are all benefits of utilizing professional
and credited companies if feasible.
“Our RN’s are specially trained by
New York State as PRI/Screen Certified,
which assesses the person’s activities of
daily living,” said Sorensen. “A score is
designated which will qualify the indi-
vidual for an Assisted Living or Nursing
Home.”
After the screenings are completed,
there are a number of next steps. “We
look at the needs of each person and
provide comprehensive options to the
family, based on their physical need and
financial means,” explained Sorensen.
“We guide the family to appropriate op-
tions based on the monies required for
the monthly rent. We also narrow the list
of numerous facilities to those the per-
son actually qualifies for. By acting as
the person’s advocate, we assist in com-
pleting all the necessary documentation
required for an admission into a higher
level of care.”
While there are many residential
senior housing options available and nu-
merous locations to choose from, a per-
son may still choose not to move. What
happens then? “If the person chooses to
not move, we assist in placing supports
within the home,” clarified Sorensen.
Some Tips for Seniors
and Family Members
Some additional guidance that El-
derCare Solutions of WNY provides
include:
• Encourage the senior and families
to tour facilities prior to making any de-
cisions so that they can have a feel of the
environment.
• Trial the facility for a few months
to become acclimated. It is advised that
the family home is kept during that time
of transition and include the senior if
possible in downsizing the property.
Usually within a couple months, the
family may move forward with selling
the property.
• The facilities are not “prisons”
— the person is allowed to go out with
their families for dinner or for various
functions. They are also allowed to stay
overnight at a loved one’s home, but ad-
vanced notice is required to the facility
so that the medications are available and
if there was an emergency the facility
has an awareness of who is within the
building.
• Assist by making a loved one’s
new apartment or room into a home with
favorite pictures, pillow, comforter, etc.
Personal experiences have helped
the team of Elder Care Solutions of
WNY to provide the best guidance,
while still remaining professional. “We
have each had to place a loved one in
various facilities and have been able to
use that experience and feelings to em-
pathize with the families we are assist-
ing,” shared Sorensen. “We know when
to use our personal experience and when
not to. We will never tell a family which
facility to choose, but we will provide
them with all the information they need
to make an informed decision. No one
can be forced to join activities, but we
continued on page 46
V inecroft r etirement c ommunity
Our Happiness Is Contagious!
What does “retirement
community “ mean to you?
Vinecroft is a community
for independent senior
citizens who are at least 62
years of age. Our commu-
nity provides the extra perks that
are needed for each resident to live
on their own.
Compared to other retirement
communities in our area, Vinecroft
is very small. Our main apartment
building consists of 44 units, all
on one level. When full, we usually
have between 44-52 residents in the
building total. A perfect size for
us!! We also have 22 patio homes
on our property for those not
yet ready for apartment living.
The “extra little perks”
that make it easy to live inde-
pendently include, but are
not limited to, a housekeeper
who changes
the bedding, a
hop-skip-and-
jump to the din-
ing room, daily
exercise classes,
a driver to take
residents
to
the shopping
center and a maintenance man to
change light bulbs (and so much
more) when needed. Most impor-
tantly at Vincroft, food is never an
issue. Our top chefs keep us well
fed!
Because of our size, the resi-
dents and staff have bonded into
a special family unit. We laugh
together, cry together, enjoy break-
fast and dinner together, and share
in as many activities as we choose
during the day. If you prefer your
privacy, you may snuggle up in
your own living room to read alone,
while feeling safe and secure.
We offer one bedroom, one
bedroom with a den, and two bed-
room apartments. Each apartment
has a full kitchen, dining area, liv-
ing room, bedroom(s) and bath-
room. Every room is spacious and
completely handicap accessible.
Call to schedule a tour or
join us March 5th at 12 noon
for our Mardi Gras Luncheon
(Reservations Required).
Retirement Community
5945 Vinecroft Dr.
Clarence Center
716-741-7741
www.vinecroft.org
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March 2019 WNY Family 35