On Sunday, August 10th from 2:00pm to 3:00pm our 104th Anniversary Celebration is being held in the garden at Willson House.  There will be singing and dancing by the Blue Velvets and ice cream sundaes for all. Butterflies will be set free to signify the strength that United Methodist Retirement Center has had to spread our wings despite hard times to become an amazing “Home” for people to live who are treated with kindness and respect.

It began in 1910 when a small group of women from the 1st Methodist Episcopal Church in Salem had a dream to create a home for people who didn’t have the finances or the family support to live the last days of their lives being cared for with the dignity and respect they deserved.  It was out of this “chrysalis” our “butterfly”, the United Methodist Retirement Center, emerged.  In the “sunshine” of the donation of the first home by Mrs. W. B. Ware and hours of work by members of the Women’s Home Missionary Society the adventure began.

Over time and with many hours of work and vision by both staff and volunteers, we have spread our wings to include Jason Lee manor, Willson House Residential Care Facility and Willson House Child Development Center.  There have been storms along the way which included a very destructive fire in 1961 and problems due, in part, to difficult economic times.

Out of this history, we have emerged with strength to spread our wings to be free for the coming Century of Service and Care for all those lives that are entrusted to us in this “Home” called United Methodist Retirement Center.  Celebrate with us on Sunday, August 10th at Willson House on 1625 Center St. NE in Salem.  For more information call 503.585.6511.

What effect does stress have on your brain and your ability to remember things? Stress is good for you if you are being attacked by a bear or if you need to flee other dangerous situations. During these stressful events your adrenal glands create a significant amount of cortisol which helps your body get you to safety.  Your body then returns to a normal level of cortisol once the stressful situation is over. However, if your body and brain are always stressed, your cortisol level can remain too high affecting the formation of new memories and your ability to retrieve old information in your brain.

Many people also experience a high level of cortisol because they have too much stuff.  Paper, emails, possessions, and collectables begin to accumulate to the point that they are no longer a joy to have and instead become a stress to keep organized. They become clutter!

 Here are a few ideas on how to start to “de-clutter” your life and put an end to some of the stress that may be impairing your memory.

Avoid trying to tackle the whole house at once. When beginning to de-clutter belongings tackle one room or area at a time. About two hours at a stretch is ideal. Begin with multiple items. Start with clothing, kitchenware, tools, books and anything else you have in abundance, and narrow it down to only the amount of items that will fit in the space you have. Focus on the most-used items. Don't sort to keep by the newest and best; keep only what you will use and what you love.

Sort and keep only a few favored items. Piles of photos, memorabilia, and papers take up too much space. Many services digitize images and papers for a reasonable fee. Business supply stores often offer shredding services on a per box basis.

 "Which are your favorites?" Choose two to three "most loved" pieces of a collection to keep. Donate, sell or gift the rest of your collection. Take photos of the rest of a collection and present them in a special book. While it's not exactly the same as owning, it's a space-saving way for you to continue enjoying a collection.

Target recipients for specialty items. While it's time-consuming to find recipients for everything, it may be worth the effort for some items. Schools may welcome musical instruments, old costumes, or tools. Auto repair shops and community non-profits may take tools and yard tools.
Consider getting help. A local Salem company that is skilled at De-cluttering and getting your home ready to sell is Smooth Transitions Willamette Valley LLC. Contact Shellee Lowery at 503-779-5836 or shellee@movingforseniors.com for a no-cost consultation.

Willson House has partnered with Smooth Transition to help with another kind of stress.  The stress that caregivers have when caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or other dementia can be overwhelming.   Two support groups held in Woodburn can help.  A group meets on April 21st at Woodburn Health Center (formerly Wellspring) from 2:00-3:30 pm.  Lorrie Cox, a resident in Senior Estates, facilitates a group on April 1st from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Estates Country Club.

2013 was a very good year for United Methodist Retirement Center with our wonderful employees, children, families and residents.  We have lots of new things to look forward to in the coming year as we focus on helping our residents to remain as independent as possible yet still provide the assistance they need to have a good quality of life.  A second focus for us is to continue developing new programs for the children at the Child Development Center.

The residents of both Willson House and Jason Lee interact daily with the children at the Child Development Center as the Intergenerational program continues to grow.  There is nothing like the sight of a 3 year old and a 93 year old sharing a song, a story or a cookie!

Several educational workshops were offered in 2013 to help the community and residents learn how to maintain their memories. Studies show that with daily “brain training” people can possibly prevent or at least delay the onset of dementia in their lives.  In 2014 more workshops will be offered.  Our website will be expanded to include more recipes for brain healthy eating and fun, exciting activities to help you learn skills and techniques to improve your concentration and memory.

Supporting the caregivers of people who have memory loss will continue to be a focus for us at Willson House.  We know that if caregivers are to continue providing care to someone in their homes that has Alzheimer’s or other dementia they need to have the hope and encouragement that support groups offer.  Currently there are 6 groups that meet in Marion and Clackamas counties including Woodburn, Silverton, and Wilsonville.

We are so thankful to everyone who has helped us in any way by donating their time, money or talent to make Willson House and Jason Lee Manor wonderful places for our residents to call home.   Your support makes it possible for generations to continue to learn and grow together  for years to come at United Methodist Retirement Center.

It all began in 1909 when a group of women from the Methodist Episcopal Church decided to develop and manage a retirement home for seniors who were without funds or family support. These women felt that those who had reached an older age and paid their dues to society deserved the opportunity to receive compassionate care in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Somewhere they could live their remaining years in comfort and dignity. With accommodations for 19 people, the Home filled immediately after opening.

It is from these humble beginnings nearly 103 years ago that United Methodist Retirement Center (UMRC) is now home to over 125 people.  This not-for-profit organization is a place where life-enriching services are provided to people of all faiths and beliefs. Independence is supported here and people are treated with dignity and respect. UMRC is a community where people come to live, and where gifts of time and self are appreciated and valued. The United Methodist Retirement Center is not a "home," rather it is home.

To celebrate our 103 years of serving seniors and children we invite you to come to the Anniversary Party on Sunday, August 11th from 2-3pm on Willson House Patio.  There will be music by the Blue Velvets, antique cars and ice cream for everyone. Join us for a dance or two!