At Village On The Isle we are so thankful for our wonderful nursing team!  They are the heart of our assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. It’s not surprising to see one of the nurses laughing with or hugging one of our residents.  Many of our residents feel as though our nursing staff is a part of their family. They are definitely part of the Village family and we honor them this week and daily!

National Nurses week begins on National Nurses Day, May 6th, and is celebrated through May 12^th.  May 12^th is also Florence Nightingale’s birthday, the founder of modern nursing. This week is celebrated to recognize the hard work and achievements of professional nurses, both active and retired. This week also raises public awareness of the value of nursing and educates others on the vital roles nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people.

The International Council of Nurses has celebrated national Nurses week since 1965, but the history of Nurses Day can be traced back to 1953.  An official of the U.S. Department of Health Education & Welfare, Dorothy Sutherland, proposed to President Eisenhower to proclaim a “Nurses Day” however, he did not approve it.  It wasn’t until 1974 that the decision was made to celebrate the day on May 12th and to also commemorate the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

In 1981, nurses in New Mexico started a resolution that May 6th would be announced as the “National Recognition Day for Nurses.” The ANA Board of Directors encouraged this proposal and in 1982, the United States Congress assigned May 6th to be the “National Recognition Day for Nurses.” Eventually it was expanded  into a week long celebration.

This year, American Nurses Association (ANA) has chosen the theme, “Delivering Quality and Innovation in Patient Care.“  A theme that this Continuing Care Retirement Community practices daily!

To all of our nurses here at Village On The Isle and to nurses everywhere, retired or still serving we honor you and we thank you for all you do!

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

“Savvy Seniors Best Friend”

This Village On The Isle document will put to rest the half truths and misconceptions about membership based Continuing Care Retirement Communities licensed by the Office of Insurance Regulation Chapter 651in the State of Florida.

There are many different, often confusing, options when it comes to your final retirement choice.  Depending on your particular desires and needs there are several options in addition to remaining at home.  Generally, retirement communities are divided into three categories:

1. Active Adult or 55+ Communities.
2. Rental Retirement Communities.
3. Continuing Care Retirement Communities like Village On The Isle (CCRC—Membership).

The most important thing for you to do is start EDUCATING YOURSELF on the various options at least 2 years before making any decision.  Do not be crisis driven.

Why choose membership type “Continuing Care Retirement Community?”

You pay a one-time membership fee and you will generally find that your monthly maintenance fees are less than a purely monthly rental for Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation services.  You will have a State of Florida approved contract which spells out your lifetime benefits even if through no fault of your own you become unable to pay the costs to stay at Village On The Isle.  This is becoming critical due to the continual reductions in both Medicare and Medicaid coverage provided through the government.

The number one myth about Continuing Care Retirement Communities is “If I rent, I will not spend as much as if I were to buy a membership at Village On The Isle (CCRC)!  WRONG!!  In reality you will likely end up spending more money out of pocket renting than you will in purchasing a one-time membership, in most instances.

There are a number of strong positives when looking at Village On The Isle (CCRC):

• For starters, you are paying a Membership at Village On The Isle.  This means you have rights to the resources on campus for the rest of your life as long as those needs can be met by the community.  Here at Village On The Isle you can seamlessly move from Independent Living to Assisted Living or Skilled Rehab Care and you maintain your social network while receiving appropriate services. No other retirement community in the entire greater Venice area offers this range of seamless services as your needs change. We hear about people all the time where Independent Living residents at some communities become ill and cannot receive the care they need.  The resident may be put on a waiting list at their facility or they may be forced to move into an off-site community they would have never chosen if the decision were not crisis driven.
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities like Village On The Isle provide resident potential tax breaks for as long as you live on the campus.  These tax breaks are not available in senior rental communities.
• The Membership Concept takes the worry out of aging.  Aging is a fact. Preparing and educating yourself lets you age gracefully and free of unnecessary stress.

Village On The Isle is Venice’s only not-for-profit, faith based, Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation all on ONE CAMPUS.

Our residents can seamlessly utilize all levels of service without leaving the familiar surroundings of Village On The Isle and their friends.  The caring and talented team members at Village On The Isle are responsible for assisting residents in moving between different levels of service.

You can visit us in person at 920 Tamiami Trail, Venice 34285 by calling Carol at 486-5484 to schedule a tour.  You can also visit our website to preview us.

Find out for yourself why a Continuing Care Retirement Community is your best choice in retirement living.  Your Time is NOW!!

Florida Continuing Care Retirement Community living life to the fullest

As you age, and all of us do no matter how hard we try not to, you may think you do not have as many opportunities to socialize as you did when you were younger.  Staying socially active and maintaining good interpersonal relationships may require more work, but it is very important to living a full and enriched life. This is true even more so as we age.  In fact, these very things help us maintain good physical & emotional health as well as cognitive function.  At Village On The Isle, Venice, Florida’s premier Continuing Care Retirement Community, we strongly believe that “Everyday’s a New Day!”

We encourage our residents to maintain this same mindset.  Every year, every month, each day we remind them to begin with hope and enthusiasm for what’s to come…ever hear “the best is yet to come?”  That applies here.  Our team truly cares for our residents and their well-being, and this makes it easy for us to implement.  We work as a well-oiled machine, all operating towards the same common goal; keeping our residents happy and healthy, providing a safe & secure community and providing their families with peace of mind.

This year’s Health & Wellness theme is “Push Your Refresh Button!”  Our recreation calendar is full of programs ranging from social activities to cultural events designed to promote the resident’s physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual well-being.  Our Health & Wellness department is very unique because we are open 7 days a week with an open door policy to assist both residents and families with questions, needs and/or suggestions.  We strive to enhance the health and wellness of each resident by providing educational information, health chats, encourage healthy lifestyles, nutrition, and exercise programs.

Join our family here at Village as you “Push Your Refresh Button!”

Residents & Management working as a team in a Florida Continuing Care Retirement Community 

One sign of a successfully, well run Continuing Care Retirement Community, is when management and residents can all work collaboratively as a team to better the organization overall.  One area of a Continuing Care Retirement Community that interacts with the residents on a daily basis is the Dining Services Department.  Since we all have to eat and stay hydrated on a daily basis, “How is the food?”  is often one of our most commonly asked questions when folks consider moving into this Southwest Florida Continuing Care Retirement Community. 

At Village On The Isle we have monthly meetings with our Food & Dining Committee.  This group is made up of residents that represent each floor of each building here on campus.  The residents gather input from their neighbors as well as their own and report it at the monthly meeting to the foodservice Managers & Supervisors.  The topics discussed range from new menu ideas and suggestions for themed meals, to which items the residents like on the menu and any concerns they may have about the food and/or service.  It allows the managers & supervisors to directly interact with the residents.   We are able to make any appropriate changes or implement new ideas that the residents may have.

In addition to the monthly meetings, over the past decade, the resident Food & Dining Committee has met with the foodservice department to design new menus.  We meet for one and a half hours a week over a 2-4 week period outside of the normal monthly meeting.  We look at each day of the menu and have an open dialog and make changes and adjustments, as a group as we feel necessary.  Over the years many new menu items have been added that were actually given to us from a resident’s personal recipe.  For example we added a Kielbasa stew, a fresh broccoli salad, introduced a Vegetarian and a chicken pesto Panini sandwich that were all from residents’ suggestions.

Working with the residents ensures that their voice is heard! We make sure they are a part of the decision making process so that we choose the types of menu choices we know will please most all our residents here at Village On The Isle.

Celebrating life at a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Venice, FL

We Americans love to celebrate; we celebrate holidays, birthdays and sporting events.  We celebrate with our friends, family and favorite foods. Ask any southern how they brought in the New Year and they will most likely reply “black-eye peas and collard greens.” Coming from New England this was new to me, born a true Connecticut Yankee I had my own way of bringing in the New Year; my mother use to tell us “Never work on New Year’s Day and if you eat like a pauper on New Year’s you will be a pauper, but if you eat like a king your new year should be truly blessed.”  Prime Rib of beef is the meal I shared with my family.

The foods we share with our family and friends make our celebrating enjoyable and memorable.  What would Super Bowl Sunday be without chicken wings, Chinese New Year’s without fortune cookies and Saint Patrick’s Day’s without corned beef and cabbage?  Our memories revolve around the foods we share with others; remember your child’s first birthday cake, Thanksgiving at Grandma’s or Christmas at Mom’s. These memories never leave us and being at Village On The Isle we continue to make memories.

Living at Village On The Isle you can decorate King Cake for Mardi Gras; enjoy a hot dog cooked by the CEO on the 4^th of July or carve a pumpkin for Halloween. Being part of this continuing care retirement community we know that the best part of any celebration is sharing it with others. Our Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing residents love celebrating the holidays year round.

The Food Service and Recreation Departments have wonderful events planned for this year; so join us at Village On The Isle and share a memory with us and your New Year may also be truly blessed.

*Written by Kathleen Blackburn, Village On The Isle

Mission Statement: VILLAGE ON THE ISLE is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We are committed to sharing God’s love by promoting individual growth and dignity, enhancing the quality of life and meeting the human and spiritual needs of our residents, staff and community.

Village On The Isle lives by this Mission Statement everyday by providing not-for-profit organizations the use of our facility for their meetings, programs, or education opportunities. We may be a continuing care retirement community, but we are also stewards of the community we live in!

The not-for-profit organizations that use our facility can choose to meet in the multi purpose room, Renaissance Rooms. Both are fully equipped with a state-of the-art sound system. We can show movies on the 160 inch movie screen, sub-woofer, stereo speakers and a P/A system. The rooms are equipped with an LCD projector for PowerPoint presentations, Wifi capabilities, 4-wireless microphones and 3-wired microphones. We also have a portable stage that can be set up for entertainment.

Some of the not-for-profit organizations that use are facility are; the Venice Area Historical Society, Venice Chamber of Commerce, City of Venice, Sertoma Club, FADONA, local Churches, and AARP, etc. Many of the organizations that use our facility share presentations that are open to the public and our Independent Living, Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing residents.

At this retirement community, We PROUDLY support our community!

Village On The Isle, a full service retirement community in Southwest Florida recently added a brand new 2013 Ford bus to their campus.

Safety was a big deciding factor in making this investment for our residents.  Our new bus has a seating capacity of 22 and can accommodate up to 5 wheel chairs.  The bus runs on diesel and will save VOTI on fuel costs.  The bus is efficient and safe.  This bus now has a storage compartment for walkers in the rear of the bus, no longer will residents need to hold on to them or try to lay them on the floor next to them. The bus is primarily used for Assisted Living residents and our skilled rehabilitation center but with the added space we are now making room for Independent Living residents who may need wheelchair assistance.   The bus arrived in mid January and this week residents were able to take their first ride aboard!

Transportation Stats:

Assisted Living & Independent Living: Activity miles 19,262

Assisted Living & Independent Living: Doctor Miles 54,655

Assisted Living & Independent Living: Fuel used 8,645.0 gallons

Skilled Nursing Luke Haven: Activity miles 1,252

Skilled Nursing Luke Haven: Doctor miles 6,201

Skilled Nursing Luke Haven: Fuel used 1,350.0 gallons

Total Activity Miles: 20,514

Total Doctor Miles: 60,856

Total combined miles: 81,370

Total fuel used: 9,995.0 gallons

Eliminating Misconceptions about a Continuing Care Retirement Community

Will I have to sign away everything to live in your community?

Absolutely not! Once you qualify for residency there is a one-time entrance fee and a monthly service fee. You maintain financial autonomy and independence, knowing that should you ever decide to leave the community you may do so with your assets intact.

At first, it seems so much more expensive than staying home. Is this really such a good deal?

Residents tell us that when they include all living expenses, maintenance free living, and onsite healthcare, the value is terrific.

What if something changes and I need to move out of the community?

We know that sometimes circumstances make it necessary for a resident to move. Our contracts offer pro-rated refunds of your Entrance Fee to you or your estate should you move out or pass away. Village On The Isle offers two different refund choices.

Are there any tax benefits to living in a Continuing Care Retirement Community?

Rulings by the IRS allow a portion of the Entrance Fee and the portion of the Monthly Service Fee attributable to medical care to be deducted as a medical expense in the year paid.

How is the community regulated?

The community is granted a Certificate of Authority to offer continuing care agreements by the Florida Department of Financial Services, Office of Insurance Regulation. Both the residential Assisted Living residence and the Health Care are regulated, with regular, timely inspections by the Agency for Health Care Administration of the State of Florida.

Why can’t we wait until we really need to live in a community like this?

Prospective residents must meet financial and physical eligibility requirements, which means they must be reasonably healthy and able to live independently. Prospective residents who wait too long may not be able to meet these requirements, or to enjoy the active lifestyle the community provides.

What is covered by the Entrance Fee?

The Entrance Fee entitles you to the living accommodations of your choice, based on your needs, and a lifetime warranty on all of the appliances of that apartment or cottage home. It also provides access to future health care at reduced fees for Assisted Living and for skilled nursing care in the Health Center. These benefits, coupled with the knowledge that no resident has ever been asked to leave our community solely due to their inability to pay, make the Entrance Fee a great value.

My house is paid off. Why should I consider living in your community?

By choosing to make a move, you’ll avoid the personal hassles and repair or replacement costs associated with maintenance and upkeep of your home. Residents are usually able to apply a portion of the proceeds of their home sale to the Entrance Fee and invest the remainder. And finally, the Entrance Fee provides valuable protection against the potential for long-term Health Care costs.

How can I find out more about Village On The Isle?

For more information call Carol at 486-5484, and she can arrange for one of our marketing counselors to answer your questions or provide a personal tour of our community. Also, you can visit our website here or you can view our Facebook page here, and watch our YouTube videos to gain more insight on our community.  We know you’ll love it!

The New Year is upon us and with it comes the inevitable “New Year’s Resolution.” Don’t roll your eyes just yet!  A brief, informal survey here at Village On The Isle showed that most people start the New Year with a desire to improve in some area.  You can probably relate.  For many of us the most common New Year’s resolutions will be to start working out, eat better, be more social, learn something new, attend cultural events, and so on.  This year, I challenge you to set an attainable New Year’s Resolution and plan to accomplish a little each month.  If you plan to work out, start walking a few times around the block or your community, try parking further away from the grocery store than the front row.  Taking baby steps will ensure you are not discouraged and forgo your New Year’s Resolution.

As I look at the list above, I see that Village On The Isle has helped me in many of these areas.   As a staff member, I availed myself of “Weight Watchers at Work” and lost the pounds I needed to lose by eating smarter and working out. For many, shedding the extra pounds gives them the motivation to be more social and the courage to try new things.  Sometimes it’s the jump-start they need for a whole new attitude on life! In fact, many of our staff on campus were able to make this lifestyle change through Village.

The help & support available to our Independent Living, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing residents is even greater.  The Dietary, Health and Wellness along with our Recreation Departments work diligently with the residents to ensure that they have the information and support necessary to follow any health related initiatives they desire.  Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for our residents.  It is extremely important that our residents, your loved ones in our active adult retirement community stay socially and physically active.

Merry Christmas to all retirement communities…

With the annual “Festival of Lights” over two hundred residents, staff, members of the Trustees and friends gathered outdoors to sing carols, listen to a guest quartet, and light the trees and the stable with the figures of Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus while enjoying tasty treats; the Advent/Christmas began.

Launching into the season, the event kicks off numerous parties leading up to December 25th.   Many floors of Independent Living will have gatherings for fellowship and singing.  Special celebrations will be held in Luke Haven (Skilled Nursing) and Mark Manor (Assisted Living).   Santa Clause will visit Village On The Isle and pass out gifts to residents of Luke Haven.

Other gatherings will include Christmas parties for the staff, residents and Board of Directors. In addition, there will a gratuity party when the residents express their thanks for the excellent care and assistance offered by all the hourly staff.

As it is the time of sharing, wrapped gifts will be delivered to children of the Venice Unit of the Sarasota County Boys and Girls Club.  Turkeys will be delivered to help provide meals for clients of the Mental Health Association.

Truly, it is a time of joyous celebration at Village On The Isle as 2012 draws to an end.  At the same time, there is excitement in the air for the New Year!   Village On The Isle is a community of fun, sharing and love that permeates activities and programs for everyone.

God Bless to One and All.  Chaplain Don Hillerich