Treemont Retirement Blog

Change is scary – especially for a loved one who has lived in the same home for decades. A large share of those choosing a retirement community are singles who don’t think about it until the death of a spouse leaves them alone — but couples can benefit even more.

“Both couples and singles discover that a senior community keeps them more independent, with more support and enjoyment than if they stayed at home,” says Treemont Retirement Community Executive Director Rachel Unverzagt. “Singles find a renewed social life. And couples with diverse needs have more flexibility in their lifestyle.”

Marilyn and Bob are part of the majority of seniors who only considered the move after significant health issues forced them to.

As the spread of Coronavirus continues to be a main concern throughout the world it is important to stay informed and do our part to in respond this emerging public health threat. As we are bombarded daily on TV and social media with information about the Coronavirus, it is important that we obtain information from trustworthy sources. As a home health agency, we rely on organizations such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and World Health Organization, (WHO). These websites will provide the most up to date information in regards to COVID19 prevention, management, and status of the virus.

Senior communities such as Treemont Retirement Community are an area of focus due to the age demographics in these communities. Treemont has the unique opportunity to partner with Senior Allegiance Home Health agency that has become a great resource and partner in responding to COVID19, along with Treemont Health Care Center.

The recent identification of the COVID19 variant, Omicron, has caused an increase of positive case throughout Houston and the world. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant is likely to spread more easily than

One of the key services that Senior Allegiance provides is Medicare Home Health Care for Treemont residents. Senior Allegiance Home Health works under the direction of your physician to manage an injury or illness in the convenience of your apartment, seeking the best possible outcome in a compassionate and professional manner. Senior Allegiance submits all Home Health claims. 

Traditional Medicare covers in full a 60-day renewable Home Health Episode for Nursing and Rehabilitation (physical, occupational and/or speech therapy) services provided in the comfort of your home. Should you sign up with Senior Allegiance, Rasha Amoush, RN is one of the caring and compassionate Registered Nurses that would visit to assess, treat and evaluate your needs according to your physician’s orders. Rasha might, for example, check your vital signs, assess your skin status, do wound care and/or assist with pillbox set up. She would also teach you and your family self-care techniques to allow you to safely remain in your home. A Senior Allegiance Nurse is available to you Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm — and on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Rasha says, “Seniors are lovely people, they appreciate me. A funny story —most of my patients are hard of hearing. Over time, I’ve found myself speaking loudly so regularly that one of my co-workers started complaining that I am too loud in the office!”

The LIFE Club is a new initiative by Executive Director Rachel Unverzagt under the leadership of Program Manager Precious Bryant. Tremont’s Life Club (also referred to as the “Club”) is an enriched activity program that provides participants with full day guided activities that include mental stimulation, social engagement, physical exercise and education.  The Club helps participants enjoy and maintain their independence by providing the structure and direction needed by some residents for successful participation in a rich and engaged life.

The LIFE Club refers to “Living in Full Effectiveness.”  It starts with the idea that we all enjoy our lives most when we are able to maintain our physical and mental gifts and use them to help each other and to live/laugh/play while we maintain social connections and build friendships.

Senior Living Houston: Welcome Resident Counselor Sam Freeman!

Moving to a retirement community is a significant life change. Listening and understanding the senior’s situation and desires is paramount. That is what distinguishes Resident Counselor Sam Freeman in her current role where she interacts with families and residents to be a resource in their senior living search.

Sam says, “I like working with seniors because I appreciate being an advocate for the residents I can help at this stage in their life. It’s a really fulfilling experience.

Sam, a Houston native and graduate of Chavez High School, initially started working for a skilled nursing facility as a weekend activities assistant. She was given other opportunities which she happily accepted and excelled at—as a concierge, then central supply, and finally the Admissions Director at Park Manor Skilled Nursing.

“What really attracted me to work for Treemont was that it was quite different from my previous job. However I was completely ready to start a new venture. From the very second I walked in for my first interview I felt welcomed by the staff and residents; the smallest of interactions I had with everyone while waiting in the lobby made my decision that much easier and excited to work here,” says Sam.

Treemont Retirement is introducing a new type of “Early Bird Special” to help seniors take a more serious look at Independent Living options at a younger age. Treemont has learned that many of its residents put off thinking about the idea of a senior living community until they wereshaken by a health scare in their late 70s or early 80s. But these residents found that their worries of giving up independence were not accurate, and today they say “I should have made this move ten years ago.”

Early Bird Special Concept

The initial concept of “Early Bird Specials” for seniors was by restaurants who wanted to extend their productive dining hours by offering discounts to seniors who could help fill up under-utilized early dining time slots. Seniors had the flexibility to dine earlier because they didn’t have work related conflicts – and they loved getting the discounts.

For Treemont the “Special” part of its new outreach to early birds is to provide Inflation Protection for a ten year period for those young enough to qualify. Rent increases will be capped each year to a maximum of 2%, and will be even less when the social security cost of living adjustment (cola) is below 2%. Seniors who remember the early 1980’s when annual inflation jumped to 14% will recognize the value of this protection.

Treemont wants “young” seniors to take a serious look at the many benefits provided in an Independent community, and not wait until a significant health issue arises.

It is an understatement to say most of us have “Covid Fatigue.” We yearn to return to “normal.” We thought we were there, and then we encountered the delta variant, resulting in a spike in Covid19 cases in Houston. No one is immune from this disease.

The three COVID-19 Vaccines are a miraculous new tool to prevent infection. For those who get the Covid delta variant, the vaccine has typically resulted in a mild case and largely kept people from being hospitalized. Pfizer-BioNTech, with full FDA approval, is 95% effective rate against COVID19, requiring 2 doses 3 weeks apart. Moderna, under review for full FDA approval, requires 2 doses 4 weeks apart. Johnson & Johnson COVID19 vaccine has approximately a 66.3% effective rate according to the CDC and requires only 1 dose. Treemont Health Care Center is administering free vaccines Tuesday, August 31^st and is now an official vaccination site. Call Karina Walker at 713.975.1519 to sign up!

Senior Living Houston: Welcome Executive Director Rachel Unverzagt!

We are delighted to welcome Executive Director Rachel Unverzagt to the Treemont family. Rachel brings a wealth of experience in all levels of senior living — independent living, assisted, memory care and nursing — to her new position. For the past 21 years, Rachel has been an Administrator/Executive Director or Regional Director of Operations for communities in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. She also served as Executive Director of Garden Terrace Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence. This depth of senior living experience is especially helpful to the Treemont Campus and our Continuum of Care.

Rachel graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Long term Care from South West Texas State University (now known as Texas State University) and moved seamlessly from Activity Director, Housekeeping Supervisor and Admissions Coordinator roles, to the Administrator positions at a Rehab Tech Hospital, an Outpatient Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing. She has done it all!

Many of you have met Rachel, initially hired this summer as a consultant to help with marketing projects. Rachel brings a personal touch to her daily interactions, enjoying interacting with residents and families in a way that instills confidence that she cares about the well-being of our residents. Says Rachel, “I love hearing about seniors’ lives and their contributions to their families and community. I appreciate their history and love helping make their lives better.”

Owner Tom Witt says ,”Many residents and families have developed a strong bondwith Rodney, and we are grateful for his strong leadership for almost 10 years. I am excited, though, about the depth of experience Rachel brings in senior living, her calm temperament and keen problem solving abilities.