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SATURDAY, SEPT. 29, 2018 • KOKOMO TRIBUNE
Silver Birch of Kokomo is a
community.
But not just any community.
It’s one that makes quality as-
sisted-living affordable for ev-
eryone because Silver Birch be-
lieves older adults should have
an inspired life no matter their
financial situation.
Part of that affordability is
achieved through the acceptance
of the state’s Aged and Disabled
Waiver. While Medicaid already
pays for nursing home care, the
waiver applies Medicaid benefits
to assisted-living care. It’s for
those with limited financial re-
sources who are in need of nurs-
ing home-level care.
“The waiver has been un-
der-utilized,” said Angie Arm-
strong, director of marketing for
Silver Birch. “It’s such a new
concept that people tend to shy
away from it, causing them to
miss out on a great opportunity.
But through education of its ben-
efits, we’re trying to get people
excited about what it can do for
them.”
That’s because Silver Birch is
excited.
“It allows us to offer a beauti-
ful, purpose-filled life at an af-
fordable rate in our great assist-
ed-living facility to people 55
and older who might not other-
wise have such an option,” she
said.
And, Armstrong says, Silver
Birch is the first community in
Howard County to accept the
Aged and Disabled Waiver for
new residents.
Understanding that Medicaid
and waiver eligibility rules can
be challenging for the newcomer,
Silver Birch offers prescreening
and consulting prior to submit-
ting a Medicaid application. Staff
members walk families through
the approval process, identifying
the necessary benefits and strat-
egies to navigate the process.
This prescreening helps fami-
lies be better prepared and fully
supported in their assisted living
selection.
THE COMMUNITY
The Silver Birch community
opened in May 2018 at the inter-
section of Washington Street
and Park Avenue in downtown
Kokomo. It boasts 119 thought-
fully designed apartments, in-
c l u d i n g b o t h s t u d i o a n d
one-bedroom options.
All residents live in a private
apartment with a kitchenette,
bedroom, bathroom, individual
heat and A/C controls, and
emergency alert system.
“You never have a roommate
unless you want one and you’ll
never have to share a bathroom
unless you’ve requested a room-
mate,” Armstrong said.
Such private accommoda-
tions, though, don’t dampen the
spirit of community at Silver
Birch. Its wellness services, ac-
tivity programming, and beauti-
fully appointed common areas
are designed to help residents
feel energized and supported.
Each of the building’s four
stories features several appeal-
ing special-use common areas,
giving residents full access to a
theater, library, lounges and
even an arts & crafts room.
“There’s also a community
room with a pool table, which
has proven to be very popular,”
Armstrong said.
Those common areas regu-
larly play host to social, recre-
ational and wellness program-
ming aimed at keeping residents
engaged and active. At the helm
of those activities is a director of
resident engagement whose
mission is to keep everyone
moving and busy.
“We want to make every mo-
ment count,” Armstrong said.
“As we age, sometimes people
lose that need or drive to keep
doing the activities that keep
them young. Our sole goal is
keeping people young at heart.”
While Silver Birch promotes
social connections with family,
friends, and neighbors, it also
facilitates participation with the
surrounding community.
A HELPING HAND
As a Silver Birch resident, you
receive a helping hand or per-
sonal attention to do the activi-
ties you may no longer be able to
do safely on your own. Services
include self-care assistance, reg-
ular health monitoring, medica-
tion management, 24-hour staff
assistance, weekly house clean-
ing and weekly laundry.
Residents receive three restau-
rant-style meals and snacks
daily. Food choices are selected
through the MIND Diet system
which zeroes in on the foods that
specifically affect brain health.
The nutrition plan aims to lower
the risk of mental decline.
And you’ll never be surprised
with unexpected fees for any ser-
vice at Silver Birch.
“We don’t want to surprise
anyone who is struggling to find
a place to live with unexpected
fees and costs,” Armstrong said.
“So everything is included here.
No service is a la carte.”
Providing all the right services
and amenities in one place and
without additional fees aims to
make life easier so residents can
focus on what matters most —
staying engaged, active, and
connected.
“Why struggle alone for an
hour just to put your clothes
on?” Armstrong said. “We help
accomplish such daily tasks in a
mere couple of minutes, leaving
you the other 58 to do some-
thing more meaningful with
your life.”
Inspiring purposeful lives for all
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Silver Birch of Kokomo
408 S. Washington St., Kokomo
Phone: 765-868-7266
