Sierra Seniors radio show January 8th, 2011

Sierra Seniors radio show January 8th, 2011

1450 KVML AM - 9:05am-9:30am

Written by: Roberta Goodwin
Host: Cathie Peacock
Guests:  Kathrina McRee and Lauralee Markus, both of the Community Relations Department, Skyline Place, a Senior Living Facility in Sonora CA

Cathie asked the guests to describe their respective backgrounds. The "new kid on the block" Lauralee talked about her "crooked path" that brought her back to the Motherlode, where she had grown up in Tuolumne City.  She is the new Community Relations Director at Skyline Place. Her background varies from public policy in healthcare in the bay area including senior care, and Marketing.  She went on to say, “I live with my husband and dog in Twain Harte.”  Kathrina described herself by saying she is originally from Oxfordshire in the southeast of England.  She and her husband came to Tuolumne County to care for his elderly parents, and subsequently retired here.  She works part-time at Skyline in Community Relations, and describes herself as being “blessed to be here in the Motherlode with my husband and our three girls.”  Both ladies provide callers and visitors with important info in planning for family members.

Cathie: “What do you say to people who call in?”
Kathrina: “We have three distinct levels of care.  Independent Living, Assisted Living (including Memory Care), and Enhanced Care Living.  Enhanced Care is for those people who need to recover, for example, from an operation, and who will most likely be going home after their stay.”

She went on to describe several typical scenarios that describe the kinds of questions they get from families struggling with care issues for their senior family member(s).   The average age, she said, of their clients is 86.7 years.  Our job, she went on to say, is to change the perceptions typical of that generation about living “outside of the home” and in their community especially regarding the perceived loss of independence. “I challenge them to understand they will be more independent in our community, not less: Our busiest time is after the holidays because contact during the holidays often helps family to understand things with a senior family member are not as good as it used to be.”

Questions, Kathrina said, are typically a. What do we get for our money?  b. What are the apartments like?  “People are surprised to find out that we oftentimes have space comparable to what they are currently living in.  We have two bedroom apartments, one bedroom apartments and studios that include all the amenities. The great thing we offer is that you only pay for the services you receive. We allow people to bring their favorite furniture if they can, and even their dogs. Our ultimate goal is to have family come in and to meet their needs. The Grand Opening of our new Independent Living facility will be January 13, from 4-7 PM.  We will offer champagne, and other refreshment and entertainment.  We invite everyone to stop by, and see our new facility.” 

Lauralee:  “For more information, call 209-532-0373 and ask for either one of us.”

Toll free phone: 877-800-7031 and website: http://www.lifestylesllc.com/senior_living/Sonora_CA/zip_95370/senior_living/2215