In elders, the balance between the need for water and the thirst for water changes, just as the desire for food lessens. The less water an elder drinks, the less thirsty they become, and the more at risk they are of serious dehydration leading to other physical and mental complications.

Senior citizens are at particular risk for dehydration because their kidney function has diminished to some degree. (www.health.gmnews.com)

Mayo Clinic Staff report that in order to maintain good health one should drink 64 ounces of fluids per day, and excrete 6.3 cups of light or colorless fluid a day. These standards apply to elders especially. (mayoclinic.com)

Elders should make sure that most of their fluid intake is in water, tap or bottled, at any temperature. Be sure to stay away from caffeine, alcohol, and sodas, which actually leach water from your system, and cause a negative effect on your fluid totals.

For elders and their loved ones alike, we are all not drinking enough fluids. Remember 64 oz over 24 hours for maximum good health.

By Toni Lynn Davis, Executive Director Green Hill Inc.

Toni Lynn Davis
Executive Director

As noted by the American Animal Hospital Association, a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in May 1999, showed that independently living seniors that have pets tend to have better physical health and mental wellbeing than those that don’t. The study also showed that pets help seniors cope better with stressful situations. A 1997 study concluded that blood pressure rates were lower in seniors with pets.

If pets can support the good health of seniors living independently we believe pets also benefit our residents at Green Hill. Thus, living throughout the facility is a menagerie of birds and fish, cats, two cute furry rabbits Peter and Dumpling, and our puppy Poppy who visits residents on every floor, and in each Green House Home.

Julien Kaplan and his new friend Poppy.

Feeding, and petting pets is soothing for the elders – touching and being touched is so important to lowering stress and blood pressure, and reduces the feelings of depression. Pets, especially dogs, make seniors feel safe, and create a sense of family.

According to a study in the International Journal of Aging and Human Development, many elderly Americans think having a pet is more important than moving to a convenient place to live where pets aren’t allowed. At Green Hill we encourage elders who come to live with us to bring their pets with them. Patients who are with us for rehabilitation services, or shorter stays, may bring their pets to visit with proof of inoculation.

Two of the many birds at Green Hill.

The studies show that elders who have pets in their lives are happier and healthier. At Green Hill our pets enhance the quality of our elder’s lives, and that’s our goal every day with all that we do.

Activities Asst Samantha Uzzell Florence Rosenber Kringle

Activities Supervisor Karen Gyetvay Shirlie Decostanza Kringle

Barbara Morris and Jean Ellowitch with Poppy

Earl Walker Poppy

Elsie Zenneck

Esther Knee Leist Dumpling

Jopsephine Cela shares a smile with Poppy

Julien Kaplan Poppy

Liz stein Poppy

Muriel Rosenberg and Poppy

Onetta Wherry and Family

Robert Sohn Zee Dumpling

See Dumpling Blanche Diamontavich

Shirlie Deconstanza and Poppy

Shirlie Decostanza Peekaboo

Vincent Carlesimo Poppy

Yetta and Ruth visit with Poppy

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Memory lapses and forgetfulness seem more prevalent in our elders. Recent studies show that a vitamin B12 deficiency may be the cause of mild cognitive disorders affecting memory.

‘B12 deficiency may include muscle weakness, fatigue, shakiness, unsteady gait, incontinence, low blood pressure, depression and other mood disorders, and cognitive problems like poor memory… In one study, among women with a poor dietary intake of B12, supplements of the vitamin significantly slowed the rate of cognitive decline.’

It Could Be Old Age, or It Could Be Low B12 By JANE E. BRODY Published: November 28, 2011 NY Times

A recent study from Christine C. Tangney, PhD, from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and colleagues, published September 27 in Neurology, seems to confirm that low levels of vitamin B12 is a risk factor for brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. Many reports state that while a lack of B12 in the diet is not the cause alone of cognitive impairment or dementia, adding B12 to ones diet may help alleviate some symptoms.

‘According to the conclusions of a new scientific study, it would appear that low concentrations of vitamin B12 in the human brain may be directly responsible for a decrease in memory efficiency, as well as other types of cognitive declines. As such, the vitamin may be related to the onset of dementia….. Studies show a B vitamin cocktail may stave off cognitive decline.’

November 08, 2010|By Elena Conis, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Adding B12 rich foods to the diet like, shellfish, fish eggs, fish, liver, beef, lamb, turkey, dairy products and whole eggs can help increase levels of the vitamin in the system. Elder’s bodies are less able to absorb B12 in the blood streams so supplements in the form of pills, patches or injections may be warranted.

‘For seniors, low vitamin B12 status and high serum folate was the worst combination,” says Morris. “Specifically, anemia and cognitive impairment were observed nearly five times as often for people with this combination than among people with normal vitamin B12 and normal folate.” Vitamin B12 deficiency, which affects many seniors due to age-related decreases in absorption, can impact the production of DNA needed for new cells, as well as neurological function.’
Published on February 11, 2007 http://www.news-medical.net

The recipe for Bouillabaisse (fish stew) below will boost ones spirits and vitamin B12 levels on a cold winter’s night. The tomato based broth served over whole grain rice, with some dark greens like Kale, or spinach will increase your intake of folic acid as well which is the perfect complement to B12 absorption. While it is tempting to open a cold bottle of white wine with this dish, alcohol consumption is shown to lower ones levels of B12 and folic acid.

In a stock pot heat 2 tablespoons olive oil
Sauté 1 cup onion, chopped, 1/2 cup celery, chopped, 1 cup leeks
Add Salt and pepper to taste, 4 tablespoons butter, when melted
Stir in 2 tblsp flour, for thickening
Add 3 cloves garlic, chopped, 1 bay leaf, 2 sprigs thyme, 1 cup of fish or clam stock, 1 cup white wine, Pinch of Saffron
Stir until thickened
Add, 3 cups chopped canned or boxed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons parsley, fresh parsley finely chopped, Salt and pepper again to taste
Add 2-4 pds total pounds assorted fish including, small cubed fresh while fish like cod, swordfish, whiting, tilapia, fresh octopus rings, lobster tails quartered, cleaned and deveined shrimp, muscles and clams.
Cover and let simmer until shellfish opens and lobster is cooked through. Serve and enjoy your B12 feast.

By Toni Lynn Davis, Executive Director Green Hill Inc.

Toni Lynn Davis
Executive Director

Often when a prospective elder’s family members visit Green Hill they anxiously ask questions about the continuity of the care for their elder. Specifically, loved ones want to know if their elder will be cared for by a series of strangers, or will have the opportunity to build relationships and be cared for by familiar faces.

I have spent the entirety of my personal and professional life as a part of elder care. First as the young daughter of a senior nursing care community director at Green Hill Inc Then, I volunteered at Green Hill as a youth, served as the Chief Financial Officer after receiving my undergraduate degree, and eventually earned a masters and appointment as the Executive Director of Green Hill. Forty plus years living and working around elders has afforded me the opportunity to build many valuable relationships with elders that have sustained us both in immeasurable ways.

The discussion of staff longevity’s affect on the health and well being of elders in nursing homes is an issue that has recently undergone some study by medical care research organizations. While I have not yet found a broad based statistical analysis that shows a distinct correlation between staff longevity and quality of elder health care, I have personally experienced the positive effects of staff retention on the emotional and physical health of residents at Green Hill.

In the Nicholas Castle study of 2007, as noted on the South Carolina Nursing Home Law web site, Castle found that ‘turnover of administrative leadership lead to increased pressure ulcers, resident catheters and psychoactive drugs use, and twice the number of staff turnover.’ He also found that when an administrator leaves so does staff, ‘RN turnover rises to 76%, LPN’s 78% and certified nursing assistants 107%.’

What I do know is that staff turnover is very costly and time consuming for administrators, and incredibly disruptive to a senior communities services, quality of programs, and the general wellbeing of its elders.

At Green Hill we have created a stable environment for employees and elders alike based on eliminating the top down format for administration and replacing it with a vertical stake holder style of management. I encourage teamwork, meet often with staff in open floor, circle sessions, to process issues and challenges, and provide opportunities for growth and advancement to those who desire it.

We have created a familial style environment for our elders and our staff that facilitates a sense of well being throughout the Green Hill community. The implementation of The Green House® Homes program has further enabled staff to engage in these practices, revitalizing their commitment and energy to our elders and to each other.

The continuity provided by staff to our elders encourages relationship building, verbal engagement, increased participation in activities, and the family style dining in the Green House homes has shown to increase elder’s appetite and caloric consumption.

Green Hill administrative staff has an average of 18 years tenure. Nursing direct care staff has an average of over 14 years at Green Hill. Other support staff average over 12 years in length. My five longest serving staff members have 30+ years of service to Green Hill, Inc. I am proud to say that our staff is above the national average for longevity, providing our residents with an unparalleled continuity of care.

With a focus on retention of staff at Green Hill we are able to provide our elders with care providers who have intimate knowledge of their needs, and desires, better relationships with the elder’s family members, and a stable and safe environment, which provides a happier and more comfortable experience. The Green Hill focus on staff retention also provides for a more positive and fulfilling workplace for our employees which perpetuates a sustainable continuity of care for elders for years to come.

Happy Holidays!

Executive Assistant Barbara Heins and Executive Director Toni Lynn Davis

Marketing Director Stephanie Roselle, Assistant Marketing Director Rosanne Kinney

Dan Sales, Finance Department

Finance Director Karen Jung

Assistant Executive Director Judy Wittler

Aide Felicia Sodeke, Residents, Josephina Cela, Nina Platt, Mina Berson

Aide Christina Pedrzuela and Resident Kathryn Dowling

LPN Ethel Williams, RN Wellness Nurse Maria Sugaura

Food Service Director, Marcia Bailey, Carol Green Dietary

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A beautiful display on the table creates a wonderful holiday atmosphere in the entire home. Displays can be created for an end table, or dresser top as well to brighten up any room.

For Thanksgiving gather fall leaves and acorns on your daily walk. Purchase a few of the smaller sweet pumpkins and squash at the market. Put these items together on a placemat or square of colored fabric and voila, you have a beautiful display.

When Thanksgiving is done, go ahead and use the leaves as insulation on your garden bed, recycle in the compost, and you can cut up your pumpkin and squash for steaming or baking into a pie – delicious and healthy too.

For the winter holidays, gather pine cones and evergreen branches on your sojourn through the neighborhood. Poinsettias are readily available and inexpensive at the market, as are candy canes and red ribbon. Put it all together on a holiday platter and its holiday time in your home.

Ribbon and bows are a part of gift giving and also make a wonderful decoration for place settings, doors, chairs, and holiday trees. Big rolls of ribbon can be found on sale at any craft store or market, or you may find an old roll in the bottom of your everything drawer. Just wrap each place setting with a length of wide, pretty ribbon, or tie them to chair backs. Festoon your entryways with ribbon and bows and after the holidays use it again for gift giving throughout the year.

Giving a holiday gift to an elder? Specialty treats of foods that you know they love will stimulate appetite and bring a lot of pleasure. Food experiences from the past like homemade fudge, or a cookie recipe from ones childhood can bring back wonderful memories from the past.

Bedroom accessories like a warm comfy throw, bed tray, or pretty dressing gown makes a lovely gift. Activities for your elder helps keep the fingers nimble and mind agile.

Games or puzzles that you and the kids can do with your elder, books on tape and their favorite music or old movies can bring hours of pleasure. Don’t forget the gift of experience as well. If your elder is mobile, think about taking them out to a concert, play or performance they may enjoy.

There are so many ways to honor your elder this holiday season but the greatest gift that you can give to them is your thoughtfulness and your time.

Happy Holidays!

Toni Lynn