Aging is part of any man’s life. Part of getting old is the increasing dependency to other people to take care of oneself. Some elderly are blessed for they have the family to take care of them. But there are some who do not have that kind of blessing and needs an agency to take care of their needs. Keiro Senior Healthcare is one of those agencies that take care of the needs of the elderly. It was established in 1961 by community leaders namely: George Aratani, Edwin Hiroto, Kiyoshi Maruyama, James Mitsumori, Gongoro Nakamura, Frank Omatsu, Joseph Shinoda, and Fred Wada.
This non-profit organization was established primarily to serve the needs of Japanese-American senior citizens. An environment sharing the same food, language, values, and culture made the place home for the Japanese-American elderly. After purchasing the Japanese Hospital, located in Los Angeles, hospital care was the initial service that Keiro Senior Healthcare offered until the time it offered senior care. Through donations from the community and finance from the founders, it started to operate in 1969. Five acres of land from the Jewish Home for the Aging, located in Boyle Heights, was brought by this non-profit organization in 1974.
In 1975 Keiro Retirement Home opened on the site. In 1977 Keiro Intermediate Care Facility began to operate on the same site. In 1982, Keiro Nursing Home opened in Gardena through the fundraising drive of the residents of Gardena and South Bay. But in 1987 Keiro Retirement Home temporarily closed due to the damaged in the facilities caused by the Whittier Earthquake. But it was once again opened in 1989 with the help and support of U. S. and Japan government. In November of 2006, Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro was launched. Its primary goal is to promote and encourage healthy aging among the Japanese-American community.
There are four facilities that Keiro Senior Healthcare offers:
(1) Keiro Nursing Home (KNH);
(2) South Bay Keiro Nursing Home (SBKNH);
(3) Keiro Intermediate Care Facility (KICF);
(4) Keiro Retirement Home (KRH).
Keiro Nursing Home (KNH) is a facility that provides care for seniors through skilled nurses in a comfortable environment. Its approach in its services for the seniors is a cultural sensitive approach. The residents of KNH can expect the nurses to speak the same language as theirs, eat ethnic foods of their own choice, and activities that will engage them in their culture and environment.
Its services includes:
(A) 24-hour nursing;
(B) Rehabilitation, be it physical, speech, occupational, or intravenous therapies;
(C) Diagnostic services;
(D) Pharmacy, dental, audiology, podiatry, and vision services;
(E) Transportation;
(F) Social services;
(G) Meals/dietary services;
(H) Nutritional support;
(I) Therapeutic activities;
(J) Entertainment;
(K) Housekeeping and laundry; and
(L) Case management.
An added service was the Special care Unit for seniors that have Alzheimer’s disease and other related diseases. Requirements for admission in KNH are as follows: (A) Limited or non-ambulatory persons who needs 24-hour skilled nursing care or rehabilitation and medications administered by a professional nurse; (B) Ambulatory person that have cognitive disabilities; and (c) Physician’s referral. Waiting list depends on circumstance. Methods of payment can be private pay, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and selected HMO/PPO contracts. South Bay Keiro Nursing Home (SBKNH) was established to serve seniors in the South Bay area. Services, requirements for admission, and methods of payment for SBKNH are just the same as those offered by KNH.
But unlike in KNH, which can serve 300 seniors and 39 seniors that have Alzeheimer’s Disease and other related diseases, SBKNH can only serve 98 seniors. Keiro Intermediate Care Facility (KICF) was established to give services to seniors who can still walk (with or without a cane) but needs nursing care and extra help in their daily routine. Outdoor walking program, music therapy, one-on-one visits, participation in traditional Japanese arts, welcoming entertainers and other dignitaries from different countries, interaction with younger people are just some of the activities that KICF offers its residents.
Other services that their facility offers include:
(A) Intermittent nursing;
(B) Short-term rehabilitation;
(C) Diagnostic services;
(D) Pharmacy, dental, audiology, podiatry, and vision services;
(E) Independent and supervised walking;
(F) Adult education programs;
(G) Transportation;
(H) Social services;
(I) Meals/dietary services;
(J) Nutritional support;
(K) Therapeutic activities;
(L) Entertainment;
(M) Housekeeping and laundry;
(N) Case management.
Seniors that are ambulatory (with o without cane) that needs nursing care on irregular basis are welcome to be admitted in KICF. Physician’s referral is also a requirement. Waiting list, just like in KNH and SBKNH, depends on the circumstance. Methods of payment can be private pay or Medi-Cal. KICF can serve 90 elderly. Keiro Retirement Home (KRH) was established to provide a sheltered and relaxing environment for seniors to live out their precious years. This facility provides seniors with furnished, spacious studios, and one-bedroom apartments. A minimum age of 60 years old is the age requirement to be admitted in KRH.
People that are ambulatory (with or without cane), independent, or those that need assistance in their daily routines can also be admitted in KRH. Services offered by KRH are as follows:
(A) Pharmacy services;
(B) Internal lifeline emergency alert system
(C) Assisted living (but with additional fee);
(D) Wellness programs;
(E) Podiatry care;
(F) Transportation;
(G) Social services;
(H) Meals/dietary services;
(I) Nutritional support;
(J) Therapeutic activities;
(K) Entertainment;
(L) Housekeeping and laundry services;
(M) Case management.
Added services of the facility are culturally-sensitive care, on-site postal and bank services, dining hall, free-standing activity center, beauty shop, library, gateball fields, koi pond, flower and vegetable gardens, Japanese garden, gated complex, security service for 24 hours, and outings. Methods of payments can be private pay or SSI. This facility can serve 154 seniors. Funding of Keiro Senior Healthcare comes from donations. Tribute gifts, fund-raising events, planned giving, and donation of vehicles are the ways in which you can contribute to Keiro Senior Healthcare.
Philanthropy and volunteerism are the driving force that helps Keiro Senior Healthcare to continuously operate and help Japanese-American seniors. The donors and volunteers play a significant role in ensuring a secure and comfortable environment for the residents of this non-profit organization. Volunteers in Keiro Senior Healthcare can be classified into two, individual volunteers and volunteer groups. KRH and KICF are the two facilities of Keiro Senior Healthcare who continuously needs volunteers.
Individuals aged 14 and above are welcome to apply for volunteering positions. Volunteers for resident care and assistance for activities are the volunteer positions that are in constant need. Clerical and office positions for volunteers are limited but are also needed depending on the circumstance. Exercise instructors, beauticians, outdoor walking escorts, assistants for room visits and one-on-one contacts with residents, patio companions, drivers, tea room assistants, and program helpers are the other positions that need volunteers.
Volunteers can continue their volunteerism for as long as they want to or can be just as-needed basis. Volunteer groups on the other hand are responsible in providing activities for the residents and raise fund for the organization. Volunteer groups for Keiro are as follows:
(1) Senior Foundation CC, which is responsible in raising funds for the organization;
(2) Friends of Keiro Retirement Home (FKRH);
(3) Family and Friends of Keiro Nursing Home (FFKNH);
(4) Visions for Keiro;
(5) Friends of The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro;
(6) Kasa No Kai;
(7) Memory Kai coaches.
Keiro’s primary goal is to take care of Japanese-American seniors at the same time improve their quality of life. Through the services that they have provided since they started the organization, they have reached their goal and still continue to serve the community.
Reference
- Keiro Senior Healthcare. (2008). Keiro Senior Healthcare. Retrieved March 24, 2008, from the World Wide Web: http://www. keiro. org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page. aspx? pid=183- &srcid=201.