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Happily Ever Aging
...a UMH Senior Living Blog
Everything you need to know about caring for your loved one - at home or at a senior living community.
What is assisted living? If you’re asking yourself this, you’re not alone. While it may seem like a basic question, it’s one that staff members at senior living communities are frequently asked. Between assisted living, nursing homes, retirement communities, and more, there are a lot of terms that are easy to confuse when you’re considering housing for a senior loved one. To find out if assisted living is right for your family member, you need to understand what this type of senior living entails and the level of care it can offer.
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Most people use the terms “assisted living” and “nursing home” interchangeably. However, they offer two very different types of care. And depending on the needs of you or a senior parent, one option could be the right choice while the other could fail to meet specific needs. Before deciding between assisted living or a nursing home, you need to really understand how these two options differ. Let's look at what assisted living communities and nursing homes have to offer, and find out how to determine which one is best for you or your loved one.
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Did you know smoking cigarettes kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, with more than 41,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke? It’s true. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.” It’s no wonder a large number of organizations around the United States have banned tobacco products from their locations. In the healthcare industry specifically, with so much evidence of the negative effects of tobacco use, there has been a huge push to go tobacco free.
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Did you know that 14% of Connecticut's population is made up of senior citizens? And, the number of citizens over 65 is expected to increase by 38% over the next 15 years! As more and more Connecticut citizens join the senior population, there’s never been a better time to focus on senior wellness. With a high senior population, there are plenty of opportunities for seniors to stay active. Whether your parent or a senior loved one lives at home or in an assisted living community, it’s really important for them to keep moving.
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Aging & Caregiving | medication management
In today’s age, many seniors are living at home alone. Some may be thriving – they live independently, can cook, clean, drive, socialize and are as sharp as a tack. This is the ultimate goal: to stay in the family home for the rest of their life. However, the reality is that most seniors don’t thrive at home in their later years and although family members chip in and offer their assistance, the quality and consistency may lack. Medication management is something that should not be taken lightly, as it ensures the good health of your loved one. Sadly, without proper education and training, medications are often mismanaged, or dosages are skipped altogether. At assisted living communities, your loved one is guaranteed the care they need to thrive in their golden years. This article will break down the importance of senior medication management and options you have when it comes to care.
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As a parent or loved one ages, a bad fall or a crisis may seem inevitable. In fact, every 11 seconds, a senior is admitted to the emergency room due to a fall-related injury, and every 19 minutes a senior dies due to a fall-related injury. And, according to the World Health Organization, “in the United States of America, 20–30% of older people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, or head trauma.” These are major risks you don’t want your parents to take with their health.
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Aging & Caregiving | News | award
The 27th annual National Mature Media Awards recently honored the nation’s best marketing, communications, educational materials, and programs produced for older adults.
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After a parent or loved one has a bad fall or faced a serious illness, they may be required to go through short-term rehabilitation. As part of the recovery process, it is common to consider a move to a more supportive living environment after they leave the rehab facility. This is the best option to keep their physical recovery on track. Transitioning to assisted living is a wise choice, both from a safety and a care perspective. As your parent’s time in a short-term rehab is coming to a close, you can start taking steps now to ensure transitioning to assisted living is an easy process.
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A fall is traumatic, both for the senior who experiences the fall and the family who is scared and now faced with decisions about their loved one’s future care. If your parent is recovering in the hospital or a rehab facility, you’re probably eager to get them home and back on the road to the recovery. But, after a fall, transitioning to assisted living could be the best move for your loved one.
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lifestyle transitions | memory care
You’re overwhelmed and Mom or Dad needs more care than you can provide them as their cognitive health declines. You’re worried for their safety and you’re beginning to think it’s time to get outside help. Does this sound like you? It’s most likely time to start looking into senior care options, especially if your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
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After looking at handful of potential homes for an aging loved one, all your options probably start to seem the same. However, each community is unique, with specific features that sets them apart. One difference you should pay attention to is whether a community is nonprofit or for-profit. This could have a huge impact on the experience your loved one has. Before you choose a community for our loved one, you need to learn more about how nonprofit and for-profit communities differ. Once you know more about these distinctions, you able to make the right decision for your loved one and your family.
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