Senior Living Blog by UMH

How to Afford Senior Living When the Money Runs Out

By: Elizabeth Bemis June 7th, 2017

Running out of money is a real possibility for some who have made senior living communities their home. The money runs out for a number of reasons and common among them are: longevity (the average length of stay in assisted living is 2.5 years but many live there significantly longer) increasing rental costs, increasing costs in senior health care services and a need for more assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) than before. There are others, but these situations just mentioned place an immediate draw on private funds.

When is the “Right” Time to Move your Loved One into Assisted Living

By: Marissa Salvesen June 4th, 2017

It might be nearing the “right” time to move a parent into an assisted living community when health and safety needs are putting your loved one at risk in their home. If this is your concern then it’s time to have a talk with your loved one. Often there are telltale signs of something “not right” in the home that you can address quickly before things spiral out of control.

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Caring for Aging Parents: Discussing Change

By: Elizabeth Bemis June 3rd, 2017

Change is inevitable. As your parents age, you often become their strongest support system. But for many adult children, this may be the one challenge you’re not quite ready for! When caring for aging parents, it usually becomes necessary to have a talk with your loved ones regarding matters of change, such as senior living and long-term care options, legal documentation, and financial decisions. Before any adult child can have this talk, it is important to come to terms with the health changes of your loved and evaluate how these changes will affect the rest of the family.

Fall Prevention - 5 Tips to Help Prevent Falls

By: Elizabeth Bemis June 3rd, 2017

As people get older in their 70s, 80s, and beyond, they begin to become more physically frail. One of the concerns along with becoming frail is that they might slip and fall. While a fall to a younger person might only result in a bruise, the consequences of a fall to an elderly parent can be severely detrimental. Whether your parents are in assisted living or still in their family home, here are some ways that you can help them avoid falls

The Aid & Attendance Benefit: Is Your Aging Loved One Eligible?

By: Marissa Salvesen June 2nd, 2017

Veterans are willing to lay down their lives for their country, but many aging seniors are unaware of one aspect of the country’s attempt to give back. If your aging loved one is eligible for a VA pension, he or she may also be entitled to the Aid & Attendance Program, which offers monthly benefits to help cover assisted living care costs to veterans and their surviving spouses. About the Aid & Attendance Benefit

Everything You Need to Know About Hospice Care in CT

By: Elizabeth Bemis May 6th, 2017

Like many topics related to death and dying, families tend to avoid the topic of hospice care until a physician or social worker brings up the subject. This is unfortunate because studies show that people tend to live longer when they receive hospice care in CT. When you and your family know about the services and benefits of hospice, you will feel more comfortable discussing it with your doctor when the time arises.

Is My Parent Ready for Assisted Living?

By: Marissa Salvesen April 3rd, 2017

How can you tell when your loved one is ready for an assisted living community? If only it were as simple as a big, red flag popping up saying “NOW IS THE TIME!” Well, you may not see the big flag but chances are there are lots of little indicators that may have gone unnoticed. If your parent or loved one is having more and more difficulty with everyday activities, such as getting around the house, running errands, showering and dressing, NOW is the time. Helping mom or dad recognize their changing needs and cope with an impending move is important. If your loved one is opposed to or reluctant to make a move, suggest a short-term, trial stay at an assisted living community. They can take a “test drive” but not commit to a permanent move.

The Importance of Eye Health for Seniors

By: Elizabeth Bemis March 27th, 2017

You’ve heard of the Ides of March, but have you heard about the Eyes of March? March is “Save Your Vision Month” (named by the American Optometric Association) and a great time to evaluate and improve your eye health. The American Optometric Association created "Save Your Vision Month" to bring awareness to eye health and important practices to maintain throughout the year. Although eye health is extremely important to everyone, seniors must take extra precautions to have optimum eye health.

The Importance of Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Your Aging Loved One

By: Marissa Salvesen February 14th, 2017

Valentine's Day is a holiday for couples. This holiday can be very painful when a loved one doesn’t have their husband or wife by their side. For your widowed mom or dad, they could be experiencing this pain. Watching others celebrate with their spouses can trigger deep sadness, and even depression, in your aging loved one.

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Behind the Scenes of a UMH Photo Shoot

By: Chelsea Sayegh January 17th, 2017

When we think of the phrase “professional photo shoot”, we think of beautiful models, groomed to perfection and picture perfect. It seems high quality photography paired with flawless models is the key to a great picture. But is it really?

Helping Your Loved One Cope with Tragedy

By: Marissa Salvesen June 11th, 2016

Dealing with tragedy can be especially difficult for your aging loved one. For many older adults, loss becomes frighteningly more common throughout the aging process. Whether it be the loss of a spouse, a child or sibling, a good friend, or even a pet, these circumstances can weigh heavily on your loved one for several months.