Treemont Retirement Blog

Healthy Tips for Seniors: Flu Season is Upon Us, Be Prepared

In the United States, Flu Season most commonly occurs during the Fall and Winter. Influenza activity is more active during October and can last until late May, although peaks of Flu cases are seen in December and February. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the most important method of protection from the flu and its potentially serious complications. This year Texas is one of the four states that has experienced high influenza-like illness activity according to the CDC. Although, hospitalizations due to the Flu have remain the same from previous years, the highest hospitalization rates are among people 65 years and older.

Although, receiving the Flu vaccine is the first and most important prevention methods, there are other habits to keep in mind that with reduce the risk of getting the FLU or getting sick in

Nursing Homes Houston: Spotlight on Admissions Director Marion Hattix

Residents often come to skilled nursing and rehab or assisted living following medical setbacks, like a complicated infection, a fall resulting in a fracture, or a stroke resulting in the need for retraining in daily living tasks. One benefit of residing at Treemont is that there is a Health Care Center (HCC) on the campus, just off Building B, to help you navigate rehab after a hospital stay or just have a question about assisted living and long-term care. The person to contact is our new Health Care Admissions Director Marion Hattix! Marion is responsible for admitting patients to Treemont’s HCC. Marion is generally the first point of contact for Treemont residents and families who have questions about health care options. She works with a variety of referral sources, including discharge planners at local hospitals such as Memorial Hermann, who rely on her to assess residents before they are admitted.

Marion has worked 18 years as an LVN and 26 years in the medical field. Most recently Marion

by Jane Zimmerman, Treemont Resident

Treemont has had so many talented newbies since Hurricane Harvey, and Carolyn Korkmas is no exception.  Her specialty is writing, which she does with a flare, and includes research and colorful description to delight her readers.  Perhaps this is why Carolyn chose it as a college major, as well as a career; but her love of writing began at the age of 10 when she had 100 pen pals!

Carolyn, a native Texan, was born in Greenville, TX., then later moved to Dallas and McKinney.  She attended the University of North Texas and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Library Science and English. Later she received her Master’s Degree in Library Science, specializing in law from the University of Denver.  She then began her career in the law departments of oil companies, mainly Shell Oil, where she retired.

Treemont Nursing and Rehab Promotes Return to Independence 

Residents often come to skilled nursing following medical setbacks, like a complicated infection, a fall resulting in a fracture, or a stroke resulting in the need for retraining in daily living tasks. What sets Treemont Health Center apart is its top-notch therapy team. The therapy program in the HCC consists of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Each plays a large role in the strengthening process. HCC takes great pride in helping residents get stronger and return to an independent lifestyle.  

Treemont’s fantastic success rate and unique approach are why many residents choose to work with the therapy team in the HCC. “The only way our residents will get better is if we make therapy fun to encourage residents to complete their daily regimen,” says Jobert Macas, head of Treemont’s therapy group. “Often our residents don’t realize

Nursing Homes in Houston: Spotlight on Administrator Cynthia Lamison

Administrator Cynthia Lamison took the helm of our nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living program on campus in May 2018. We are delighted that Cynthia will bring her many talents to Treemont Health Care Center (HCC). Cynthia brings to Treemont a strong clinical skills background and customer service orientation. This will reinforce Treemont’s focus on top quality patient care. 

For the past 3 years, Cynthia has been Corporate Director of Resident Care for Retirement Center Management, overseeing the clinical care for 13 facilities. Cynthia has also held Administrator/Executive Director positions for home health care and independent living communities and has served as an ADON at a nursing facility. 

Early in her career, Cynthia was Director of Treemont’s Assisted Living facility. Many of you will recognize Cynthia as she has stayed connected to the Treemont Campus in her role as a nurse for

Why Traditional Medicare is Best for Treemont Senior Living in Houston  Residents 

Name of Senior
Medicare Number
Date of Birth

We recommend Traditional Medicare  for seniors 75+ for the following reasons:

• Traditional Medicare provides the Maximum Flexibility to choose one’s doctors, hospitals, specialist, rehab center, nursing home, home health care and hospice providers without having to be

by Jane Zimmerman, Treemont Resident

He was BOI (born on Galveston Island) - she was born in the north Duluth, Minnesota.  On the surface, they couldn’t be more different. He is aesthetically inclined, while she is athletically inclined.  He taught art, she taught gym classes.  But when you delve deeper, you find that they go together like bread and butter. Their talents complement one another: he paints portraits; she takes the photographs from which he paints them. It’s no wonder that Fred and Marion Jinkins have been happily married for 55 years!

In 1939 Fred's family was transferred to the Panama Canal.  During WWII they moved every 14 months – to Key West, Florida, Washington D.C., Ft. Myers, and a variety of other military bases.  Fred's mothers' husband was a West Point graduate and thus served in the service during WWII.  Fred returned to Galveston in 1948-1955 after the war and worked for a shipping company.  After that he went into real estate, then into printing, and opened a restaurant before answering his life's calling,

Healthy Tips for Seniors: Shingles

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Although shingles can occur anywhere on your body, it most often appears as a shingle stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of your torso. The reason for shingles is unclear. But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older.

Shingles is more common in older adults and in people who have weakened immune systems.

Shingles is caused by the Varicella-Zoster Virus. This iss thee same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus lies inactive in nerve tissue near your spinal cord and brain. Years later, the virus may become reactive as shingles. The virus that causes chickenpox and shingles is not the same virus responsible for cold sores or genital herpes.