Mease Manor Blog

I consider it an honor and a privilege to work in a retirement community.  So many people can go to work each day and do the same thing day after day.  Don’t get me wrong, some days I do the same paperwork and fill out the same forms.  But it is days like we had here at Mease Manor on Wednesday that makes it all worthwhile. 

John and Millie have lived here at Mease Manor since 2003.  They can always make me laugh and have taught me how to always have a smile.  When I think about all they have seen in the 70 years of their marriage and what the world was like the year they were married I am in awe.  And yet they still sat and held hands when they renewed the promises they made to each other so long ago.  So many of my generation and after have no role models like this, they live with divorces, long distance family relationships and blended families.  The new normal is so different today than in 1942.  

One of the most touching things I think Millie said during their celebration, for those of us who work  at Mease Manor, was that her family could not make it into town for this momentous day but her Mease Manor family was here and that was all that mattered right then.  We are so lucky they invite us into their homes each day to do our jobs. 

For all of us at Mease Manor, these kind of celebrations are coming along more and more.  Just this year I know two other couples that have celebrated anniversaries of over 65 years.  We had three residents reach the century mark in one week last year!  It is a tribute to the amazing people who work here, to the positive attitude of the residents and the positive life experiences we strive each day to create. 

I hope I can tell you about more people like John and Millie soon.  By the way, Millie was smart, she found a way to make sure John never forgot their wedding anniversary; he also celebrated his 92 birthday on Wednesday.   Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary!

So far this blog has been about starting to tell you about options that can make a difference in the area of senior living.  I wanted to tell you about some place else where you can make a difference.  Washington DC and Tallahassee, Florida or whatever your state capitol may be.

The next few years are going to be critical in the politic process around services that will be available to seniors.  So it is important that we cure the biggest disease out there.  It is a disease that can be cured without a single dollar being spent.  It can be cured without changing Medicare or Medicaid.  The effects of these diseases can be seen in people lives every day.   Have you guessed what the disease is?  The disease is apathy.  I say it is a disease because it can spread like wildfire.  It is contagious.  All you have to do is ask the next time some starts complaining about something that is happening in your state capitol or in Washington, “Did you vote in the last election? Have you told your Congressman how you feel?”

Those who know me know one of my favorite lines, “ You can only complain about the process and the outcomes from it, if you take part in the process.”  In other words, if you did not cast a vote in the last election or pick up the phone and call someone, don’t complain that your Representative did not vote the way you wanted them to. 

Now is the time for all of us to be involved.  We have to remember that anyone in an elected office works for us. So there are a couple of steps to take right away.

1. Know who your representatives are.
2. Contact them and tell them what you think.  How will your life change if the any changes are made to Medicaid?  How will you or your grandfather’s life change if Medicare funding is changed?
3. Stay informed.

I recently had a change to visit both Washington and Tallahassee.  I made sure that I was telling the story about how the votes they would cast would affect each and every person that I was speaking on for.  It can be very rewarding to see the process work the right way.  Become involved it is truly one of the most empowering things you can do!  Believe me you can make a difference. 

Luanne Reese, is the Vice President of Marketing and Planning at Mease Manor a full service retirement community featuring Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Nursing/Skilled Rehabilitation in Dunedin, FL.  She serves on the board of the Florida Assoc. of Homes and Services for the Aging, and the House of Delegates for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.  She can be reached at lreese@measemanor.com

In the environment we find ourselves in today being caregivers, husbands, wives, daughters, sons, moms, dads, cooks, housekeepers and lets not forget chauffeurs, life does not stop so  you can take a break and so the perfect time comes to have your loved one move to a retirement community.  But what if there were a way to try out the lifestyle of a community before you make the big commitment to the sell the house? What if there were a way to make sure Mom would really feel comfortable at the community before she signed that contract. 

One really helpful option we have found at Mease Manor is what we have always called respite stays.  Respite stay is not something most outside of our office really understood, so we have changed the way we talk about the short term stays and called them mini vacations or try it before you buy it.   It is a way for someone to come into a community and try out the lifestyle.  So much anxiety can be caused by the overwhelming thought of moving and making a change.  Our mini vacations or short term stays in all levels of care provide the way to find out that the food is great every night of the week and the activities can keep me active, involved and healthily.  It is the way to know the staff is as helpful, supportive and inspiring as they were the first day you stepped in the front door.

Our mini vacations can take away some of the anxiety of a permanent move to a community.  They can offer a care giver a break to attend a special family event or they can offer some extra care and TLC after a hospitalization when Medicare guidelines do not allow a stay in skilled nursing. 

After the min-vacation most people ask the question, why have I waited so long to make this decision.  We then can help you take small steps to make the change and start living the next exciting part of your life. 

It is really an exciting way to experience a community and see why we say that our communities can be vibrant, exciting and active places to lives.  If you are interested in more information let me know, I would be happy to talk about the program in more detail.

Luanne Reese, is the Vice President of Marketing and Planning at Mease Manor a full service retirement community featuring Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Nursing/Skilled Rehabilitation in Dunedin, FL.  She serves on the board of the Florida Assoc. of Homes and Services for the Aging, and the House of Delegates for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.  She can be reached at lreese@measemanor.com

When I was growing up and visiting nursing homes as a girl scout this picture is what came to mind when I thought about seniors.  Times have so changed. Today, seniors are on the go more than ever, living longer with means of greater comforts.

Each and every day in our sales office we experience families that walk into our office or call us in our exclusive continuing care campus.  What they are communicating to us are the changes, concerns, and thoughtfulness with family members.  Our long distance families continue to inquire about “what to do, and how to do it………… now.”  Many times it is a shock to see or speak with your parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, and know that in your most inner thoughts it is time that you talk with them about making a change.  Our professional experienced staff with extraordinary longevity serving seniors interacts with being that resource, solution, and ear to listen with grace and style.  We present healthy options that matter.

Change, a word that is not easy for anyone but especially not for our seniors. They have seen decades of changes in their lives, and continue to attempt to keep up with daily demands as well as experience the joys around them. Providing professionally talent to secure options for continuity, happiness, peaceful and satisfying transitions to healthy options is what makes the difference.

Hopefully, in the future, this blog will give you some ways to approach talking about change, options you may not know that you have, and just a sounding board about what should be next.  Retirement communities are changing quicker than most can keep up. They are vibrant places where people live healthy, active lives where sometimes the biggest decision of the day is which wellness program should I choose.

I hope that going forward this blog will become a superior resource to you, your support system as well as your one stop option for help.  How we deliver and serve our residents is about  embracing the heart of the matter. Our hope is to reach out to you, and to know you can count on us to be here for you.

Luanne Reese, is the Vice President of Marketing and Planning at Mease Manor a full service retirement community featuring Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Nursing/Skilled Rehabilitation in Dunedin, FL.  She serves on the board of the Florida Assoc. of Homes and Services for the Aging, and the House of Delegates for the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.  She can be reached at lreese@measemanor.com