Generation's Community

Visit Our New Blog!

2010-11-17T23:04:00.002-05:00

We have been busy working on a brand new website at Generation Solutions! We are very excited to let you know that our blog will now be moving to a new and improved website!

To visit our new blog, just click here: Generation Community Blog

We didn't change anything too drastically, but we were able to make some improvements that we think you will benefit from as you "surf" around the site. Best of all, the blog is now located "back home" with the main Generation Solutions' website, so you will not have to remember two different website addresses. And after all, there's no place like home!

Grandparent's Day at Elizabeth Early Learning Center

2010-10-01T11:16:00.004-04:00

In honor of Grandparent's Day, Generation Solutions sponsored a celebration at Elizabeth Early Learning Center. Grandparents were invited to join their grandchildren for a day of festivities including a picnic lunch and musical entertainment-- provided by the children themselves, along with a few songs from Generation Solutions very own "Dorothy". There were even some crazy shaped balloons to add to the excitement! Tulane Patterson shared a poem and photographs were taken of each child and grandparent and later framed and gifted. Everyone is already looking forward to next years Grandparent's Day Celebration!

Tayloe Murphy Resilience Award

2010-09-14T20:36:00.003-04:00

Generation Solutions Receives Prestigious Recognition

Despite a sputtering economy, innovative entrepreneurship is alive and well in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Generation Solutions is proud to announce that their agency was selected as one of only 25 semi-finalists from over 100 applicants to the Tayloe Murphy Resilience Awards program! This statewide competition is sponsored by the Tayloe Murphy Center at UVA's Darden School of Business. The award highlights economically challenged communities and recognizes the hard working business leaders who contribute to the economic well being that keeps Virginia strong in tough times. Over 100 indigenous, entrepreneurial businesses from 45 counties applied for this year's award. Owner and Founder of Generation Solutions, P. Tulane Patterson stated, "The fact that our agency was invited to participate is an honor, our dedicated and caring staff has earned this recognition and I am proud of our accomplishments."

Generation Solutions was also named into the 2009 Home Care Elite, a compilation of the top performing home health agencies in the United States. Generation Solutions' president Gene Erb said, "We thank our employees who continually provide quality care to our patients and clients." Generation Solutions is the only locally owned home health agency in the Central Virginia area that provides private duty services, skilled nursing/therapies, medical equipment and supplies.

2010 Generation Community Americana Show video montage part 2

2010-09-03T23:27:00.001-04:00

Snapshots - 2010 Americana Show

2010-08-31T22:05:00.000-04:00

2010 Americana Show video montage part 1

2010-08-31T20:06:00.001-04:00

Senior Fitness Fun Day

2010-08-23T21:11:00.003-04:00

Generation Solutions is one of the proud sponsors of the upcoming Senior Fitness Fun Day in Lynchburg. This event will be held on Thursday, September 16th from 10am-2pm at the Lynchburg First Church of the Nazarene. You can find the church at 1737 Wards Ferry Road, approximately 1 mile past Heritage High School on the right.

There will be Wii games (so fun!), Volleyball, Relay Walk, Blood Pressure Screenings, Free Throw Shoot, Nutrition Information and more! A free lunch will be available, and there will even be door prizes! There are games and activities for folks of all mobility levels. If you need more information, please contact Jo Ann Pullen-Scott by calling 434-846-4626.

Our 3rd Annual Americana Show

2010-08-23T21:04:00.002-04:00

We have been working on putting pictures and video together from the 3rd Annual Generation Community Americana Show, sponsored by Generation Solutions. Check back soon as we will be posting pictures and video too!

Generation Community on 88.3 Victory FM Radio

2010-07-28T19:56:00.001-04:00

3rd Annual Americana Show: July 30th @7PM

2010-07-02T13:59:00.002-04:00

GS Medical Supply Store Open House

2010-06-17T23:41:00.001-04:00

Generation Solutions has just opened GS Medical Supply Store on Langhorne Road in Lynchburg. We were honored to have Mayor Joan Foster as well as former Mayor Pete Warren attend our open house. Even Dorothy made the trip from Kansas to sing! We hope you enjoy this video of the ribbon cutting ceremony!

Age Wave Event with Generation Solutions

2010-06-17T23:36:00.001-04:00

Generation Solutions was a proud sponsor of the recent "Age Wave" event in Lynchburg. Participants enjoyed the keynote speaker, Barbara McVicker. As author of the book Stuck in the Middle, a collection of stories about caregiving and the "sandwich generation", Barbara spoke from her experiences taking care of her own parents for ten years, as well as the impact caregiving has on the workforce from a corporate human resources perspective.

Our New GS Medical Supply Store TV Ads!

2010-06-16T22:34:00.002-04:00

Generation Solutions Butterfly Release Video

2010-06-10T23:10:00.001-04:00

Butterfly Release at Awareness Garden

2010-06-10T17:38:00.037-04:00

Generation Solutions was one of the proud sponsors of the Butterfly Release held at the Awareness Garden off Langhorne Road. The Awareness Garden honors the families and caregivers whose lives have been touched by cancer. We were blessed with beautiful weather for the Butterfly Release, and we hope you enjoy these pictures from the event.

Abby Holbrook and Tracey Davis of Generation Solutions

Tulane Patterson, with Abby and "Dorothy"

Treena Koroneos and Gene Erb with Dorothy

Sue Irvine at the Generation Solutions table

Releasing the butterflies!

More Healthy Living at Lakewood Baptist

2010-06-09T20:51:00.021-04:00

Here are pictures from our recent Healthy Living Event at Lakewood Baptist Church. Pictured above from left to right: Jean Jamison, LBC group leader, Temika Younger, Tracey Davis, and Abby Holbrook of Generation Solutions. Enjoy the pictures!

Temika Younger talks about healthy living through healthy eating.

Once again, Smoothie King of Lynchburg provided healthy smoothie samples to everyone in attendance!

Mmmmmm good!

Time for prizes!

Drawing names for prizes

...still drawing!

Go find those winners!

Here is Tracey with the grand prize for one lucky person - a lovely magazine on gardening (above) and a nifty growing kit (pictured below).

We want to thank Jean Jamison and the great folks at Lakewood Baptist Church for being such great hosts to Generation Community!

Temika Younger @ Generation Community Healthy Living Event

2010-06-02T21:20:00.003-04:00

Here is a brief clip of Temika Younger, Director of Training and Education at Generation Solutions, speaking to the good folks of Heritage United Methodist Church at our recent Healthy Living Event.

Healthy Living Event at Heritage United Methodist Church

2010-06-02T19:39:00.013-04:00

Here are a few pictures from our recent Generation Community Healthy Living event with the good folks of Heritage United Methodist Church. At this event, we focus on the theme of healthy living, while having plenty of fun along the way.

Tracey Davis, the Generation Community Facilitator, holding some of the prizes and goodies she gave away during the event.

Tracey's daughters opened things up with a little song about healthy living - The Good Ship Lollipop!

This is Temika Younger, the Director of Training and Education at Generation Solutions. Temika talked to us about the vital relationship between our body's health and the vitamins in our foods.

We want to thank Smoothie King of Lynchburg for their contribution to our Healthy Living event. Smoothie King provided a free smoothie for everyone in attendance! Who said healthy couldn't taste good?

Temika helps us pass out the treats

Enjoying the Smoothie King smoothies! We want to thank Heritage United Methodist Church for having us for this Generation Community Healthy Living event. It was healthy fun!

Free Senior Fitness Program

2010-05-12T20:49:00.002-04:00

Generation Solutions will be sponsoring a free monthly senior fitness program. The first one will take place on May 26, 2010 from 12:30 - 2:00 at Templeton Senior Center. This month we will be taking blood pressures, doing individual fitness evaluations, and holding a "Strength and Balance" class. Cheryl Marthers from Snap Fitness will be instructing this class. Cheryl is certified in senior fitness. We hope many of you can make it out to the class. If you need more information, you can contact Abby Holbrook at 455-6500.

Age Wave Event Pictures

2010-05-12T20:26:00.006-04:00

Generation Solutions was a proud sponsor of the recent "Age Wave" event in April. Participants enjoyed the keynote speaker, Barbara McVicker (pictured here with Sue Irvine of Generation Solutions). As author of the book Stuck in the Middle, a collection of stories about caregiving and the "sandwich generation", Barbara spoke from her experiences taking care of her own parents for ten years, as well as the impact caregiving has on the workforce from a corporate human resources perspective.

Below are pictures from the event - we even had a visit from Dorothy!

Dorothy handed out goodies to conference attendees as they arrived

Geriatric Care Manager Linda Hazlett with Dorothy and Sue Irvine

Crystal Cowart, Clinical Liaison at Generation Solutions with the GS display board.

Handy Man

2010-03-22T17:52:00.003-04:00

We are very excited to announce that Generation Solutions now offers handy man services for those of you in the greater Lynchburg area. So if you need help with minor repairs, or you just think it would be a good idea to have a little preventative maintenance done where you live, Generation Solutions can provide this service for you. Whether it is a leaky faucet, commode repair, changing a light fixture, securing a loose handrail, or installing a grab bar, our handy man service can help you out. Just call the office at 434-455-6500, and soon you’ll be crossing items off of your to do list!

Generation Solutions on LHOV

2010-03-01T21:56:00.001-05:00

Tulane Patterson, the founder of Generation Solutions, appears on Living in the Heart of Virginia (LHOV) and talks about the services his company provides to seniors. He is even joined by a couple satisfied customers! This spot was originally aired on ABC in the fall of 2009. Enjoy!

2009 HomeCare Elite Award

2010-02-25T21:59:00.006-05:00

On November 23, 2009, Generation Solutions Hom e Health announced that it has been named to the 2009 HomeCare Elite, a compilation of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies and further highlights the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. Winners are ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement, and financial performance. “The 2009 HomeCare Elite winners exemplify a commitment to providing their patients with the best possible care while performing at the highest level,” said Nancy Buller, senior director of marketing communications at OCS HomeCare. “We congratulate Generation Solutions on being one of the top home care agencies in the country.” Generation Solutions’ president, Dr. Gene Erb credits the caring and dedicated staff’s commitment to quality care; which allows patients to stay safely and comfortably in their own home. Dr. Erb also stated, “The ongoing commitment to excellence is reflective in the patient satisfaction surveys and feedback from the medical community.”

Generation Solutions was founded on the premise that older adults deserve to enjoy their retirement in the warm familiarity of their own home. As a premier one-stop source for all senior needs, Generation Solutions provides home health care, companion care, personal care, and durable medical equipment. The 2009 HomeCare Elite is the only performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. The 2009 HomeCare Elite is brought to the industry by OCS HomeCare, the leading provider of homecare information, and DecisionHealth, publisher of homecare’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information. A list of all the agencies can be found at www.ocshomecare.com.

Geriatric Care News

2010-02-10T10:16:00.004-05:00

Generation Solutions announces a new addition to its professional staff: the appointment of Linda Hazlett as the Geriatric Care Manager. Linda comes to Generation Solutions with 22 years of registered nurse experience. She has served the senior population as a geriatric care nurse exclusively for 16 years. Her diversified geriatric care experience has been in home health, ambulatory care, rehabilitation, and case management. She has also served seniors in nursing management and administration in the areas of private duty home care and assisted living. Linda has been a member of the National Gerontological Nurses Association with the Blue Ridge Chapter since 2004, and is a current member of the prestigious nursing society, Sigma Theta Tau, International for excellence in academic achievement. Ms. Hazlett received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix. We are glad to have Linda Hazlett join our team.

Now, it’s not a term most of us use everyday- so what exactly is Geriatric Care Management? Some seniors can get overwhelmed, confused, and even frustrated with navigating the health care system. You may even know someone who feels this way getting through the tasks of daily living. Geriatric Care Management provides seniors with a means to maintain their independence and improve their quality of life while living at home. When home health issues are being managed and monitored properly, it reduces the number of calls to doctors and even family for assistance solving preventable problems. Our geriatric care nurse works with your loved one to assess their needs and situation, and then arrange interventions to best meet their goals. Call our office in Lynchburg at 434-455-6500 with any questions or for more information.

Spotlight on Achievement

2010-01-28T15:18:00.001-05:00

Generation Solutions has welcomed Mike Palmer as a new Physical Therapist to their staff. Mike comes to Generation Solutions from Blue Ridge Physical Therapy with 18 years of experience. He recently finished a Masters Degree of Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. Welcome to Generation Solutions, Mike!

Meals On Wheels Volunteers

2010-01-25T15:21:00.002-05:00

Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lynchburg area is a United Way agency, and they are looking for volunteers to deliver meals with a smile. "One hour a day, a week, or a month can make a difference." If you are interested in volunteering, you can contact Meals on Wheels in Lynchburg by calling 434-847-0796.

Telemonitoring

2009-12-14T20:17:00.002-05:00

How can you have up to four daily checkups without even leaving your house? A service called Telemonitoring makes this possible. WSLS recently reported on this tool, and you can watch their news clip by going to Generation Solutions' website - just click HERE. If you have any questions about the service, just call the Generation Solutions office at 434-455-6500 (Lynchburg) or 540-776-3622 (Roanoke).

Central Virginia Ostomy Support Group

2009-11-10T21:08:00.008-05:00

We had a wonderful time visiting the Central Virginia Ostomy Support Group. A big thank you to Winston Mead for inviting us to share our Christmas Program followed by Abby Holbrook of Generation Solutions who shared about available services.

Memory Walk 2009

2009-11-01T21:25:00.008-05:00

Here are pictures from the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk that was held on October 24th. Generation Solutions was there, and so were many loyal supporters of this important cause. What a sight to see so many people come out in that rain to participate in the walk. We have a wonderful community indeed.

Here is Dorothy of Generation Community, joining the Memory Walk.

Here is Sue Irvine of Generation Solutions. Sue designed the "ruby shoe" t-shirts shown here. They read "Stomp Out Alzheimer's in My Generation".

Here is Tulane Patterson, founder of Generation Solutions, sporting his Stomp Out Alzheimer's t-shirt.

So many great groups showed their support!

Sue Irvine's family joined together in support of the Memory Walk.

Tulane Patterson, Tracey Davis, and Sue Irvine

Dorothy with Gene Erb, the President of Generation Solutions.

This wonderful community showed their support of the Memory Walk in very unpleasant weather. These are good folks!

And they're off!

Great Groups - September and October

2009-10-26T22:04:00.007-04:00

Here are some pictures of the fantastic groups that we visited in the last couple months.

We ran into one of our newsletter Word Search winners at the Concord Happy Hearts group! It was a joy to see all their smiling faces again, and we look forward to seeing them again next year.

We enjoyed our visit with the seniors of Heritage Baptist Church in September. They have a wonderful group, and it was great to see everyone greet each other and fellowship together.

What a warm welcome we received at Timberlake Baptist Church. Their group is called the Senior Saints. We loved seeing their new facility, it was beautiful. Tulane Patterson, the founder of Generation Solutions, joined us to talk about planning for our futures.

Patient Beware

2009-09-14T20:51:00.002-04:00

Consumer Reports National Research Center recently conducted a side by side survey of hospital conditions from two very different perspectives: the nurses and the patients. The findings showed that patients consistently scored the hospitals better than the nurses, and therefore, suggested that patients need to become more vigilant and aware of their own care in hospitals. The article encouraged consumers to do their homework. Check your health plan for its rules on hospitalization before you need it. Ask about the nurse/patient ratios. Make transistions smooth by bringing a list of your medications with you to the hospital, and keep your regular doctor in the loop. At the time of discharge, make sure you understand all the details of moving from hospital to home, and talk to the hospital's patient advocate if you are not satisfied or need help. Insist on a medication reconciliation between home and hospital drugs. It is also recommended that you see your primary care physician within a week of discharge, and have him/her review copies of your hospital records. While we still have some of the best doctors and nurses in the world, these are good steps to take to ensure your hospital stay is as pleasant as possible.

Healthy Living Event with TRBC's 50 Plus Group

2009-07-28T22:06:00.011-04:00

Here are pictures from our recent Healthy Living event with the 50 Plus group of TRBC. We talked about the different approaches and methods we can use to live healthier, gave away LOTS of prizes, enjoyed free Smoothie King smoothies, watched a healthy recipe demo, and much more.

Tulane Patterson, the founder of Generation Solutions, joined us for the event and spoke at the beginning to kick things off.

Here, Tracey Davis is joined by Temika Younger (right), the director of Training and Education at Generation Solutions. We want to say thank you to Temika for joining us as our guest speaker, and for telling us practical ways to live healthier.

Temika told us that one aspect to healthy living is social interaction. She looked around the room and said "You all get an A+ on this one in my book, because you are all here!"

We invited Donna Salvia of Smoothie King to join us at the Healthy Living event. We knew that it was a good fit because Smoothie King offers tasty ways for people to eat healthier on the go, or anytime. We were treated to free smoothies as part of the lunch, and everyone's goody bag was filled with coupons and other special items. Smoothie King provided the prizes for this event, including the grand prize, valued at $100!

Here is Joann Willis, the 50 Plus group leader, enjoying her smoothie with Tracey's daughter. We want to thank Joann for welcoming Generation Community for this event. A great time was had by all!

A Visit to The Summit

2009-07-28T21:09:00.009-04:00

A big thank you to Karan Preston for inviting us back to the Summit in Wyndhurst of Lynchburg. We had handed out our Generation Community newsletter, talked about walking down "Memory Lane", and heard some stories from the good folks there about growing up.

A Visit with Keystone Baptist Church Senior Group

2009-07-01T14:55:00.020-04:00

Tracey Davis sharing the resources of Generation Community, sponsored by Generation Solutions.
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Below: Folks are purchasing raffle tickets for the beautiful Wizard of Oz Anniversary Quilt that Generation Solutions is offering through August. All proceeds will be donated to Meals on Wheels.

Tracey Davis tells about Generation Community, sponsored by Generation Solutions:

Sharing a laugh together after the presentation:

Signing folks up for the free Generation Community newsletter

Thank You Letter from Lynchburg Parks & Rec

2009-06-25T11:58:00.005-04:00

Below is a letter we received from Marilyn Bryant, the Senior Recreation Specialist with Lynchburg's Parks and Recreation. We had the privilege of providing a little entertainment during their recent Annual Spring Picnic. They had a good sized group out that day, and we are so pleased that we were able to contribute something. If you scroll down the page, you'll see pictures of this outdoor event, and we even have a video clip of some singing. *To make the letter bigger, just click on it*

A Visit to High Hopes Stroke Survivors' Support Group

2009-06-12T15:13:00.005-04:00

We were happy to be back at the Jamerson YMCA for another visit with High Hopes. We shared songs and stories as we reminisced together about the 'good ole days!'

A Visit to Heart Havens in Lynchburg

2009-06-01T22:04:00.013-04:00

Breakfast with the Lynchburg Shrine Club

2009-06-01T21:50:00.011-04:00

A Visit to Forest United Methodist Church

2009-05-19T16:18:00.009-04:00

FUMC treated us to a wonderful lunch at Famous Anthony's after the presentation! We had a great time of food and fellowship together as a group.

Picnic At Jefferson Park

2009-05-16T12:16:00.014-04:00

Floral Arrangement Class at Keystone Baptist Church

2009-04-29T12:19:00.008-04:00

Gary Witt Sings: I Can See Clearly Now

2009-03-21T22:19:00.007-04:00

Gary Witt joined Generation Community for some singing at the
Guggenhiemer Nursing Home in Lynchburg. This is a clip
of him singing "I Can See Clearly Now". Thanks Gary!

Edelweiss sung at the Generation Community visit

2009-03-16T23:20:00.007-04:00

Generation Community visited the Guggenheimer Nursing Home
in Lynchburg. We enjoyed some good music together, and the
singing ended with this classic number.

FDA Peanut Product Recall List

2009-03-04T21:43:00.002-05:00

If you want to know if you have any food that may contain tainted peanut products, you can use the FDA Product Recall List located here on the blog, down the right margin. Follow the right margin down to the blue box labeled "Peanut Product Recall" and you can click on a food to search a particular brand, and then click on the brand to see which product is being recalled.

This box is called a "widget" in the internet world, and the neat thing is that it stays updated all by itself from the FDA information source.

93 Years Young and Dancing

2009-02-17T21:32:00.003-05:00

During our Valentine Card making party shown in the post below with the Lamplighter group of Heritage United Methodist Church, one of the ladies, Blanche Erhartic, treated us all to a fancy dance performance! She and her friends report she is 93 years old! This is a fun bunch!

Valentine Card Party - The Lamplighters of Heritage United Methodist Church

2009-02-17T20:43:00.016-05:00

The Lamplighters group of Heritage United Methodist Church welcomed Generation Community for a morning of Valentine Card making. The Lamplighters chose to give their handmade cards to residents of the Heart Haven House of Lynchburg. We appreciate group leader Mrs. Martin for coordinating our visit.

Tracey shares the many resources of Generation Community.

Tracey always brings plenty of materials for folks to take and learn more about us.

Here Kristen Pine of Generation Solutions joins Tracey to answer a couple questions on future planning and better living.

Now let's get started on those Valentine Cards!

Here Tracey gives Mrs. Martin a Thank You gift for all her work in making the day possible.

Getting those creative juices flowing!

Kristen Pine and Farrah Davis enjoy a delicious lunch and good fellowship.

Wear Red Fashion Show

2009-02-06T22:19:00.025-05:00

Today is national Wear Red Day, when people all across the country wear red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness. Generation Solutions had the opportunity to participate in the Wear Red Fashion Show held at the Adult Care Center in historic downtown Lynchburg. It was a great time to get together with the folks at the center, as well as with other concerned citizens and community leaders. We hope you enjoy the pictures!

Tracey Davis, the Generation Community Facilitator, attended with daughter Farrah. Farrah had the privilege of participating in the "active lifestyle" themed fashion show.

Many of the good folks from the center participated in the show, and each one "sported" their own active lifestyle outfit. Pun intended!

Here are several members of the Generation Solutions team!

Ok ladies, one more picture please!

Generation Solutions' founder, Tulane Patterson, speaks to the participants before the show officially starts.

Sue Irvine of Generation Solutions visits with the ladies from the Red Hat Society

Tulane Patterson

Here are the sporty models!

Many thanks to Dick's Sporting Goods of Lynchburg for donating the sporting goods for the show.

What would Wear Red day be without those famous ruby shoes?

Generation Fun with the Flames

2009-01-25T19:06:00.022-05:00

We had a wonderful day of fun and fellowship at the Liberty Flames Women's and Men's basketball games on January 24th in Lynchburg. We would like to give a big thank you to Anna Whitehurst, Assistant Athletics Director and Jeff Barber, Director of Athletics, for welcoming Generation Community to the Vine Center.

We saw some familiar faces, and we met some new friends as well. This helped us spread the word about the fun, educational, and useful resources offered by Generation Solutions through Generation Community. We had a camera in hand, so we hope that you enjoy some of our pictures below!

Tracey Davis, Generation Community Facilitator with daughter, Farrah as "Dorothy"

Farrah joined by Sue Irvine, Generation Solutions Regional Director (L) and Kristen Pine, Community Relations Coordinator (R)

One of Liberty's Ambassador volunteers says hello

Here is the winner of the Generation Solutions "Sportsfan Contest" - Buddy Moore!

Congratulations!

Sue is joined by Generation Solutions founder Tulane Patterson and his youngest daughter.

Farrah talks with City Councilman Jeff Helgeson

Meeting new friends

"Dorothy" was invited to participate in the giant tricycle race!

On your mark.....get set..... Go!

Dorothy shows the community that Generation Solutions knows how to take the lead!

Dorothy knows there's no place like home ... except for the finish line! She clicked her heels to a first place finish!

Flame's mascot Sparky and Smoothie King congratulate Dorothy.

Sparky was clicking his heels with Dorothy! Now that's the spirit!

Generation Community Decorative Painting Workshop

2009-01-19T08:58:00.011-05:00

We had a great time at the decorative painting workshop on January 17th. We want to thank the participants for braving the cold and coming out to the class, we'd like to thank Bentley Commons for the use of their beautiful facility, and we'd especially like to thank our teacher Joy Davis for leading the class. Joy was joined by her good friend and fellow painter Betty Caithness, who was a tremendous help before and during the class.

Tracey welcomes the painters

Joy Davis

Let's paint!

Using Gift Cards

2009-01-17T15:03:00.004-05:00

If you received a gift card under the tree this Christmas, here are a few tips to help you get the most out of it. First, you should determine if it is a store branded card, or a bank issued card. A store branded card is simply a card that can only be used at that store. For example, if you win our Word Search contest and pick a Lowes Gift card, then the card is purchased at Lowes, has the Lowes name and logo on it, and can only be used at Lowes. Another name for a store branded card is a "closed-loop" card. Alternately, an "open-loop" card is a bank issued card that has a Visa, Mastercard, or bank logo on it, and can be used anywhere a credit card is accepted.

Traditionally the store branded cards have been more popular with consumers. However the more uncertain the economy becomes, the more aware we need to be about purchasing or redeeming store branded cards. Usually if a retailer goes bankrupt, their gift cards will lost most if not all of their value. For example, when the Bombay Company filed for bankruptcy, their already paid for cards were only worth 25 cents on the dollar to the holders. To avoid such a situation and gain more flexibility, many have turned to bank issued cards. However the "open-loop" cards have some things to watch out for as well such as fees and shorter expiration dates. A bank issued gift card could have an activation fee, a purchase processing fee, a dormancy fee, and a monthly maintenance fee. If you added these all up, a $25 bank issued gift card received at Christmas time could be worth as little as $5 by summer. Of course, that may be an extreme example, but it illustrates the importance of weighing the pros and cons of each type of card. We can say with some confidence that Wal-Mart is not about to go out of business, so your Wal-Mart gift card should not lose its value by the time you get there to redeem it. No matter what type of gift card you may have received this Christmas, it appears to be a good rule of thumb to use it sooner rather than later. Remember also that if you lose the card, you will have no way of redeeming it. In 2006, the value of unused gift cards was estimated to be $8 billion.

The Coming Digital TV Signal

2009-01-17T13:07:00.004-05:00

In last year's January February Generation Community newsletter, we told you about the coming television broadcasting change in which all television signals will go from analog to digital in February 2009. It is hard to believe it has already been a year, but February is just around the corner. The TV signal change is scheduled to happen on February 17, 2009. For millions of Americans the transition should be seamless, because everyone that gets their programming through cable or satellite service should get the new signal converted by the cable or satellite company.

Congress ordered the change to all-digital broadcasting to free up channels for police, fire, and emergency personnel. The FCC says that the digital transition offers many benefits even beyond public safety. They believe it will open the door to new wireless services for consumers, allow TV stations to offer better picture and sound quality, and enable TV stations to broadcast several programs at the same time.

Again, if you get your TV programming through a cable or satellite provider, then you will not need a converter box to receive the new digital signal after February 17th. If you receive your television signal via a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears", then the rest of this article is for you. A rootop antenna or rabbit ear antenna will not understand the new digital signal, so you will have three options to continue receiving programming. You can (1) connect your current analog TV to a digital converter (which we'll explain more in a moment), (2) connect your current analog TV to a paid service such as cable or satellite service, or (3) purchase a new TV with a built in digital tuner, also known as a digitial television.

If you decide to purchase a converter for your current analog TV, the US Department of Commerce will give you a $40 coupon to use toward the purchase (up to 2 per household). Most converters start around $60, so this means that you will not need to pay much more than $20 for your converter. So how do you obtain the coupon? If you have internet access, you can apply for the coupon online by going to www.dtv2009.gov or by phone by calling 888-DTV-2009. You can apply for the coupon anytime from now until March 31, 2009. The coupon will be mailed to you at the address you supplied when applying. It will be a plastic card that looks like a typical gift card. Please note that the coupon will only be good for 90 days after their mail date. If you decide you don't need your coupon, you may give it away to someone, but it is illegal to sell them. According to the website listed above, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and Target stores in Lynchburg and Roanoke participate in the program, and will accept your coupon.

Discounted Basketball Tickets For You

2008-12-28T22:34:00.003-05:00

We have a special offer for you, our Generation Community readers! We are offering $5.00 premium seating (regular price is $15.00) to the Saturday, January 24th Liberty University Flames basketball game. The ladies play at 2PM, and the men play at 7PM. To receive the discount, simply mention Generation Solutions at the Ticket Window on game day. The doors and ticket windows open one hour before game time. Also, tickets can be ordered in advance by phone at 434-582-SEAT. While you are at the game, visit our Generation Community information booth and say hello.

Generation Solution's 10 Year Anniversary Celebration

2008-12-11T21:32:00.008-05:00

Tulane Patterson together with his wife Claudia, enjoy the 10 year Generation Solution anniversary celebration at the beautiful Villa Maria.
Everyone enjoyed an evening filled with delicious food and festivities
Tulane Patterson, President of Generation Solutions conducts "Rose Ceremony"
Tulane Patterson's four, lovely daughters provided the beautiful music of the evening.
A look back: Tulane Patterson's four daughters 10 years ago!!!

Concord Happy Hearts Seniors

2008-12-11T21:02:00.013-05:00

Campbell County Sunny Side Seniors

2008-12-02T12:10:00.004-05:00

We want to give a big thank you to Brenda Walsh, leader of the Campbell County Sunny Side Senior group, for having us today. We were pleased to be able to spread the word about the resources of Generation Community.

Economic Headlines

2008-11-03T20:13:00.002-05:00

In our most recent Generation Community newsletter, the November/December 2008 issue, we touched on the topic of our recent economic struggles. We asked the question "Are we getting the whole story?" when it comes to news reports on the economy. Specifically, how can we learn about the root causes of our issues when we only hear headlines, soundbites, and 30 second reports?

Thanks to the internet, we have the ability to look beyond the headlines and do our own research in a way never before possible. One way to get started on this topic is to go to Google and search these words:

"commercial paper" (remember to put quotes around multiple words if you want an exact match)
"Ted spread"
"credit default swaps"

If you enjoy listening to audio explanations, you might try searching for a "podcast" on topic. We found some helpful podcasts at This American Life, a Chicago Public Radio podcast. Particularly, their program on October 3, 2008 titled "Another Frightening Show about the Economy" went into simple, yet great detail about root causes of our financial struggles.

In addition to typing in a keyword at Google, or searching for topical podcasts, you can always go straight to the well established websites with names you've already heard of. For example, you can go to CNN.com and read stories on their huge money page. Generally the online articles will go into more detail than their televised counterparts.

Decorative Painting Workshop

2008-11-02T09:47:00.006-05:00

You are invited to attend a decorative painting class on January 17, 2009 from 9am - 4pm, at the beautiful Bentley Commons facility on Gravesmill Road in Lynchburg. Our instructor is Joy Davis (pictured above). This workshop is for both the novice as well as the seasoned painter. Tea and cookies will be provided, as well as your "project kit" packed with ALL of the supplies you will need to complete the faux marquetry piece pictured below. You only need to bring a bag lunch!

Registration fee is $55.00, but if you mention this Generation Community article, you will receive a $10.00 discount! To register, call Joy Davis at 434-665-0198.

Joy Davis is a 30 year member of the Society of Decorative Painters, and has taught decorative painting classes for over 25 years including several years in her own shop. We are so pleased that she is willing to share her time and talents with us!

Did You Know?

2008-10-14T19:54:00.001-04:00

If your senior group would like a qualified and friendly speaker to come and talk about a specific aging topic, Generation Solutions can do it. All you have to do is call 434-455-6500 today.

Jitterbug Phone

2008-08-05T10:11:00.002-04:00

In the comments for the "Fewer Phone Booths for Clark Kent" article below, someone asked where they could purchase a Jitterbug phone in Lynchburg. According to the company's website at www.jitterbug.com, the closest retail location would be the electronics store Best Buy, at 4024 Wards Road, in the Barnes and Noble plaza.

It might be a good idea to give Best Buy a call before you drive over to make sure they have some available. Their phone number is 239-9885.

Respect the Heat

2008-07-22T22:46:00.002-04:00

The month of June made its presence known when, in its first weekend, the temperatures shot to the mid 90’s. For nearly five days straight, the temperatures in Central Virginia were about 10 degrees above normal for the first week of June. In retrospect, this was probably a good thing because it forced many of us to remember that we must respect the heat. As summer moves on, we’ll have many opportunities to deal with high temperatures, and for the sake of our health and well-being, we simply need to remember the basics.

We all know that our bodies can cool down by sweating. However, in extreme heat, the body can lose its ability to regulate temperature. The sweating function fails, and the body temperature rises rapidly, which can result in heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. While the two former are less severe forms of hyperthermia, heat stroke is a true medical emergency and must be treated immediately. Serious cases can damage your organs, and even result in death. The most common symptoms of heat stroke are high body temperature, the absence of sweating with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, confusion, and dizziness. If you think someone might be suffering from a heat stroke, call 911 immediately. Next, cool them down any way you can until help arrives. Get them to a shaded or air conditioned area, remove clothing, and fan them vigorously to promote sweating and evaporation. You can also spray or sponge them with cool water.

As you are out and about this summer, remember that you need to drink plenty of fluids, take frequent breaks from activity, wear light, loose clothes, and avoid vigorous physical activities on the hottest days. Lastly, if you do not have air conditioning where you live, consider spending a few hours in a public place that does such as a mall or a library. Even just a few hours of air conditioning a day can reduce the risk of heat-related illness. And yes, much of this is considered to be common sense, but we are just trying to keep common sense all the more common! Stay cool out there while you enjoy your summer.

Vinyl Records

2008-07-22T22:41:00.001-04:00

The way people listen to music has changed very much over the past twenty years. The devices of this medium have continually gotten smaller, thinner, and more powerful. Yet, did you know that consumer interest in records has actually increased recently? That’s right —records. The Recording Industry of America reports that manufacturers’ shipments of records jumped more than 36 percent from 2006 to 2007 to more than 1.3 million.

Some avid music fans claim that the sound from records is superior to the sound from digital sources, like CDs. There is another reason, however, that may be behind the small resurgence in popularity. Record enthusiasts say they prefer the overall experience more, from putting the needle onto the record, to lingering over the liner notes and artwork on the record jacket. If you have a record player and some old records, why not take them for another spin?

Heritage United Methodist Life Lighters Group

2008-06-20T18:25:00.018-04:00

Thank you for having us Life Lighters! We enjoyed our visit, and we hope you enjoyed the information and entertainment. You have a wonderful group of people, and your facility is incredible. Hope to see you again!

The Community is You!

2008-06-06T21:12:00.004-04:00

Meet Mr. Snyder. He was the winner of the Generation Community Word Search Contest for the May/June edition of our newsletter. We congratulate Mr. Snyder, and encourage all of our newsletter readers to get involved in our contests.

Remember, our contests, events, and resources are for the community - and the community is you!

Ten Years, One Vision

2008-06-06T20:47:00.006-04:00

Tulane and Claudia Patterson, along with their four darling daughters (pictured left) celebrated the grand opening of Covenant Home Retirement Services 10 years ago, in 1998! “I started out with three employees and a dream,” owner Tulane Patterson said. “Our society doesn’t make it easy for seniors to live at home. What I had in mind was one umbrella company where you make just one phone call to receive all the services you need.”

In 2003, the company changed its name to Generation Solutions, but the goal of helping folks stay at home has always remained the same. The company was founded on the premise that older adults prefer to spend their retirement years living in their own home. Today, Generation Solutions continues with their vision to be the solution to this growing challenge, and offer services that enable older adults to live independently in the security of their own home. The company now has 250 employees and serves over 500 seniors and their families from Appomattox to Salem. They are the experts of stay at home senior care and offer guidance to help families plan their own “home retirement”.

Patterson knows that helping older adults with independent living often involves working with their families as well. “We can help seniors create a healthy aging program that enables them to stay independent longer. We also help folks make good decisions for family members and loved ones.” Speaking of families, in the last ten years as Generation Solutions has grown, so has Patterson’s family! (pictured below) And just as his own family has changed, he understands that every family’s situation is unique. For this reason, Generation Solutions does not rely on a wooden “one size fits all” approach to care. In an effort to provide a diverse array of services, they work in the areas of personal care, skilled care, care management, home medical equipment, and more.

As one example, Generation Solutions provides companion services that often make the difference between staying at home and having to move to a facility. In addition to friendly conversation, companions can assist with meal preparation, light housekeeping, medication reminders, laundry and routine errands. A sampling of the private duty nursing services includes checking blood glucose, setting up medications, assessing and caring for wounds, catheterizations and more.

Making use of technology is a big priority for Patterson. “We believe our patients should receive the best care utilizing the latest technology available.” Generation Solutions offers an in home system that helps clinicians identify problems which results in fewer trips to the hospital or emergency room. The HomMed Telehealth system consists of a home monitor used to collect data such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and more. The data is transmitted to an RN at the office who reviews the results and then consults with the patient and physician if necessary.

With all of these services available under one roof, one might wonder where to begin! Patterson thought of that too. Care managers are just a phone call away. They conduct care planning assessments and develop a plan that provides the assistance and care for any necessary services. Whether you are in need of immediate assistance or you are still very active and healthy, the care managers offer guidance as you consider all your options for today and the future. They’ll be your guide as you plan for the life you want to live.

Generation Solutions has been honored with the best rating of any home health agency west of Richmond, and placed in the top 100 in the USA! They were awarded the coveted Home Care Elite Award in both 2006 and 2007 by delivering consistent, quality care to their clients. For a local, family owned one stop source of care in central Virginia, Generation Solutions continues to prove they are the best. Thank you for being a part of our first ten wonderful years.

Fewer Phone Booths for Clark Kent

2008-04-29T14:32:00.002-04:00

That's right, the Man of Steel will need to find another place for his wardrobe change. With the popularity of cell phones, there just isn't the market for payphones that there once was. AT&T just announced that they are phasing out of the payphone business through the end of 2008. Payphones in the United States have declined across the industry from about 2.6 million phones in 1998 to an estimated 1 million phones today.

It is clear that consumers are in love with the convenience and peace of mind that cell phones offer. There are so many different kinds of phones and plans available. Some phones are geared to older adults, such as the Jitterbug which has oversized numbers and backlit buttons.

On The Road

2008-04-29T14:24:00.003-04:00

If you have a friend or loved one that is over 80 and is still an active driver, here is a reminder
about the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles license renewal process. The Virginia DMV is requiring drivers age 80 or older to appear in person at the DMV and pass a vision screening in order to renew their license. According to the DMV, you may have your vision screened at one of their offices, or present a report from an ophthalmologist or optometrist certifying that you’ve met the vision requirements to hold a Virginia driver’s license. Please note that a doctor’s report must have been issued within 90 days of your driver’s license renewal. With or without corrective lenses, a person’s vision must be 20/40. If a person has vision problems in one eye, an individual must see 20/40 with the other eye, with or without corrective lenses.

You can visit www.granddriver.net for more information on all kinds of motor vehicle related topics like mobility for seniors and helpful safety tips.

Hyland Heights Senior Group

2008-03-07T17:08:00.004-05:00

Dorothy helps with another Generation's Community presentation

Favorite Yogi-isms

2008-03-01T14:55:00.001-05:00

Yogi Berra Quotes

"You can observe a lot just by watching."

"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."

"Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical."

"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

When asked for the time:
"Do you mean now?"

"If you come to a fork in the road, take it."

"I made a wrong mistake."

Everyday Help

2008-03-01T14:47:00.002-05:00

What do you think of when you hear the term “occupational therapy” (or OT)? When someone sustains a serious injury to their knee, a surgeon will operate on the knee. A physical therapist will devise a series of exercises to help the knee heal properly with a maximum range of motion. An occupational therapist will ask, “What do you need your knee to do? What activities do you want to do?” They will help you adapt to your knee so that you can continue doing the things you want and need to do. The occupational therapist will determine the right treatment for keeping you mobile and an active participant in your own life. But this kind of therapy is not just for older adults or accident victims. My son Luke, nearly two years old, benefits from occupational therapy. Anyone who, for whatever reason, can't do the things in life they want or need to do may benefit from occupational therapy.

April is Occupational Therapy month, so we are taking the opportunity to shine the spotlight on this field, and become better acquainted with the benefits it can offer. O.T practitioners are skilled professionals. Their education includes the study of human growth and development, with specific emphasis on the social, emotional, and physical effects of illness and injury. They help those with illnesses, injuries, and certain conditions or disabilities get on with their “occupations" of living.

What sets an O.T. apart is that they look at the whole picture when it comes to a person’s treatment. They consider the individual’s abilities, the tasks to be performed, and the environment in which the task takes place. You may be surprised by the wide range of conditions that may benefit from occupational therapy. Among them are: Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, spinal cord injury, autism, hip fracture or replacement, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and low vision. Due to the vast range of conditions that are treated and ages of the patients, O.T. services are delivered in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, and mental health clinics.

Of course Generation Solutions Home Health division provides O.T. If you or someone you know would like to discuss O.T., simply call 434-846-3300. In addition, Generation Solutions Home Medical Equipment division carries the products you need to help you get on with your occupation of living. From power chairs, to oxygen supplies, to useful daily living tools like “The Reacher”, it’s all about remaining an active participant in your own life.

Generation Solutions Wins Again!

2008-03-01T14:40:00.002-05:00

Generation Solutions Home Health division has done it again, earning the 2007 Homecare Elite award. Generation Solutions continues to demonstrate that they are a quality provider, holding the best rating of any home health agency west of Richmond, and placing in the top 100 in the USA. Generation Solutions is a “one stop shop”, the only full service agency in the area offering Personal Care, Home Health, and Home Medical Equipment all under one roof.

If you would like to learn more for yourself or a loved one, call 455-6500 to speak to a Geriatric Care Manager.

Valentine Party at Lakewood Baptist Church

2008-02-09T14:05:00.001-05:00

Valentine Party At Hyland Heights Baptist Church

2008-02-03T20:24:00.000-05:00

In the Studio at Victory FM 88.3

2008-01-16T21:47:00.000-05:00

Tracey tells WRVL's listeners about Generation Community.

Spreading the word about Generation Community's resources

Sharing a laugh with our kind host, Gina Willis

Enjoy Watching TV? Here's What You Need to Know

2008-01-10T11:16:00.000-05:00

Technology continues to advance by leaps and bounds. And while most of us will agree that technology is our friend, we still don't want anything leaping or bounding on us unexpectedly. There are changes coming in the world of television that you need to know about. On February 19, 2009, the TV networks will all be switching their broadcasting signals from analog to digital. So what does this mean to you? It means that if you still get your TV reception via rabbit ears or a roof-based antenna, you will need to get a "digital converter antenna" that will pull in the digital signal to your television. However, your old TV will not be obsolete. There is no need to go buy one of the new "high definition" digital televisions (DTV) unless you want to. Again, your current TV set will still work with one of the converter antennas. Also, the digital antenna is going to be subsidized by the Federal government, so there is a good chance that they will be very low cost, if there is a cost at all.

The only word of warning here is that like all antennas, reception and quality will depend on your location. As for those of you who currently get your television by cable or a satellite and do not have a digital TV come 2009, you will need to contact your cable or satellite provider to ask if you will need a converter box for your TV. And lastly, while digital televisions are much more expensive than the televisions you may be used to, like all new technology their prices continue to drop significantly every few months.

Don't Be Afraid to Try New Things in 2008

2008-01-02T23:30:00.001-05:00

Award Winning Generation Solutions Home Health

2008-01-02T23:09:00.000-05:00

Generation Solutions Home Health is the Medicare certified division of Generation Solutions. They serve Lynchburg and the surrounding counties. Their award winning staff offers a full range of skilled home health services. You can call them today to learn more about: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Skilled Nursing, Home Health Aides, and Medical Social Workers. They even offer their patients the latest technology with HomMed Telemonitoring, Anodyne Therapy, VitalStim and PT/INR monitoring.

How does Generation Solutions Home Health rank as a provider of these services? They were named to the 2006 HomeCare Elite, honored among the most successful home care providers in the country! This ground-breaking review names the Medicare-certified agencies whose performance measures in quality, improvement and financial performance are among the top 25% of providers nationwide!

The 2006 HomeCare Elite award honors providers who ranked in the top 100 and Top 500 of providers nationwide. The 2006 HomeCare Elite is the first performance recognition of its kind in the home health industry. It is brought to the industry by OCS, Inc., publisher of home care’s most respected independent newsletter Home Health Line. The data used for this analysis was compiled from publicly available information. The entire list of the 2006 HomeCare Elite agencies can be viewed by visiting the OCS web site (http://www.ocsys.com/).

If you would like to find out more about Generation Solutions Home Health for yourself or a friend, you can call them at 434-846-3300.

Give Yourself Some Credit

2008-01-02T23:01:00.000-05:00

For many years, people have been allowed to share their credit cards with authorized users. Husbands have historically done this for their spouses, for example. But there are changes coming to the way credit scores are calculated that could affect millions of people, particularly women. Some criminals have abused the current arrangement of shared credit card accounts, and so the credit bureaus are just eliminating all "authorized user" credit standings across the board. This means that women (or men) who have been married for many years and have always used their spouse's credit cards instead of building their own credit will be the most affected by this change. They could potentially go from having a great credit rating to virtually no credit rating overnight.

The solution to this potential problem is to build some credit in your name now. If you do not have your own credit, consider taking out two credit cards in your name. Perhaps you were already going to buy something on your spouse's credit card, and now you could use your own to build some credit. But please remember this: good credit is your friend, but credit card debt is not.