurines to hand-crafted plates and bowls.

“The market is a lot of work, but we all enjoy it and we all get along and look forward to it,” Hoosier resident and volunteer Suzanne Aldrich said.

About Hoosier Village

Hoosier Village is a nonprofit life plan community founded in 1952. A life plan community offers quality senior housing, freedom from the responsibilities of home maintenance, and the security of an on-site continuum of care.

Life plan communities provide individuals 62 and over with the following:

The privacy of an apartment or duplex home and the companionship of community life.
A wide range of helpful services such as housekeeping, transportation and home maintenance.
A variety of amenities such as a fitness center, library, inter-denominational chapel and dining venues.
A full calendar of engaging activities, including social, recreational, spiritual and educational opportunities.
A continuum of on-site health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.

For more, visit hoosiervillage.com.

May 10 2023

Volunteer of the Year Award: Congrats to Diana Wickes!

webadmin Wesley Manor News

Krista Stillwell | June 5, 2023

Source: discoverclintoncounty.com

Diana Wickes received the Volunteer of the Year Award at the LeadingAge Indiana Awards Luncheon held at their 2023 Annual Spring Conference on May 4, 2023, held at Crowne Plaza Union Station in Indianapolis, IN. The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an individual or group of volunteers within a member community whose commitment and dedication enhance the quality of life for seniors and their communities. Wesley Manor has been a long-standing member of LeadingAge Indiana and nominated Diana for this prestigious award.

Diana and her husband Brad have resided at Wesley Manor in our independent Village since 2009.

Diana did not let the grass grow under her feet and began volunteering immediately at the Wesley Manor Share and Care Thrift Shoppe, soon after her move-in. In 2014, Diana assumed the overall leadership role of the Share and Care Thrift Shoppe, which included coordinating and overseeing the other volunteers as well as assuring the continued success and tradition of this well-established program.

The Share and Care Thrift Shoppe offers Wesley Manor residents, employees, and guests an opportunity to purchase clothing, jewelry, small appliances, furniture, and a wide variety of other items which have been donated and then repurposed for the benefit of Wesley Manor residents.

Each Friday will find the shop and the adjoining corridor packed with residents awaiting their turn to get in and take their turn shopping. All items are marked at more than a reasonable cost, but remarkably, the volume, or amount of sales generated through the Share and Care program is phenomenal and most of those funds are provided back to Wesley Manor to benefit programs and services for the residents we serve.

Since Diana has taken over the volunteer leadership of the program, she has done a phenomenal job in soliciting donations in order to keep the inventory of items available for sale up to date and vibrant within the shop, and consistent with the wants and needs of the residents.

In recent years, $60,000 + has been provided back to Wesley Manor to assist with various projects and aid in the assistance where operating budgets have been tight.

The Share and Care Thrift Shoppe is certainly a valued venue at Wesley Manor and the residents thoroughly enjoy the shopping experience and the “hunt for a bargain.” Diana, through her volunteerism, makes this a continued possibility at Wesley Manor and we are grateful for her involvement in this project, which she clearly holds near and dear to her as a ministry.

Diana Wickes from Wesley Manor was honored by LeadingAge for her volunteer work with the Care and Share store at Wesley Manor. Mrs. Wickes received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her many dedicated years of service.

Pictured: Front Center – Diana Wickes, recipient of the LeadingAge Indiana – Volunteer of the Year Award. Left – Right: Ginny Cromer, Associate Executive Director; Jerry Cooper, Maintenance Director; Brent Waymire, Executive Director; Jo Unroe, Resident Services Director; Cindy Reecer, Director of Nursing; Beth Wheeler, Environmental Services Director; and Brad Wickes, Diana’s husband.

May 8 2023

Resident authors WWII book

webadmin BHI News

By Edward Redd

Source: Current Magazine

Ronald P. May, the chaplain at Hoosier Village Retirement Community in Zionsville, has published a book that explores Indiana’s World War II landmarks.

A Carmel resident, May is an author and historian who has spent many years collecting interviews and chronicling the historical importance of Indiana during the World War II era. In his new book, “World War II Indiana Landmarks,” May writes about historical locations in the state.

May, who has a master’s degree in World War II studies, was a chaplain in the U.S. Navy Reserve for 22 years. His experience inspired him to publish four books, including his latest. His first three books are part of a three-volume series, “Our Service, Our Stories”.

May said he started writing veteran service stories in 2012 after retiring from the Navy Reserve. “Most of the stories were of World War II veterans, but I did write some stories of those who served in Korea, Vietnam and during the Cold War,” May said.
Inspiration for “World War II Indiana Landmarks” came to May while he studied for his master’s at Arizona State University. He reached out to History Press to see if it was interested in his book proposal.
May said he has plans to add books to his first series, “Our Service, Our Stories”. “Volume 4 will feature stories of medical personnel who served during World War II. Volume 5 will be similar to Volumes 1 and 3, an assortment of stories of service members and those who served on the home front (civilian and military,” May said.

To preorder, visit barnesandnoble.com/w/world-war-ii-indiana-landmarks-ron-ald-p-may/1142693002.

April 28 2023

Hoosier Village Veterans Participate in High School’s Living History Day

webadmin BHI News

Ten Hoosier Village veterans from the Vietnam era participated along with other veterans in North Central High School’s Living History Day on April 26, 2023.

HV participants included: John Bellinger, Don Bievenour, Richard Cohee, Bill Dunbar, Al Grayson, Jerry Klavon, Regis Kline, Don Murdoch, Tom Schemmel, and Rick Wheeler. Wheeler’s son is one of the history teachers at North Central.

Each veteran was stationed at tables in the school’s lower student center while small groups of 10th grade students rotated among the veterans to hear of their experiences of military service.

According to the school’s website: “Living History Day is an annual event at North Central High School that takes place every April. Veterans from WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts, and other newer conflicts come to the NC lower student center to present their experiences and bring curriculum to life for North Central US History students.”

This is a great example of ways that Hoosier Village residents give back to our Indianapolis and Zionsville communities.