"You're Never too Old to Learn" at Chestnut Knoll

Chestnut Knoll staff and residents are proving that you’re never too old to learn! This summer, members of the Chestnut Knoll Personal Care and Memory Care community, both staff and residents, have been able to contribute to different research studies to better understand caring for seniors and improve their quality of life.

The first study was conducted by Andrew Harnish, physical therapist at Chestnut Knoll, who was using this research for his capstone project for the Geriatric Clinical Specialist residency program through Fox Rehabilitation. He studied the residents at Chestnut Knoll who participate in the Fox Optimal Living program to see the effects that the program has done for their overall health. The project implements evidence-based changes to the Fox Optimal Living group exercise classes at Chestnut Knoll. Exercises have a specific dosage and intensity that have shown to reduce falls and increase balance and strength.

“The Fox Optimal Living program aims to help every resident reach their optimal level of strength, balance and mobility,” said Harnish. “By utilizing the research on exercise dosage and intensity, we can better help the residents of Chestnut Knoll achieve these goals, which means healthier, happier residents with fewer falls and hospitalizations.”

The study is ongoing and data will be analyzed at the end of the year, as well as the spring of next year.

“We are excited to have Chestnut Knoll be the focus of this latest research in geriatric wellness and exercise prescription. The Fox Optimal Living program at Chestnut Knoll prides itself in being the most innovative and comprehensive program out there in providing senior living care,” said Michael Melnick, MS, PT, CSCS, Fox Optimal Living Consultant. “This research will help us maintain that quality, and allow for our residents to achieve the highest level of safety, independence and overall quality of life.”

In addition to Harnish’s capstone project, Erin Way, Ph.D., and Meredith McCarthy, research assistant, from Alvernia University, conducted the second study this summer. Their study explored how residents of senior living communities perceive their social lives.

It is important for residents to remain active and social in their senior years, and this research aims to increase psychologists’ knowledge of social and developmental processes during this time in their lives, as well as enable institutions and individuals to react more sensitively to the needs and desires of seniors.

The researchers went to Chestnut Knoll and interviewed 28 participating residents. As part of the interview, residents completed questionnaires about their social experiences and the activities they enjoy. The study took place in summer 2015 and Chestnut Knoll will be receiving the overall results of the study at the conclusion of data analysis.

Chestnut Knoll is always striving for more information in order to improve residents’ quality of life. These studies were able to provide information to residents in the community, so they can better understand their own aging process, as well as insight for staff members, so they can care for seniors and give families peace of mind, knowing their loved one is in a comfortable environment, being cared for by professionals.

“These research projects that occurred this summer just show a little piece of all we do for seniors and how much we care about our residents,” said Shawn Barndt, executive director. “We want only the best for them and we try to learn as much as possible about the senior population, and gather tips that can be helpful to get them to live their lives to the fullest. We don’t stop at excellence; we continue to push beyond and are always eager to learn.”

Chestnut Knoll can help improve the life of your loved one, through innovative programs and customized services to meet their needs. For more information about Chestnut Knoll Personal Care, Memory Care, or At Home services, please call 610-473-8066.

Chestnut Knoll offers Personal Care and Memory Care residences at an affordable month-to-month basis with no buy-in fees. Services include 24-hour personal care assistance with medical support, meals, housekeeping, social events, transportation, and a state-of-the-art wellness program that provides ongoing therapy services, regardless of insurance coverage. Chestnut Knoll also offers At Home care services available to seniors where they live. Services include assistance with medication monitoring, personal care, companion care, light housekeeping and laundry, and transportation, to name a few. For more information on Chestnut Knoll Personal Care, Memory Care, or At Home Services, please call Jodie Daniels, assistant executive director, at 610-473-8066 or visit www.chestnutknoll.com.