Assisted living means Jazz games, ice cream -- as big a slice of life as seniors can handle

By Scott S. Jardine

April 26, 2005 | Every day, Carol Larsen wakes up at 6 a.m. without an alarm.

She showers, gets dressed and walks downstairs to the dining room to eat her breakfast, but fortunately she doesn't have to cook.

Breakfast is always taken care of by a staff, and by the time Carol arrives to eat, she is often one of many in the dining room.

Carol starts her day like this every morning, as do a growing number of senior citizens who reside in assisted-living centers.

There are now more than 7,100 assisted living, adult day-care centers, and nursing homes across the country. According to a brochure for Logan House, where Carol and about 70 other residents live, assisted living is a "special combination of housing, personalized supportive services, and health care designed to meet the needs both scheduled and unscheduled of those who require help with activities of daily living."

Though built within the last five years, Logan House is oddly reminiscent of a motel that has the quiet atmosphere of an empty hospital.

Hallways are wide enough for people to pass each other in wheelchairs, and for those who can walk but may need assistance, waist-high handrails adorn every wall in the facility.

Often, residents of Logan House aren't up for activities, but for those who are, many are offered. According Baylee Smith, a registered Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and employee of Logan House, activities are offered almost daily.

"There is bingo with prizes, and movies almost every night," she said.

Baylee said residents will often pick someone's room to watch a move in, and congregate to see whatever is playing. There is also a library with four bookcases full of books, and a TV for a more effortless form of entertainment.

There are many more places like Logan House in Cache Valley, but the longest-standing, and the first adult day-care center in Utah is Sunshine Terrace. Sunshine Terrace was established by L. Boyd Hatch in 1978, and the first president of Sunshine Terrace was a well-known local entrepreneur, Guy Cardon. Cardon owned the famous Bluebird Restaurant for many years. Hatch was living in New York at the time, and had an aunt in Logan who needed care. Hatch moved to Logan to help care for his aunt and established the first Sunshine Terrace.

Since its opening, the Terrace as many people call it, has expanded into three corporations. The main building is the Rehabilitation center, changed from the traditional name of nursing home to put more emphasis on improvement possibilities for those placed there. There is also the Assisted Living Center for those who can no longer take care of themselves fully, and need some help in every-day activities.

The third portion of the Terrace is the Adult Day Services, which allow adults who need assistance a play to stay during the day while their care giver is fulfilling other responsibilities. The Terrace was the first in Utah to offer this helpful service. There are 70 registered adults for the adult day care, and between 20 and 30 show up daily.

Vivian Brindley, business affairs manager for The Sunshine Terrace foundation and a well- trained authority in the field of gerontology, says Sunshine Terrace is a reliable place to send loved ones who can no longer care for themselves.

"We're not perfect, but we're the best," Vivian said. Monday, Sunshine Terrace had scheduled a celebration honoring 25 years since the day volunteer groups were started at the Terrace. Plans called for a reception with light refreshments, and a gift for each of the 252 volunteers.

For the last four years, The Sunshine Terrace Foundation has been recognized as being one of the best places in Utah to work. Brindley said the State of Utah sends out random surveys to employees at different companies about their workplaces, what is offered, how lenient the company is to work for, and other important factors.

Though expensive to live in, the Terrace offers amenities and services that are priceless to those who have to care for a loved one and who may not have the time or ability.

For those who can't afford the $4,800 a month for a private room, governmental help is available to those who need it. Brindley said 65 percent of the residents at the Terrace are there because of help from Medicaid, and it is her job to "coordinate getting paid what Medicaid won't pay."

Brindley said that Medicaid used to cover much more than they do today, necessities such as dental bills, eye exams, glasses, and dentures, but Medicaid won't cover any of those.

Like Logan House and most assisted-facilities, the Terrace also offers games, trips, exercise and other activities for residents.

The facility owns five buses, and different groups are allowed to travel each week so everyone gets a turn. Some of the activities offered include trips to the canyon where they have a sack lunch picnic, and often they'll stop at USU to have some famous Aggie Ice Cream in the Nutrition Building.

There is also a young adult group at Sunshine Terrace for people 30 and under who have had some sort of accident, and need assisted care.

They take more extensive trips, including trips to Salt Lake to go to Jazz games, where they are often offered photos with the players and autographs after a game.

Every morning at the Terrace, residents are given time to learn about current events through newspaper readings. Every afternoon sing-a-longs occur for those who would like to join in, and movies are also offered on a regular basis. Church services are offered every Sunday for those of all faiths, and Bible study is offered during the week.

A calendar is offered to all residents that tells of a month's activities. The calendar is reminiscent of something you may see in a preschool, with cartoon drawings on it, and activities such as, "Baby Lambs," and "Spring Fun Week."

Many volunteers put their efforts into making the Terrace a happier place for those who may need extra encouragement. There are 252 registered volunteers at the Terrace, and the volunteers come in a variety of people.

Some of the volunteers are college students, some are religious groups, and some are younger kids who come to see the residents.

Every month, a band called Oldies but Goodies comes to the Terrace to play music for the residents. There are usually between 12 and 14 volunteers in the group, and according to Brindley, an assortment of instruments are played. They bring banjos, maracas, washboards, guitars, and whatever they would like to make the music fun for residents.

Brindley says it's not always easy to make accommodations when residents ask for something they want or need, but they do what they can.

One of the residents had been wanting a Hummer for his birthday for years, and Brindley told him that they wished they could give him one, but it was just too much. One of the staff workers called Kix96, a local radio station, and asked if they could borrow the Hummer owned by the radio station. The station approved it, and the gentleman was given a ride to dinner in the Hummer.

Justin Hamilton, owner of Hamilton's Steak and Seafood donated eight dinners for those who went along for the ride. Brindley said the resident still speaks of that incident to this day.

Next year, Sunshine Terrace celebrate its 60th birthday.

Brindley said she has thoroughly enjoyed working there and has been working there for more than 19 years. She said the Terrace is always busy, and in the past has had waiting lists for residents.

"I've never had a day without something to do," Brindley said.

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