Senior Living Blog by UMH (2)

How to Help Seniors with Dementia Cope with Colder Weather

By: Elizabeth Bemis January 18th, 2022

In many parts of the country, winter’s chill is forcefully gripping the air. The next few months will urge the majority of us inside to keep warm and avoid the discomforts of colder weather. For seniors, the prospect of facing a snowy, icy, or otherwise freezing climate can be a daunting one. But these conditions are even more hazardous for those living with dementia, as the bite of winter often presents a number of heightened risks to their physical and mental health.

New Year Challenge for Seniors: Resolve to Have More Fun

By: Marissa Salvesen January 18th, 2022

It’s a new year, and many of us have begun to bring our resolutions to life. From new exercise routines and healthier eating habits to relationship-building efforts and work-life balance, there are fresh goals popping up everywhere. It’s a common time to rethink the areas of our lives where progress can be made and our realities can improve. Arguably, seniors are no exception to this phenomena, though we’re proposing a potentially unexpected aim for this particular group.

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5 Tips For Seniors To Stay Active in the Winter

By: Tracey Haughton December 6th, 2021

Winter is a great time to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. However, with cold weather and shorter days, it can be hard to find the motivation to do so. Whether you’re a senior citizen looking for a way to stay warm or just someone who wants some helpful ideas on staying active during this time of year, these 5 tips will help you stay happy and healthy this winter.

Yuletide Tips for Senior Caregivers to Ease Seasonal Stress

By: Marissa Salvesen December 6th, 2021

Often, the responsibility of caring for a senior involves navigating a precarious balancing act. From work and family life to the many activities associated with senior caregiving, there’s no shortage of priorities fighting for your attention. Then, here come the holidays—a time traditionally thought to bring joy and peace, but which usually makes the to-do list of a senior caregiver that much longer and more complex.

Expert Answers to the Most Common Memory Care Questions

By: Elizabeth Bemis December 6th, 2021

The possibility that a loved one may be developing Alzheimer’s disease or another memory impairment can feel overwhelming. With age, a reduction in cognitive ability naturally occurs, but more significant declines in memory are cause for concern. And if you’re already caring for someone with a progressive neurodegenerative condition, you understand how challenging it can be. Given the physical and emotional toll such a responsibility can begin to take on a caregiver, it’s no surprise that many begin to seek out options for support.

5 Compelling Reasons to Be Thankful for Senior Living Community Caregivers

By: Elizabeth Bemis November 8th, 2021

As parents and aging loved ones transition into their senior years, there may be health and lifestyle challenges that eventually make living on their own an unsafe or impractical option. This doesn’t mean they can no longer maintain a sense of independence or live life to the fullest. It simply means that having access to a higher level of care is what makes sense at that time.

Insights Into Fall Prevention for Seniors with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

By: Marissa Salvesen November 8th, 2021

About one in every four seniors falls at least once a year, and the occurrence is even more common among those with memory and cognitive decline. With Alzheimer’s, for example, impairments in vision, perception, and balance increase as the disease progresses, making the risk of a fall that much more probable.

Fun Fall Activities For Seniors

By: Tracey Haughton October 13th, 2021

As the weather cools and the warm, brilliant hues of Autumn begin to cover the landscape, our thoughts automatically run to pumpkins, apples, and spice from lattes to donuts we begin to crave, and can't wait to indulge in the abundance of the season. Some people believe that the cooling temperature means it is time for seniors to head indoors and pull out the puzzles, knitting kits, and other forms of indoor entertainment. But not so fast. There is still more fun to be had outside. The fall is an opportune time for seniors to get out and enjoy outdoor recreations. Let explore a few.

10 Ideas for Seniors to Reignite Their Sense of Play

By: Elizabeth Bemis October 13th, 2021

In a recent post, we explored The Truth About Play & Why It’s Not Just for Children, detailing how the practice of play impacts the human mind, body, and soul—and why it’s so important for seniors to engage in play regularly. From neurology to physiology and psychology, the benefits of play for seniors are clear and present, which is why this topic has become such a popular one. But as people age, they often lose their sense of play and its priority in their lives. Here, we’re exploring 10 inspiring ways to help seniors reignite their sense of play and find the fun again.

The Key to Finding Purpose in One’s Senior Years

By: Marissa Salvesen October 13th, 2021

“For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.” This powerful quote comes from the well-known book, Man’s Search for Meaning, by the revered Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. It touches on the human nature of finding purpose and meaning in one’s life—a challenge that can become more elusive as we age. In one of our recent articles, we discussed The Undeniable Link Between Having Purpose & Aging Well, which explored some of the fundamental reasons why it’s important for seniors to stay connected to their sense of purpose.

The Undeniable Link Between Having Purpose & Aging Well

By: Marissa Salvesen September 13th, 2021

There’s no shortage of reasons why older adults have a difficult time maintaining a strong connection to their inner purpose. With career goals set squarely in the rearview mirror and an empty nest on the road ahead, it’s no surprise that many seniors begin to lose some sense of purpose in their day-to-day lives. But research has shown that seniors with a sense of purpose are less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, disabilities, heart attacks, and strokes, and are more likely to live longer than people without this kind of underlying motivation.