Insights

At Brio Living Services, we are proud to uphold our mission, vision, and guiding beliefs, all of which are based on our founding principles and faith-based heritage. These values are reflected in our status as a not-for-profit organization.

Every year on the third Friday of February, we celebrate National Caregivers Day, when we honor the caregivers in our lives, both paid and unpaid, for the compassionate support they provide to those who need extra care.

Since 2015, Lora Underwood has been offering health and wellness classes and activities for the residents living at The Thome Rivertown Neighborhood Affordable Assisted Living in Detroit. Lora offers classes two days a week for one hour each, including chair aerobics, strength building exercises, stretching, and flexibility.

“In general, I try to encourage as much movement as possible so older adults can stay active and mobile,” says Lora. “They get really excited when we play music from their era. Activities with music, such as line dancing, help motivate movement.”

Upon retiring from the Michigan Court of Appeals after 36 years of services as a judicial assistant, Lora followed her passion for health and fitness by becoming a master trainer and program coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan.

Chronic diseases such as arthritis and kidney disease can make movement more difficult, Lora says, but “if they keep moving, it helps. I understand the extra effort it takes to come to exercise, for example, residents who are on dialysis. I encourage them to work at their own pace and do what they can do. I say, ‘Challenge yourself and you’ll be surprised at what you can do.’ Your body will thank you.”

Says Lora, “I enjoy my job, and I enjoy older adults. I love seeing the joy on their faces when we interact. It feels good to be part of their health and well-being. You have to have a heart for older adults; they can tell when you care. I’m their cheerleader.”

To support Health and Wellness through the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation’s Life Enrichment initiative, contact the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation at 734.433.1000 ext. 7397 (east) or 616.577.2297 (west). Or click here to make a secure online gift.

Researching retirement communities can be daunting, and you may realize there is much more to it than you thought. Between price structures, locations, and levels of living, it can feel like a whole new language to learn! At Brio Living Services, our Sales Advisors are here to help!

“Find your passion, your interest, and let that be your cause.”

Debbie Steggles, Brio Living Services’ Senior Executive Director of Affordable Housing, follows these words in her career and in her giving to the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation.

The No Scale New Year Challenge provides fun, easy ways for team members to connect and share ideas to adopt long lasting lifestyle habits. It hopes to help break the stigma of failed New Year’s resolutions!

As a new calendar year begins, many of us take this time to evaluate where we are in our lives and make New Year’s resolutions to motivate us to be the best versions of ourselves. If reaching goals is overwhelming, try sorting your goals into the three categories discussed in today’s blog!

Erin Johnson is a Resident Aide in Porter Hills Village’s Assisted Living and Memory Care Center and a recent graduate of Grand Valley State University with a major in allied health science. This fall, she began an Accelerated Second-Degree program to earn her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN)—thanks to your support of the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation’s Team Member Scholarship program.

Our free checklist, “Compare the Benefits of a Retirement Community,” will help you record details of each senior care community you may be considering.

There may come a point in time when your loved ones are having a difficult time living on their own. Change can be challenging for everyone, which may cause you to hold off the conversation about seeking care options for your loved ones.

Norma Taylor grew up in New York near Niagara Falls. When her sister’s husband needed back surgery in 1970, Norma came to Michigan to help with their young children. It was only supposed to be for a few months, but I never left,” says Norma.