Recently I purchased webcams for each community to facilitate video calls with family members and residents. Today a lady in Seguin had her first video session with her son in Colorado. It was such a poignant moment to see her reaction to seeing not only her son but her grandson. This is a great thing as it enables children to stay in contact with their parents and takes away the guilt of not “being there.” In addition they get to see first hand how their parents look and it is reassuring to the children that their parents are in good hands.
At Argent Court we are committed to making certain we keep families in contact with one another and taking advantage of current technology is just another way of making this happen. If you have a family member living at any of our locations, I would invite you to call and set an appointment with the administrator or activity director to participate in TelePresence via Skype. Witness first hand the excitement in the resident. You’ll be glad you did.
Recently I was visiting with a resident who wasn’t feeling very well. He lamented to me that he felt his time on this earth was soon coming to an end. He was 92. He said he was ready as he no longer had a purpose to be here. As we continued to talk, I said to him, “What do you mean you have no purpose? Do you realize how many people depend on you each day?” He paused for a moment and said, “What do you mean?” I told him he had 3 other table mates alone who depended on him to be at each meal and looked forward to his presence. He said, “Well, I guess I never thought of it that way.”
This chance encounter got me to thinking about how important it is for each of us to think about our purpose on this earth and what an impact we all have on each other. As I related to my resident, he also has an impact on each of our staff because he is so welcoming and loving and makes a point of saying nice things. The staff look forward to being around him because he has great words of wisdom and experience to offer.
When we look at hiring at Argent Court, we don’t look for people with the most experience; we look at their heart and willingness to serve. We look for people who feel they have a purpose for doing this job as we understand first hand our own purpose for creating a loving/caring environment which honors the people we serve. Argent Court has the following mission statement:
Argent Court is committed to providing exceptional assisted living that demonstrates our dedication to improving quality of lifestyle choices for seniors, and at the same time provides reassurance to those who love them.
Central to our commitment is the key element of personalized, responsive care for residents, extended in the spirit of service and an atmosphere of appreciation for those we serve and with whom we work. We strive to assist and accommodate our residents in a manner that fosters their independence, preserves their dignity, protects their rights, respects their privacy and honors their contributions in life.
The staff is edified by the fulfillment of their “need to serve” others in our work together. We adhere to the principles of professionalism, integrity, and team work. We also believe it benefits both residents and staff alike to celebrate and enjoy good fellowship as often as possible.
As I tell all the staff, this is more than a job, this is a calling. This is a calling of the highest order as we have the opportunity to touch lives and to make a difference each day. None of us realize how important we are to those around us. We all have a purpose.
Thanksgiving is always a special time of the year at Argent Court. We traditionally have our residents invite as many family members as they desire for a special holiday luncheon the weekend before Thanksgiving.
It is so heartwarming to see the residents beam with pride as they introduce their family to staff and fellow residents. I’ve come to realize that the connections we make with our families and the memories we create through the years are what sustains us as we age. This is why at Argent Court we make a special effort to involve families in the lives of our residents. We do it through not only our Thanksgiving luncheon but many other activities throughout the year.
At Argent Court we take special pride in providing activities that stimulate the resident’s emotional, spiritual, and recreational needs. I think that’s just one of many things that set us apart from other assisted livings.
Two sisters, one who resided at Argent Court Brenham and Argent Court in Jourdanton were reunited with each other. They had not seen each other for at least a year and were reunited with each other when their administrators took them to Bastrop for a meeting. They were so excited to see each other and have pledged to do it again soon. It was a long drive for each but very worth it.
Argent Court recently appeared on Good Morning San Antonio.
Argent Court appeared on KENS 5 not too long ago. Here is the video clip you can stream from the KENS site. Enjoy!
In honor of National Firefighter’s Week, the residents of Argent Court Assisted Living gave a basket of homemade goodies to the Jourdanton Volunteer Fire Department in appreciation of their service to the community. Pictured l-r are: Carolyn Allinson, Mary Louise Dworaczyk, James Huddleston, Maureen Davis and Wade McCollough.
I am always surprised at how many folks make the incorrect assumption that Medicare pays for long term care and specifically assisted living. In my 12 years in this business, I constantly get the question, “How much of the rent does Medicare pay for?” The short answer is none. I want to take this opportunity to explain what Medicare pays for and differences in Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare pays only for restorative care. In other words, if someone falls and breaks a hip and has surgery and goes for rehabilitation, the surgery and rehabilitation would be an example of “restorative care.” The rehab component is typically done in a stand alone rehab facility or skilled nursing facility.
Medicaid on the other hand is a program for indigent folks. Medicaid pays for custodial care in a nursing home and some assisted living communities. You do have to qualify for Medicaid based on income and acuity
There are some assisted living communities that accept Medicaid but Argent Court is not one of them. If you are interested in seeing if you qualify for Medicaid or any other government program you can click on the following link:
https://www.benefitscheckup.org/moreprograms.cfm?partner_id=0
I always tell folks to start looking for a long term care facility BEFORE the need arises as you will be better able to make a decision when the time comes. So many folks wait until they’re in a crisis before looking and don’t always make the best decision.
For a free brochure on choosing an assisted living community call 877-789-9797 or click on the bookmark on the home page.