November 2022 Resident Calendars
October 2022 Resident Calendars
Springbrooke’s Thelma Goldberg turns 100 in June!
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Thelma migrated to Denver, where she was a homemaker devoted to her husband and children. Thelma’s secrets to longevity include being happy when you can and doing your best to be a good, honest and stable person. Come thrive with us at Springbrooke!
Medical Pioneer Receives CU Medal of Honor
Springbrooke's Storytime Library
Read for a good story? Talented Springbrooke residents have recorded their favorite children’s stories online. Watch them now!
Maxine reads “Zoo Alphabet 1 2 3”
Deborah reads “If You Give A Pig A Party”
Mary reads “The Napping House”
Harry reads “Knights Are Brave”
The entire library can be found on Springbrooke Senior Living’s YouTube channel.
Meet A True Trailblazer – On The Mountain & In Medicine
As a board-certified pediatrician, Ida Nakashima Schneck was instrumental in shaping the lives of young people through her practice at Colorado General Hospital (now University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus), its Adolescent Clinic and Young Mothers Clinic. But that’s just part of Ida’s many accomplishments over her remarkable life.
When Ida Nakashima Schneck started practicing medicine in Denver during the 1950s, there was little in the way of medical resources for indigent adolescents. A pediatrician, Ida quickly developed a capacity to guide and advise teens, especially those struggling with unplanned pregnancies, obesity and troubled home lives.
“Because my mom lived an incredibly varied life and is immensely practical, she could dispense practical advice without judgment,” said daughter Lisa Schneck.
The Bumpy Road to a Medical Career
Ida’s parents emigrated from Japan in the 1910s and settled in California, eventually operating a grape farm. They raised three children during the Great Depression. Ida was always intellectually curious and excelled in her schoolwork. Early on, she decided that the life of a farm wife was not for her.
Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, the Nakashima family, along with all the other members of the local Japanese-American community, were forced to sell, store or give away all their goods and property and report to internment camps. The Nakashimas were first assigned to a camp in nearby Merced, California, and then moved to a camp outside Granada, Colorado.
While interned, Ida continued her studies and earned a college scholarship to Parsons College in Iowa, where she graduated with a biology degree in 1946. The next year, she attended the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, but her residency was delayed when she contracted tuberculosis in 1951. She battled the disease at National Jewish Hospital in Denver for a year, eventually having part of a lung removed.
Such a daunting setback near the end of her medical school education did not deter Ida from returning to finish medical school in 1953. “Mom is the most resilient person I’ve ever known,” said Lisa.
Marriage, Pediatrics & Motherhood
Ida served her residency in pediatrics at several Colorado hospitals, where she met her future husband, New Yorker Stuart Schneck, who became a neurologist. They wed in 1956.
The couple set up house in Denver and raised two children, Lisa and Chris. All the while, Ida worked as a pediatrician, first as chief resident at Denver General Hospital and Colorado General Hospital. She helped children and adolescents whose families were on public assistance or near the poverty line deal with disease, illness and obesity.
After becoming board certified, Ida became an attending physician in the Pediatric Clinic at Colorado General, supervising residents and students. She served in the Adolescent Clinic, a new concept when it was created in 1958, for more than 20 years. That led to the establishment of the Young Mothers Clinic, because “I felt these kids needed a lot more attention, more frequent clinic visits, more explanation and more time.” The Young Mothers Clinic served mothers up to age 18 — most of whom were poor — and their infants. Staff taught them essential parenting skills. Ida notes that she most enjoyed work in adolescent gynecology and pregnancy.
Trailblazer
Ida juggled the demands of raising a family, tending to her flourishing career and supporting a spouse climbing his own career ladder. Her energy, intellect and drive promoted success at all three.
Early in their marriage, Stuart mentored Ida in the fine art of hiking — where to go, what to wear, how to identify the myriad of plants and animals. With their young kids in tow, the Schnecks hiked often. Once Lisa and Chris were on their own, the couple continued to enjoy the Colorado high country, publishing The Geezers’ Guide to Colorado Hikes when Ida was 79. At 89, she and Stuart authored a second book, Eastern Colorado’s Small Museums and Other Treasures. You can find both books in Springbrooke’s library.
Reflections
What makes Ida happiest? “Feeling that I am loved and that I have the ability to love others and do what I can for them.” Guiding principles? “I try to be honest and fair. To be truthful.”
Ida Nakashima Schneck has been part of the Springbrooke family for nearly a year. She is now 96. Both her children live in the Denver area and visit often.
“I can say now that I’m living a contented life. I think I’ve been very fortunate, overall.”
7 Signs Of Caregiver Overload & What To Do About It
How to care for a senior while caring for yourself. Are you doing too much? Find out here.
Caring for Yourself While Caring for a Senior
The rewards of caring for an aging loved one are many: a sense of fulfillment, feeling useful and needed, and the ability learn something about yourself, others and the meaning of life.
But these positive attributes have a flip side. Caregivers are often on call most of the time, which makes it challenging to juggle other parts of life, such as work, chores, caring for children and spouses. No wonder caregivers don’t feel they have any free time!
Are you doing too much?
If you identify with more than one of the following, you may be at risk of burning out:
1. Feeling overwhelmed, helpless or depressed
2. Anxiety or irritability
3. Anger toward the person you’re caring for, your family or yourself
4. Health problems (headaches, heartburn, viruses)
5. Insomnia or sleeping too much
6. Social withdrawal
7. Smoking and/or drinking to excess
Caregiving is Difficult & Often Underappreciated
Caring for an aging loved one is often a 24/7 job. Adding to the complexity is unpredictability. Your parent may occasionally not know who you are, not be able to follow simple requests, or may have behavioral challenges, such as yelling or wandering away from home. As a caregiver, you may feel sad, scared, lonely, angry, frustrated, stressed, exhausted, guilty or underappreciated. You may have difficulty recognizing your parent as the same person who raised you. All very normal!
Do you spend much of your time caring for others, but neglect your own physical and mental health? Lifting and bathing your loved one can be tough on your body. Do you avoid going to the doctor because you don’t have time or can’t afford the extra expense? Caregivers have an increased risk of serious health problems including substance abuse, diabetes, heart problems, pain, headaches and depression.
Give Yourself a Break!
1. Visit your doctor
Help prevent getting sick by catching any medical conditions early. Schedule time for those regular health screenings and vaccinations. Talk to your doctor about your stress levels. He or she can recommend support groups, medication or other resources to help you cope.
2. Learn about your loved one’s medical condition
Talk to their doctor, join a support group and search the internet to educate yourself about your parent’s condition. You’ll have a better idea of what to expect, and you’ll be less likely to take their behavior issues personally.
3. Stay organized
Make a schedule with your family and other caregivers. Schedule time for yourself to do things you enjoy – like visiting with friends, going out to dinner or seeing a movie. Relax! You’ll actually be fueling your inner batteries to go back to caregiving with a positive attitude.
4. Join a support group
Within a safe, confidential environment, you can share your feelings honestly with others who are going through the same journey. Together you can pool resources, problem solve, or simply listen. Online tools, forums and mobile apps can help you find a support resources.
5. Get help
Reach out to family members, friends, professional caregiving services and build a list of those who are willing to help. Have a plan to keep from being overwhelmed. Tap community services for meal delivery, transportation and financial counseling. Check with your church or synagogue for volunteers who can give you a much-needed break. Many assisted living communities offer respite care so that you can take a vacation or attend to other areas of your life, knowing your loved one is safe and well cared for while you’re gone.
6. Know your limits
Accept that there is a limit to what you can do. Identify the tipping point where your loved one will need more than you can provide. Tour assisted living and memory care communities NOW, before your loved one experiences a crisis. Having an experienced, affordable and comfortable future home for your aging parent will give you, your family and your loved one peace of mind.
Don’t wait too long before making a move to a supportive retirement community. Seniors with less impaired memories and fewer physical limitations often adapt better to new living situations. With the help of experienced staff, older adults often improve, because they are more willing to try new things and make new friends. And with the daily tasks of caregiving delegated to others, you can get back to being a daughter or son again, rekindling your relationship with your mom or dad.
Ready to change things?
Let’s talk about your loved one and his or her needs. Contact Springbrooke Senior Living at 303.331.6693 or marketing.springbrooke@elkco.net.