At Sunny View, a Front Porch community in Cupertino, the scholarship fund was initially started with a gift from resident Wally Norum and his late wife Priscilla.

“It gives me a great sense of pride to help others who just need a little help to get to the next level in their careers,” Wally said. “My pride is most affected when I get a hug of gratitude from a scholarship recipient. It becomes an emotional event.”

Inspired by Wally’s generosity, other residents and family members of residents contribute to the fund as well. Since its inception in 2015, 20 team members have received scholarships to make their educational goals a reality.

“It is so incredible that residents like the Norums show how much they love our team by creating such a gift,” said Lynn North, chair of the Sunny View Philanthropy Committee. “It shows that we are a loving community that cares for one another.”

One recent scholarship recipient is Sunny View’s chaplain, Sam Schaar, who has served Sunny View residents for the past three years.

“I am deeply appreciative of the scholarship I received, because it is helping me toward my goal of becoming a board certified chaplain,” Sam said. “My goal is to become an instructor in this training so I can help train future generations of chaplains.”

As chaplain, Sam seeks to meet the spiritual needs of residents at Sunny View. In order to do that, he must dive deeply into his own spiritual practices, including silence and poetry. Sam recently published a book of poetry called “Handles and Healing: Collected Poems.”

“The bulk of my time is spent connecting with residents,” Sam said. “This is the beating heart of what I do and, frankly, the part of my job which brings me the most joy. It can be difficult, to be sure, when you are talking with someone on hospice or sitting with grieving family members as their loved one is passing, or encouraging staff who are struggling — these types of experiences are tough; and yet, there is also the beauty of shared celebrations, recognizing special milestones and much more.”

“Our chaplaincy program has provided much needed spiritual support for our residents,” said Lynn. “We are blessed to have Sam’s beautiful and calm message, which has been such an inspiration to so many of our residents and team members.”

The post Building Brighter Futures with Scholarships for Front Porch Team Members appeared first on Front Porch.

The post Building Brighter Futures with Scholarships for Front Porch Team Members appeared first on Front Porch.

Falls affect us all. The risk of falling increases with age. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. If you slip, trip or fall, it could change your life. You could break a bone, take a trip to the hospital, be injured or develop a disability. Fear of falling may keep you from walking, shopping or taking part in social activities. Overcoming this fear can help you stay active, maintain your physical health and prevent future falls.

The good news is that there are simple ways and free online resources to reduce the risk of falling and help stay falls free. Here are some tips with hyperlinks on how to prevent most falls.

Exercise to Improve Your Balance and Strength

One easy way to prevent a fall is to improve balance and strength. The National Institute on Aging has tips on fitting EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY safely into daily life to help stay healthy as one ages. It also has tips with the right steps to take to PREVENT FALLS AND FRACTURES. Life enrichment and wellness directors offer many programs. Try walking, gardening, tai chi, yoga or whatever you enjoy.

Talk to Your Doctor or Pharmacist

Regularly review your medications and their side effects with your doctor or pharmacist. The National Council on Aging has a FALLS FREE CHECKUP that allows you to check your risk for a fall to help stay independent. Tell your doctor if you have fallen, even if not hurt. Get your vision and hearing tested. Ask a physical therapist about acquiring a walking aid if needed. Vitamin D and calcium can help keep your bones strong.

Make Your Home Safer

Make sure there are no cords, pet toys, loose rugs or excess furniture in your path. Clutter on your floors and around your home can make it more difficult to stay on your feet. Use the CDC STEADI initiative checklist to identify and ELIMINATE FALL HAZARDS in the home. Adequate lighting in hallways makes navigation easier. Ask an occupational therapist about a home safety evaluation.

Put in a request to add grab bars for the bathtub, shower and toilet if you think you need them.

Make Smart Choices

Be aware of personal abilities and limitations. Request help from someone for difficult or awkward tasks like retrieving objects on high shelves or carrying large or bulky items. The California Department of Aging’s FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM has fall and injury prevention education and information. Stand up slowly with your feet under you. Wear proper footwear. Don’t drink alcohol to excess.

Educate Yourself Today

Understanding fall risks is the first step to staying safer, reducing the risk of falling and helping stay falls free. Check out the free resources above for practical prevention solutions to do the right exercises, take proper care of yourself, make your home safer and ask for help when you need it.

The post Simple Steps You Can Take to Prevent Falls appeared first on Front Porch.

Senior Director for Resident Experience Rebecca Johnson created the program to support residents’ connection to the community and to one another. “We feel a sense of place but don’t necessarily articulate it,” says Johnson. This program allows residents to gather over time “to capture in your words why you feel as you do.”

Each Front Porch community has its own unique geography, Johnson explains. “When we hear the word geography we think, ‘mountains, landscapes,’ which is certainly part of it,” she says. “But geography is also everything that humans build. When we wrote the program, we were intentional about discussing both the physical and social aspects of geography.”

Sense of Place provides a safe environment for people who may not normally speak up in the community to address concerns. “Sense of Place is outside of the committee or council structure,” says Johnson. “Sometimes residents are looking for a new way to share their voice, a less formal way beyond the surveys and the committees that are already in place.”

“I marvel at people who have the ability to come forward and speak their thoughts,” said one resident participant at Friends House in Santa Rosa. “It doesn’t come as naturally to me, but after listening to others, I feel I can talk like that. I feel comfortable here. I feel I’m in the right place.”

Jeannie Pressey, executive director of Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa says that Sense of Place is “an additional opportunity to gain insight from the residents on what’s working well and what they would like to see improved.”

Unlike a resident survey that provides a quantitative snapshot of the community at a moment in time, Sense of Place collects qualitative information that “puts the how, why, and what together in one place,” explains Mary McMullin, chief advancement officer for Front Porch. “A survey will tell us you think your community is great. Sense of Place allows us to understand why you think it’s great. It helps us identify rather than guess about the true community that’s here.”

Because residents were speaking directly with someone in person or on Zoom “instead of simply filling out the boxes on a survey, I feel that they were more comfortable in sharing their viewpoints,” Pressey notes. “And their views were clearly communicated as opposed to checking a box that says ‘are you satisfied? 1, 2, 3.’ You get some context on what people are trying to say.”

The program was open to any residents who wanted to participate, and a range of residents chose to join. “Having new and long-term residents in the same setting was critical,” Johnson says. She notes that newer residents who may have only experienced their community in the wake of the COVID pandemic with its lockdown protocols have a very different perspective than long-term residents who can recall and explain a community’s traditions. Meeting together gave residents a broader perspective on what community feels like based on their individual experiences.

Johnson compiled insights gathered during each session into reports for each participating community’s executive director, incorporating resident feedback, key questions, and recommendations for follow-up programs. Mark Nitsche, who became the executive director of San Francisco Towers during the Sense of Place pilot program, read the reports as a way to became familiar with the community. They allowed him to “really listen to what people are saying,” he recalls.

“People believe the ED is the last word, but it’s collaborative,” Nitsche says. Sense of Place allowed residents “to be a voice for the community and how you want to see community going forward. The program builds a sense of awareness, a sense of hope, and a sense of belonging.”

After testing the program as a pilot project at three Front Porch communities in 2022, Sense of Place is preparing to launch in more communities this year and may later be developed for use beyond the Front Porch system. Johnson is also gathering a working group to develop a new program called ATLAS, designed specifically for the new resident experience.

“Sense of Place is an influencer in decision making,” Johnson says. “It’s a platform for prioritizing the things that mean the most to residents, and one of those priorities is how residents, especially new residents, develop a sense of belonging and attachment in community. ATLAS is our natural next step.

“I’ve learned so much from the resident participants by leading this program. Each community is unique, with its own sense of place. This program has helped me to understand at a deep level what’s important for residents in their particular community. I can’t wait to discover more as we move forward with Sense of Place.”

The post At Front Porch Communities, Residents Discover their ‘Sense of Place’ appeared first on Front Porch.

“We felt very comfortable, like we belonged,” Wally said. “Other places just felt like hotels.”

Part of what precipitated their move was Priscilla’s declining health. The fact that Sunny View has a superb memory care neighborhood, Summer House, gave them the security that they would both be well supported.

Wally and Priscilla met while at college during World War II. Wally entered the Army, which sent him into the Battle of the Bulge, led by General George S. Patton. After the war, they married and moved to Berkeley, where he finished his engineering degree in 1946. As their family grew, the Norums moved to Illinois and then to Maryland for Wally’s career. After retirement, Priscilla and Wally returned to California, settling in Los Altos, and Wally started an engineering consulting business.

Wally got involved with the Sunny View community right after moving in. Jerry Carter, the chairman of the Employee Appreciation Committee at the time, tapped him to help in this effort and for years, Wally helped raise significant annual holiday tips for the staff, increasing the amount every year.

Through conversations with the Foundation gift officer at the time about the value of education, the Wally and Priscilla Norum Scholarship Fund for employees was born.

“I was inspired to fund this program because of the good people here at Sunny View,” Wally said. “I wanted to support them in furthering their education because that will help them improve their financial situation.”
Each year, the Norum Scholarship Fund through the Foundation provides five $1,000 scholarships to employees. Inspired by Wally’s and Priscilla’s generosity, other residents and family members of residents contribute to the fund as well. To date, 20 Sunny View employees have been able to further their education with help from the scholarship fund.

The post “Giving Warms My Heart” Says Sunny View Resident Wally Norum appeared first on Front Porch.

1. Free Yourself from the Burdens and Expenses of Home Ownership

From raking leaves and taking out the trash to washing clothes, cooking meals and cleaning house, there’s always something that needs to be done when you’re living in your own home. At Sunny View, we take care of those mundane tasks by doing them for you.

2. We’re Here to Support Healthy Living

From yoga, strength training, balance classes and more, fitness is essential to your well-being as an older adult. Often, the benefits of exercising on a daily basis offset the risk factors. Even medical conditions can be improved with fitness, including memory loss, heart disease, and high blood pressure. At Sunny View, we offer a variety of programs, classes and opportunities for you to stay fit.

3. Enjoy Life Enrichment Programs for Body, Mind and Spirit

Meeting and being with others are two of the top reasons why many people make the move to a senior living community. If your weekly agenda is lacking, but you want an engaging social life, then Sunny View may be your perfect match. You can join a music group, table tennis team, book club or a bridge or poker game to meet new friends. Residents enjoy calendars full of fun and exciting learning opportunities.

4. Experience Enhanced Safety & Security

Although you may not need help with personal care, unfortunately accidents can still happen. Household falls and injuries could occur, and if you live alone, the thought of not receiving the help you need can be a little scary. At Sunny View, we offer emergency response systems in all of our accommodations to maintain peace of mind and staff is available 24/7. For residents with more advanced health issues, we offer assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing services.

5. Enjoy Delicious Meals Served in a Beautiful Dining Environment

Tired of going through the hassle of cooking, buying groceries and washing dishes? At Sunny View experience delicious, freshly-prepared meals made by culinary chefs. As a bonus, our indoor-outdoor restaurant-style dining room encourages spending mealtimes with friends and family, making each gathering a fun social event that you will look forward to.

6. Learn, Grow and Travel with Your Friends at Sunny View

Aging doesn’t put a stop for your need to grow and explore the world around you. Sunny View can make it easier to get out and discover exciting new experiences through planned excursions and travel. Catch a ride on one of our buses or sedans or use our concierge service to call a Lyft. And never worry about finding a parking spot again! Our resident transportation can get you there.

7. Sunny View is a Sound Financial Choice

Many of the services and amenities you desire are included in the monthly fee at Sunny View. If you were to pay for all of these separately, you’d soon realize how quickly the costs add up. From gourmet meals and utilities to transportation and gym memberships, you’ll find that a move to Sunny View is a good lifestyle and financial choice.

Learn more by scheduling your tour today by calling 408-454-5600 or by emailing SVsales@frontporch.net.

The post Seven Compelling Reasons Why You Should Make the Move to Sunny View Today appeared first on Front Porch.

Twelve of Front Porch’s communities have a person on staff dedicated to spiritual care, though the titles may vary from chaplain to director of spiritual life to director of spiritual services. All have at least a master’s degree as well as specialized training, either through an internship or a program called Clinical Pastoral Education, or CPE.

Although the role of spiritual care may include leading religious services and coordinating worship services with resident faith groups, chaplains are trained to support people of all faiths – or no faith. Laura Mancuso, spiritual life director at Vista del Monte in Santa Barbara, explained, “I view my role as helping the residents connect with their personal sources of spiritual strength, whether that involves religion or not. I endeavor to accompany them through life’s difficult moments, so that they are not alone.”

Bev Franco, chaplain at Casa de Mañana in La Jolla, notes that one of the things people misunderstand about spiritual care is thinking that it is only about religion, or that it’s only for Christians. Instead, it’s about anything that brings meaning and purpose into someone’s life – relationships, nature, political causes or the sacred. 

Spiritual care helps people “feel connected to the sacred, to nature and to each other, and recognizes the ways they can find meaning and purpose,” said Franco. “Although spiritual care is sometimes overtly religious, such as leading worship, Bible studies and memorial services, it is more often helping people who are lonely, bored, depressed and isolated.”

“What I love about my role is participating with residents as they reflect on the present through the lens of their life: work history, family, travel and their personal and communal search for meaning and purpose,” said Hans Hoch, chaplain at San Francisco Towers. These reflections may happen through groups and activities, or in one-on-one conversations, in settings that are formal or informal.

Listening is a major part of spiritual care. “There is a universal human need for being known and heard,” said Schaar. “Spiritual care provides opportunities for people to process major life experiences such as grief, loss, change and more through the lenses of meaning and spiritual truth.”

“I listen, and then I listen,” said Meredith Cahn, chaplain at St. Paul’s Towers in Oakland. “Spiritual care is about attending to the spirit of the residents: being present when they are in need, offering an open heart and presence; offering opportunities to create or identify meaning and purpose and connection; offering opportunities to express the full range of emotions.”

“So much of health care these days is so rushed and impersonal,” Mancuso said. “I take special pride in not hurrying people when they are in the middle of a delicate or significant process. Our visits are definitely not a ’50-minute hour.’ And they can happen spontaneously, on the sidewalk or in the dining room, as well as in my office or the resident’s home.”

Spiritual care in a community also allows chaplains to build deep relationships with residents. In a hospital setting, chaplains need to be able to engage people rapidly and move on quickly, as they typically only participate in a person’s life for a matter of hours, days, or weeks at most. In Front Porch communities, because of the close relationships nurtured with residents across the years, “when something happens suddenly and I walk in the room, I already know the resident’s spiritual or religious orientation, and some of their quirks, and they’re likely to already trust me,” said Mancuso. As a result, “We can get to the heart of the matter very quickly, sometimes even without many words.”

“I love being involved in our residents’ lives in a deep way, beyond superficial talk, especially in liminal moments,” said Cahn. “I love being able to share spiritual wisdom and support, because they give me at least as much, if not more, than I give them.”

“I find that my connections with the residents deepen with every year that I’m at Vista,” said Mancuso. “What I cherish most about my role in my community is that the residents invite me in to their hearts during some of the most sensitive and challenging moments of their lives. They are incredible human beings! It’s a great privilege to accompany them on their life journeys.”

The post Front Porch Chaplains Help Residents Explore the Many Facets of Spirituality appeared first on Front Porch.

The post Front Porch Chaplains Help Residents Explore the Many Facets of Spirituality appeared first on Front Porch.

The resident agreement may seem imposing at first, but it also holds the answers to many questions prospective residents may have, such as: What’s included and not included in my services? What happens when I need additional services or support? And perhaps the biggest question: if I move to a community am I giving up independence and personal freedom?

After more than 30 years in the field of aging services, Mary McMullin, chief advancement officer for Front Porch, has seen a lot of resident agreements. “This is a topic near and dear to my heart, and I’m one of the few people who can say I like reading them,” she said. In an hour-long webinar on Demystifying Resident Agreements, Mary walked through the major sections of Front Porch’s resident agreement–including accommodations and services, health care, costs and fees, and resident rights–and the reasons behind them.

Accommodations and Services

Accommodations, as defined in most resident agreements, involve both the residents’ living space, which Mary emphasizes is their personal home, as well as the public spaces in the community. At Front Porch, although each individual home comes unfurnished, there is scope to personalize and make alterations, which vary depending on the community. “The interesting thing about our communities is that each one is different,” said Mary. “What works in a high rise is very different from what works in a stand-alone cottage or patio home.” The agreement also outlines the utilities provided, including broad spectrum Wi-Fi.

Community spaces also vary depending on the community, and, according to Mary, are “probably the most visible benefit” of community living. “Your personal space is there for you to customize and live in privately,” she said. “But it’s the other aspects of community living that add value. If you’re a swimmer, if you want to use the fitness center, if you want to use the art studio, if you’re determined to read every book in the library, having that larger space available to you is very important.”

Services such as housekeeping, dining, and transportation are outlined in the agreement. “It does take a certain amount of burden off of you,” Mary said. “There’s a staff that’s trained and managed to provide these services and you don’t have to track it or find it or manage it yourself.” Front Porch provides at least 30 days’ notice of any changes to the services listed in the resident agreement. Additional services and their related costs are available as an appendix to the agreement, with the fees updated annually, also with 30 days’ notice.

Healthcare

The healthcare section of the resident agreement “is probably the area that’s the most foreign because of prior conceptions of what healthcare is,” Mary said. She breaks down the healthcare section into “Three Ds, Two Ps, and Three Es.”

The three Ds are the Definitions, such as how do we define healthcare? What are memory care, assisted living, and skilled nursing?; the Delivery – can we provide the care in your home? Is the cost covered by the agreement, or is there any additional charge?; and Determination – how to determine what kind of care is needed, and where it will be provided.

“The greatest area of fear that I’ve observed in all my years is that many people  worry that moving to a community means we have control over transferring you to a higher level of care,” said Mary. “We do not. That’s the determination piece, that third D. It’s an active collaboration between you and your healthcare team and the community and our healthcare team, because at that point we are one team. We work with you to determine what the best thing is for you, but it is a collaboration. I can’t stress that enough.”

The two Ps are Physicians and Private Duty Aides. Communities are not primary healthcare providers. Residents are still responsible for managing and maintaining a relationship with a physician and paying for those services. And residents who hire a private duty aide can do so, but need to abide by the organization’s policies.

Finally, the three Es are Emergency Care, Excluded Care, and Enrollment in Insurance, all of which are part of how communities and residents collaborate to support residents’ health and wellbeing. The section on Emergency care explains how the community responds in case you experience a medical emergency and the section on Excluded care explains health-related services that fall outside of the scope of long-term care (such as dental care or durable medical equipment).

The final E, Enrollment in Insurance, is required as part of the agreement. “We do require you to maintain Medicare Parts A, B, as well as a supplemental policy,” Mary explained. “We need to know that you’re able to receive regular routine and regular covered care. We need to know that if you go out to a hospital, the care you receive will be appropriate and that we can manage the care after the hospital, if it’s needed.”

Costs and Fees

The agreement also goes into detail on resident fees. Along with the non-refundable processing fee and optional services spelled out in the appendix, the agreement explains the monthly fee, which changes over time. Monthly fees are subject to a yearly rate increase. At Front Porch, approximately two-thirds of the monthly fees go to labor costs, which naturally increase over time. “Interestingly enough, I think the rate increases are the biggest surprise for people,” Mary shared. “People know about them from an intellectual standpoint, but don’t necessarily emotionalize the fact that fees increase over time. That’s why we put in the historic schedule of average monthly fees.”

Resident Rights

Finally, the agreement also covers your rights as a resident. “Resident rights are very serious,” Mary said. “We are as much in partnership with you as we are with our regulators.” In California, resident rights  are established by the state’s Department of Social Services and include the right to live in an environment that enhances personal dignity, maintains independence, and encourages self-determination, and the right to receive a clear and complete written contract that establishes the mutual rights and obligations of the resident and the community.

In addition to the rights shared in the agreement, the resident handbook, included as an attachment to the agreement, also outlines the rights and responsibilities for community living, while a separate resident community manual goes into the details such as how to request repairs, how to place orders for a take-out meal, and other practical needs that are unique to the community and not part of the statutory requirements.

And more

In addition to the summary provided here, the webinar provided much more in-depth discussions on the resident agreement, including its appendices.

“We really try not to overwhelm you with information, but it’s hard not to because these agreements have a lot of parts and pieces to them,” Mary said. She encourages prospective residents to read through the agreement, and to work with a legal advisor as well, to become comfortable with the contract before signing. “I think that’s how to go into this wonderful way of living: with your eyes wide open, with your questions answered, feeling confident that, as a consumer, you’ve done everything possible to satisfy your questions and to be comfortable living in one of our communities.”

If you are interested in getting a link to the full presentation, please send us your name and email address.

The post Demystifying Resident Contracts appeared first on Front Porch.

The post Demystifying Resident Contracts appeared first on Front Porch.

They got the idea after attending a Mother’s Day barbecue at Sunny View. The event, which was held outside due to the pandemic, featured several food trucks. Nurse Appreciation Week happened to be the following week and as a former nurse, Nancy thought about hosting a truck to honor those caregivers. However, they decided to expand their gratitude to all staff.

“It started out as a small idea and then it grew,” Nancy said. “I believe each member of the team is so important at a retirement community – everyone from the executive director to housekeepers, dining room servers, dishwashers and maintenance. It’s important that we care for our staff as much as they care for our loved ones so lovingly.

“We decided to sponsor an ice cream truck to uplift the staff,” Nancy said. “After so much worry and stress caused by the pandemic it was wonderful to see staff enjoy a pleasant, sunny afternoon together. It was a tangible way we could say thank you in person and a great way for us to meet new staff and reconnect with staff we already know.”

Nancy’s and Marco’s idea was so popular she is working with Sunny View staff to organize regular staff appreciation events sponsored by residents’ family members.

The post Family Members Celebrate Sunny View Staff Service with Sweet, Frozen Treats appeared first on Front Porch.

The post Family Members Celebrate Sunny View Staff Service with Sweet, Frozen Treats appeared first on Front Porch.

I can go to my supervisor anytime about anything and I hear from my colleagues that is the predominate feeling here. Working at Sunny View does not feel like a 9-5 job because I am in a great environment with good people who share a commitment of making a difference in someone’s life every day.

Sunny View is a place where I am encouraged to be the best I can be and be supported to achieve that.

— Bernadette Viray

Sales and Marketing Assistant

Sunny View Retirement Community

The post A Culture that Feels Like Family appeared first on Front Porch.

The post A Culture that Feels Like Family appeared first on Front Porch.

The retired English teacher began painting on porcelain about 20 years ago at age 60, after seeing work at a local art show. “I liked what I saw,” Rose said in her one-bedroom apartment at Sunny View. “I thought painting on porcelain tiles was an unusual thing to do and I wanted to try it.”

Rose estimates she has painted more than 100 pieces. They range in size and form including plates, steins and framed tiles. Her subjects include still life, wildlife, landscape, floral and, her favorite subject, portraits.

“I like to see a person’s face come to life after I paint it,” Rose says. “Seeing that makes me happy.”

As a teacher with summers off, Rose had a passion for travel, vising Europe, Russia, China, India and Tibet as well as many locations in the U.S. “While visiting all of those places I took a lot of photos of what I saw and liked,” Rose said. “When I began painting, I used those photos for inspiration.” Rose humbly says … “I’m not a great artist but a good copier. I can copy what I take pictures of.”

“I’m amazed,” said Alex Fucile, Rose’s brother who has several of his sister’s paintings hanging in his home. “Growing up I never realized my big sister had this kind of talent. I was surprised as anyone when she started painting and I saw the results were so beautiful and detailed.”

The process is simple. Rose chooses a specific size piece of porcelain that fits the subject and using an oil-based paint specifically formulated for the medium paints directly on the blank “canvas.” She then takes the sub painted for finished product and fires it in a kiln, finishing the process. Her work has been on display at Sunny View several times for all to enjoy.

Now semi-retired from painting, Rose says her life at Sunny View allows her to explore other interests including reading, exercising in the gym and walking.

“I might start painting again,” Rose says with a grin. “They actually have a kiln here so I have everything I need.”

The post Artist Rose Fucile Pulls Inspiration From Home and Abroad appeared first on Front Porch.