St. Andrews Village Retirement Community

New Executive Director at St. Andrews Village

Mark Lowell — 2009-07-31T17:25:00-07:00

The new Executive Director is actually not new to St. Andrews at all. Mike Lee returned to St. Andrews after being gone for 2 years. Mike is the former Vice President of Human Resources for St. Andrews Hospital and Health Care Centers.

Mike has broad experience in health care management. He also served as Human Resources Officer and Vice President of Rehabilitation & Laboratory Services at Adirondack Medical Center in New York and Vice President of Human Resources at Inland Hospital in Waterville, Maine.

Lee joined St. Andrews Village July 6, after serving most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Sebasticook Family Doctors in Newport.

"The first time I came over here, I thought it was a phenomenal facility," said Lee. "The staff is dedicated to the residents and their families."

"People have made a choice to make St. Andrews their home and it's important for them to be happy here." "We will continue to have activities that keep people engaged and care plans that are designed with people’s wants and needs in mind." "You have to see the whole picture and I think having a background in finance, human resources, facilities and customer service gives you a broader picture," Lee said.

" We want our residents to bring their friends and families here," said Lee.

St. Andrews Village Retirement Community joins Facebook

Mark Lowell — 2009-07-31T16:33:20-07:00

Why not? St. Andrews Village believes in staying up with the lastest social media trends. Marketing is taking on a new roll at St. Andrews Village and being seen on Facebook is just part of what we are doing. Events such as WIndjammers days, our Lobster Fest, Block Party, Puffin Cruise, visit to the Portland Museum of Art and Cabbage Island Bake & Light House Tour is just an example of information and pictures that will be seen on our new Facebook page. The home page on our website www.standrewsvillage.com will also have a link to our Facebook page. So many of the residents and their families rely on the internet for information, we felt this is a great way to capture what we are doing and share with everyone.

Also on our Facebook page you can check out our latest Dog Kennel that has been added onto the Village. We currently have 3 dogs living at the Village (who have also brought along their owners), they felt it was important to have a kennel area so they can get off their leash and stretch their legs. Having a pet is such an important part of healthy living and we want to do our very best to accomadate the Seniors living in our Retirement Community.

Please check us out on www.facebook.com, it's free, it's growing in population and don't forget to share this with your family and friends.

Choosing A Physician You Can Talk To

Mark Lowell — 2008-11-24T16:12:26-08:00

In the past, the doctor typically took the lead and the patient followed. Today a good relationship with your doctor is described as a partnership where you and the health care team (Doctor, nurses & pharmacists) work together to solve your medical problems. The first step is to find a main doctor (primary care doctor). If you don’t have a primary doctor or are not at ease with the one you currently have it is worth spending time to find a doctor you can trust. People sometimes hesitate to change doctors because they worry about hurting the doctor’s feelings. But it is important to have a doctor with whom you are comfortable with, doctors understand this and know that different people have different needs. The following suggestions can help you find a doctor who can meet your needs:

Decide what you are looking for in a doctor, do you care if it is a man or a woman? Do you prefer a doctor who has an individual practice or part of a group so you can see other partners if you doctor is not available?
Ask your friends, relatives, medical specialists who they have had good experiences with rather then just asking for a name.
If you belong to an HMO you may be required to choose a doctor in the plan you have or you could risk paying extra.
There are websites on the internet you can use to help find a physician. American Medical Association has a doctor finder tab that helps find doctors who are a member of the AMA: www.ama-assn.org. WebMD also provides a list of doctors, http://webmd.com. And for a list of doctors who participate in Medicare visit www.medicare.gov, click on “search tools” then “find a doctor”. To find out if a physician has had disciplinary action or complaints filed against them visit the maine.gov website at http://www.docboard.org/me/discipline/dw_actions.html.
Once you have narrowed your search call the physician’s office. The office staff is a good source of information, paying attention to interactions with the office staff is important as you will deal a lot with them.
Set up an appointment with the physician you are considering, meet and talk with him or her and ask yourself if this is the person you could work well with. You will probably have to pay for this appointment but it could be well worth it. A few questions to consider asking the physician: Do you have many older patients? How do you feel about involving my family in care decisions? Can I or my family call or email you when we have questions? Do you charge for call or email time? What are your thoughts on alternative/complementary treatments?
After interviewing the doctor ask yourself: Did the doctor give me a chance to ask questions? Was the doctor really listening to me? Could I understand what the doctor was saying? Was I comfortable asking him/her to say it again?
Once you’ve chosen a doctor, make an appointment for a comprehensive examination, be sure to bring any previous health records or have your previous physician’s office send them prior to the appointment. Bring a list of your current medications (don’t forget any vitamins and herbal supplements your taking) or just bring the medications with you.

Debbie Siegel, RN,Wellness Coordinator

St. Andrews Village to Hold Free Memory Screenings-Call 633-4105 to Make Appoinment

Mark Lowell — 2008-10-31T11:18:54-07:00

Boothbay Harbor Maine,—Free confidential memory screenings will be available on November 18 as part of National Memory Screening Day, an annual initiative of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) designed to improve overall health maintenance and promote proper detection of memory problems.

AFA encourages adults, including those with memory concerns, a family history of Alzheimer’s disease or a desire to establish a baseline score, to take advantage of the screenings and to pick up educational materials about memory concerns, successful aging and caregiving.

The face-to-face screening takes only about five to ten minutes and consists of a series of questions and tasks. It is administered by a qualified healthcare professional, such as a physician, nurse, psychologist or social worker. The results do not represent a diagnosis, and AFA advises those individuals who score poorly or who have normal scores but are still concerned to follow up with their physician or another qualified healthcare professional.

Now in its sixth year, AFA’s National Memory Screening Day coincides with National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, which takes place during November. Sites across the country will be participating in the event.

“Last year we were able to provide this screening for several folks from the community and it provided them with valuable information that they could share with their doctor” said Debbie Siegel, RN, Health Services Manager.

Eric J. Hall, AFA’s president and CEO, said National Memory Screening Day is an important vehicle “to open up a dialogue about memory concerns.”

“Checking your brain health is just as critical as checking the health of the rest of your body. If you are experiencing memory problems, it is better to learn the cause earlier rather than later so that you can be pro-active,” Hall said.

A subsequent medical exam may reveal that the person has a reversible condition such as a vitamin deficiency or thyroid problem, or an irreversible disorder like Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia. Warning signs of dementia include forgetting people’s names and events, asking repetitive questions, loss of verbal or written skills and confusion over daily routines.

For more information about National Memory Screening Day, visit www.nationalmemoryscreening.orgor call 866-AFA-8484.

This year, the premier sponsor of the event is Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Forest Pharmaceuticals is the presenting sponsor; and Eisai Inc. and Pfizer Inc are the event’s Remembrance sponsors.

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is a national nonprofit organization headquartered in New York and made up of more than 950 member organizations that provide hands-on programs to meet the educational, emotional, practical and social needs of families affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related illnesses. AFA’s services include a toll-free hot line, counseling, educational materials, a free caregiver magazine, and professional training. For information, call (toll-free) 866-AFA-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org. ##

St. Andrews Auxiliary Launching 15th Annual Lottery

Mark Lowell — 2008-04-15T18:24:29-07:00

Ask anyone, these are the best odds anywhere! The St. Andrews Hospital Auxiliary will sell only 300 tickets at $100.00 each during its 2008 fund raiser, a cash transfusion for St. Andrews Hospital and Healthcare Center. This year there are three chances to win! The winning tickets are worth $5,000 First Prize, $3,000 Second Prize and $2,000 Third Prize and may be purchased by an individual person or a group. The hospital will receive $20,000 to be used for equipment or services. Lottery entry forms are located at St. Andrews Village, the new John F. Andrews Medical Arts Building, St Andrews Hospital, St. Andrews Auxiliary Thrift Store and at other locations around town. Complete your entry form with your $100.00 and cross your fingers! The drawing will be held during Windjammer Days, Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 5:00 PM in Boothbay Harbor’s Waterfront Park. You do not need to be present to win. Good luck and thank you for supporting this great cause!

Helpful Travel Tips for Seniors-Keep Your Health Information Close at Hand

Mark Lowell — 2008-03-25T07:51:36-07:00

There is always a lot to think about when planning a trip. What to wear? Where to visit? Where to stay? Just as important and almost always overlooked is being prepared for a health emergency. Visits to a hospital Emergency Department are usually sudden, unplanned and the last thing anyone thinks about! Whether you're at home in the Boothbay Region or traveling here for a vacation stay, here are some helpful tips from the St. Andrews Hospital Emergency Department that can help the ED staff provide excellent care and customer service to you.

· Carry a list of your current medications in your wallet or purse at all times. In addition to the names of all your medications, also include the dose strength and the times when you take them. If you take vitamins, herbs or other supplements be sure to include them. Also remember that aspirin is a medication! It is surprising how many patients we see who neglect to tell us that they take an aspirin daily.

· Allergies are important and are not limited to medications. Food and latex allergies are increasing. Be sure this information is included with your list of current medications.

· Cuts, scrapes and burns are frequently treated in the ED. You will most certainly be asked about your last tetanus shot, which is usually updated every 10 years.

· Have you had a flu shot? Pneumonia vaccine? Hep B vaccine? These records can be obtained from your primary care physician.

· Do you have a pacemaker or cardiac stents? If so, you should have been provided with a wallet information card from your cardiologist. It will contain the model and location of your device. Carry this information with you. It can't help you if it's in a drawer at home.

· We are now seeing cardiac patients who carry a wallet sized copy of their EKG. Ask your doctor if this is a service they offer. If not, obtain a copy of your most recent EKG and carry it with you, especially if you're traveling. Obtaining medical records between hospitals can be a time consuming process. By being prepared, you can help yourself when time is critical.

Hopefully you have found this information helpful and will take a few minutes to organize your health information into a compact portable format. It is well worth your time and can help healthcare professionals better serve you in a crisis. The Emergency Department at St.Andrews Hospital is here to provide you with excellent care and customer service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In an emergency, you can count on us to be there for you!

Duane MacLeod, RN

St.Andrews Hospital Emergency Department

St. Andrews Village to Host Fund Raiser for the Lincoln County Humane Society on April 10th

Mark Lowell — 2008-03-23T12:31:35-07:00

Mark your calendars for a noon time luncheon on April 10th! Amy and the dining team are preparing a delicious menu to benefit a great organization-The Lincoln County Humane Society (LCHS) www.furrypets.com.

LCHS is dedicated to the prevention of cruelty and abuse to animals, birds and wildlife. It is a place of safety for healthy adoptable animals; a temporary home for the homeless; a haven for the mistreated, neglected or abused animals of Lincoln County and surrounding counties.

This has been a hard winter for many in Lincoln County. This fact, coupled with the down turn in the economy, has resulted in the very difficult and unfortunate circumstance of some people having to give up their pet or pets. The end result being the LCHS has seen a significant increase in the number of pets the shelter is caring for and utilization of shelter resources.

Please come join us to have a delicious lunch served by the Village dining team. The menu includes:

Cold Tomato and Cucumber or Cream of Asparagus and Chicken Soup
Veggie Wraps with sundried tomatoes, ham,onion,swiss sandwich with honey mustard or tarragon chicken on assorted rolls
Bacon broccoli salad
Wild berry shortcake.

The cost of the luncheon is underwritten by St. Andrews Village with all proceeds going to the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. Donations are appreciated with $7.00 suggested per person. Please Contact St. Andrews Village Reception Services at 633-0920 for additional information.

Scamming Disadvantaged Seniors-Even in Parade Magazine!

Mark Lowell — 2008-03-02T15:51:08-08:00

I received a call this morning from a friend who was concerned about his dad. His dad happens to be in his late seventies and is on medication for memory loss. He called his son this morning (Sunday morning) and told him about free Amish electric heaters advertised in the Parade magazine insert that comes in the Sunday morning paper. "Free", I said to my friend? "Yes free Mark", my friend said.

When I heard that four letter word free, my antenna went on high alert. I told my friend I would do some research and call him back. I pulled the Parade out of my Sunday paper and began to thumb through it. I flipped though several pages and there it was In bold print, "Amish man's new miracle idea helps home heat bills hit rock bottom". I proceeded to read the slick two page add. It was littered with words and phrases that were very compelling such as free, giving away, miracle, everyone is getting one, so real it fools everybody, giving heaters away. You get the picture!

Speaking of the picture, you can't miss the 6" x 6" picture of an Amish man in a straw hat shaking the hand of a Heat Surge official. What a job title that is! And talk about a contradiction, the add goes on to state, "And here's the best part. Readers who beat the 48-hour order deadline are getting their imported hi-tech miracle heaters free when encased in the real Amish built solid wood fireplace mantles". For some reason, I had great difficulty reconciling that the Amish man's miracle idea was an imported hi-tech heater!

To make a long story short, as you proceed through the second page of the the add it tells you with written words that you are paying two hundred and ninety eight dollars for the solid wood mantle! OH-but the heater is free! I relayed all of my incite to my friend to compare notes. Unfortunately, his dad had already made the call for two free heaters that went on his Discover Card for $700.00! Of course, they were quick to take his credit card number, but were not there to rescind the order.

The add may have been legal, but it was clearly aimed at taking advantage of unsuspecting or disdvantaged seniors who were thinking they were getting something for free. Which in my opinion, is a scam.

Mark

Community Raises Over One Thousand Dollars for Boothbay Region Fuel Assitance Fund!

Mark Lowell — 2008-02-19T16:27:10-08:00

The community helped to warm many hearts this past Valentine's Day, Thursday, February 14th. About 100 participants from around the Boothbay Region and from St. Andrews Village, New England's Premiere Retirement Community, helped to raise over $1000.00 for the region fuel assistance fund.

Guests signed up in advance for either an 11:30 AM or 12:30 PM seating. Cory, Alyssa, Shawna, Edith and Amy from the dining team developed and served a scrumptious menu. A choice of two soups and a variety of Amy's signature sandwiches were served. The homemade tomato bisque soup was, as usual, a big hit with the guests! Other members of the St. Andrews Village team pitched in to help set up, greet, serve or work on the cleanup team.

I always enjoy meeting our guests! The lower part of Emery Lane borders on our local middle and high schools and a number of teachers made time for lunch to support this event. Several members of the St. Andrew Hospital Thrift Store team visited as well! By the way, if you have not checked out the new location for the Thrift Store at the Boothbay Harbor mini-mall, please do so! There are bargains galore and they are now accepting and selling furniture as well! Bruce and other members of the Tindal and Callahan team www.tindalandcallahan.com stopped in and lended their support to the effort.

One of the benefits of living at St. Andrews Village is our continuum of services from independent living to skilled nursing and rehabilitation. The north end of the main inn at the village is devoted to health care services. Our assisted living residence is on the second floor and our Gregory Wing skilled nursing home is on the first floor. The beauty of the main inn is that all of our services and programs are accessible under one roof. Viv, the Activities Coordinator for the Gregory Wing, took advantage of this by coordinating a lunch out for several residents and their family members to help support the cause!

One of the best aspects of living in the Boothbay Region is that it offers endless opportunities for community involvement. The culture of community stewardship is a common thread that runs throughout the greater community and within the community of residents at St. Andrews Village. Thanks to all for helping to support the community fuel assistance fund!

Mark

St. Andrews Village to Host Community Benefit Luncheon for Local Fuel Assistance Fund on February 14th

Mark Lowell — 2008-01-26T07:50:17-08:00

Mark your calendars! St. Andrews Village will be hosting a benefit fund-raiser for the community fuel assistance fund on Valentine's Day, February 14th.

This is an opportunity to warm many hearts including your own! Amy and the St. Andrews Village dining team are planning a delicious luncheon! We are planning on two seating's and a suggested donation of $7.00. More news to follow!