Sarah Business Spotlight on Health Skinner was adds OHH expands born with Spina personal wound care offering Bifida. touch When it comes to 0!'% 0!'% wound care in Central Oklahoma, Elaine Soter, MD, CWS is a well-known commodity. 0!'% www.seniornewsandliving.com Information for Oklahoma Seniors Heritage Point Locally Owned and Published Each Month January 2015 Vol. 17 Issue 1 By Metro Publishing L.L.C. coming to Senior fights for accessible Oklahoma City housing photo by Mike Lee BY-IKE,EE 3TAFF7RITER photo by Mike Lee Jack Mills, 77, works to provide better living opportunities for seniors, vets and those Heritage Point of Oklahoma City will soon open to who are disabled. provide Alzheimer’s patients a new living option. David Thompson, left, and Kip Pammenter are behind the wenty years ago, Jack Mills had an the ground. innovative project Tidea whose time has finally come. The concept is known as aging in With 2.2 acres of family land in place, which he brought to his family 3TORYANDPHOTOBY-IKE,EE 3TAFF7RITER northwest Oklahoma City, Mills thought home, that was originally built in the When Kip Pammenter talks about the residents at his what a wonderful idea it would be build 1930s, some 20 years ago. Heritage of Overland Park memory care residence he uses dedicated housing for those whose needs What he’s created is Mills Pond, six their first names. traditional housing hadn’t met. units, mostly overlooking a pond in his The president of a company that specializes in Seniors, vets and disabled individuals backyard, that allow people with special Alzheimer’s and memory care knows that’s the only all had special needs when it came to the needs to live comfortably and affordably. way you can truly make a difference in someone’s life. logistics of a home. He got the idea from an 80-year-old Getting to know each and every client and meeting them Mills had never met a person who was who built an accessible home not a mile where they are is the hallmark of Pammenter’s successful able to roll a wheelchair up a flight of away. approach to person-centered care. stairs. “The land was here and it was paid for It’s a unique concept in today’s take-it-or-leave it He knew regular countertops were so I thought why not. Roll the dice,” Mills memory care market. almost useless for someone set lower to “Each family comes in with their own circumstance See MILLS Page 3 See HERITAGE Page 2 0AGE*ANUARY3ENIOR.EWSAND,IVING/KLAHOMA WWWSENIORNEWSANDLIVINGCOM designed Heritage Point to work “That’s not what we’re about,” but it doesn’t define us. We are (%2)4!'% with families to envision a better Thompson said. going to take that, accept it but #ONTINUEDFROM0AGE way to live with Alzheimer’s The residence is designed with we’re going to do what we do. We and their own issues and that’s disease and other dementia related the patient first. are not boxed in by contemporary their focus,” Pammenter said. “The impairments. Each building will house 18 thinking.” relationship blossoms and they tie Pammenter wants to truly units. Three homes make up 54 That’s why you’ll see Heritage into other families. There’s a lot reinvent Alzheimer’s care and what total units. Point residents at a minor league of empathy. Families are going life should be like for seniors with “Dealing with dementia, it was ballgame or out to eat at a through the same issue and families cognitive challenges. The focus is on important to us to keep the numbers restaurant. Fishing trips and other lend support to each other. each individual resident; knowing to a minimum,” Pammenter said. outings are staples in Overland “They help each other and they who they are and what they love “You put a lot of people with Park. help us.” to do…and then finding activities behaviors together it feeds on itself. “Oklahoma City is much like Based on the concept that that have meaning and purpose. We wanted to create something Kansas City - center of the U.S. Pammenter developed in the Kansas Heritage Point will offer a homey, keep the numbers down … with good people and family City market, Heritage Point will smaller, home environment that and make it a more enjoyable values,” Pammenter said. “We were expand into Oklahoma City this promotes dignity, respect and love. lifestyle.” successful with Overland Park and April and then break ground later A dedicated team of experienced While consistency with we started looking for places that this year in Tulsa. and caring staff understands the Alzheimer’s patients is important, were comparable. It just seemed David Thompson serves as importance of developing close Thompson said the concept works that Oklahoma City was a good fit Pammenter’s vice president of personal relationships with residents when staff strongly hold an for us. operations. and becomes an extended part of attitude of flexibility and incorporate “I think even more important “Really what we’re trying to your family. individual interests and desires into than that there’s nothing like this do - big picture - is the person- Professionally trained care staff, everyday life. in Oklahoma City.” centered care approach,” Thompson along with the expert guidance In addition to a monthly Heritage Point will truly be said. “We want to know what their of the medical director, offer an community calendar, Heritage Point unique in Oklahoma. routines are, what their interests are unmatched array of services and will integrate special events and “We’re all in there with the and how do we give them meaning life activities to create a home that activities that reflect personal same vision and it’s to provide some and purpose and relationships and supports each individual person. passions of residents and staff such level of meaning and enjoyment enjoyment each day in a lifestyle.” Heritage Point invites families as musical events, animal assisted and purpose,” Thompson said. “It’s Dealing with the effects of in, knowing that the interaction interventions, individual hobbies, a culture. That’s what I’m most Alzheimer’s disease and trying to only helps the resident. etc. proud of. I just didn’t expect it to understand available care options Guest meals are free of charge, “We don’t let dementia or be as big as it became. I expected can be extremely challenging for not a separate bill waiting to be Alzheimer’s define who we are,” it to be special but it really turned families. That’s why Pammenter paid. Pammenter said. “It’s a part of us into something amazing.” 3ENIOR.EWSAND,IVING/KLAHOMA *ANUARY 0AGE delivery services in the U.S. when and Virginia are some of the states its vacant land for the projects. -),,3 he delivered General Jacks pizzas to with the same Cottage Concept. Ideally, someone could built #ONTINUEDFROM0AGE hungry students at the University Mills says the cottage provides the unit for around $130,000 and said. “There wasn’t any guarantee of Oklahoma. Six years in the affordable homes for veterans, live there while renting space it would be rented. You’ve got to Army Reserve followed a stint in seniors, special needs and all others out. roll the dice.” the R.O.T.C. at OU. on limited income. There are two That’s what Mills has done He started in his main home He later came to Oklahoma homes. The main home has two and his residents stay long-term by opening up a couple walls and City and opened up the Beef and bedrooms, two baths, living room because they say they can’t find created another kitchen and back Bun restaurant, which many a and kitchen at around 900 sq. affordable housing that’s built for area in his home that he hopes high schooler frequented. ft. The cottage next to the main their needs. will serve him well one day when Eventually, he found himself home is 500 sq. ft. In fact, vacancies usually only he has difficulties getting around. doing marketing in the club The cottage resident pays a occur after a resident has passed The idea is carried out business for Michael’s Plum and large portion of the owner’s away. through the other units. Wheelchair- Pistachio’s, the hottest disco clubs mortgage and both owner and But Mills knows there are accessible entries and doors allow in the late 1970s where everybody renter provide a built-in safety net hundreds if not thousands of residents to come and go on their even remotely associated with the for one another. people the concept could benefit. own. Lower countertops, grab bars oil business was awash in cash and He would like to see the city He just hopes it’s an idea and other amenities help residents spending it freely. of Oklahoma City utilize some of whose time has finally come. out on the inside. Mills would eventually find “This whole thing takes a himself taking groups to Acapulco village,” Mills said. “We’ve got six for luxury villa vacations. Oklahomans invited to Senior units but we could have 100 and it Basically, Mills is a man who would take volunteers.” is used to reinventing himself and Day at the Capitol Feb. 23 The idea is to use some of has spent all his working life those who live in the units to making people feel comfortable Oklahomans are invited to the well as Oklahoma Department of help others out any way they can and welcome.