Category: Blog

Tel Hai’s President, Dave Shenk, is on a 3-week trek through Nepal.  This is the first blog posting of his adventures.  Check back to the Tel Hai blog often for an update on Dave’s journey!

We arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal on Qatar Airlines on April 24 and enjoyed the culture, chaos, and hustle bustle of Nepal’s capital city for a day. The next day, we took a very rough seven hour “Jeep” ride to the trailhead to begin our 11-day trek in the Annapurna mountain range.

Several immediate things come to mind. We take so much for granted in the developed world – things such as running water that is safe to drink, electricity, heated rooms, internet access. None of these were consistently available, it at all, in many of the villages we stayed in. I was so impressed with the resourcefulness of Nepali people in spite of the lack of means. It reminded me of how much we have and the choices that we have because of our wealth.

I was also very aware of how important the role of religion is in the daily lives of the people here. Nepali’s are primarily Buddhists and Hindus. Throughout large cities and tiny villages, we saw people praying at temples, shrines, stupas, and other holy places.

Trekking 8 to 12 miles a day was an amazing adventure and the hardest physical exertion that I experienced in my life. Several days we climbed over 3,000 of elevation with the highest day yesterday at Thorong La Pass at 17,769 feet before descending 6,000 feet. Temperatures dipped into the 20’s and we hiked most of one day in snow.

The views of the Annapurna range were incredible and will never be forgotten. The snow-capped mountains are beautiful from every angle as we trekked around and through different valleys and mountain slopes.

Seven sherpas and porters supported the eight trekkers in our group. They acted as guides, cooks, interpreters, and carried about 90-pounds of gear and we only carried day packs with 12 to 15 pounds of water, snacks, extra jacket layers, etc.

The local folks in the small villages along the way were very hospitable and the food was outstanding. There were staples of rice, curry, dal, etc. on a daily basis. I look forward to a return to the United States on May 12^th and seeing everyone again. And a hot shower and a hamburger might be nice as well!

Dave Shenk

President & CEO

Tel Hai Retirement Community

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Photos include the Annapurna mountain range and Dendi Sherpa, our Nepal trekking guide!

Welcome to the first posting of our new blog series called ‘Tips from Tina.’  If you have questions, she has the answers! From recommended questions when interviewing a realtor to decluttering your closets, you can anonymously ask Tina any move-related question you’d like.  No question is too small or too silly.

Each quarter throughout 2018, Tina will answer several of the questions, and provide her best advice through our Moving Resources Program.  Got a question? Call or email Tina directly at tcressman@telhai.org or (610) 273-9333, ext. 2160 with your questions. And don’t worry, we won’t use your name!

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Question: “I’m ready to list my house.  What happens if it sells faster than I planned?” 

First, congratulations if your home sells fast.  That’s great news! When you join the Future Resident List, you’ll have access to our Moving Resources Program.  Together, we will explore available options of short-term and long-term housing. Short-term housing is considered housing for a period of less than two months.  It’s often more costly than long-term housing, but comes with the convenience of a fully furnished accommodation.  On the contrary, long-term housing is generally considered housing longer than 2 months and up to a year.  It’s less expensive than short-term housing, and lease agreements can range from month-to-month, to quarterly to yearly.  I can provide you critical resources of who provides housing, where it’s located, and help you sort through your options.  Once, I had a resident who needed long-term housing, and she stayed at an off-season beach rental… what fun! Ultimately, do not let a quick sale of your house deter you from closing on a sale.

Question: “I’m not a fan of yard sales or auctions but I have some high-end items.  Where can I consign items like housewares or jewelry?”

There are several options locally in the Western Chester County area and many along the Main Line.  Also, places like the Brandywine Consignment Shop and The Palm Tree  offer consignment opportunities for a cause!  Together, I’ll help you do your homework on what fits you best.  In general, there is a cost to consign and a time-period associated with the selling of your items.  Also, be aware that many vendors limit the amount of items you can consign, so pick wisely!

Question: “Should I negotiate for a reduced commission rate with my listing agent?”

This is a tough and sensitive question within the world of real estate.  Your listing agent is a trained professional who you are hiring to sell- perhaps- your most valuable possession.  You want them to broker the best deal for you, so you can start the next journey of your life at Tel Hai.  Consider why would they be willing to work for a reduced rate.  Would they reduce your homes advertising budget or exposure?  I recommend you proceed with caution. 

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Even in the world’s greatest food-producing nation, children and adults face poverty and hunger in every county across America.

According to Feeding America in their 2017 report, 41 million people struggle with hunger in the United States, including 13 million children and 5.6 million seniors and older adults. Food insecurity is a reality for our neighbors in the community in which we live and work. A household that is food insecure has limited access to enough food to support a healthy life.

You can make a difference for some of those that are in need. Tel Hai’s Annual Food Drive benefits the Twin Valley Food Bank and the Honey Brook Food Pantry and is currently under way through the end of March.

Please consider making a donation to the food pantries in our immediate area. Requested items include canned tuna, peanut butter, cereals, pasta, rice, canned fruits, canned vegetables, spaghetti sauce, soups, laundry detergent, dish soap, bar soap, paper towels, and toilet paper. Baskets for donation collections are located in the Garret Community Center lobby, Chapel lobby, StoneCroft lobby and Child Day Care Center.

Together we can make a difference in ending hunger. Thank you in advance for your support and generosity.

Sybil Oswalt, MS, RD, CSG, LDN

Registered Dietitian

Tel Hai Retirement Community

We recently returned from a ten day trip to Israel with thirty-six of our neighbors and friends. It was my sixth pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I am often asked why I continue to go back to the same place again and again. There are many reasons my wife and I become tour hosts for this fascinating adventure. Probably the best reason to return is the opportunity to introduce folks to the joy of discovering the place where Jesus lived.

The expressions we often hear include: “I’ve been waiting my whole life to get here;” or “It’s hard to believe I am walking where Jesus walked.” The looks of excitement, astonishment and pure joy are priceless.

You can make this trip in many ways. Some go just to visit a ‘new’ place, others go as biblical students, trying to understand the Bible better, while many make this a pilgrimage. That is, they want to have a closer experience with God, using the sites as opportunities to better know and understand the God of Creation and the Word. It is always our hope and prayer that members of our group will become pilgrims.

The Bible comes alive while visiting places that were previously just names. As one of our group shared, “I read the scripture Sunday in church, and could say, ‘Now I know what that really means.’” Placed in real contexts, Bible stories and teachings come alive and drastically alter our understanding of long familiar passages.

One such passage that captivated all of us was the teaching of Jesus concerning his teaching about moving mountains by faith. Try to contact a member of our group and ask how that story came alive for us.

One of my favorite places is the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus prayed before going to the Cross. We learned that olive trees, when cut down to their roots, can grow again out of those same roots. That means the trees there today may be the same ones that Jesus prayed beside two thousand years ago. So we were truly where Jesus prayed for each of us, and you.

Dan MacDonald, D. Min.

Tel Hai Resident

Starting in March, we will begin a new blog series called ‘Tips from Tina.’

If you have questions, she has the answers! From recommended questions when interviewing a realtor to decluttering your closets, you can anonymously ask Tina any move-related question you’d like.

No question is too small or too silly. Does she have a recommended packing tape? She sure does! 3M Scotch clear tape… and buy the rolling dispenser to make taping boxes easier.

Each quarter throughout 2018, Tina will answer several of the questions, and provide her best advice through our Moving Resources Program.

Got a question? Call or email Tina directly at tcressman@telhai.org or (610) 273-9333, ext. 2160 with your questions. And don’t worry, we won’t use your name!

My love for baseball began many years ago when my Dad took me to Shibe Park in North Philadelphia to watch the Philadelphia Phillies and the Philadelphia Athletics. My favorite player was Richie Ashburn.

While in grade school and junior high school, I played baseball in a school-yard in West Philly where I lived. When my children were old enough, they played little league baseball (they also loved the game too), and I coached two of our children from T-ball through junior high school.

In 1987, I met Richie Ashburn in person at the ‘Phillies Dream Week’ in Florida. Richie and I had many conversations about his career, family and our mutual love of the game. In my cottage here at Tel Hai, I have a picture of Richie and me at ‘Dream Week.’ I also have a picture of the 1950 ‘Whiz Kids.’ After ‘Dream Week,’ I played organized baseball in Delaware County with the Delco Phillies.

With the help of Judy Schweitzer, Community Life Coordinator, I organized and started a Resident Softball Team here at Tel Hai. We call ourselves the “Rockets” and we practice every Friday morning from April to September at Suplee Field in Honey Brook. And take our practice very seriously…. (sometimes!)

As of 2017 season, we had 11 active players, ranging in age from 72 to over 80. They call me “Coach.” I am always looking for players for the coming season. Every summer we challenge Tel Hai team members to a softball game. The ‘Rockets’ look forward to this game. Tel Hai is gracious enough to supply hot dogs, drinks, and peanuts for the game. Our 40 or more fans from Tel Hai come to cheer both sides!

I speak for my team to extend a ‘thanks’ for such a marvelous time.

Rich Toscano

Tel Hai Resident

Tel Hai’s Culinary Services Department is a dynamic team, bringing personalities and generations together. These differences serve the community well. From brainstorming with Resident Dining Committee members to guest comment cards, together, we are continually enhancing our services to create memorable dining experiences!

The Daily Brew & General Store: We provide “Grab & Go” items at the Daily Brew in Garrett Community Center, including hot breakfast items on weekdays from 8:00 am – 10:30 am. Open 7 days a week, it’s the perfect place to grab a snack or fresh fruit cup. The menu selection is expansive, from healthy salads to freshly prepared wraps. You can quickly make your selection and head to your next destination, or sit at a nearby table and enjoy! The General Store offers items of convenience, such as toothpaste, ketchup, and even birthday cards.

Garden Café & Azalea Square: Garrett Community Center is also home to Garden Café and Azalea Square. Garden Café offers casual dining, and is the perfect place to meet up with friends and family to enjoy delicious comfort food. Keep an eye out for featured specials for lunch or dinner each month, on our online dining calendars. Azalea Square provides a restaurant style menu and sit-down service where servers get to know you and your preferences. Azalea Square also hosts monthly special event, such as Italian Night & Valentine’s Day.

Stone Hearth Grille: Located in StoneCroft Commons, the Stone Hearth Grille has a high quality restaurant style menu with a convenient, carryout option. You can also purchase “Grab & Go” items at the register from one of our friendly team members. StoneCroft Commons has several dining spaces available for dining in.

Catering Services: We’re ready to partner with you to make your next special event a success… no matter how big or small.  With a large selection of function spaces, we can accommodate anything from intimate gatherings to large banquets.  From menu development to timely delivery, we can walk you through the steps to make your next event flawless.

Food is Culinary Services favorite way of expressing our love for our community! Happy eating!

Cara Florescu

Culinary Services Administrative Assistant

Tel Hai Retirement Community

As I reflect on the past year, I am humbled and blessed by the way the Tel Hai family has become a part of my life. The Tel Hai family includes residents, clients, team members, volunteers, family members, friends, donors and supporters of Tel Hai. THANK YOU to each person who has partnered with us to provide a vibrant, caring community.

God has continued to bless the mission of Tel Hai. During 2017, we served more than 1,200 older adults throughout residential living, personal care, health care and . We served more than 100 children in The Children’s Learning Garden, Tel Hai’s Child Day Care Center. Although we have been growing, we are seeking to become one community with multiple neighborhoods.

This fall, we began a new round of strategic planning workshops with the theme 20/20: Gaining Perspective. We are thinking about the future direction of Tel Hai with a particular focus on the next 18 months. Our new strategic priorities include strengthening our financial performance, re-envisioning health services, and growing team member culture. We are working to refine and assign action steps for each priority.

We are excited to conclude the construction of the last wing of StoneCroft Apartments— called Brownstone— which includes 45 apartments. Our newest residents have already arrived and will be moving in through January 2018. Incorporated into the design of Brownstone are five distinct common spaces, which are dedicated to additional amenity, hobby and resident functions. They include a multipurpose conference room, model train room, 21-seat theater room, sewing room and conservatory.

Starting January 2, we anticipate welcoming 10 new households to Maple Knoll Townhomes, located in the Cherry Drive area among Maple Knoll Cottages. Move-in’s will continue throughout the month, with the last settlement on January 31.

As we look toward the year ahead, I’m excited about the possibilities and opportunities to enhance the lives of all we serve.

I wish each of you a Merry Christmas and a great year in 2018!

Dave Shenk

President & CEO

Tel Hai Retirement Community

You can’t even begin to understand hoarding until you are personally affected by it. Hoarding robs you of your space, your joy and your relationship with family and friends. Your home slowly becomes a warehouse. Hoarding is not something you can just stop or change overnight. It’s a real disorder.

The Washington Post indicated in 2016 that compulsive hoarding affects 19 million Americans and has been found to ruin families. In my personal experience with a hoarder in my family, I can attest to the great struggles that we face with our loved one. It is difficult to get a hoarder to accept help. If you have a loved one who is a hoarder you may want to first seek professional counsel. It’s not about going in and cleaning out a home. It’s about getting the loved one the mental help they need to overcome the disorder. In our situation with our family member, the issue is that every item that is being hoarded has a memory attached.  So to the hoarder, this memory cannot be discarded. For that reason, our loved ones home has become a full blown hoarded house.

If your loved one is in agreement to get help call professional services to handle the situation. It is the best way to go. They are trained in how to handle these situations. If they aren’t willing to let professional services in be prepared for a slow and time consuming process. Try to put a team of people together and have an organized plan of attack, see my tips below for how to handle a hoarded home.

Safety First: You will want disposable gloves, dust mask, comfortable shoes (old ones), flashlight, first aid kit and a fire extinguisher. You need to protect yourself from molds and other health concerns that may be present in a hoarder’s home. As you can imagine when a home is packed there is opportunity for things to ignite so keep that fire extinguisher handy.

Supplies: Boxes, sharpie, packing tape, trash bags, shovel, tools for disassembling items, dumpsters, 6 foot tables for staging of items and you may want a fan.

Exit Plan: Upon entry you must first clear a path to an alternate exit. Typically in a hoarders home doors and windows are blocked. In the event of an emergency you may not be able to get out through the door you entered in.

Checklist: Make a checklist, take a walk around the home and look for safety issues first. Check extension cords, medications, expired foods and household cleaners, hand rails and throw rugs that can become a trip hazard.

Patience: You will want your loved one to be involved with this process. Keep in mind that the emotional ties and memories are all part of the attachment. You will need patience and during this process. You can’t just pick it up items and trash them. This will agitate your loved one and create setbacks.

Staging: Check to see if there are any large pieces of furniture that you could dispose of or move out first to give you more room to work. Set up your boxes and large trash bags and 6 foot table for your staging area, you may have to set it up outside and that’s ok. Select a small room to start in first. I think it is good to start small so that you can see your progress and get encouragement from that. A bathroom may be a good place to start especially if you will need to use it.

Separating: Have boxes set up and marked “MOVING,” “DONATE,” and “TRASH.”  Start filling them up with the help of your loved one. Mark contents in all boxes being moved for easy identification. Continue this process through each room until that room is complete. You will eventually need an empty room to store all of the boxes that are moving. Take breaks often and stay hydrated.

Donate: Reach out to local organizations that will pick up salvageable items that you could donate. Ask for a tax donation deduction slip. Schedule them to come out daily for pickups. As your trash dumpster fills up call and have it removed and a new one dropped off. If there is salvageable furniture contact an auctioneer to have items taken to auction.

Tina Cressman

Moving Resources Manager

Tel Hai Retirement Community

Happy Fall! Unfortunately…. we are now getting into flu season.  We wanted to break down two important issues to remember as the days get shorter and colder!

The Flu: Influenza, commonly known as the “flu,” is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza A or B viruses. Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract.  The common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections of the respiratory tract. Although the symptoms can be similar, flu is much worse. A cold may drag you down a bit, but the flu can make you shudder at the very thought of getting out of bed.

Flu Facts:

• You cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine. The viruses are killed or weakened so they cannot replicate.
• The flu vaccine takes approximately two weeks to generate protective antibodies, so for the two weeks after receiving your vaccine, practice good health habits to avoid getting the flu.
• Side effects from your vaccine are not actual flu infection but a response from your immune system to the flu germs in the vaccine. Side effects are an initial response from your immune system to the killed or weakened flu germs and are generally mild and resolve in 1-3 days. Taking pain relievers will not interfere with the vaccine and may be taken for comfort if necessary.
• Each year, the flu vaccine protects against different flu viruses. A new immunization is required each year.

 Flu Prevention:

• The single most effective protection for the flu is getting the flu vaccine.
• Handwashing is an important step that helps prevent spreading the flu. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. When soap and water are not readily available. Hand sanitizer should be used.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
• Avoid contact with sick people.
• If you are sick, stay home for seven days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
• Follow public health advice regarding illness activity in the area, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Further information can be found through the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or the Chester County Health Department.
• If you are a residential living resident or team member at Tel Hai, remember to contact the Residential Living Health Services Coordinator, Sara Snyder, at ssnyder@telhai.org or 610-273-9333 ext. 2517 if you are experiencing symptoms including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, muscle/body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

Virus or Bacteria? This is a topic that causes a lot of confusion… but it doesn’t have to!  Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many different types of environments. Some varieties live in extremes of cold or heat. Others make their home in people’s intestines, where they help digest food. Most bacteria cause no harm to people, but there are exceptions. Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and require living hosts — such as people, plants or animals — to multiply. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery, redirecting it to produce the virus.

Are Antibiotics Needed? Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Viral illnesses cannot be treated with antibiotics. When an antibiotic is not prescribed, ask your healthcare professional for tips on how to relieve symptoms and feel better.

Janet Kretchmer, RN

Infection Preventionist, Staff Education

Tel Hai Retirement Community