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Chelsea Retirement Community Earns Aware Level Designation from Positive Approach to Care® (PAC) 

PAC Training Offers Improved Care for Those Living with Dementia

Brio Living Services is proud to announce that its historic flagship campus, Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC), has earned Designated Organization status at the Aware Level from Positive Approach to Care® (PAC). Founded by Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, PAC is an innovative, evidence informed, dementia education program. It is designed to improve the care environment through awareness, skills, and competencies that reduce stress for those living with dementia and their care partners. Chelsea Retirement Community is one of just two retirement communities in Michigan to receive the PAC Aware designation.

Aware level means that these organizations are aligned with the PAC philosophy and techniques for dementia care and are working to apply their skills consistently with all staff in the organization, according to PAC. These communities have a PAC Certified Independent Trainer delivering at least five hours of PAC content to all staff annually, and a PAC Certified Independent Coach who provides regular opportunities to reinforce skills. Other levels of PAC designation include Knowledgeable, Skilled, and Competent, the highest level of PAC achievement.

PAC-certified team members at CRC’s Towsley Village include, Linda Mammel, PAC Certified Independent Trainer; and Nicole Voster and Melissa Williams, PAC Certified Independent Coaches. In addition, more than ten other team members have participated in PAC’s four Champion Courses.

“Integrating PAC skills into daily routines and broadening the range of activities that our team members can offer our residents living with dementia is invaluable,” said Mammel. “By using PAC techniques in support of our residents, we have seen a decrease in challenging behaviors of those living with dementia and an increased ability of our team members to deescalate situations. Our goal over the next year is to expand PAC training to team members in our support services, such as therapy, housekeeping, and dining, as well as administrative.”

“Chelsea Retirement Community, and Towsley Village Memory Care Center in particular, have taken steps to change the culture of dementia care that we offer,” said Kathy Russell, Executive Director of Chelsea Retirement Community, The Pines, and The Cedars of Dexter. “In accordance with the guidelines for Organization Designation provided by Positive Approach to Care®, we are growing our team of PAC Certified Independent Professionals to guide learning and skills across Brio Living Services.”

Porter Hills Village, also a Brio Living Services community located in Grand Rapids, is implementing PAC training in its memory care center as well.

“At Brio Living Services, we are dedicated to a world in which all are empowered to age well,” said Nicole Maag, Chief of Residential Services for Brio. “Investing in high quality training for the care of those living with dementia is key to our mission.”

Mammel added, “Through better understanding of brain changes that are part of the dementia journey, PAC training helps to preserve positive relationships for both the care partner and the family member with their loved one, providing moments of personal connection and joy.”

To learn more about Chelsea Retirement Community, a Brio Living Services community, visit ChelseaRetirement.MyBrio.org or call 734.808.3610.

Brio Living Services Earns West Michigan’s  Best and Brightest® Designation for 22nd Consecutive Year

Senior living organization Brio Living Services, formerly United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC) & Porter Hills, is proud to announce that it has received the designation of Best and Brightest Company to Work For® in West Michigan. This is the organization’s 22nd consecutive year to receive this honor.

This national program honors organizations that “are truly innovative in their employee engagement execution,” according to a press release by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR): “Only companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative business acuteness and human resource practices can be bestowed this honor.”

Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of NABR and The Best and Brightest Program, stated, “These companies have prioritized making a significant impact on their culture. With a focus on their employees as the top priority, this powerful community of the nation’s elite leaders have gained a competitive edge.”

Each company is evaluated by an independent research firm on such key measures as Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Education and Development; Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Recruitment and Selection; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Work-Life Blend to name a few.

“Each year, we look forward to receiving feedback from our team members to continually improve their experience serving at Brio Living Services,” said Michelle Baldwin Henderson, Chief Human Resources Officer for Brio Living Services. “We recognize that they can serve at many different places, and the fact that they continue to choose us is not something we take for granted. We are honored to receive the Best and Brightest certification again this year.”

NABR has over 25 years of experience in identifying best human resource practices and providing benchmarking for companies, like Brio Living Services, that continue to be leaders in employment standards.

Brio Living Services will be honored, along with other West Michigan Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®, on May 9, 2024 at The Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, MI.

To learn more about the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® program, visit TheBestAndBrightest.com. For more information about Brio Living Services, go to MyBrio.org or visit MyBrioCareers.org to join our team in a job you’ll love.

Beyond the Table: Celebrating National Nutrition Month® at Brio Living Services

During Careers in Aging Month, we are delighted to feature some of the many careers that help us all to age well. As March is also National Nutrition Month®, we salute all those who help to bring delicious, nutritious food to the table for the older adults we serve.

As March draws to a close, we also say goodbye to National Nutrition Month®. This year’s theme for the month-long celebration is Beyond the Table. “National Nutrition Month this year is focused on more than just what you eat, but also on the sustainable food practices, where food is sourced, reducing food waste, making healthy choices, proper food safety and storage, and how to have a more mindful approach to food,” explains Ann Marie Villarreal, Senior Director of Dining Services at Brio Living Services.

At Brio Living Services, good nutrition isn’t just something to think about in March. “For our residents within Brio, Dining Services helps support these practices each and every day,” says Ann Marie. “We have culinary standards in place that focus on freshly prepared meals and locally-sourced foods as much as possible.” For Ann Marie and the dedicated team members that make up Dining Services, it’s not enough for food to just be nutritious—it has to taste good, too. “Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat plain and bland food,” she says. In fact, even though Dining Services chooses to avoid added salt, the food is seasoned so that residents are surprised to learn this. “They often assume we salt our food when seasoning due to the flavor experience they enjoy at the table.”

Though nutrition is a daily focus for Brio, National Nutrition Month® has not gone unnoticed. For instance, The Cedars of Dexter dining team offered weekly specials of healthy, delicious entrees like chicken tandoori with brown rice, and, most recently, halibut en papillote. At Chelsea Retirement Community, Chef Keith Darlington has offered cooking demonstrations for healthy snacks in celebration of National Nutrition Month®, incorporated into the new Balanced Living pilot program which offers creative wellness opportunities to benefit the mind, body, and spirit.

For older adults, nutrition is as important to think about as ever. Ann Marie recommends using MyPlate as a guide for constructing meals that have all the types of foods needed to stay healthy as we age. “As the Senior Director of Dining Services, I am proud that, from shore to shore, our menus offer a variety of options: fruits, vegetables, grains, and lean proteins, to give residents the option to choose a healthy meal with each dining experience,” she says.

As with any official month celebration, it’s a valuable reminder of what’s important, and how to build healthy habits. Ann Marie points out that “National Nutrition Month® allows for us to remind residents that our practices and standards encompass healthy options each and every day.”

You might be surprised to know that there are a wide variety of careers in aging to choose from at Brio Living Services. Learn more about a career you’ll love in Dining Services at MyBrio.org.

 

Huron Valley PACE Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Serving Older Adults 

Dignitaries Honored Organization’s Decade of Dedication

Huron Valley PACE, or Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, celebrated its 10th Anniversary with A Decade of Dedication Open House event at the PACE Day Center located in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Friday, March 8.

Several dignitaries were on hand to commemorate the event and deliver proclamations, including U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI 6th District), State Representative Jimmie Wilson, Jr. (District 32, Ypsilanti), and Annie Somerville, Board of Commissioners Washtenaw County (District 6, serving the City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, and Superior Township) who also serves as chief of staff to State Senator Jeff Irwin. Stephanie Winslow, Executive Director of PACE Association of Michigan, was also in attendance.

“I am a champion of PACE at the national level,” said Rep. Dingell. “All other work is possible when those you love are cared for. I can’t wait to be at the 20th anniversary of Huron Valley PACE.”

A family member of a PACE participant, Teresa Spencer, shared her experience. “Huron Valley PACE is so wonderful, and I especially appreciate the food pantry and the chance for respite that PACE provides me. I preach PACE wherever I go.”

A program of Brio Living Services, Huron Valley PACE serves the psycho-social, medical, and supportive needs of low-income, nursing home-eligible adults, aged 55 and up, helping them remain living independently and safely in their own homes, with the help of PACE services. Huron Valley PACE’s service area includes Washtenaw and Monroe counties, as well as parts of Oakland, Wayne, and Livingston counties. Since opening in 2014, Huron Valley PACE has served approximately 700 older adults.

Huron Valley PACE Executive Director, Sonja Love Felton, LMSW, who also serves on the Board of Directors for both PACE Association of Michigan and the National PACE Association, thanked the more than 200 guests in attendance, as well as Lead Sponsors for the event, IntusCare and Zilke Farm Kitchen, and other event sponsors. “I am grateful to all of you for your support of PACE over the last decade and for your collaboration that makes our work possible in caring for older adults. I especially want to thank our incredible team at Huron Valley PACE for the passion, love, and commitment they demonstrate each day to bring joy and well-being to our participants and to elevate our mission.”

Other sponsors included Cedar Woods Assisted Living and Memory Care, Hometown Pharmacy Long-term Care, Homewatch CareGivers, and Transmed at the Ancillary Sponsor level; and Disability Made Easy, Huron Valley Ambulance, Interim Healthcare Home Care, Lemonaides Home Care, LLC, Medical CareAlert, Mobile Medical Supply, and Reliable Medical Transportation were Community Sponsors. Brio Living Services and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. provided in-kind support.

“This 10-year anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Huron Valley PACE,” said Brio Living Services President & CEO, Steve Fetyko. “By partnering with older adults and their families and caregivers, Huron Valley PACE fulfills a critical need in the community—older adults live where they want to live, and their caregivers are exceptionally supported by the full PACE interdisciplinary team.”

Brio Living Services is one of Michigan’s leading providers of PACE services with five sites statewide, serving more than 1,300 older adults annually across 15 Michigan counties.

PACE’s interdisciplinary team of professionals provides participants with a “one-stop” shop model for all their healthcare needs, including comprehensive medical, occupational and physical therapy, pharmacy needs, nutrition and meals, health education, social and recreational activities, behavioral health, home care, and door-to-door transportation. Most participants are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and pay no additional fees for PACE services. 

To learn more about Huron Valley PACE, visit HuronValleyPACE.org or call 734.572.5777. 

L to R: Stephanie Winslow, PACE Association of Michigan; U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI 6th District); Sonja Love Felton, Huron Valley PACE; State Representative Jimmie Wilson, Jr., (District 32, Ypsilanti); Annie Somerville, Commissioner, District 6, Board of Commissioners Washtenaw County.

 

Mia Larson: Fulfilling Her Dream of a Career in Healthcare 

Since she was a kid, Mia Larson always wanted to work in healthcare. She completed her CNA training at Kent Career Technical Center while still a high school student. As part of the program, Mia says, “There was a mock practice interview with Porter Hills Village. Then I got a real interview. I started working there right out of high school.”

Today, Mia is a Shahbaz in Brio Living Services’s Green House® Homes in Grand Rapids. Considered the “gold standard” for long-term skilled nursing care, the Green House Homes utilizes the Household Model of person-centered care for its residents. In the Green House Homes, a Shahbaz takes care of everything related to providing for an elder and running the household. Mia says her favorite thing about her job is “working with a good team and being able to help people and brighten their day. It’s like working with a big family. Everyone takes care of each other.”

Thanks to a Scholarship from the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation’s Team Member Support Services Fund, Mia is now pursuing her R.N. degree. “I am grateful for my scholarship,” says Mia. “Financially, it’s really helping and taking a lot of stress off going to school, and it shows our organization cares about its team members. It helps that I can work, and it motivates me more to continue my education.”

“Mia is an informal leader, and she uses that gift to support the team,” says Trisha Watkins, Nursing Home Administrator and Guide for Porter Hills Village Health Center and the Green House Homes. “She shows great care and compassion for our elders and engages with them beautifully.” One example is when Mia fulfilled a “bucket list” item for one of her residents who had always wanted to try oysters. “This meant a lot to the elder and those around her.”

While not always easy, Mia says working with older adults “is definitely rewarding. You’ll learn so much from working with them, and they’re very caring. You really feel appreciated.”

Learn more about a Career You’ll Love at Brio Living Services!

Senior adult (Indian and African descent) couple cooking dinner together at home. They are enjoying their retirement years as they work together to chop healthy vegetables for a salad.

Embracing Home with Avenues: The Wise Choice for Older Adults

As we age, the concept of ‘home’ takes on a deeper significance. It’s not just a physical space; it’s a repository of memories, a place of comfort, and a symbol of independence.

Remarkably, a striking 93% of older adults express a desire to remain in their own homes as they age. This overwhelming preference isn’t just about familiarity; it’s rooted in the significant benefits that independent living offers. At Brio Living Services, we understand and value the fact that not everyone is interested in a move to one of our communities. Read more on why staying in your home may make the most sense for you and how Avenues by Brio Living Services can help you do just that.

Why Choosing Home Matters

  1. Familiarity and Comfort: Our homes are tailored to our tastes and needs. This familiarity provides comfort and a sense of security that is crucial for mental and emotional well-being.
  2. Community and Connections: Living at home keeps older adults connected to their local communities. Maintaining these connections is vital for social health and can help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.
  3. Autonomy: Independence in one’s own home allows for greater autonomy. This control over daily life is important to many adults as they age and contributes to a higher quality of life
  4. Cost-Effectiveness: Staying at home is possibly more cost-effective than moving to specialized housing. With the proper support and depending on your needs, adapting one’s home for aging can be a financially savvy choice.
  5. Personalized Care: Aging in place allows for tailored care that adapts to individual needs over time, ensuring that personal preferences are respected.

Continuing Care at Home: A Model That Respects Your Choice

Recognizing the desire for independence, Brio Living Services has re-launched Avenues, a Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) model designed to support this choice. This approach respects the value of remaining in your own home, providing the necessary support and resources to make this a viable and safe option. CCaH offers a range of services – from wellness and health care to home maintenance – ensuring that you can enjoy the comforts of home without compromising on care and assistance.

Choosing to remain independent in one’s own home is a reasonable and increasingly common preference among older adults. The CCaH model aligns perfectly with this choice, offering an empowering blend of independence and support, ensuring that aging in place is not just a desire, but a practical and fulfilling reality. Brio Living Services aims to provide a diverse set of communities and services, to meet the needs and desires of the most older adults possible.

If you’re considering staying in your home while you age, we encourage you to learn more about our new program, Avenues by Brio Living Services. Avenues is a Continuing Care at Home program that is a strong advocate for allowing older adults to age in their homes while lowering their costs for care. Join us at an upcoming education session, or contact us directly at 616.914.1172.