The Afternoon News with Kitty O’Neal
Join Eskaton's Program to Call Isolated Seniors
March 24, 2020
Socializing, security and the comfort of hearing a friendly voice are all part of Eskaton’s Telephone Reassurance Program, where trained volunteers make phone calls to isolated and homebound seniors. The calls serve to keep older adults engaged with the community while providing an opportunity to socialize with someone who cares. Loneliness and isolation are leading causes of both mental and physical decline in the elderly. Eskaton, committed to serving seniors in the greater Sacramento region, recognizes the impact of loneliness and the importance of connection by offering this service free of charge.
Californians practice social distancing to slow spread of COVID-19
Social distancing practices are also being used at Eskaton
March 24, 2020
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
It’s the fourth day of California’s stay-at-home order, yet many
people are still going to work or mingling in public despite the
mandate.
Getting outside to exercise is one of the few ways to relieve stress from worries about COVID-19. Some people do it alone, while others walk or jog in groups. Dr. Katren Tyler, an emergency room doctor at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, said this is cause for concern.
“The more people that are in an environment — even outdoors – you’re still going to increase the chance that you’re going to get touching of a surface where a virus might still be alive,” Tyler said.
The Reutlinger Community – Eskaton Affiliation Authorized by California Attorney General
Nonprofits affiliate to expand services for Jewish seniors in East Bay
March 18, 2020
DANVILLE, Calif. – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra authorized the affiliation between The Reutlinger Community (TRC) and Eskaton today, to incorporate TRC into the Eskaton Northern California network of retirement communities. The affiliation, once fully executed, will provide TRC the ability to expand services for residents, while maintaining traditional Jewish values.
“Given the challenges faced by health care nonprofits similar in size throughout the country, it was necessary to find a long-term solution ahead of a need dictated by change and advancement in healthcare technology, practices and associated financial challenges,” said TRC President and CEO Jay Zimmer.
Reutlinger management agreement with regional nonprofit gets state approval
March 16, 2020
California’s attorney general has approved an agreement to shift management control of the Reutlinger Community in Danville to Eskaton, a nonprofit regional senior care provider.
Attorney General Xavier Bacerra conditionally consented to the shift in “control and governance” of the 70-year-old Jewish senior living center, pending approval from the California Department of Social Services. Deputy Attorney General Anita Velasco notified lawyers of Bacerra’s decision in a letter dated March 11.
Tech Rides the ‘Gray Tsunami’
Age-tech aims to keep booming demographic thriving. Can it?
March 1, 2020
Welcome to technology’s new wave: age-tech — the preferred term for products and experiences aimed at America’s “gray tsunami.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are an estimated 73 million Baby Boomers. And the Census’ 2017 National Population Projections showed that by 2034, seniors 65 years and older will outnumber children under 18.
Class helps seniors keep their footing through ballet
Featuring Eskaton Residents
February 2, 2020
Kaiser Permanente, along with the Sacramento Ballet, has formed a unique partnership to help seniors keep their feet underneath them and maintain their balance — and have fun doing it.
They come once a week to the Sacramento Ballet, so many, that one room isn’t big enough for all of these so-called baby-boomers.
“I could not believe how much fun it was, because I kind of thought, ‘Ballet, how am I going to get on my tip-toes? I don’t think I’d be very good at that,” student Kathy Frodahl said.
Inside Honor’s New Management Model
December 1, 2019
A partnership with senior housing and care provider Eskaton prompted tech-forward home care company Honor to accelerate its transition to a management model based on teams focused on specific geographic areas.
A year in, that model has positioned Honor for further partnerships with large-scale organizations, and Eskaton has seen a revenue boost expanded into new markets. But the partnership did not get off to an auspicious start.
After Rocky Start, Eskaton’s Partnership with VC-Backed Home Care Company Honor Pays Off
November 27, 2019
A partnership with tech-forward home care startup Honor has enabled senior living nonprofit Eskaton to boost revenue and smoothed the organization’s expansion into new markets. But the partnership did not get off to an auspicious start.
Sacramento, California-based Eskaton completed its transition to the Honor platform in Dec. 2018, and issues emerged soon after.
Changing public perceptions of aging, fighting ageism two goals for new LeadingAge board chair
October 30, 2019
Fighting ageism and shifting the mindset about aging among the general public are two of the goals Carol Silver Elliott outlined for LeadingAge members as she was introduced Tuesday as the incoming chair of the organization’s board of directors.
Elliott, who is president and CEO of the Jewish Home Family, Rockleigh, NJ, will begin her term in January.
The general public’s current mindset about aging, she told those attending a general session at the LeadingAge annual meeting, is that aging is a healthcare issue rather than a societal issue.
Todd Murch, president and CEO of Eskaton, Carmichael, CA, will join the board.
Danville: The Reutlinger officially affiliates with Eskaton network
Senior community center promises to retain Jewish cultural values
October 17, 2019
The East Bay’s only Jewish retirement residential community, Danville’s The Reutlinger Community (TRC), has announced its official affiliation with regionally-based senior living nonprofit Eskaton, a move that may allow the Danville community to expand its services throughout the Bay Area.
Officials from both agencies say that the affiliation will enable TRC to update its infrastructure and services to its current residents, while still preserving TRC’s Jewish heritage, values and ideals.
“Our main goal is to improve the lives of seniors in our care throughout Northern California. This agreement is another step forward for us,” Eskaton president and CEO Todd Murch said in a statement. “We never had reservations about the financial, care quality and religious stipulations from the community. Everything Reutlinger communicated as a priority has become a necessity for Eskaton as well.”
Eskaton’s Bay Area expansion moving forward with $5 million deal
October 16, 2019
Carmichael-based Eskaton Properties Inc. is poised to continue its expansion into the Bay Area with a new $5 million deal with The Reutlinger Community.
With 29 locations, Eskaton is one of the largest operators of senior living, memory care, and skilled nursing sites in Northern California. The nonprofit said in March that it was entering into an affiliation agreement with The Reutlinger Community, a 180-unit senior housing facility in Danville.
The two organizations have signed and sent a formal affiliation agreement to the California Attorney General’s office, said Eskaton CEO Todd Murch, which will have to sign off on the agreement. The agreement will see The Reutlinger Community become a subsidiary under Eskaton, Murch said.
Improving Ease and Efficiency through Technology
Summer 2019
LeadingAge of California has highlighted two Eskaton innovative programs in their Engage Magazine.
Eskaton and K4 Connect: Learn how their partnership brought the power of voice technology to one Northern California retirement community.
Impact of Choosing the Right Technology Partner: Eskaton’s Teri Tift shares some practical advice on what providers should keep in mind.
LeadingAge California is the state’s leading advocate for quality, nonprofit senior living and care. The association’s advocacy, educational programs and public relations help its members best serve the needs of more than 120,000 of the state’s older adults. LeadingAge California represents over 625 nonprofit providers of senior living and care – including affordable housing, life plan communities, assisted living, skilled nursing, and home and community-based care; as well as our business partners and residents. Read Eskaton's Articles.
8 Senior Housing Execs Share What It Takes to Be a ‘Best Workplace’
August 22, 2019
All of the companies included in this year’s Best Workplaces for Aging Services list share one thing in common: one way or another, they built a winning culture.
The list, released Thursday, ranked the top 50 companies for employee satisfaction for both large and small-to-medium senior housing and care companies. Some notable names on this year’s rankings included Brightview Senior Living, Vi, Merrill Gardens, Senior Star, Sunrise Senior Living, HumanGood, Holiday Retirement, Benchmark Senior Living, Belmont Village Senior Living and Silverado.
Here is what top executives from some of the senior housing honorees shared about how they hire, build a winning culture and invest in their workers.
The 50 Best Places to Work in Aging Services
August 22, 2019
Caregivers and patients often form bonds that resemble familial connections. The most exemplary of organizations that facilitate caregiving extend this feeling to interpersonal relationships among colleagues, too. To tally the second annual Best Workplaces in Aging Services list, Fortune research partner Great Place to Work analyzed survey results from more than 223,000 employees working in the at-home care and senior housing sectors of the aging services industry. Read more.
Eskaton Improves Health Outcomes Through An Innovative Approach to Rehabilitation
June 18, 2019
Eskaton, a nonprofit community-based organization believes in the importance of aging well and enhancing the lives of older adults through innovative approaches to health and wellness. Recently, Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks retrofitted its occupational therapy room with a new piece of rehabilitation equipment—a Chrysler PT Cruiser.
“There are several physical skills that a person may need to relearn through practice after experiencing an illness or injury,” said John Mueggenburg, rehabilitation program manager at Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks. “Getting in and out of a vehicle is one of these skills.” After someone leaves the hospital and enters skilled nursing, physical therapy helps the person recover, and sometimes finding new ways to complete everyday tasks is necessary. Read more.
A silver wave? California braces for elderly boom that could overburden state
June 14, 2019
Virginia Kidd has rented her apartment in midtown Sacramento for 12 years. The retired Sacramento State professor lives there with her cats and enjoys helping out at the local library.
At 78, she said she has been lucky to age with minimal health issues so far, but she sometimes worries about what she would do if she were to need care.
Eskaton Care Center Adds New Wheels to Its OT Room
June 10, 2019
Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks recently retrofitted its occupational therapy room with a new piece of rehabilitation equipment – a Chrysler PT Cruiser, it announces in a media release.
“There are several physical skills that a person may need to relearn through practice after experiencing an illness or injury,” says John Mueggenburg, rehabilitation program manager at Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks. “Getting in and out of a vehicle is one of these skills.”
After someone leaves the hospital and enters skilled nursing, physical therapy helps the person recover, and sometimes finding new ways to complete everyday tasks is necessary.
“Eventually, a patient will need to get in a vehicle and be transported home,” adds Mueggenburg, an occupational therapist, in the release. Read more.
Eskaton Care Center Adds New Wheels to Its OT Room
June 7, 2019
Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks recently retrofitted its occupational therapy room with a new piece of rehabilitation equipment – a Chrysler PT Cruiser, it announces in a media release.
“There are several physical skills that a person may need to relearn through practice after experiencing an illness or injury,”; says John Mueggenburg, rehabilitation program manager at Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks. “Getting in and out of a vehicle is one of these skills.”
After someone leaves the hospital and enters skilled nursing, physical therapy helps the person recover, and sometimes finding new ways to complete everyday tasks is necessary.
“Eventually, a patient will need to get in a vehicle and be transported home,” adds Mueggenburg, an occupational therapist, in the release. Read more.
Eskaton Improves Health Outcomes Through An Innovative Approach to Rehabilitation
June 6, 2019
Eskaton, a nonprofit community-based organization believes in the importance of aging well and enhancing the lives of older adults through innovative approaches to health and wellness. Recently, Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks retrofitted its occupational therapy room with a new piece of rehabilitation equipment – a Chrysler PT Cruiser.
“There are several physical skills that a person may need to relearn through practice after experiencing an illness or injury,” said John Mueggenburg, rehabilitation program manager at Eskaton Care Center Fair Oaks, “Getting in and out of a vehicle is one of these skills.” After someone leaves the hospital and enters skilled nursing, physical therapy helps the person recover, and sometimes finding new ways to complete everyday tasks is necessary.
“Eventually a patient will need to get in a vehicle and be transported home,” said Mueggenburg, an occupational therapist. Eight years before it became a reality, Mueggenburg envisioned this vehicle. He worked closely with Eskaton’s project manager Summer Dales and a local mechanic Greg Sahr of Rock and Road in Loomis, California. Sahr designed a system that allowed a car to lift to specified heights that mimic different makes and models of vehicles. Read more.
Eskaton Becomes First California Provider to Offer Alexa to All Residents
May 16, 2019
Earlier this month, Eskaton Village Roseville became the first senior living provider in California to offer Amazon Alexa to all its residents in one community.
The new voice-first enhancements reach 100 seniors in assisted living and are built on the community’s existing Smart Home capabilities. Residents can use them to turn lights on and off, adjust their thermostat, call the front desk, and ask for the events of the day.
Eskaton, a nonprofit senior living organization based in Sacramento, partnered on the project with K4Connect, a mission-centered technology company. K4Connect first deployed Smart Home, Smart Wellness, and Smart Living capabilities in Roseville starting early last year. Read more.