Home > Jill Springer, Hutch Executive Director

The Importance of Community Life

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By: Jill Springer, Executive Director, Woodstone of Hutchinson

We all hear about the importance of activity for our overall health.  Walking, biking, gardening, even cleaning your house are all considered a good source of activity to get your blood flowing, you heart pumping and your body moving.  We’ve even written a blog about the importance of staying active as a way of reducing the risk of falls—it’s a good one, you should check it out.

One topic that often gets overlooked in regards to our overall health is that of activities.  I am not referring to breaking a sweat.  Instead I’m talking about things like catching a movie with friends, having lunch with friends, trying some new arts and crafts or even learning a new card game and playing with friends.  The importance of exercising your mental muscles are just as important as exercising your other muscles.

Our cells renew constantly and the brain is no exception.  Some of the mental muscles that we need to exercise include reason, imagination, and memory to name a few.  Keeping these muscles flexed are vital to staying young during the aging process.  Here at Woodstone, we do our best to keep our residents busy with activities that engage their brain. 

Keeping the brain busy is not just important for the aging population.  I encourage all of you to do something you haven’t done in a while.  Draw or paint a picture, ride a bike, learn a new game…and then find a friend to engage in these new activities!  Your brain will thank you!

#KindnessMatters

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By: Jill Springer, Executive Director, Woodstone of Hutchinson

If you live in or near Hutchinson, you likely have not been able to avoid the most recent trend on Facebook.  A very kind and beautiful girl who used to live in Hutchinson with her family recently moved to another state and has been bullied in her school.  The situation got so bad that she is currently staying home from school until she and her parents can figure out a plan.  Her name is Reagan, and she decided that the best thing she could do in this situation is to help make sure no one ever gets bullied, so she started a Kindness Campaign.

Here at Woodstone of Hutchinson, we took the opportunity to participate in Reagan’s campaign by having our residents and staff all share nice things about each other.  It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day stress of life.  It’s also very easy to slow down and take a few minutes say something kind to a friend, an acquaintance or even a stranger. 

 

Take a look on Facebook at Reagan’s Kindness Campaign.  She dares you to complete a list of random acts of kindness.  I dare you not to be completely inspired by this amazing young woman.

 

Talking Tips: Focus on Dementia

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By: Jill Springer and Anita Martin, Woodstone of Hutchinson

Almost all of us know someone who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia.  If it’s someone very close to you, like a spouse or a parent, watching the disease progress can be very stressful and difficult.  But it can also be a little scary to try and visit with someone who has dementia when you haven’t seen them in a while and you are not sure what to expect. 

Here are some pointers on how to visit with someone who has dementia:

  • Always introduce yourself.  It may seem odd at first to introduce yourself to someone you’ve known for years, or even your whole life, but it can really help with confusion if you just say, “Hi Grandpa!  It’s me, Amy.  How are you today?” 
  • Wait until you are close to your loved one and in front of them before starting to speak. It can be startling and confusing if you start talking before they can see you.
  • Be patient. If may take some time for your loved one to find the words.
  • Stay open minded! The conversation may take some twists and turns and it is best not to correct and try to go back to what you were talking about.  Just go with the flow and ask them to tell you more about whatever topic they want to discuss. 

It is also very important to not get offended or sad if your loved one gets angry.  It is very likely that what they say they are angry about isn’t actually what is upsetting them.  Rather, they are upset because they are trying to say or do something but are unable to articulate what it is. 

Finally, keep visiting!!  Each time you visit will be an adventure, so remember to come without an agenda.  Stay relaxed and go with the flow and your visits are sure to be a success!

This is not your drive-through generation

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By: Jill Springer, Executive Director, and Rachel Garfunkel, Dining Experience Manager, Woodstone of Hutchinson

Take a minute to imagine the following scenario. 

  • You are getting older and living by yourself. 
  • You have noticed that it’s not as easy to do all the things you used to do. 
  • You are finally faced with the reality that you are no longer able to live in your own home. 
  • You need a little extra help with some of your activities of daily living and your family is getting concerned about your safety. 

You and your loved ones start the difficult journey of looking for the next place to live.  Lots of questions will be asked about room size, price, activities and services provided.  But who will remember to ask about the food?

This is a generation of home-cooked meals.  This generation did not get their meals at the drive through.  This generation did not heat up microwave dinners.  This generation peeled potatoes, gardened their own vegetables, and never let a thing go to waste. 

They are used to real food made with real ingredients that is fresh and homemade.  And that’s exactly what we serve!

As we age, it gets harder and harder to make those home-cooked meals.  It’s hard to cook just for one person and fresh ingredients require more trips to the store.  So a lot of the elderly population living alone don’t eat as healthy as they should.

Our amazing kitchen team takes the time and energy to cook 3 meals a day…from scratch.  They offer a variety of home-cooked foods while still being able to accommodate a variety of dietary needs.  We know that our residents appreciate the time and effort it takes to make good meals, and we are so thankful that each day we can give them a little taste of home.

Improving Strength and Stability through Exercise

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By: Jill Springer, Executive Director, Woodstone of Hutchinson

Every winter, at least once, I slip and fall on the ice.  In my 20’s, I’d pop right back up.  In my 30’s, it started to get a little annoying.  And now that I’m 40, I actually consider just staying on the ground for a few minutes while I allow my body time to adjust.  Thankfully, I’ve never been injured, but every year it gets a little bit more difficult to bounce back from the fall. 

As we age, it is important to change our normal fitness routine to include activities that improve balance and strength. We offer exercises 5 days a week and highly encourage our residents to participate.  Some of our most common exercises to improve stability and strength include one-leg stands, marching in place, and the sit-to-stand.  These are all easy exercises that you can do at home to help improve your balance as well!

 

Here’s Joni practicing her sit-to-stands.  She knows how to make her daily exercises fun, and that keeps her coming back every morning!  Betty Friedan once said, “Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”  We could not agree more.