Per the U.S. National Archives, a Captain’s Log is a listing of the daily activities of a U.S. Navy ship; in Star Trek, it was also used to record the general thoughts and reflections of the Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I’m not a Navy Captain, but am the Air Force equivalent, so I’m using this vehicle to record my observations and reflections as they relate to my position as the owner of Assisted Living Locators – Nashville. I’ll be updating this blog with regular entries, and as new observations hit me. I hope you enjoy it, and perhaps learn something new about the world of senior living.
One Year Anniversary
Earlier this month Assisted Living Locators - Nashville celebrated its first anniversary, which is kind of a big deal in the world of small business. According to Fortunly (https://fortunly.com/statistics/small-business-failure-statistics/#gref) over 20% of small businesses fail in their first year; so we’ve made it over the initial hump. I’ve also not gone totally insane, at least no more than when I started, and I’m still on speaking terms with everyone I was a year ago, so things are going pretty well. However, I did start a senior and health care related business during a global pandemic, so I may have already been insane in August 2020.
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I have many, many people to thank for our successful launch, from family and friends to business colleagues and mentors – actually too many to spell out here. However, I do want to acknowledge the tremendous support and guidance I’ve received from others in the senior care industry. My partners in senior care, including my local competitors, have provided me advice and have paved a path of respect and service which I am proud to follow. I’ve said it many times before - the senior care your grandma got in a nursing home back in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s is not the senior care of today. Whether you are considering home care or a move to an independent living, assisted living, or memory care community, you’ll find a cadre of caring and service-minded professionals committed to seniors’ care, comfort and fulfillment.
The Walk to End Alzheimer's
Speaking of service-minded professionals, I want to introduce you to the folks who run the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, The Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/). The Alzheimer’s Association was created in 1980 by a group of family caregivers to connect and provide support to those facing Alzheimer’s and their loved ones and to advance research to fight this horrible disease. Its most prominent event, the Walk to End Alzheimer's, is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide. The Walk to End Alzheimer's is the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. The Nashville event will be a two-mile walk held on the morning of November 6, 2021 at Nissan Stadium, across the Cumberland River from Downtown Nashville. Assisted Living Locators-Nashville is joining other ALL locations across the country in sponsoring a team. The leaders of the Nashville Walk are Amy LaGrant, a gerontologist who owns a marketing company working extensively within the senior industry, BrandMETTLE (https://yourbrandmettle.com/); Ashley Briggs, the Sales Director at Elmcroft Senior Living, an assisted living and memory care community in Brentwood (https://www.elmcroft.com/commu...); and Casey Carr, the full-time Walk Director. Much like many of the people I’ve met in the senior care industry, these women have been extremely welcoming and open to providing information and advice to me as I continue the development of my business. More importantly, they are committed to helping caregivers and fighting this disease. Amy has a particularly poignant story about her father’s struggle with dementia, which was discussed in local news story: https://www.newschannel5.com/n
The Struggle
My father-in-law suffered from Alzheimer’s, and I saw how the disease caused him to withdraw inside himself. I also saw the toll it took upon his wife and kids as the man they knew and loved seemed to fade away. Their love never withered or died, but his recognition of who they were faltered, which was painful to see.
Currently, I interact with those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia several times a week. I know they are living in the moment, and that each moment they need to be given every opportunity to feel joy and happiness, but I can’t help but feel sad they won’t likely remember and relive those happy moments. I also interact with their family members and caregivers and have seen the pain, sadness, and exhaustion they feel as they are doing the best they can to love someone whose memory of them is fading. The difficulty of the patients’ and caregivers’ struggles is why Amy, Ashley, and Casey are so committed, and is why I’m proud to be joining them in this battle.
Join Us
To get involved, you can donate to the Assisted Living Locators-Nashville team, or you can walk with me on November 6th in Nashville. Sign up at https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr... Each donation and walker will receive one free beer or coffee from me. Must be present to win, so next time I see you we'll settle up.
If you’d like to start your own team, in Nashville or elsewhere, go to Walk to End Alzheimer’s website at https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr... or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/walktoendalznashville/
Thank you!
Finally, I'd like to thank you all for your support during this past year. The fact that you've read this far means something - either you find it to be a useful resource or you are a friend and supporter. Either way, it means a lot to me personally and I want you to know that I'll continue to serve my clients and my community in such a way that my Mom and Dad would be proud, and hopefully you will be too. Take care.
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