Home Senior Tennyson Senior Living Community Open House draws a crowd

Tennyson Senior Living Community Open House draws a crowd

0
Tennyson Senior Living Community Open House draws a crowd
The ribbon cutting ceremony delighted dignitaries and audience members. Pictured from left are participants in the ribbon cutting: Matt Golden with Westbury Bank; Peggy Schmudlach, Tennyson Residence Director; State Rep. Melissa Sargent; Helen Aarli, community activist; Steve Machotka with Westbury Bank; Jocelyn DeWitt, UW Chief Information Officer and board member at Independent Living, Inc.; Brian Miller, CEO of Independent Living; Scott Pickos, chef (barely visible), and Melissa Yaun, lead resident caregiver. Photo by Daryna Ou

By Anita Weier
Northside News

Cars were lined up along Tennyson Lane on an autumn afternoon when Independent Living Inc. opened its doors for tours of the first building in its Senior Living Community.

About 250 Northsiders came to view the apartments, health and wellness center, warm water pool, library and dining room, and to sample food prepared by the chef. Visitors also came to hear former Gov. Martin Schreiber talk about Alzheimer’s disease and how he helped his wife after she was stricken, a story he tells in his book “My Two Elaines.”

They met in high school and had a long and fruitful marriage. But 14 years ago, Elaine started becoming a different person. “The world shrinks for an Alzheimer’s person. You have to let go of the person who once was and embrace the person who now is. It’s not necessary for her to know who I am for our hearts to touch,” he explained.

Schreiber practiced “therapeutic fibbing.” For instance, when she asked about her parents and he said they were dead, she became upset. So the next time she asked, he did not tell the truth. She wanted to feel useful, so they would fold towels. Then he would take the towels into the next room and rumple them up so they could be folded again. The most difficult decision, he said, was to place Elaine into assisted living. “I couldn’t take care of her and keep her safe,” he explained, advising listeners to “get rid of the guilt.”

The 60-unit Tennyson Senior Living Community is a state-licensed Community Based Residential Facility. Memory care will be provided on the first floor by staff trained in dementia care. On the other three floors, care will vary according to what the resident wants — from help only in emergencies and twice monthly housekeeping to more intensive care that includes an emergency call system, medication management and assistance with personal hygiene.

If you have not yet had a tour, contact Peggy Schmudlach, resident services director. The main phone number is 274-7900.

Groundbreaking is expected to begin next year for a 75-unit independent living apartment building on the grounds. People who live in those units will be able to come for meals at the main building and use the health and wellness center. “They will be part of the larger community,” Schmudlach said.