Happier Healthier Seniors

One Easy Step for Seniors to Survive Stroke.

Kyle Taylor — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:15:00 GMT

Recent research published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association found that senior citizens living in a setting where they interact with neighbors and count on them for help have a 53% better chance of surviving a stroke.

The biggest reason for the higher survival is that there are people around to call for help for the individual. When someone is suffering from a stroke, they aren't always able to tell.

"Social isolation is unhealthy on many levels, and there is a lot of literature showing that increased social support improves not just stroke, but many other health outcomes in seniors," said Cari Jo Clark, Sc.D., lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Where to find a 'neighborhhood'

Seniors or their families looking for a neighborhood such as this need look no further than assisted living or independent living. While not a "traditional" neighborhood, it will definitely increase a seniors survival rate of stroke.

Assisted Living & Independent Living not only have other residents to to interact with, but numerous staff members employed just to do so. Most assisted living & independent living communities have specific training for staff in recognizing stroke early. Thus making the survival rate even better.

5 Warning Signs of Stroke

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

If your loved one is at risk of stroke or has a history of stroke and you want them to have better survival chances, the one easy step you should take is to consider assisted living or independent living.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Avoid the #1 Senior Citizen Scam.

Kyle Taylor — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:39:00 GMT

I came across a news article on the "Grandma Scam". Apparently, this is the #1 scam that con artists pull on senior citizens. They target seniors who live alone in their own home.

The Scam

The con calls up a senior citizen and claims to be a loved one, typically a grandson. The "grandson" tells "grandma" that he was traveling in Mexico and was falsely arrested. He now needs a few thousand dollars to pay for bail. Of course "grandma" won't let her "grandson" rot in a foreign prison cell. So the con asks grandma to wire the money to him. Grandma walks down to her local Western Union, wires the money out of the country and the scam is complete.

Prevention #1 - Education.

If you have an elderly friend of family member who lives in their own home alone, be sure to tell them about this. Once they know it is common, it will be a lot easier to spot.

Prevention #2 - Verify.

It shouldn't be too hard to call the "grandson's" parents to ask if he is traveling. This will most certainly put an end to the con.

Prevention #3 - Unlisted phone numbers.

By removing the phone number from directory service, it is much less likely that a con artist will be able to contact your loved one in the first place.

Other Possibilities:

Most people that would believe this con are more frail mentally. This may be a sign of other needs. Many times all of these needs can be met in a Retirement Community or an Assisted Living Community. One of the intangible benefits of these living arrangements is most have their own internal phone system making it impossible for con artists to contact them directly. I have got to assume that residents of Assisted Living and Independent Living Communities are much less likely to fall prey to scams.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Is Ageism a problem in Utah?

Kyle Taylor — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 18:16:00 GMT

I recently came across a fascinating article on ageism at msnbc.com. As I read this national article, I began to wonder if ageism is a problem in Utah.

CULTURE

In Utah, I feel we have a very service-oriented culture. Look at all the Cub & Boy Scouts as well as church and youth groups. I know that when I was younger in these organizations, I was taught to respect my elders. I know that many are taught at a young age to not be ageist, but does it occur as we grow-up?

MEDIA INFLUENCES

Obviously, in Utah, we are not isolated from outside influences of the media. Even though we have our culture and values, is it possible that the national & international media influence our views? Of course it is.

FALL OUT

Whether or not you agree that ageism exists in Utah, the fact of the matter is as people age, they are viewed differently. One of the biggest changes that I have seen is in a persons responsibilities. In young adulthood, we start taking on responsibilities. These responsibilities increase as we get married, start a career and raise a family. As we age, we are "relieved" of responsibilities. We retire, maybe a spouse passes away and children grow up. And now most seniors are left with a gaping hole to fill.

SOLUTION

I love what I have seen at some Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Communities where they encourage residents with responsibilities. These responsibilities match abilities and vary from person to person. But it helps give them a reason to get up in the morning and participate in life.

Ageism may or may not happen to you or your loved ones, but there are ways to help cope with change.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

"I'm too old for that! Really?"

Kyle Taylor — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:31:00 GMT

As I approach 40, I notice more and more that I can't do some things as easily as I once did. Lately, I have been telling my kids that, "I'm too old for that." But then I saw this...

So, if she can do this, am I really too old?

My Resolution

I know the new year has passed, but this experience has lead me to a new resolution - that I am NEVER too old. Being too old I have realized is an excuse. I may be too lazy; too fat; too out of shape; too boring; too simple minded, but never too old.

Old age is inevitable, but the other conditions aren't. I can't choose if I will get older, but I can choose if I will eat right; if I will exercise; if I will socialize; if I will laugh or if I will challenge my brain.

I worked with a man who taught me a valuable lesson. At the time, I would guess he was in his 70s. One day, I asked him his age. He responded, "I am just as old as you think I am." At first I thought he was dodging the question, but as I thought about it, I noticed the wisdom in that answer. I have noticed that once someone knows how old you are, they put you in a box. If they know you are 25, you are placed in the box of how all 25 year-olds should act. Whereas my co-workers answer provided him the flexibility to be perceived as he dictated, not as his birth certificate dictated.

Where ever you are in life, never say you are too old.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

15 Effects Music Has on Today's Senior Citizen

Kyle Taylor — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:16:00 GMT

Music has the ability to reach into our souls. It encourages mental stimulation, is an emotional outlet and can energize. Think back through your life and ask yourself these four questions:

What role has music played in my life?
How does music affect me today?
What is my favorite type of music?
Would I be willing to explore different types of music?

We are going to explore the effect music has on us physically and emotionally and how we can use music to improve our daily lives. Here are 15 Effects Music Has on Today's Senior Citizen:

Physical Workout - Play music with stronger rhythms. If you play this type of music too long or too loudly you can exhaust yourself.
Anger - Use strong music to release anger or quiet music to calm anger.
Hyperactivity - Play quiet music that is melodically pleasing and slower in rhythm and pacing.
Depression and Fear - To help with feelings of rejection and negativity, play music that will induce sleep.
Boredom - Music to arouse new enthusiasm such as big band or jazz.
Strength and courage - Powerful music increases blood flow, muscular energy and metabolism.
Relaxation - Play quiet, perhaps nostalgic music.
Love and Devotion - Play music that arouses understanding and fills relationships with joy.
Clear thinking and mental power - Use music that is clear melodically and rhythmically.
Waking-Up - Play beautiful, quiet pieces to bring you from sleep slowly.
Planning your Day - Play background music that is joyous, transparent and clear, and not heavily orchestrated.
Meals - Happy music that is light and airy. Music that is pleasing to the ear heightens a person's ability to taste, which promotes good digestion.
Insomnia - Play quiet music that includes flutes, harps or strings. Music may replace sleeping aids!
Home - Music can calm your home and treat stress, worry and high-strung states.
Humor - A song that makes people chuckle can help them unwind.

Music is the universal language. Great benefit comes from hearing, playing and singing music.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Photo Credit: Theoddnote

3 ways today's senior citizen can improve memory.

Kyle Taylor — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:08:00 GMT

I read online today that the hippocampus - the part of our brain that stores memories starts to deteriorate on us around the age of 60. Now, some researchers have found that walking can help restore the hippocampus and in turn, improve memory!

I thought that was great. I was waiting to read the part where it talked about the new drug that is super expensive and has all kinds of side effects. How wonderful that there is a that has no side effects that almost every single person can take and it's FREE!!!

So that got me thinking... why don't more senior citizens take this wonder drug? In my years of working with senior citizens, I have gathered some theories on that topic.

Reason #1 - Knowledge

Simply stated, many senior citizens don't know that the simple act of walking is a wonder drug. This is not to say they are stupid by any means. This research and more like it is relatively new. When today's senior citizen was younger they walked out of necessity and this helped keep them healthy. Now they are older, there typically isn't the same necessity, so they don't walk as much.

Reason #2 - Accessibility

Most senior citizens I have met simply don't have proper access to a safe area to walk. Factors that contribute to this include:

Climate. If a senior lives in Arizona, they aren't going to be walking outside too much during the summer. Same if they live in North Dakota during the winter.
Clutter. Many seniors have a difficult time with clutter and as such their home becomes difficult to navigate and the interior space is held at a premium.
Obstacles. Most of the seniors I have met live in older homes. I have yet to find an older home that doesn't have at least a few stairs leading into and out of the home. Even a few stairs can be enough to keep many seniors inside. Other obstacles include curbs on sidewalks, cracks in asphalt and cement etc.
Fall Hazards. This list could go on for ever, but the some of the more common fall hazards that I have witnessed include: snow and ice; wet, slippery leaves in autumn; throw rugs and many more.

Reason #3 - Encouragement

When seniors are living at home alone, they may get a visit or a phone call from a neighbor or loved one here and there, but what encouragement are they receiving to exercise? Maybe family mentions it on a call, but are they there to follow-up? Maybe a neighbor talks to them about it when they visit, but they go home and no one checks to see if it is happening. In short, a senior may know it is good exercise to walk and they may have a great place to walk, but without proper encouragement, they are not likely to actually do it.

Is there a solution to help educate & encourage seniors while providing a safe environment to walk?

For many people it is discouraging and frustrating that their loved one won't or isn't able to walk and receive the memory benefits. But there are a number of people who don't experience this frustration. These are people that have chosen assisted living or independent living for their loved ones. Most retirement communities focus on these three areas:

They provide educational classes for their residents to inform them of new trends and discoveries to have a healthier life.
They provide a safe environment, free of fall hazards for their residents to get their exercise.
They provide motivation from both staff and resident friends. I don't have any research to back this up, but I would wager that residents living in retirement communities exercise much more than seniors living alone in their own homes.

So next time you are talking with an aging loved one and they complain about their memory, encourage them to walk more. And if they have some of the listed obstacles, you may want to consider assisted living.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

More Immunization in Assisted Living in Utah than Others

Kevin Taylor — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:00:00 GMT

Recent reports from the State of Utah Department of Health reveal that residents in long-term care, including Assisted Living in Utah, are more likely to receive influenza immunizations that seniors living on their own. This is great news for a few reasons.

Healthier

First, residents in Assisted Living increase their chances of avoiding the flu by getting properly vaccinated. This is a great thing, as influenza often turns more serious when the affected person has other immunity issues, as is often the case with seniors. Keeping seniors healthy up front is much better than fighting increasingly difficult diseases to bring them back to health.

More Frail

Second, the residents in Assisted Living tend to be more frail than seniors who continue to live on their own. The senior population starts at 65 years of age, not a very old group, while Assisted Living tends to server those aged 75 and better more frequently. In a way this study is making a comparison similar to saying that there are more mothers in their 40s having children than mothers over the age of 18 in general. It is truly amazing! (And, there is no study about older mothers, that was only created to show how the groups compare.)

Convenience

Third, with a more frail population in Assisted Living, they are also a group who would typically not get out to get flu shots if these were not brought to them. This is a benefit of Assisted Living: many crucial services are brought in–house to make them more accessible.

Seniors living alone need to make the trip to the drug store or their doctor to get a flu shot. Seniors living in Assisted Living need only make their way to a library or other common area of the building where the flu shots have come to them. If this level of convenience could somehow be available to seniors in their own homes it is likely that they would also get flu shots at the same, higher rate as seniors in Assisted Living.

So, what does this mean? Well, like the title of this blog says, seniors in Assisted Living are often healthier than their peers. This influenza vaccine example is only one way that can occur.

Photo by Flickr Dave

Great Article on a Great Resident of Golden Living

Kyle Taylor — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:49:00 GMT

Gae Duersch, one of our great residents at Golden Living in Orem, was featured in an article in the Provo Daily Hearld.

Gae is one of the nicest people you would ever hope to meet. Not only is she nice, but she has served our country in a way most people don't even know about.

Gae Duersch

Click Above to Read the Entire Article.

Photo Credit: CRAIG DILGER/Daily Herald

Thoughts for Healthy Aging in 2011

Kyle Taylor — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 20:29:00 GMT

As we embark on a new year, I thought I would share some thoughts on Healthy Aging. New Year's Resolutions aren't always what we hope they would be, so hopefully some of these thoughts will put them in proper perspective.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."

-- Anonymous

"The only sure way to keep your New Year's Resolutions is to keep them in a safe-deposit box."

-- Anonymous

"The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age which means never losing your enthusiasm."

-- Aldous Huxley

Happy New Year! And best of luck in becoming the best you!

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Assisted Living in Utah and Indepencent Living New Year celebrations

Kevin Taylor — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 22:24:00 GMT

10… 9… 8… 7…

This may be active independent living at Le Chateau at Brickyard Plaza, but you still didn't expect the residents to stay up until midnight, did you?

At Le Chateaut at Brickyard Plaza, the residents celebrate the New Year twleve hours earlier than most, at noon. However, to paraphrase a popular song "It's twelve o'clock somewhere."

The residents enjoy having their own New Year's countdown, then toasting the new year with sparkling cider. You are welcome to join with these residents in their celebration by playing the video.

6… 5… 4… 3…

Another celebration at Heritage Place had their independent residents making their own noisemakers the day before the party, then using those to welcome the new year. Heritage Place also included a slide show review of the past year, highlighting favorite memories and activities during their celebration.

Heritage Place also pulls in a New Year's tradition that pomegranate juice brings good luck for the new year, by toasting with pomegranate juice mixed with ginger ale. I (personally) didn't even know that I should be drinking pomegranate juice to make my new year luckier.

2… 1…

These celebrations may not be Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, but then -- having watched that recently -- that may not be such a bad thing. The residents get to welcome the new with their friends without having the commercial breaks, or the headache on New Year's Day. And if they want to watch Dick Clark later, they are free to do that as well.

Auld Lang Syne

Happy New Year from Retirement Living Group! We hope that your celebrations are as fun and safe as ours have been. Share with us some favorite memories from this or previous New Year's celebrations. We'd love to know.

Christmas Gifts for Today's Senior Citizen.

Kyle Taylor — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:41:00 GMT

Looking for a last minute gift idea for a special senior citizen in your life? Older adults can be hard to buy for. Due to the fact that many times they don't participate in the same hobbies they once did; maybe their vision or hearing isn't what it once was. These are all factors that eliminate many typical Christmas presents. So, let's look at some great gift ideas for older adults.

Reading

Most people enjoy reading, but many seniors have diminished vision making reading difficult, if not impossible. So why not some gift ideas to help with reading?

Audio

Music can pose the same difficulty as reading. Maybe hearing loss has made enjoying music difficult. So here are some options:

Accessibility

Some of my favorite products that I have found to help with accessibility are:

Hopefully some of these ideas will not only help with your gift giving, but with your elderly loved one's activities of daily living.

Merry Christmas!

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Social Ways Volunteer in Independent Living in Utah (Part 3)

Kevin Taylor — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:03:00 GMT

Note: Today continues a multiple part series on volunteering.

Single Senior Society

There’s an interesting group that has formed around a few independent living communities in Utah: the Single Senior Society. This group is made up of singles – most, but not all of whom are single – who are looking for ways to socialize with peers while they are still living in their own homes. This group has regularly scheduled outings to live theater, festivals, and other events that draw their interest.

Now, what does this group have to do with finding a way to volunteer in independent living in Utah? Well, an interesting impact of their involvement with independent living communities is that the group’s members get to know some of the residents in those communities, and find that they have something still to offer. Several members of the Single Senior Society have discovered that their membership means much more to them when they can also volunteer to help their fellow society members.

Volunteer

The members of the Single Senior Society find that they are able to volunteer in many ways similar to what the more active residents in the independent living communities can. They find activities that they enjoy participating in, but don’t often have enough friends available for and set up a group to participate. For example, a society member may love to play Canasta, but not have neighbors who can play when they want. However, they may find that there are several people in the independent living community they visit for society activities who also love Canasta. That is when a society member will often step in and organize a group to play with them. Whatever their reasons, altruistic or self-motivated, to form this group, it benefits all who participate.

Join

The Single Senior Society currently has two chapters, centered at Le Chateau at Brickyard Plaza and at Heritage Place. If you would be interested in joining, or would like a loved one to join, please contact Le Chateau at Brickyard Plaza at 801-466-9999 or Heritage Place at 801-298-3241.

Christmas in Assisted Living in Utah

Kyle Taylor — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:44:00 GMT

Christmas is a special time of year. A time that people think about a lot. One part of Christmas that most don’t consider is what Christmas is like for senior citizen in Assisted Living in Utah.

I want to share some festive holiday traditions that I have come across in an Assisted Living Community here in Utah.

Not Your Grandma’s Open House

I know open houses are a dime a dozen and many times they aren’t even worth that, but Golden Living in Taylorsville is doing some really cool things at their open house this year.

First, the entertainment isn’t typical of an ‘old folks home’. The Taylorsville High School Madrigals will perform. Then Carmen Rasmusen, the American Idol Contestant, will take the stage. What a great idea to fuse holiday tradition with something new and exciting.

Second, the open house is also a fund raiser for the Senior Housing Assistance Association. This is a public, non-profit, 401 c 3 charity that helps support senior citizens financially in independent living and assisted living when they have depleted their own funds. How neat it is to have seniors helping other seniors.

Lastly, Golden Living is sponsoring Family Tree Decorating. They are encouraging the family members of residents to bring a small tree and decorate it together and then place it by their door in the hallway. Families sharing and being together.

What a great time of year to celebrate, help others and be with family.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.'

Photo credit: HikingArtist.com

How Today's Senior Citizen Wants to Be More Active!

Kyle Taylor — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:34:00 GMT

Have you ever heard the saying, 'You are only as old as you feel?' Well a lot of senior citizen are feeling really young. This according to a recent study conducted by Peen Schoen Berland. The study included nearly 800 Americans ages of 65 to 80. Here are some of the key findings:

98% say retirement "can and should be a fun experience
86% want their retirement to be more dynamic and active than that of their parents
83% say they "feel younger than they are"
79% consider themselves productive right now
60% exercise more than two to three hours weekly

So what does this mean in practical terms and how can we help seniors accomplish these desires?

Are seniors really having fun in retirement? With so many living alone, how can they be? Maybe living in a Retirement Community or Assisted Living Community could provide the opportunity to have more fun by being with other people and having more chances to do fun things.
To have a retirement that is more 'dynamic and active' than their parents is interesting. Because the options available to their parents weren't nearly as many as there are today. From Golf Course Communities to Senior Centers to Independent Living Communities - this is an easy goal to accomplish.
Overall with so many seniors feeling younger and wanting more activity, their choices are much greater today.

Click here for more information on how Retirement Living Group helps its seniors accomplish this.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

4 Ways Today's Senior Citizen Can Medicate Appropriately

Kyle Taylor — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:17:00 GMT

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded some interesting items. Among others, it found that for the previous month, senior citizens reported:

90% took at least one prescription drug
76% took two or more prescription drugs
37% took five or more

With all of these medications, how can today's senior citizen medicate appropriately? Let's look at 4 main areas to help with this.

Cross your fingers

This may sound a little flippant, but unfortunately, this is the most common route people pursue. It is the path of least resistance because the senior doesn't have to change and it doesn't cost a dime. Now ultimately, if this course is followed the senior will end up changing the most and costing them the most money. What do I mean by that? Well, this path will lead to the most problems. The more problems the senior has the more she will be required to change. Change equals money. For example: The senior is on a blood thinner. But due to confusion, doesn't take this medication. After time, it catches up and she has a stroke. The stroke has causes permanent damage and she ends up in a nursing home paying $6,000 / month for her care.

Hardware

There are medical devices on the market that allow and individual to insert medications and set reminders. At the appropriate time a bell of sorts goes off and the medication slides down a shoot and the resident is to take the medications. This is certainly better than simply crossing one's fingers.

PRO:

It is relatively inexpensive
It requires a minimal amount of change

CON:

Hardware and technology can be frustrating and intimidating for seniors. This can mean they don't end up taking the medications.
Someone still has to check to make sure the medications were actually taken. There is no guarantee that the reminder bell will make the resident take the meds.

Have someone remind them

Having a person remind the senior can take many different forms. Among these could be:

Hire a professional Home Health Agency
Hire a non-professional Care Giver
Arrange for a family member to come in
Arrange for a neighbor to stop in

PRO:

Having a person there means it is much more likely that the medications will actually be taken.

CON:

Reliability. Even if you have the most dependable person, things happen. Things like bad weather; the care giver has a personal emergency (illness, family issues, etc).
A seniors willingness to let an "intruder" into their home. Even if the person is a family member, if they are coming in to do something the senior isn't open to, they are viewed as an intruder.

Assisted Living

Many families and seniors look to Assisted Living as a great option. People are starting to understand that Assisted Living is not the convalescent home of yesteryear and that it is a comfortable option to home.

PRO:

with 24 hour staffing, reliability is greater. Chances the medications are handled properly are the best out of these four options.
Nurse oversight. Nurses review medications regularly to ensure they are handled properly.

CON: This is, on paper the most expensive option. That is until one considers the opportunity costs. Meaning, if someone's home is paid for, they are sitting on unusable equity. If the senior sells the home and taps into that previously unavailable equity, they receive the highest quality service at an affordable rate.

Prescription medications are very important to today's senior citizen. Whichever option you choose, make sure it works the best for your situation.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Photo credit: e-magazine art

Music Therapy Helps with Fall Risk in Senior Citizens

Kyle Taylor — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:22:00 GMT

A recent study reports that a type of music therapy may help seniors with fall risks. While most music therapy is not offered to senior citizens in their own homes, elderly residents of Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Communities stand to be the greatest beneficiaries.

The study concluded that working out with music may improve gait, balance and reduce fall risk. These findings were based on a year long study of 134 adults over the age of 65.

Here is why this study is so great:

Rhythm

Music is based on rhythm. So as residents find rhythm in their movement this translates to their every day mobility. Increased mobility equals higher quality of life.

Memory

Many other studies have shown that music improves memory in seniors. So when a senior is engaged in music therapy to improve balance, they are receiving benefits for their mental state as well. Double Whammy!

Socialization

Since most music therapy is held in a group setting such as a Retirement Community or Assisted Living, the social benefits are just as great, if not greater than the reduced fall risk. Different studies have shown the benefits of socialization in seniors. Basically, human contact releases endorphins which make people happier. This decreases depression which leads to a world of benefits including: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.

If you are looking for music therapy near you, realize that many programs achieve the same result without the clinical title of music therapy. Other activities that achieve much the same result: chair aerobics, sing-alongs among others. Basically any program that includes music in a group setting will be beneficial to seniors.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Photo Credit: NazarethCollege

Fun Ways to Volunteer in Independent Living in Utah (Part 2)

HubSpot User Default — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 17:38:00 GMT

Note: Today continues a multiple part series on volunteering. Follow up posts will appear over the coming months.

Giving Up

All too often there is an assumption that moving into independent living is akin to giving up on former interests in life. While it is true that many residents cannot still participate in all of the activities they enjoyed in their youth, the same could be said of their children, many of whom are now approaching retirement.

Reclaiming Usefulness

Even with the limitations that they face, many residents find ways to volunteer in independent living in Utah. For these residents, the volunteering lets them continue to be important; it may also be the way they have to ensure that a favorite card game or other activity can take place, even outside of the regular hours for activities in their community.

So, how do these residents volunteer? There are numerous places where they can put their skills to use or find a niche:

Operating a “country store” in the community
Calling BINGO for other residents
Organizing a Bridge club
Teaching an art class
Leading a scrapbooking or craft activity

In independent and assisted living many residents also volunteer on a personal level by helping a less capable resident make their way to meals, or reminding friends about favorite activities they may, at times, forget.

Hint

When looking into independent living or assisted living, remember that involvement by residents can often be equally important to – if not even more important than – the activities that are scheduled, as the chance to volunteer helps residents maintain their importance as well as having the social interactions with their new friends.

What do you think that you will do to remain important to others after you have lost some of your current abilities? Post a comment and let others know about your interests.

I am Thankful for Today's Senior Citizen.

Kyle Taylor — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 22:31:00 GMT

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for Senior Citizens. It is today's senior citizen that was yesterday's difference maker. One of the things I love most about my job is listening to seniors. Sure, they may not know all about iPads and the internet, but they have more common sense than most nowadays.

Today's senior citizen was the person who volunteered to join the armed forces and fight for our freedom. I don't believe I have met a man in his 80s that didn't serve in the armed forces. If he didn't, he wasn't eligible for some reason. Back then, it was what one did. And many enlisted before they should - yes, they lied about their age to get in. I am thankful that today's senior citizen was this person years ago.

Today's senior citizen isn't as "book smart" as others. The opportunities for a college education weren't what they are today. But it is because of today's senior citizen, that higher learning is more available. But I find it interesting that our country enjoyed its greatest progress, arguably, from a generation that wasn't college educated. There are more college degrees nowadays, but less progress. Maybe there should be a college degree in common sense. I am grateful that today's senior citizen had and used common sense.

Today's senior citizen has a lot to teach us. Yes, their stories may be long. And sometimes it takes a while to find the reason they are telling us the story, but if you listen, you'll get something out of their experiences. I think of the saying, "Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it." The Greatest Generation went through everything they did, so ours could be better. Do we really want to go through everything they did? War, depression etc? I don't! So, let's listen closer to what they have to say.

I am thankful for senior citizens this Thanksgiving.

Guess Which Stage of Alzheimer's I Am In?

Kyle Taylor — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:47:00 GMT

Alzheimer's Disease is no laughing matter, but when I realized which stage of Alzheimer's I was classified in -- well that's another matter.

The seven stages of Alzheimer's is based on a system developed by Barry Reisberg, M.D., clinical director of the New York University School of Medicine's Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center. So I though it would be fun to see which stage I am in.

Background:

I am a father of 3 in my mid-thirties. I should be able to ace this test, right?

Stage 1

No impairment. No problem

Stage 2

Very mild cognitive decline (may be normal age-related changes or earliest signs of Alzheimer's disease). Forgetting familiar words or the location of everyday objects.

OK - problem. I forgot where I put my wallet on Monday. And, I accidentally called my oldest son by my youngest son's name on Wednesday.

Stage 3

Mild cognitive decline (early-stage Alzheimer's can be diagnosed in some, but not all, individuals with these symptoms).

Noticeable problems coming up with the right word or name. As mentioned, I mixed up my kids names.

Trouble remembering names when introduced to new people. I do this all the time! Am I the only one?
Forgetting material that one has just read. I was reading my scriptures the other day, got interrupted by my kids and ended up reading the same page twice!
Losing or misplacing a valuable object. Lost my wallet again.
Increasing trouble with planning or organizing. Forgot my anniversary.

Stage 4

Moderate cognitive decline (Mild or early-stage Alzheimer's disease)

Forgetfulness of recent events. I forgot who spoke in church last week!
Impaired ability to perform challenging mental arithmetic —for example, counting backward from 100 by 7. I forgot my 6 times tables.
Greater difficulty performing complex tasks, such as planning dinner for guests, paying bills or managing finances. I tried to use this as an excuse for not paying my credit card bill on time. Didn't work so well.
Forgetfulness about one's own personal history. Was Christmas with my family or the in-laws last year - don't know!
Becoming moody or withdrawn, especially in socially or mentally challenging situations. Moody? Really? I've got kids. Really? You're going to judge me on moody?

Stage 5

Moderately severe cognitive decline (Moderate of mid-stage Alzheimer's disease)

Be unable to recall their own address or telephone number. Ok, I've got 4 email address, cell phone, home phone, work phone, 5 business phones, fax number & twitter hash tags to remember. Yes, I'll forget one every now and then.
Become confused about where they are or what day it is. I'm not the only one. Yesterday (Thursday), my wife thought it was Friday all day long!
Have trouble with less challenging mental arithmetic; such as counting backward from 40 by subtracting 4s or from 20 by 2s. Did I mention I barely passed my high school math classes? Also, I've got a calculator on my phone - why should I do it in my head?
Need help choosing proper clothing for the occasion. My wife won't let me out of the house without me passing off my clothing selection.
Still remember significant details about themselves and their family. Wife - check. Three kids - check. I'm good on at least one!
Still require no assistance with eating or using the toilet. Hallelujah!!! This will be a dark day.

Stage 6

Severe cognitive decline

Lose awareness of recent experiences as well as of their surroundings. I went camping with the scouts two weeks ago. When I woke up I couldn't remember where I was.
Remember their own name but have difficulty with their personal history. Didn't we already cover this? Hah! This must be part of the test!

Distinguish familiar and unfamiliar faces but have trouble remembering the name of a spouse or caregiver. "a" spouse? I think I only have one. But I'm not sure now. (Man, this test is starting to play with my head).
Need help dressing properly. Ok, ok! So my wife picks my clothes, big deal!
Experience major changes in sleep patterns — sleeping during the day and becoming restless at night. Again - kids! My 3 year old might sleep through the night. If he ain't sleeping, ain't nobody sleeping!
Need help handling details of toileting. Does remembering to put the toilet lid down count?
Have increasingly frequent trouble controlling their bladder or bowels. No comment.
Experience major personality and behavioral changes, including suspiciousness and delusions. I thought the waitress was checking me out!
Tend to wander or become lost. Been to a Rite Aid lately? The most confusing store on earth!

Stage 7

Very severe cognitive decline. (Severe or late-stage Alzheimer's disease)

At this stage, individuals need help with much of their daily personal care, including eating or using the toilet. They may also lose the ability to smile, to sit without support and to hold their heads up. Reflexes become abnormal. Muscles grow rigid. Swallowing impaired. Not there yet!

Good thing I work in the Senior Living industry, so I'll just reserve my apartment now! Anyone ready to join me?

Which stage of Alzheimer's are you in? Leave a comment, let me know.

3 Reasons Social Worker Refer to Assisted Living

Kyle Taylor — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:02:00 GMT

When an elderly patient is released from a nursing home, she and her family have a lot of choices:

Does she go back home?
If so, how much help is needed?
Does she move in with family?
Does family move in with her?
Does he go to a Retirement Community?
Does she go to an Assisted Living Community?

It is the responsibility of the Nursing Home Social Worker to refer the most appropriate setting to the elderly individual and her family. Here are the top 3 Reasons Social Workers Refer to Assisted Living Communities.

Greater independence

Assisted Living Communities provide greater independence to its residents without compromising care. In assisted living, residents have greater liberties to come and go; to eat what they want; to have guests when they like and to generally be more independent. Not only is independence nice to talk about, but it also improves quality of life.

Affordability

Compared to nursing homes, assisted living communities are much more affordable. Also, when someone considers the untapped value of home equity, a long term stay in assisted living may require no more out of pocket expense than staying in one's home.

Socialization

Socializing and interacting with people can do more for not only an individuals longevity, but also the quality of life. This ability is much, much greater in assisted living than in one's one home living alone. It is also better than living with family. This is because when living with family, the senior is home during the day when family is at school, working or volunteering.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you are a social worker. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Easy Ways to Volunteer in Assisted Living in Utah (Part 1)

Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:02:00 GMT

Note: Today starts a multiple part series on volunteering. Follow up posts will appear over the coming months.

Fear

While we all know that Grandma is a wonderful person, I’ve known some people who are afraid of interacting with seniors. I also met a city councilman who was sure that having children interact with seniors would drive the children insane. Fortunately, there are numerous studies that show that councilman to be ill informed. However, the fear of doing things with another generation is often a matter of not knowing what to do with them.

To overcome some of this fear, Retirement Living Group has created some easy ways to volunteer in assisted living in Utah. These ideas for volunteering are available to anyone who would like a rewarding half hour or more spending time with people with amazing life stories. While most assisted living communities welcome volunteers, it can often be a challenge to determine what to do when volunteering.

Desire

Retirement Living Group has enlisted the help of some of the best Life Enhancement Coordinators in the state of Utah to create a list of volunteer opportunities inside our communities. Using this list, volunteers now only need a desire, not a great idea. (Now, if you have a great idea we would love to have you bring it; however, we’ve found many people whose desire precedes great ideas.)

Solution

How can you learn the ideas on this list? It’s really quite simple, just call any Retirement Living Group community and tell them that you would like to volunteer. They’ll walk you through ideas that fit your desires.

There are ideas for:

Individuals,
Small groups,
Large groups

There are activities that let you:

Have one-on-one contact with a resident,
Simply be near the residents without getting too personal
Anything in between.

Have you had a good experience volunteering? What did you do? What fears did you have going in? Our readers would love to know your experiences.

Also, if you would like to volunteer, just call any Retirement Living Group community and you will be put in touch with someone who can help you find something that you would enjoy.

Photo by Birgit44

How to Compare Senior Care West Valley, UT

Kyle Taylor — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 20:24:00 GMT

Families with elderly loved ones want to do what is best. But when it comes to caring for their elderly loved one, how do they compare senior care? Today, we will specifically discuss how to compare senior care West Valley, UT.

As Utah's second largest city, there are many options for senior care available. These options are in a variety of price ranges and services. So let's look at the steps.

Determine Which Service is Needed

There are so many different services available, not to mention the differnt providers, that one should first determine what which service will be of benefit to their loved one. This entry will focus on Senior Living Options. To determine which option is best for you, click here. Answer a few questions and you'll be better educated to compare senior care in West Valley.

Location

While most real estate transactions come down to location, that isn't always the case with senior care. If there is a senior care community in a convenient location, but you know they provide sub-par care, would you choose it for your mom? I certainly wouldn't! So while location is nice, it shouldn't be the most important.

Get a Feel

Get a feel for the place. The only way to do this is to visit, in person. More and more places offer virtual tours and pretty brochures, but you need to be there to feel it. On your first visit don't be rushed or go in with an agenda, rather take time to get a feel for the place. Do other residents seem happy? Are they well cared for? Can you picture your loved one there?

Narrow the list

I have received feedback from countless families that the place that feels the best ends up providing the best care and being the best selection. Now, having said that, it isn't always that way. So now that you know the places that feel the best, you need to do some deeper investigation. Find out:

Health Department Scores. If it isn't a perfect score, as them what their corrective plan of action is.
Are they licensed with the Health Department
Are they staffed to meet your loved ones needs.
What the terms of the contract are.

There are more areas to find out on depending on individual circumstances.

Do you agree? What other ideas would you suggest? Please leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

4 Tips for Alzheimer Care Givers in Salt Lake

Kyle Taylor — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:50:00 GMT

With the unfortunate increase in Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias, not only in the Salt Lake area, but world wide, the number of caregivers increases as well. One of the most tragic side effects of Alzheimer's Disease is the toll it takes on caregivers. Statistics show that most people who suffer from Alzheimer's Disease are the elderly. It stands to reason that the caregiver would then be the spouse (equally as elderly) or an adult child who may be in her 50s or 60s. If caregivers aren't wise, they can soon find themselves unable to care for their loved one.

As of the writing of this article, there is no cure for Alzheimer's Disease, but there are proven steps caregivers can take to make sure they are around longer to care for their loved one. So, here are 4 Tips for Alzheimer Care Givers in Salt Lake:

Get Educated

Learn as much not only about Alzheimer's as you can, but about caregiving and limits you, as a caregiver should set. The Alzheimer's Association is a great place to get started on that education.

Ask for Help

It is hard to offer help if no one knows it is needed. Being a caregiver around the clock is not easy work. And don't worry, people won't judge you when you ask for help. That is why these people are riends, neighbors and fellow church goers. They love you and want to help.

Take a Break

Even if you do ask for help, you still need to take a complete break every now and then. There are many Alzheimer's Care Communities that offer respite care. Respite care is a short-term stay for your loved one while you recharge your batteries. You take a vacation (be it on a plane, or just staying home) and your loved one stays in a care center where they are looked after. This will allow you to get many things done that you are unable to while caregiver. Or just let you unwind and get better prepared to get back in there.

Get Long Term Help

While making a decision to make a long term placement is personal and different for everyone, each caregiver should explore this option to understand the potential benefits. For many, assisted living provides a great option. It is less expensive and more homey than a traditional nursing home.

Even though many people feel guilty for making a placement, once the issue becomes about the loved one suffering from Alzheimer's and not about the caregiver, the decision is much easier. This is because no matter how good or dedicated or healthy a caregiver is, they can never do everthing an assisted living community can do. So why not retire from the role of caregiver? Let someone else do that. Then you can reclaim the title of spouse or daughter. Now instead of spending all your time cooking, cleaning, arranging etc. you can now spend your time holding, talking, sharing and comforting.

Salt Lake has a lot of great resources. What resources have you come across? What do you think about the resources mentioned in this post? Please leave a comment and let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

If you like what you read, please connect via social media.

4 Tips to Stay Active in Independent Living Care in Salt Lake

Kyle Taylor — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:51:00 GMT

Salt Lake City is constantly ranked high in the Best Cities to Live articles. And those that live here know why. But what about senior citizens? How can they stay active while living in independent living care? Here are four tips to do just that.

Get Involved

Involved in what? Well, involved in everything. Independe Living Care communities offer all kinds of committees, classes, events and programs for the residents. So get involved plain and simple.

This is just as much a frame of mind as actually physically participating. Once the mindset of involvement is achieved, the actual involvement will be simple.

First, make the decision to be a part of life in the indepenet living care community. Decide to

say hello to new people
eat lunch with someone you don't know
attend an event you haven't before
volunteer for a committee

There are many other ways, but these are a good start.

Get Physical

In Utah, the winter months can be cold and long making exercise a challenge. But to those living in assisted living communities, it doesn't matter if it is 10 degrees or 100 degrees outside, they have a comfortable atmosphere in which to exercise. Typically, most places provide exercise equipment and interior hallways for walking.

Not only is the physical environment better in senior living communities, the classes and participation for exercise is better as well. All kinds of exercise classes are provided keeping senior healthier longer.

Be Social

Socialization is probably the greatest benefit of an independent living care community. Studies show that socialization has positive impacts on:

depression
memory loss
blood pressure
more

Is there a better place to have opportunities to socialize than an independent living care community? With chances to socialize multiple times daily, seniors in these communities are much better off.

Welcome Family

Just because someone lives in a retirement community doesn't mean they should cut ties with family. Family is too important. Families, continue to visit your elderly loved ones in senior living communities. And residents living in the senior living community, welcome your family members.

The best senior living communities proactively provide residents with opportunities to invite friends and family in. The community will throw parties for the residents. This allows these bonds to remain strong while everyone is having a good time!

What are your thoughts and experiences with seniors staying active? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you.

If you like what you have read, please connect via the social media links on the side of this page.

Election Reaction from Utah Retirement Homes

Kyle Taylor — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:14:00 GMT

With the mid-term elections of 2010 now in the books, what does this mean for Utah senior citizens living in retirement homes?

Republican vs. Democrat

Utah is commonly regarded as a "red" state by most often voting for conservative Republicans. For the last two years the President, House & Senate have been dominated by the Democrats. Now that the House is under Republican control, is this a good thing for Utah seniors?

Health Care

Health Care will always be a hot topic, especially for senior citizen. With Obama-Care gradually making its way into our lives, the effects will soon start to materialize.

Social Security

Most people feel that Social Security won't be around for long. Most politicians realize there is a problem, but most don't want to deal with it - understanding that in order to fix it, it will require a lot of pain. This election doesn't seem to change much of these assumptions.

Good or Bad?

Will the results of the election be good or bad for seniors? There is no clear cut answer for this. With Utahans historically being more conservative, one would argue that Utah seniors are happy with the republican victories. While at the same time Utah's baby boomers can expect to live to be 91.62 years old, according to a new "State of Longevity Report," by the social networking site Eons.com. With people living so long, who is going to pay for all the health care needed?

The results of this years elections won't appear to have a huge impact on Utah Seniors living in retirement homes. The vote is just one day, but communicating with these elected officials is an ongoing process for all of us. If we want to see something different, we need to let them know.

What are your thoughts on how this eleciton will impact Utah seniors? Please leave a comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

If you like what you have read, please connect with the social media links.

Happier Healthier Seniors

One Easy Step for Seniors to Survive Stroke.

Where to find a 'neighborhhood'

5 Warning Signs of Stroke

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Avoid the #1 Senior Citizen Scam.

The Scam

Prevention #1 - Education.

Prevention #2 - Verify.

Prevention #3 - Unlisted phone numbers.

Other Possibilities:

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

Is Ageism a problem in Utah?

CULTURE

MEDIA INFLUENCES

FALL OUT

SOLUTION

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

"I'm too old for that! Really?"

My Resolution

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

15 Effects Music Has on Today's Senior Citizen

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

3 ways today's senior citizen can improve memory.

Reason #1 - Knowledge

Reason #2 - Accessibility

Reason #3 - Encouragement

Is there a solution to help educate & encourage seniors while providing a safe environment to walk?

More Immunization in Assisted Living in Utah than Others

Recent reports from the State of Utah Department of Health reveal that residents in long-term care, including Assisted Living in Utah, are more likely to receive influenza immunizations that seniors living on their own. This is great news for a few reasons.

Healthier

More Frail

Convenience

Great Article on a Great Resident of Golden Living

Thoughts for Healthy Aging in 2011

Assisted Living in Utah and Indepencent Living New Year celebrations

10… 9… 8… 7…

6… 5… 4… 3…

2… 1…

Auld Lang Syne

Christmas Gifts for Today's Senior Citizen.

Reading

Audio

Accessibility

Merry Christmas!

Social Ways Volunteer in Independent Living in Utah (Part 3)

Single Senior Society

Volunteer

Join

Christmas in Assisted Living in Utah

Not Your Grandma’s Open House

How Today's Senior Citizen Wants to Be More Active!

4 Ways Today's Senior Citizen Can Medicate Appropriately

Cross your fingers

Hardware

Have someone remind them

Assisted Living

Music Therapy Helps with Fall Risk in Senior Citizens

Rhythm

Memory

Socialization

Fun Ways to Volunteer in Independent Living in Utah (Part 2)

Giving Up

Reclaiming Usefulness

Hint

I am Thankful for Today's Senior Citizen.

Guess Which Stage of Alzheimer's I Am In?

Background:

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Which stage of Alzheimer's are you in? Leave a comment, let me know.

3 Reasons Social Worker Refer to Assisted Living

Greater independence

Affordability

Socialization

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.

What do you think? I'd love to hear from you, especially if you have personal experience in this area. Please leave a comment.

If you like what you have read, please connect via social media.