Assisted Living Versus Home Health Care

When living at home alone becomes difficult for your elderly parents or loved ones, it’s time to make a decision —– choosing a care option that suits them best. These days, the most popular options are assisted living and home healthcare, both of which have great benefits. Here, our assisted living team in Gloucester County offers some of the most important factors to review when making this decision:

• Making the move. While moving is stressful for everyone, the process of leaving a decades-long family home can be even more stressful for older adults —– this is something that home healthcare can overcome.
  However, moving into an assisted living community is a good choice if it means moving closer to family and into a senior-friendly space with assess to a wide range of 24/7 professional care. The right assisted living community will have a thriving social calendar, and help from friendly staff and neighbors make it easier for seniors to make the move than you may first think!
  
  
• Quality of care services. In-home care means that the professionals come to you, which can be more difficult to evaluate. Fully trained senior caregivers with experience in managing any specific health conditions your loved one may have, is an important consideration.
  While seeking assisted living communities, you should be able to visit each one, speak to the various teams, and get an understanding of daily life. In assisted living communities, all team members are close by and ready to help whenever your loved one needs it, whether it’s meal prep, nursing, memory care or companionship.
  
  
• Flexibility of care. This is vital in both assisted living and homecare. Optimally, the services should scale according to your loved one’s needs. Address this with each service provider, as options can differ between organizations.
  In our assisted living community, your loved one has access to things they need to ensure they stay as independent as possible while benefitting from access to a wide range of professional care, from nursing and access to wellbeing therapies to meals and companionship.
  These services are scalable, so your loved one doesn’t pay for something they don’t need —– and if their needs change, the services will adjust to fit their new requirements
  
  
• Companionship. In assisted living, residents benefit from the companionship of other seniors as well as the staff, while senior homecare services provide a more one-on-one form of companionship with their particular caregiver.
  When looking at assisted living communities, find out more about how they support the social needs of seniors living there. Are there talks, outings, socials, dancing, technology instruction, gardening, clubs, and other activities? Are there skilled professionals who can help seniors cope with their new surroundings, spot stress and anxiety, and help facilitate friendships?

Assisted Living in Gloucester County – The Heart of the Community

Pitman is an assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ, offering high quality, scalable assisted living services in a comfortable, well-supported and beautiful environment. As part of the United Methodist Communities network, we also offer rehabilitation, access to therapists, hospice care, respite care and memory care and support services. We welcome seniors from all faith backgrounds.

To find out more about our assisted living community, please visit our website at https://pitman.umcommunities.org/ contact us today or book a personal tour.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/assisted-living-versus-home-health-care/

Heart Healthy Activities for Seniors!

The heart is the single most hardworking muscle in the human body, so it’s no surprise that keeping it fit and healthy is key to living a long and full life! Here are some tips, interesting facts and insights from the team at our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey on staying heart healthy.

Did You Know…? 

A human heart beats around 115,000 times a day, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood through its chambers. In an average lifetime, this means it beats 2.5 billion times.

• Your heart is as big as your clenched fist, but certain health conditions can make it bigger, like congestive heart failure.
  
  
• The first pacemaker actually plugged into a wall socket.
  
  
• Your heart has its own electrical pulse, which is why it can keep beating when separated from the body as long as it has an oxygen supply.
  
  
• Heart disease is the number one killer of adults in the USA, with more women dying of heart disease than from the top cancers combined.
  
  
• Your level of physical activity is the most important factor in determining your risk of heart disease, and physicians recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise to be in good shape.

4 Best Exercises for Seniors 

1. Water aerobics. Thanks to heated pools, you can continue this activity throughout the year. It’s not only good for the heart, the buoyancy of the water protects joints and prevents falls. Most pools have safe entry options like shallow stairs or even lifts.
   
   
2. Get outdoors into the fresh air and explore nature! Walking engages the body and mind, ensuring that your muscles —– including your heart —– get a good workout. Join a senior walking or birdwatching group to get more active.
   
   
3. Yoga is very versatile, so it can be easily adapted for seniors at all fitness levels, including seniors with mobility issues. Look for a local yoga class for seniors or work one-on-one with an experienced instructor. Benefits include a healthier heart, better posture, improved strength and mobility, and even improved mood.
   
   
4. Dance classes are ideal at any age, teaching a great skill while having plenty of fun! In addition to being good for your heart, it’s a great way to socialize, too.

Independent Living at its Best at Our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey 

Bristol Glen is a CCRC based in Sussex County that aims to provide seniors with comfortable, serviced living arrangements that free up your time to enjoy life.

Contact us to find out more about our CCRC and our assisted living in Sussex County, New Jersey, please visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/ and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/heart-healthy-activities-for-seniors/

Anxiety Disorders and the Elderly

It’s normal to feel pangs of anxiety from time to time, especially when in stressful or uncertain situations. However, when this anxiety starts to affect wellbeing and quality of life, it’s serious health issue —– and one that affects many seniors. The assisted living team in Camden County, NJ shares some insight.

Why Does Anxiety Affect More Seniors?

Anxiety disorders (that is, medically diagnosed psychiatric disorders) appear to be similar for all age groups, but studies show these disorders may likely be underdiagnosed among seniors. While there is credible evidence of strong effects among seniors, these issues may not be quite severe enough to qualify as a psychiatric disorder. Unfortunately, they still have a significant toll on wellbeing.

This is understandable —– older adults suffer more pain through injuries and disease, are more socially isolated, experience more losses, and are more likely to be on medications that make anxiety worse.

Types of Anxiety Disorders in Seniors :

• Panic attacks – A sudden and unpredictable episode of fear, sometimes with physical manifestations.
• Phobias – Irrational fears of heights, snakes or animals, falling, or other situations.
• Acute Stress Disorder – Anxiety and behavioral issues that develops in the first month or so after a traumatic event.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – Long-term anxiety and behavioral issues that last beyond a month after a traumatic event.
• Social Anxiety – Fear of being around others, what others think of them, and not wanting to go out or meet others.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – Excessive worrying about everyday events and situations that are not usually of concern.

 

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders in Seniors

If you notice that your loved one is exhibiting signs of stress and anxiety, which often manifests in excessive worry, the first step is to make an appointment with their physician. Depending on the diagnosis, medication (often temporary) and therapy are usually recommended and are often very effective.

On occasion, anxiety can also be corrected by changing a medication that is causing this issue as a side effect. Symptoms of worry and fear can also be the result of a health decline in your loved one. For example, they may be developing mobility issues, so they become afraid to walk or visit friends, so it’s important to get to the root cause of the issue.

Visit Our Assisted living Camden County NJ 

Collingswood is part of the United Methodist Communities network of high-quality, non-profit assisted living communities specializing in senior living and care. With an experienced care and assistance team, scalable services customized to each resident’s needs, and a lively social calendar, we focus our community to provide essential resources that promote independence and quality of life.

To find out more about our assisted living in South Jersey, please visit our website at https://collingswood.umcommunities.org or contact us today and organize your visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/anxiety-disorders-and-the-elderly/

4 Tips for Living Your Best Life as a Hospice Resident

Coming to terms with a terminal diagnosis is a difficult challenge for patients and their families. While it may be a challenging time it’s important to do things that make you happy. Here are four tips for living to the full while in hospice care, from the team at our hospice community in South Jersey:

1. Bring Home with You. Rather than leaving the comforts and familiarity of home behind, bring it with you. Your favorite jerseys, softest comforter, the bedside lamp you love, and your favorite houseplant are all welcome. Some hospice facilities have guidelines of how much you can bring in with you, but it’s a generous process that’s all about making you feel at home.
   
   
2. Stress and Depression. It’s understandable that stress, anxiety and depression are common amongst terminally ill residents, but it’s important to know that there is plenty of support available.
   Whether you’re worried about the future, have spiritual concerns or are feeling overwhelmed, there are therapists and spiritual advisors on call to give comfort, advice and support. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you notice signs that you don’t feel like yourself —– it’s natural, and you deserve a helping hand.
   
   
3. Connect with People. Another good idea is to connect with people having a similar experience, and support groups offer a great resource for friendship, understanding, and support. Make time for your family and friends too, as they know and love you best. These strong social ties are key to keep enjoying life to the fullest.
   
   
4. Holistic Care. Holistic hospice care, also called coordinated care, is another essential resource. This entails hospice residents’ treatment by a team of nurses, therapists, counselors and more who keep clear lines of communication with you and with each other.
   This means a better quality of care and pain management and helps with bringing in more unique team members to address specific issues and concerns aligned with your care plan.

Find Out More About End-of-Life Care Services from Our Hospice Community in South Jersey

 

At The Shores, a part of the well-known United Methodist Communities non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer compassionate, professional hospice care in the Jersey Shore called Bridges. In this program, we focus on creating a nurturing and comforting environment for residents and their loved ones through customized care programs and compassionate support. To find out more about our hospice in Cape May County, please visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org/hospice-care-nj/ or contact us today and organize your visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/4-tips-for-living-your-best-life-as-a-hospice-resident/