Honoring Colorado Senior Citizens and World War Two Veterans: Rocky Mountain Honor Flight

You've probably heard of the Honor Flight Network, a national initiative that began in 2006 with the goal of flying every able and willing World War II veteran to Washington D.C. to visit "their" World War II Memorial. The trip is completely free of charge to these heroes.

Our local chapter of this excellent program is Rocky Mountain Honor Flight, a Denver Colorado based non-profit organization formed in 2007.

I was inspired to provide more information about Rocky Mountain Honor Flight when I happened across news that Dick Raiter, a veteran and resident of the Holly Creek Retirement Community in Centennial, would be treated to an Honor Flight to D.C. on September 12 of this year. Here's a photo of Mr. Raiter with his daughters Debbie Colussy (L) and Marty Frampton (R).

This is such a fantastic program that honors our veterans and offers them a 3-Day, free trip to D.C. where not only are they honored, but they receive the opportunity to honor and remember their friends and lost colleagues.

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All Honor Flight programs operate exclusively on donations from patriotic individuals and businesses. I hope you'll take a few minutes to learn more about our Rocky Mountain Honor Flight and consider a donation or perhaps even volunteering opportunities with the group. They do heartfelt work.

From Evergreen to Englewood to Lone Tree to Aurora to Centennial to Denver to Highlands Ranch and everywhere in the area, if you know of a veteran who should make the trip (and that includes terminally ill Korea or Vietnam veterans) please pass along the info to them and encourage them to fill out an application to be added to the list. - Jim Holmes

Donate to Rocky Mountain Honor Flight via PayPal

Photos courtesy of Stephen R. Brown Photography

Download Veterans and Volunteer Applications

Evergreen, Colorado House for Sale: 203 Sioux Trail, Evergreen, CO 80439

Activities for Seniors with Alzheimers or Dementia in Denver

In my job as a Realtor along the Denver Front Range - one who often specializes in working with senior clients or their caregiver families - I often get the honor of helping seniors with diminished memory. I see the heartache that family members experience as they struggle to deal with a parent who seems to be slowly slipping away.

But those same family members often share with me the ways that they cope and also work to motivate their parents to stay in the present. I thought I'd share with you some of their advice. - Jim

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Utilizing the 5 Senses is one of the best ways to help seniors with dementia or Alzheimers enjoy activities that used to be a fun or important part of their lives.

The smells and activity of cooking or baking can bring back memories and inspire a senior. Offer them (and yourself) the Gift of Taste.

*Try encouraging them to help you bake cookies. They may not remember how, but drop some cookie dough in front of them and a senior citizen in the Denver area may just find themselves excited to spread the dough out and spoon it up. Hands often remember better than the mind.

*Sample different flavors of tea

*Sample holiday treats that can bring back warm memories, like candy canes, jelly beans, pumpkin pie, and the like.

Sound

*Very few things evoke memories like music. It's a powerful thing. Spend some time with your loved one and their favorite music. Again, holidays and special occasions typically stand out, so sing some holiday carols to them, along with Happy Birthday (insert the names of family members), Here Comes Peter Cottontail, etc.

*Grab a CD with some of their favorite music or tunes from the era in which they grew up. You can also take them to as many local concerts and performances as possible, be it a park concert in Aurora, a big show in Denver, or a school concert in Evergreen.

Again, whatever the music, it's a powerful tool that magically enlivens the mind.

Smell

Once again, the proper smells can bring life to the eyes of your Mom or Dad with dementia or Alzheimers. Stimulate their senses with the lavender sachets you know they love, or orange peels slowly simmering in a pot on the stove. As I mentioned before, holiday smells are powerful and bring back memories of their family members and special moments, so burn candles with holiday smells like peppermint, pumpkin pie, or other holiday spices.

These are just a few, simple things that have worked for other family caregivers along the Denver Front Range. If I may assist your family in the sale of a home, or advise or refer you to other senior-focused professionals that may be of help to you, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Aurora, Colorado Home for Sale: Villas at Cherry Creek 5031 S Auckland Court, Aurora, CO, 80015-3911

Costs and Contracts: Financial Questions to Ask Assisted Living Facilities in Denver, Colorado

by Jim Holmes

It can be stressful enough when a senior citizen or a caregiver decides that a move to assisted living may be the best option for that elder. Along with a ton of organizational and emotional issues, the financial implications are important points that must be pondered and acted upon.

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As a Realtor in south Denver, it's part of my job to help transition senior clients to the assisted living facilities in the Denver Front Range that may be the best options for their care. One of the ways in which I act in service to seniors is by doing more than just helping to sell their home: I want to make sure that the entire transition in this phase of your/their life is as seamless and hassle-free as possible.

As such, I want to provide some basic financial and legal questions that a caregiver or senior citizen should ask any community they are considering moving to.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a lawyer and this should NOT be interpreted as legal advice. It's important that you talk with an attorney before signing any contracts.

Questions for Assisted Living Facilities

1) What is the basic fee?

2) What services are included with that fee?

3) What are the additional prices for ala carte services or products?

4) What initial (or down) payment is required? Is any portion of that refundable?

5) If my loved one is not at the facility for an extended period of time (such as due to a hospital or nursing home stay) what fees are still applicable?

6) Is renters insurance mandatory?

7) When, why, and how often are fees likely to be changed?

8) How much advance warning is provided in the event of fee changes and who is notified?

9) Is financial assistance available now or at any juncture?

10) Who is responsible for cleaning or repair in the event of a significant spill or other accident?

11) What's the refund policy in case of closure, ownership change, transfers, or similar events?

12) What are the behaviors or circumstances that may result in termination of services or eviction?

13) What are the rights of residents?

14) What are the grievance procedures and alternatives in case of dissatisfaction with that process?

If you have other questions concerning a move to an assisted living facility, or if you'd like to discuss with me the possible sale of your family home, please feel free to contact me anytime here.

Denver Home for Sale: 2234 Cactus Bluff Avenue, Highlands Ranch, CO, 80129

Holly Creek Retirement Community Summer Open House

I absolutely love it when I see a senior living community in the Denver area that provides a unique arrangement of activities and events for their residents. And when those events include participation from the public and local citizens, it's all the better!

And things are hopping this month at Holly Creek Retirement Community in Centennial as their Summer Open House celebrations are well underway with a variety of activities including an Art Walk, speakers on Heart Healthy Nutrition and Cooking, and a discussion on an embattled Mideast culture, all designed to enlighten, entertain, and engage. I hope you'll stop by and join in the fun! - Jim Holmes

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Things got underway with a kickoff breakfast on May 31 and June 1, and the residents and staff were also awesome enough to quickly put together a benefit bake sale on June 4, with all proceeds designed to help the Oklahoma tornado victims.

Active Minds: Kurds

June 10

3pm

Holly Creek residents and guests (anyone from the community is welcome to attend) will explore the complicated dynamic of 30 million people Kurdish people in the Middle East and seek to understand the Kurdish people and their struggle. The Kurds are an ethnic group of approximately 30 million with origins in a part of the Middle East that has been surrounded by the historic powers of the region. Today, the traditional lands of the Kurds are divided into parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. As a minority in each of these countries, the Kurds have long sought their own sovereign nation or at least more autonomy, with mixed results.

Visit the Holly Creek Website

Heart Healthy Nutrition with the Cooking Cardiologist 

June 13

1:30pm

The engagement and enlightenment at Holly Creek continues! Join Dr. Richard Collins, "The Cooking Cardiologist" with South Denver Cardiology Associates, and Susan Buckley, RD, as they explore the relationship between heart disease and nutrition. Dr. Collins is a nationally known speaker and practicing cardiologist who will provide you with information on how diet improves cardiovascular health and how making changes at any age will make a huge difference!

Art Walk and Reception 

Thursday, June 20th

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m

Join Holly Creek's first Art Walk & Reception in the town center that will feature a group of local Colorado artists and some of the Holly Creek resident artists as well. Each artist will be displaying their art work for viewing and some pieces will be available for purchase. Come on down and enjoy the varied and beautiful art work while munching on some delicious appetizers and wine.

RSVP to 720.266.5610 or to dnelson@clcmail.org

Again, these folks  events are open to the public and part of the Holly Creek Summer Open House season. Come by and enjoy.

Contact Jim Holmes to Buy or Sell a Denver Front Range Home

How Denver Boomers and Seniors Can Remodel Their Homes to Age in Place

As a Denver Realtor, I regularly get a chance to speak with Colorado senior citizens and boomers who are deciding whether or not to sell their current home or remain in it to age in place.

If they choose to remain in their family home, I always advise them to begin a small remodeling process now, while health and finances allow it. The goal is to age in place comfortably and safely by making some minor adjustments to the house.

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Wherever one lives in Denver, Summit County, and the Denver Front Range, these tips will make it easier for a senior to safely navigate a house. - Jim

1) Since many accidents happen in the bathroom, remodel it first. Install grab bars, and slip-free and step-free showers. Do whatever is feasible to make the bathroom larger to allow plenty of space for a wheelchair and a caregiver. Don't forget to widen the doorway for a wheelchair.

2) As time and finances allow, widen all doorways in the home to make room for a wheelchair. Replace doorknobs with handles, an idea that will reduce pain for those with arthritis.


3) Steps leading to the entrance of the home should be replaced, if at all possible. Install ramps and grab bars in convenient spots.

More Suggestions From The National Aging in Place Council

4) If the home has more than one level, plan in advance to bring as much as possible to the first level. This includes a bedroom, bathroom, and laundry room.

5) Remodel the kitchen, installing appliances with easy-to-turn knobs. Many companies specialize in a wide number of features that can make working in the kitchen far easier for a senior citizen. Things like the installation of adjustable counter tops and lowered cabinets and pantries will make life far easier for any elder in the kitchen.

6) If the house is especially large, or if caregivers will be living upstairs, install an intercom for reliable communication.

If you or a loved one will be considering moving from your family home in the future, I hope you'll consider contacting me for a chat. It's my honor to help Denver seniors, boomers, and their families make wise decisions in the moving process and in the sale of a family home. And, I love working with seniors!

Reach me and the team at the Alliance Group at 303-771-7500 or email me here.

Evergreen Home for Sale: 30726 Snowbird Lane, Evergreen, CO 80439