WEL
STRONGLY
BELIEVES IN
AND
SUPPORTS
ACTIVE
LIVING
AND
CREATIVITY
AS
TONICS FOR
LONGEVITY.
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WEL
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS
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WEL
Annual Certifications:
The certifications are intended to nurture
better ways for: Elder Community Centers,
Independent Living Homes, Assisted Living Homes,
Group Homes, Nursing and Rehabilitation Homes,
Skilled Nursing Homes, Alzheimer's Homes, Elder Day
Care Homes, Elder Programs and other community
services and institutional settings for elders.
WEL certified homes, programs and services are
to be designed, tested and implemented by all
community members, to nurture whole-person-center
wellness; health, cognitive consciousness,
nutrition, spirituality, mindful living,
creativity, expression of their heart's desires and
dreams for the better.
WEL certified homes, depending on their size and
special circumstances, provide a variety of
wellness and intergenerational programs, space and
facilities, and services for vibrant and active
individual and group participation. Often elders
help plan and implement these and other services
for their community and broader communities. All
community members are invited and encourraged to co
create a better way of living for everyone.
WEL certified homes and programs facilitate,
whenever possible and appropriate, their services
to be provided by the elders of the community.
Elders participating in these programs at home help
both, other elders and their home in very special
ways.
Services elders can contribute to include:
receptionists, information desk, mail office and
delivery person, gardeners, computer instructors,
audio visual and digital equipment operators,
printing and reproduction, management and
administrative staff, transportation coordinator or
drivers, employee's appreciation committee, welcome
new resident's committee, music performers, library
assistants, recreation coordinators,
room-one-on-one visits, creative arts' leaders,
thrift store sales-sorting/stocking, home
improvement, administration, and so much more.
WEL certified homes and programs are inviting,
functional and clean. A welcoming environment where
gardens and natural light, and a place for everyone
to find an interesting program or activity to do, a
warm and vibrant place to welcome visitors and
family members. Elders participate in the decision
making and planning of their own community paradise
in many ways.
WEL
Better Living Homes For Elders -
Ergonomics
WEL certified homes and programs actively work
with the relations of the spatial, material and
subjective worlds and the mind-body-spirit of each
elder. The shape, color, texture, consistency of
physical and natural elements and spatial positions
can help nurture the wellness of the individual.
WEL also incorporates up to date adaptive aging
technology to each home's ergonomics; furniture,
architecture, equipment used that can be more
suitable in safety, effectiveness and comfort for
our elders.
WEL certified homes and programs are designed
with the perspective of "The environment as our
extended body". The living body is not
separated from perception, intentionality,
consciousness and subjectivity. The feelings,
harmonies, functionality and perceptions of the
space and environment we live in nurture each
person.
Architectural design elements - also are taken
into consideration in WEL assessments. No more than
three level homes, wide corridors, calming color
walls, and appropriate furniture for elders to
remain active and independent. Functional designs
to compensate physical impairments, such as door
handles, large door size elevators, accessible
storage, and much more.
Family rooms - provide family members, friends
and other a place to stay for a few days while
visiting elders. A greater emphasis on
neighborhood, less institutional and more
residential is apparent in WEL certified homes.
Environmentally safe - cleaning (house and
clothes) and personal care products. Alternatives
are encouraged to replace known toxins that are in
many products including cleaning products,
pesticides and fertilizers. The use of organic
paint and better lighting systems that use less
energy is encouraged.
These programs, facilities and services can
include:
" Library - bulletin board, information center,
large print material, maps, journals, periodicals,
book tapes, photo album of community elders,
etc.
" Book and Video Store - features books, audios,
videos and other materials by elders and local
authors - especially local elders.
" Fitness Center - water aerobics-pool,
cardio-weight machines, aerobics, yoga, tai-chi,
therapeutic massages, steam baths, and more.
" Music Center - piano, CD player, tapes,
guitar, radio, music videos, etc.
" Gardens - indoor and outdoor gardens of all
varieties. One example can be ÒIndoor Herbal
Gardens For Life" that support and nurture the
body, mind and spirit, reduce pollution, and foster
longevity and the foundation of immunity and
resistances to disease of the body.
" Digital Center - an in-house service that can
provide full internet services, internet cafe,
digital photography, audio and video internet
access, website design, spoken word and digital
video, large screen TVs, video cameras and other
digital equipment. Elders can subscribe to various
digital services.
" Cable TV - an in-house service that provides
cable TV for each elder. In addition to the usual
cable channels, commercial-free global perspective
channels like Free Speech TV, Link TV, CSPAN
weekend BookTV, Wisdom TV, Discovery can be
featured.
" Radio Station - an in-house radio station can
broadcast readings, community news, programs and
much more for the elder's to listen too. Readings
for elders with limited visual abilities can be
very helpful.
" Art Center - crafts, watercolors, pottery,
ceramics, sowing, woodwork, home improvement
workshop, horticulture, holidays and seasonal
decorations for the house and community, etc.
" Cooking and Nutrition Center - elders can cook
foods and contribute their recipes to a cookbook
they develop put together by community members.
" Public Hall - can provide meeting, theatre and
conference space. Lectures, plays, movies,
concerts, seminars, public events and much more can
take place here.
" Financial Assistance Center - provides help
with banking, legal and other related issues.
" Print Center - provides copy and printing
services.
" My Body, Mind & Soul Center - focuses on
the biological, psychological, physical and
spiritual aspects of aging. Some of the services;
meditation, massage, clinic, social worker,
counseling, spiritual counselor, nursing, dentist,
Low Vision Support Group, Hearing Support Group,
Widow Support Group, Alzheimer's Dementia Support
Groups, etc. for elders, caregivers and family
members.
" Sacred Center - provides a sacred space for
in-house religious, spiritual, interfaith and other
sacred practices. A full range of sacred, religious
and spiritual materials are also available
here.
" The Peace Corner - a bulletin board space to
post messages, poems, articles of peace, goodwill
and hope. The Peace Corner also helps nurture
community synergy.
" Family Dining Area - provides a space that can
be reserved for family, friends and other visitors
to eat with the elder(s) they are visiting.
" Grocery Store - provides fresh vegetable and
other standard grocery and convenient store items.
Special orders of foods can be made. A food-buying
club can order foods through the store.
" Beauty salon and barbershop - provides hair
cutting, hair styling, manicure, foot care, massage
and other health and beauty services.
WEL
- Listening Councils:
Listening Councils - provide opportunities for
people to speak who are seldom if ever listened to
and people that can benefit from being listened to
by mindful, kind listeners who carefully listen to
what each person is saying. At Listening Council
people are encouraged to speak and share their
ideas and suggestions to better their communities.
Elders and everyeone also speak of harms that have
been done to them or by them. Listening Councils
are facilitated by people with appropriate
listening skills. Listening Councils are for
listening for what can be better. Suggestions for
better ways expressed from the heart are also
encouraged. Past and on going harms are also to be
brought up. Suggestions for reparations,
reconciliation, halting on going harms, preventing
future harms etc from the people talking about the
harms are encouraged. The audience is encouraged to
listen carefully without interruptions and deeply
and honestly hear the thoughts and ideas expressed.
Reparations and better ways are also encourraged
before the Listening Council session is over.
WEL Better
Ways Award
WEL recognize and celebrate ELDERS and other
community members or institutions that have made a
difference in their communities by sharing their
creative and special skills with everyone for the
betterment of our ELDERS. It has been an honor for
WEL to present the "WEL Better Ways Award" to the
following people...
WEL
Interactive Park and Discovery
Village
The Interactive Park - is to be enjoyed by all
generations visiting the park. Visitors are to
share a section of the park called the
Non-Frontiers Park where a gigantic mosaic
multicolor map of the world is to be displayed
on the floor to experience a vision of our diverse
world with out borders or frontiers. Games like
Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Cribbage, and others
can be offered in The Park. Water Cascades and
flowing waterways are also encouraged. The movement
of water can be a symbolism of renewal, energy,
flows of creativity and new beginnings. Nature;
flowers, stones, plants, trees, water, air, earth
and community music performances can add a spark of
wisdom and joy to honor our elders.
The Discovery Village - is another section of
the park, to exhibit sculptures of elder's greatest
accomplishments, dreams or elders that have made a
difference in their communities and in the world,
for the better of everyone, people and nature. When
possible the park can have lakes with bridges to
cross the lakes. Bridges are a symbol of our desire
to connect, to communicate, to find better ways to
overcome difficulties and to always focus on the
possibilities rather than the obstacles. Display
plaques with inspirational quotes of elders are
encouraged. They can be placed throughout an
Interactive Park.
WEL
Visionary Wall Of Dreams
A wall called 'Visionaries' Wall' to honor
elders and the names of their projects or
accomplishments in the promotion of a better and
more joyful world for everyone.
WEL
- Remarkable Conversations With Elders
Social integration and meaningful
intergenerational programs are invaluable for
elders and for the betterment of the communities we
live in. Our communities of place can be
transformed into communities of interest.
Here are some
examples.
WEL
Community Assessments
WEL's unique periodic home and program
assessments - provide periodic reviews of all the
services provided for elders. How to better provide
for the nutrition, spirituality, psychosocial,
physical, intellectual, emotional and recreational
well being of each elder in the community.
Life satisfaction and self-perceived health
status and functionality of each elder are
considered in the assessments. WEL assessments also
explore suggestions of better ways from elders,
staff, families and others involved with the home
or program.
WEL Community Services in any community setting
includes: annual certification, customized training
sessions, periodic assessments, coaching, lectures
seminars and other presentations as requested.
WEL's services are designed to better ensure that
each home, staff, management, volunteers and
independent contractors foster and promote ways for
a better quality of life for each elder and other
members of the community.
WEL
- Elders Speakers Bureau
Speaker's Bureau - elders and community members
sharing their expertise, projects and activities as
workshops, talks or seminar for the betterment of
thier communities. A list of speakers and
customized programs, seminars and workshops is
available. Let us know if you are looking for
speakers or as an elder you have a special skills
and knowledge you are willing to share with the
community.
" Health Mentors - Work with the Mind, Body and
Soul center as mentors of other elders or community
members. Health Mentors can be nurses, doctors,
occupational therapists, pharmacist, dentist, or
retired elders former nurses, doctors, therapists,
dentists, etc.
WEL, Radio
Program
WEL,
Elder Community Development Projects
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