Everything Elderly is on Saturday mornings at 8:30, on 1290 am WLBY, sponsored by Senior Helpers. This past weekend we were very pleased to talk with Glacier Hills and Tam Perry, a PhD student at the University of Michigan.

We first spoke with Brynt Ellis, the manager of Sub-Acute Operations at the Glacier Hills Care and Rehabilitation Center. Glacier Hills is located in northeast Ann Arbor and offers a full continuum of living options and care for older adults, helping people age in place.

Brynt works primarily with the rehabilitation patients, and most are orthopedic rehab, frequently recovering from a recent operation at the University of Michigan or St. Joe’s hospital. Brynt is also a current student at the U-M School of Nursing, in their graduate program for nursing business administration.

Most rehabilitation patients can be at Glacier Hills for 20 days with full Medicare coverage. The discharge planning at Glacier Hills starts when the patient is admitted. They establish the goals and treatment plan immediately so that at discharge, up to 20 days later, the patient can safely transition back to home. The staff creates a roadmap to better ensure the patients meet their goals.

In Brynt’s work, the recent emphasis is on transitional care. The center is working hard to establish strong connections with the hospitals, to ensure smooth transitions for the patients. Knowing the previous medical condition of each patient before their hospital admission (their comorbidities) helps the planning and treatment for a quicker and more effective rehabilitation.

Brynt clearly enjoys his job. He loves being a nurse to his nurses, giving them his time and his support. He also spoke highly of the volunteers at Glacier Hills, and the huge difference they make for the patients, with simple things like delivering the mail.

To contact Brynt or the Glacier Hills Care and Rehabilitation Center, please call 734-929-6842. Their website is glacierhills.org. To listen to the full 12-minute segment click the audio link below:

Tam Perry, a PhD student at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and Anthropology joined us next. Tam is working on her dissertation on a very neat topic, moving. We talked with Tam all about how, when, and why older adults change where they live.

Tam has been researching this subject for the past two years. She tries to first meet people when they are doing the initial planning for their move. Tam discusses the motivation for the move and the thought process.

Tam has been most surprised that people generally don’t have a moving day, “it’s more of a moving phase”. They may move and yet continue to tend to their old house, day after day, for some time. People can talk about moving for a long time before they actually do it.

Generally people’s concerns about moving fall into three areas — the financials, the emotions of leaving the home they love, and the amount of stuff they have. Seniors are almost always downsizing, so they have to figure out what do with their accumulated belongings.

Tam has really enjoyed her research. Anthropology-wise, it’s been fascinating, and she has learned so much. She has also had an opportunity to really know and get close to many of the families she has studied.

Tam’s research is being funded by the National Institute on Aging and the Hartford Foundation. More locally, she has received tremendous support from the Senior Housing Bureau and the United Methodist Retirement Communities.

To get in touch with Tam please call 734-355-9446, or you may e-mail Tam at teperry@umich,edu. To listen to the full 12-minute talk click the audio link below:

Alan Caldwell is the owner of Senior Helpers, providing in-home care services, primarily to the elderly. He can be contacted at acaldwell@seniorhelpers.com, or at 734-927-3111.