The Comfort of Home
On historic St. Charles Avenue, Pratt-Stanton Manor takes the work and worry out of daily living, while allowing seniors to maintain their privacy and independence. For over 45 years, with no lease or buy-in requirement, residents have enjoyed life at this non-profit retirement residence. Three home-cooked meals a day featuring delicious New Orleans cuisine give residents a good reason to leave their spacious apartments, and daily housekeeping and linen services give them time for companionship and relaxation in the Manor’s extensive recreational areas. The ultimate viewing area for Mardi Gras parades (both indoors and out), Pratt-Stanton Manor is best known for its exciting and elaborate activities program.

The Manor van is available two days a week, free of charge, for doctor’s appointments, as well as for trips to concerts, museums, movies and theatres, so that residents have the opportunity to enjoy outside community functions as well. Intimate in scale and setting, Pratt-Stanton Manor allows residents to feel that they are part of a caring “family” of staff and other residents, while allowing them to enjoy gracious independent living in safe, secure surroundings. Call 504-525-0895, or visitwww.psmanor.com for information.

In Covington, Christwood is the Northshore’s premiere retirement community. Christwood’s mission is to help seniors live with dignity, independence and the assurance of needed physical, spiritual and medical care.  Christwood will also foster, sponsor, organize, develop and participate in other activities of a charitable, educational or scientific nature compatible with its mission. A key element of this lifestyle is the dedicated Christwood staff, which provides maintenance-free living so residents are able to do what they want, when they want.

Continuing care encourages a healthy lifestyle today while providing a plan for the future that helps protect against rising health care costs. As a Christwood resident, you have access to wellness programs and The Arbor – Christwood’s assisted living community and on-site Health Center for skilled nursing care. Christwood offers several different living options including one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. In addition, an expansion is currently underway which will include 18 stand-alone cottages. Call 985-898-0515 for more information.

In Uptown New Orleans, Poydras Home has been serving the needs of the aging population since 1817. The mission of Poydras Home is to continue the legacy of care by offering quality supportive services to the elderly in a home-like environment. Independent and assisted care levels are available, with social, spiritual, recreational and cultural activities for all.

The Poydras Home offers a full continuum of care. Situated on three acres in Uptown New Orleans, Poydras Home consists of four units. The Garden House offers independent apartments, while the Poydras Home offers individualized care. Hunter House offers care for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease or other age-related dementia. PHASE (Poydras Home Activity Services for the Elderly) offers day care. Poydras Home is known nationally for its quality of care and innovative programs that allow our residents to enjoy life to the fullest in a beautiful and historic setting. Call 504-897-0535 for more information.

St. Anna’s Residence, located in the historic Garden District, is a non-profit, non-denominational skilled nursing home nestled in a gracious setting. Period furnishings and elegant décor lend a welcoming, home-like feel to resident life, while high standards and generous caregiver to resident ratios contribute to the high quality of care. Residents enjoy a host of amenities including: private rooms; a full activities program led by a licensed music therapist; a chaplaincy program offering non-denominational Bible study and uplifting, spiritual nourishment; Catholic Mass and Episcopal services on-site; delicious, health-conscious meals served restaurant style; dental, hearing screening and podiatrist services offered on-site; a beauty shop with a manicurist; and off-street parking. Designed by Blitch Knevel Architects, a carefully planned renovation already is under way to upgrade accommodations throughout and to add private baths for independent residents. Updated finishes and new flooring also will be installed, further enhancing comfort and ambiance.

St. Anna’s rich history can be traced back to its charitable beginnings in 1850, as a haven for widowed women and children of the yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans. Call 504-523-3466 to schedule a tour and receive information about admission.

The owners of ARCH (Alzheimer’s Residential Care Homes) know that individuals affected with Alzheimer’s Disease fare better when they live in a caring, home-like environment and are exposed to a structured program of creative, physical and mental stimulation. ARCH provides real homes in nice neighborhoods with only five persons living in each residence. Highly-trained staff members live in the home with the affected individuals.

Each resident has an individualized care plan based on an extensive pre-admittance interview with family members. Residents are offered structured, failure-free activities, including art and music therapy, sing-a-longs, physical exercise, games and the viewing of favorite videotapes. Three meals are served daily, plus snacks. Regular family conferences are held to support and review each resident’s progress. The homes have 24-hour supervision. Call 504-528 7941 for more information.

Essential Equipment
“Many patients are unaware of the 100s of healthcare products available to either treat their medical conditions or improve their quality of life,” says Jeff Friedman, owner of Total Health Solutions. Their Metairie store – 3211 N. Causeway Blvd. – has a huge showroom filled with products to improve mobility such as canes, walkers, rolling walkers, 19 lb. wheelchairs, and power wheelchairs/scooters. Those with difficulties performing daily tasks such as eating, bathing and lifting can benefit from special utensils, reachers, magnifiers, long handled bath products and dressing aids. Safety in the bathroom can be easily addressed with grab bars, shower chairs/bathtub benches and elevated toilet seats. Those who have difficulty getting up when seated can benefit from an electric lift-chair/recliner and adjustable homecare beds.

Total Health Solutions also carries all types of medical supplies such as ostomy, woundcare, catheters, CPAP and incontinence. People with aches and pains can benefit from wrist, knee, back and foot supports, special neck pillows, hot and cold packs and moist heating pads. “Helping families learn about the healthcare products that will best meet their need is what we specialize in,” Friedman says, “and many of these solutions are covered by their health insurance, including Medicare.” The Caring for Women Boutique addresses problems unique to women and offers mastectomy bras and breast forms, compression stockings, lymphedema garments, wigs and maternity products. Call 834-8114 or visitwww.totalhealthsolutions.com for more information.

A Clear Vision
One of the most critical healthcare issues that faces seniors is vision care. With eight locations in the metro area, St. Charles Vision is the only eye care provider that offers Optricks™, the ability of a well-trained optician to match facial features and frames together to complement and accentuate your best facial features while downplaying others. At St. Charles Vision, the doctors do not believe in cutting corners with eye care services or ophthalmic products. Doctors perform comprehensive eye examinations with the aid of the latest technology. All of the doctors of Optometry are therapeutic, board-certified and remain on the cutting edge with a rigorous mandatory continuing medical education program.

Staff is available to treat ocular emergencies 24-hours-a day. The doctors treat eye disease and prescribe medications to combat those diseases. Additionally, innovative treatments are offered for dry eyes, a common condition. Comprehensive eye exams use cutting-edge technology. St. Charles Vision and St. Charles Vision Outlet carry the largest selection of exclusive designer eyewear in the metro area. You will find beautiful, stylish frames. St. Charles vision prides itself on catering to individual eye care and personal aesthetic needs of its patients. For a location near you, visit.www.stcharlesvision.com.

Care in the Home
Medical caregivers agree some of the best healing happens when one is at home. Nurses Registry was established in 1925, in the New Orleans Metropolitan area by a non-profit organization to place Registered Nurses seeking private duty nursing in the Greater New Orleans area. In May 2005, Nurses Registry was licensed for hospice. One of the things that makes Nurses Registry unique is the ability to provide services across the complete continuum of care – home health, hospice, private duty nursing, with support services and medication management.

Nurses Registry provides quality care, support and education, with compassion and commitment that allow the beneficiary to be cared for with physician and family involvement in their own homes. This is a preferred method of care, because it allows one to maintain independence, dignity and self worth in the place they want to be. The company’s Pastoral Care department helps to provide nurturing to the spirit along with other services. Call 504-736-0803 or visitwww.mynursesregistry.com for more information.  

Hospice Care
In Louisiana, there is a high rate of cancer and heart disease, and in some cases the illnesses are terminal. When a patient is faced with a terminal diagnosis, Canon Hospice is there for the patient and their family. A patient is referred to hospice care when they reached a point in their illness where no further curative measures are being offered or they no longer wish to seek aggressive medical care.

Canon Hospice has been serving the Greater New Orleans area since 1999. Canon provides Hospice services in the home, in nursing homes and also on its Inpatient Units.

“We never just admit a patient, we admit the family,” says Sue May of Canon Hospice. Hospice care focuses on the patient, medically, but also supports the patient and family. An interdisciplinary group of professionals, the doctor, nurse, social worker, nursing assistant, chaplain and volunteers work together, with the patient and family to provide care. Each patient and family is assessed individually to see what their needs may be. Hospice provides equipment and medications and nurses are available 24-hours-a-day for questions and problems. Canon now serves a 150 mile radius from Baton Rouge to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Call 504-818-2723 or visitwww.canonhospice.com for more information.

Foot Care
Many elderly people deal with foot-related conditions. Uptown Podiatry is a podiatry practice serving Greater New Orleans. Dr. Edward Lang offers expert podiatric services, normally in his Uptown New Orleans office near Napoleon Avenue. Dr. Lang provides advanced treatment options for foot, ankle and lower leg problems.

Commonly treated conditions include Achilles tendonitis, bunions, calluses, corns, diabetic foot wounds, heel pain, ingrown toenails and plantar warts. As a podiatrist, Dr. Lang may prescribe orthotic devices and medication, and may perform inpatient or outpatient surgical procedures to treat food, ankle and lower leg conditions.
Uptown Podiatry is committed to patient education. For more information, call 504-897-3627, or visitwww.dredwardlang.com.