Celebrating Older Americans Month
May 5, 2024May isn't just about blooming flowers; it's also a time to honor older Americans and raise awareness about crucial health issues. This May, as we celebrate Older Americans Month, it’s vital to recognize the challenges faced by seniors, particularly those undergoing dialysis treatments. Over 50% of seniors aged 75 and above suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), where approximately 85-90% of kidney function is lost, necessitating dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival. Yet, traveling to an outpatient clinic for dialysis can be disruptive, confusing, and time-consuming for older adults.
In-house dialysis at a Skilled Nursing Facility offers numerous benefits, including reducing the transmission of contagious diseases, enhancing quality of life through more time for rehabilitation, providing a comfortable environment for treatments, and eliminating transportation risks.
While we emphasize the importance of dialysis, Avon Place offers a comprehensive range of services. Alongside on-site dialysis, we provide chronic disease management for conditions such as congestive heart failure, COPD, and orthopedics, as well as long-term care, respite care, and hospice care. Beyond medical services, we prioritize enriching daily activities, recognizing their significant impact on overall health and well-being. According to Harvard Health Publishing, engaging in hobbies like arts and crafts, games, gardening, volunteering, or participating in clubs promotes good mental health and well-being by stimulating creativity, sensory engagement, self-expression, relaxation, and cognitive function, while also reducing loneliness and isolation through social connections.
At Avon Place, residents can enjoy a plethora of activities, including jewelry making, Bingo, trivia, live music, cooking, exercise, and much more.
During Older Americans Month, we take the opportunity to appreciate the wisdom, experience, and contributions of our residents. To celebrate, we asked some of them to share their favorite memories:
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I have a lot of good memories. When my uncle Elmer used to come around and visit, I would sit on his knee and he would sing to me. My nickname was ‘Sug’. He always used to keep candy in his pockets.” - Beulah
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Being raised by my parents while growing up as a teenager. My favorite things were their sense of humor and kindness.” – Carol
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They were all nice memories. I would say when I bought a car. It was a Ford or Chevy and it was all black.” – Sam
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Having my daughter and son.” – Pat
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I loved my two jobs. I was a supervisor at Blue Cross Blue Shield and at the Cleveland Clinic. When I left, all my employees were crying. I loved working. I also loved having my two children, and I have a granddaughter.” – Gloria
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I loved to go out on the patio and sit, just like being at the beach, with my sons and husband.” – Julia
Reimagine Dialysis Care