What Does Full Life Look Like? (Spring 2011) - Full Life Care

While we were in the process of changing our
name, I found myself wondering – as you might
have as well – what does Full Life look like? Wii Fit,
ants and my mother came to mind – but more on
that later.
ElderHealth Northwest is now Full Life Care. While
we have a dramatic new look, the real change has
been over the last decade or so.
When I joined the agency in the 1970s, we were
responding to the needs of elders, who are at great
risk for institutionalization when their care needs
intensify and community supports are inadequate.
Adult day health services proved to help keep
elders in the community, so we expanded our
centers across two counties.
Then it became increasingly apparent that younger
adults with acquired brain injuries were at risk in
the same way. We stepped in and developed the
first adult day health programs that focus on the
needs of people with moderate to severe brain
injuries. Heads Up was born and now exists in King
and Snohomish Counties.
Soon others came knocking on our doors, and we
now provide nursing and rehab services in three
specialized programs for adults with developmental
disabilities. These programs help ensure that they
thrive in their community settings and within their
families.
With our expanded menu of programs, half of
the population we serve is not considered elderly,
but they face many of the same challenges and
have many of the same needs. So now we are
Full Life, providing care over the lifespan that
What Does Full Life
Look Like?
helps our clients in their pursuit of healthier,
longer and fuller lives. Our clients, residents, staff
and volunteers are all more enriched by their
experiences.
Back to what I see throughout our agency; I see
Full Life wherever I look:
• In the community support we provide
through our Care Consultation,
ElderFriends and Home Care programs,
without which many individuals would be
unable to live independently, or would live
in isolation.
• In our Heads Up Program, where a young
man no longer needs an oxygen tank
because Wii Fit and other exercises have
increased his lung capacity.
• In our Get Active Program, where adults
with developmental disabilities are at
less risk for morbid obesity, after years of
inactivity in their home setting.
• In Solstice, whose team continually seeks
innovative ways to provide communitybased
mental health services to adults who
may face many challenging diagnoses.
• In Buchanan Place, where innovative
collaboration with Seattle Parks and
Recreation enables people with advanced
dementia to visit the zoo.
• In the day-to-day actions of our staff: I
recently saw a staffer outside, methodically
ridding an adult day health participant’s
purse of ants. “I can’t let her hold a purse
that’s crawling with ants,” he said. She told
him her bedroom was infested with ants
and they were getting into her purse. I told
him to report this. If she were not involved
with Full Life there would be no one to
advocate for her.

Continued...
• In our Memory Care and Wellness Program,
where I enrolled my mother. Just nine
months ago I thought she was nearing
the end of her life but with the help of our
dedicated staff she’s stronger, healthier and
happier than she’s been in some time. I’ve
heard a similar report from my friend whose
mother now lives at Gaffney House.
• Finally, Full Life is care and compassion
through the end of life. Two individuals at
Gaffney House died recently, and I saw how
our staff’s relationships with the residents
and families enriched their lives.
I am so proud that we are able to help people lead
such meaningful, full lives.