Born in rural Ohio, Helen Crow of Easton was always physically active. Her father, a builder, was also a physically active person. Helen recalls doing handstands and headstands when she was young. Today, she doesn’t miss an exercise class at The Dixon House. She recently celebrated her 100th birthday with a festive celebration with family, friends, and public officials at Dixon House, receiving citations from the President, Governor, Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, Talbot County Sheriff’s Department and Town of Easton.

Helen and her husband, Elmer, nicknamed “Amo” married after Amo served in the Army’s 17th Airborne Division as a paratrooper during World War II. The two had three children, and today she has three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Amo had a career as a master craftsman, training many young men who entered the flooring trade, while Helen did office work for a law firm, then a refinery.

Photo: Back row, left to right, Matt Crow, Etta Crow, and Ben Crow. Middle row, left to right, Heather Crow, Helen Crow, Connie Crow, Philip Crow, and Roger Crow. Bottom row, left to right, Isaac Crow and Stella Crow.

Both Helen and Amo participated in an activities group for art in Cincinnati, where Helen enjoyed oils and watercolors and Amo enjoyed stained glass, caning, and pottery. The two also enjoyed music, attending Cincinnati Symphony concerts for 40 years. The couple retired to Florida and then to Easton, where their son, Roger and daughter-in-law Heather live. The two then came to live at The Dixon House in 2014.

Crow comments, “Easton is a nice town. We were amazed at the quality of friends we have made at Dixon House.” She adds, “I have had a good life.”

The mission of The Dixon House is to provide high quality and affordable residential care to seniors in an enriching home-like environment. For further information, contact Linda Elben, Executive Director at 410-822-6661 or visit dixonhouse.org.

On Thursday, May 9^th, Londonderry on the Tred Avon hosted a Hoe Down for residents, guests and the community.

The western-themed event, welcomed over 100 guests who enjoyed square dancing with a square-dancing caller, line dancing, live music from The Jones Boys, and a special guest appearance by “John Wayne.”

“Our team loves hosting events such as these to bring our residents together and to show our family, friends, neighbors and community how much fun we have here,” said Rachel Smith Sales and Marketing Director.

Food for the event was provided by Blue Heron Catering and featured a hoe down menu of pulled pork BBQ with corn muffins, a chili bar, black eyed Susan cookies and strawberry shortcake shooters.

About Londonderry on the Tred Avon

Londonderry on the Tred Avon is an intimate residential cooperative community for adults ages 62+, offering a variety of housing options from convenient apartments to spacious cottages among 29 acres, including 1500 feet of waterfront shoreline. For more information,visit www.londonderrytredavon.com.

Did you know that 100 years ago the speed limit was 10 miles per hour and there were only about 8000 cars on the roads? There are an estimated 254.4 million on the roads today! There were no cell phones and only eight percent of homes even had a phone at all. Today, nearly everyone is connected, on the go, and the average person spends 6-7 hours in front of some sort of “screen.” The way people commute and communicate has dramatically changed in the last century.

Studies show that seniors who have daily interaction with others live longer, healthier lives. Remembering birthdays, celebrating special moments and creating happy memories become important as your loved ones age. In person contact and sharing moments face-to-face remain important to human health.

If you have someone special that will be celebrating one hundred years (or more) in 2019, Eastern Shore Comfort Keepers invites you to a special birthday party for these special ladies and gentlemen. The Fifth Annual Centenarian Party will be at the Milestone event center in Easton, MD on May 14, 2019. Centenarians and one guest are invited to join us and share some more great memories of days gone by. Guests are welcome to bring photos and memorabilia to share with others at their table. There is no charge for this special birthday party. Please call Ashley Howe at 410-822-4414 or email AshleyHowe@comfortkeepers.com to register. You may also R.S.V.P. online by visiting www.EasternShore100.com.

Comfort Keepers provides home and facility care to seniors throughout the Eastern Shore. They provide services such as transportation, medication reminders, companionship, meal preparation and personal assistant services such as Alzheimer’s care, grooming assistance and incontinence care.

About Comfort Keepers ®

Comfort Keepers® is a leading franchise network in the in-home care market for seniors and other adults needing care. Since its founding in 1998, the network has grown to more than 700 franchised locations around the world by staying true to the founders’ goal of providing quality, caring in-home care services that allow clients the opportunity to age in place. In August of 2009, the brand was strengthened when the franchisor, CK Franchising, Inc was purchased by Sodexo, a global leader that delivers Quality of Life services to over 75 million consumers in 80 countries each day. In addition to providing services that focus on health care and senior markets, Sodexo’s integrated offerings encompass more than 45 years of experience in reception, safety, maintenance and cleaning, foodservices, facilities and equipment management, and concierge services. For more information, visit http://eastonmd.comfortkeepers.com.

By 2030, nearly 40 percent of Talbot County residents will be over the age of 60. To help address the growing concerns for services for this age group, Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot hosted a presentation, “Innovations in Aging” by Rona E. Kramer, Secretary for the Maryland Department of Aging to a full house at the Brookletts Place – Talbot Senior Center.

Kramer spoke of the Department of Aging’s role to “keep Maryland residents living at home or in the community – wherever they want to age.”

She commented, “Within two years of entering an assisted living or nursing home, the average citizen spends down all of their resources. With this huge population aging, we can’t afford not to find better ways to serve everyone.”

Kramer explained that this means backing up services earlier in life and offering them at a reasonable cost to everyone who can afford them. Her recent trip to Israel to learn how they handle services for their aging population was enlightening. She said that in Israel there are no nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The country brings non-medical services to people in their homes as they age.

Photo: From L-R – Rona E. Kramer, Secretary for the Maryland Department of Aging; Frank Divilio, Talbot County Council; Delegate Johnny Mautz, Senator Addie Eckardt, Gary Gunther, Executive Director, Upper Shore Aging; Mayor Robert Willey; Chuck Callahan, Talbot County Council; Ron Engle, Easton Town Council; Pete Lesher, Talbot County Council; and Michael Bibb, St. Michaels Commissioner.

Maryland’s Department of Aging researched the “Community for Life” concept and helped communities implement this model locally. To date, there are five “Community for Life” communities in Maryland, including Broadmead in Cockeysville, Keswick in Baltimore, Ocean Pines, Allegany,  and Talbot County. This creative and unique program provides a package of services for homeowners and renters. Developed for older adults living independently in their own homes, the Maryland Community for Life program delivers key services in a cost-effective and supportive manner. Specifically, for a monthly fee, members receive basic home repair and maintenance by a community “Handyman,” a list of vetted contractors and contract review, transportation trips, as well as regular contact with a “Service Navigator” to help coordinate access to services and to assist with any needs that may arise.

Before introducing Lee Newcomb, President of the Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot Board, to present how the program works in Talbot County, Kramer highlighted a few other innovations being rolled out by the Maryland Department of Aging. These include a statewide Durable Medical Re-Use Program and a Senior Call Check Pilot Program.

Newcomb introduced Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot program, explaining that currently there are 21 members of the community, with 24 vetted volunteers serving them. She stated, “A Service Navigator, Stacey Woodworth, is now on board to serve members. She works with members to create a program that fits needs now and can be adapted as needs and circumstances change.”

Membership  in Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot is open to individuals or households up to three people aged 65 and older who live in Talbot County. Core services are personalized to individual needs. Membership to the program costs $80 a month. While the program does not provide medical services, the Service Navigator can connect members to medical services.

Newcomb clarified that members can receive eight round trips per household per month for their transportation benefits and up to four hours of “handyman” services a month. Social and educational programs are also being offered to members and the public to address social isolation. The first program on preventing fraud will be offered on January 18 from 1 to 2:30 at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton.

She added, “We also hope to offer supportive memberships for people who can’t afford the membership fee.”

Maryland Community for Life℠ – Talbot is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization operating as a component fund of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. MD Community for Life℠—Talbot is located at 10 S. Hanson Street, Ste 18, in Easton, Maryland. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To become a member or volunteer, email communityforlifetalbot@gmail.com or call 410-443-0760.  For further information, visit mdcommunityforlifetalbot.org. Contributions are tax deductible.

Representatives of Integrace Bayleigh Chase recently presented a donation of $1,806 to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland to benefit Alzheimer’s care, support and research. The funds were raised by the community’s “Fall Into Fashion” Luncheon and Show held on September 12.

Bayleigh Chase is a local leader in providing support to individuals and families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurocognitive disorders through its residential neurocognitive support program and the Samuel and Alexia Bratton Neurocognitive Clinic.

Pictured (L-R): Carol Zimmerman, Eastern Shore Development and Outreach Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland; Anne Neary, President of Integrace Bayleigh Chase Residents Association; Andrea Lev, Integrace Bayleigh Chase Executive Director; Sherri Brown, Integrace Bayleigh Chase Director of Sales & Marketing.

About Integrace Bayleigh Chase

Located on a 35-acre campus in historic Easton, Bayleigh Chase is a not-for-profit life plan community that affords residents a lifestyle of flexibility and choice to live life on their own terms. Bayleigh Chase offers independent living options in its villas, cottages and apartment homes, as well as a continuum of supportive living services, including assisted living, neurocognitive support, outpatient and short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing and diagnostic and treatment support through the Samuel and Alexia Bratton Neurocognitive Clinic. For more information, please call 410-763-7167 or visit www.bayleighchase.org.

About Integrace
Integrace is a forward-thinking non-profit organization that strives to ignite in all people the passion for meaningful living. Integrace oversees a family of vibrant senior living communities in Maryland, including Bayleigh Chase in Easton, Buckingham’s Choice in Adamstown, and Fairhaven in Sykesville. Integrace is also a nationally-recognized leader in the art of neurocognitive support, with the Sykesville-based Copper Ridge community and Integrace Institute, as well as two neurocognitive clinics in Easton and Sykesville, serving as catalysts to a profound shift in how we perceive, and relate to, those living with Alzheimer’s, dementia and many other forms of cognitive change. Integrace communities provide a continuum of services to support both residents and the greater community, including assisted living, skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation and more. Each of these innovative programs focuses on person-centered living, honoring the abilities, possibilities and authenticity of each individual. For more information, please visit Integrace.org.