Caregiver tip: Take your 'energy temperature'
May 6, 2024
When longtime ERS donor Linda Stetson encouraged VP of Affordable Living Jimmy Wilson to “Dream Big” to improve health and wellness, he and his team rose to the challenge.
With a goal to empower low-income senior residents in ERS Affordable Living (ERSAL) communities to live longer, healthier, and happier lives, Jimmy recognized there were countless options to enhance wellness. However, he wanted to ensure the most effective approaches were used. This led him to collaborate with the Xavier University Center for Population Health, leveraging research to evaluate success and guide the program’s direction.
Wes Bogard joined the team in 2024 to lead the Well Being initiative. Phase 1 launched in a single ERSAL community, with another serving as a control group. Encouraged by strong initial results, the program is expanding in 2025 to 11 communities across the Greater Cincinnati region.
By incorporating all Eight Dimensions of Wellness, Wes and his colleagues in Affordable Living are empowering residents to take charge of their health in new and transformative ways.
A lifelong smoker, Allen was confined to a motorized wheelchair and connected to oxygen at all times.
He admits he had neglected his health for many years and his living conditions did not help, describing his last apartment as drug infested and crime ridden. Moving to the ERS Affordable Living community, St. Paul Village, was like night and day, he reflects. But the true turning point in his life came when a good friend passed away. Allen lacked the strength to attend the memorial service.
“It’s embarrassing to be unable to move or do what you need to do. It’s hard to ask for help,” Allen admits.
But ERS Well Being Manager Wes Bogard put him at ease. The two of them meet Monday-Friday in the SPV fitness center. He’s now 20 pounds lighter thanks to training with Wes as well as participating in group exercise classes and walking the building. During a recent workout, Allen climbed up and down a flight of stairs- twice. “I haven’t climbed the stairs in seven years!” he marveled.
“Allen is a walking advertisement for the Well Being program here at St. Paul Village. Other residents are seeing his transformation and saying, I want to do that, too!” explains Wes.
Allen is grateful to have found a new lease on life at SPV. “If you can find a good place to live and you take care of your health and life, you have a chance of going on. I want to be around as long as I can.”
When Linda Stetson was first introduced to ERS, she knew she had found something special. With a background in healthcare, including nursing homes, she recognized that “The (ERS) philosophy was so progressive compared to my earlier experiences in more ‘institutional’ settings.”
“I became a champion of Affordable Living after touring several communities and witnessing first-hand the dramatic improvement in the quality of life experienced by the seniors benefiting from the support, safety, and security of their new homes,” explained Linda.
“Our opportunity to financially support causes that are important to us began small. However, we’re now in a position to make more significant impacts through our gifts. We are extremely pleased to be in the position to do so.”
In 2022, the Stetsons made a very generous lead gift to empower Affordable Living Leadership to dream big. Their continued support has allowed the program to grow and evolve and a commitment to include Well Being in their estate plans will impact the lives of lower income older adults for years to come.
“Encouraging a healthy lifestyle in a community environment is generally not a priority in low-income housing communities. Engaging the whole person in recreational, social, and wellness activities are beneficial for maintaining health and happiness for any age, and seniors are no exception.”
