Senior Living Blog

If life is truly about entertaining every possibility, Carmella Barone, 94, and Eileen Pastore, 91, are ready for excitement on any given day. These two ladies, both residents of Bishop Wicke Health and Rehabilitation Center in Shelton, Connecticut, share a vibrant spirit, a young-at-heart attitude, and a love of gaming. Since moving to the award-winning healthcare community, neither of them have stopped talking about their dream to experience the night life at Mohegan Sun. Sure, they’ve taken day trips to the casino and enjoyed themselves, but these ladies are hoping for just a bit more. They both know that to really experience the excitement of Mohegan Sun, they need to stay awake a little later. After all, life is a late night out and an even later morning in, right?

You hear about Medicare and Medicaid a lot, on the news or from your family members or friends. But, if you’ve never had to draw from either program, you might not know how they differ. When people are looking for ways to pay for their senior loved one’s healthcare or assisted living expenses, Medicare and Medicaid could be beneficial sources of funding, depending on your needs. Explore this article to learn a little bit more about the differences between Medicare and Medicaid, who qualifies for program eligibility, and whether or not these programs could help cover your loved one’s healthcare expenses.

Happy Fourth of July!  As we enjoy Independence Day, it’s important to remember that this day is SO much more than just a day off from work. Since 1776, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence. This national holiday is a symbol of patriotism and pride for all Americans, and while you enjoy your backyard barbecue, beach day, or fireworks, it’s important to remember who helped get us to where we are today – our veterans.

Trying to choose and afford a senior living community for your loved one can make your head spin. There are so many options and levels of care; how are you ever going to choose the right one?

Are you at a point where you’re no longer sure it’s best for your senior loved one to live at home? For many people, it’s a hard decision to relocate a parent or other loved one into a senior living community in Connecticut. But, when this is the best place for their needs to be met, the decision is much easier.

Through the award-winning Journey of Dreams program offered at UMH senior living communities, a committee of staff members have the opportunity to make residents’ lifelong dreams come true. Recently, the committee had the privilege of fulfilling Francis (Frank) Linden’s dream, who is in the unique position of being both an employee and a resident of Wesley Village. Frank comes from a small family, many of whom have passed. His father died was he was around 20 years old and his mother passed away 10 years later. Frank is an only child and he and Claudia never had children. Although his biological family is small, Frank has a close relationship with them and also with the co-workers he refers to fondly as his “work family.”

As an estate planning attorney, I have worked with many clients who do not know what a Power of Attorney is, and why they should execute one as part of their estate planning documents. In this post, I am happy to explain the ins and outs of this important document, and why it’s necessary to any estate plan, for those of all ages. I’ll also explain the difference between a financial Power of Attorney and a medical Power of Attorney.  

When a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, their life isn’t the only one that changes; your family members’ lives change, too. Caring for a loved one with these diagnoses is a huge challenge. As their symptoms progress, they become more and more dependent on care, which might be hard to manage if you work full time or live far away.

For Christmas, most families give their loved ones clothes, games, or sweets, but this Christmas, Don Walkley, a 92 year old resident of Crosby Commons Assisted Living Community, received a 5,923 piece LEGO set of the Taj Mahal. Lining the shelves of his apartment are famous buildings Don’s built from intricate LEGO sets, including the White House, Eifel Tower and the Lincoln Memorial, but none have compared in size to his new Taj Mahal display. Don’s family chipped in for Christmas and surprised him with the $300 puzzle and since December, Don has worked hours every day to complete the massive puzzle.

If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease, you know how challenging and delicate this stage of life can be. Although every person with Alzheimer’s has different needs, there are some steps you can take to make caring for them easier, from providing structure in their lives to changing your communication styles.

As you've most likely come to realize, the aging process is inevitable. Whether you're caring for a loved one or going through the process yourself, you've probably experienced some uncertainty and hesitation on how to handle this change.