4 Reasons Moving to Assisted Living Can Boost Health and Happiness

Many aging parents resist the move into assisted living, fearing a loss of independence and quality of life. However, the reality is quite different! Assisted living communities are much more advanced, attractive, and beneficial than many people imagine. Unfortunately, these fears can hold seniors back from living their best lives in their Golden Years.

Here are four reasons why a move into an assisted living community makes seniors happier and healthier, from our assisted living team in Gloucester County, NJ: 

1. Tasty Meals Prepared by Executive Chefs – The in-house dining options offered by assisted living communities eliminate all the hassle of grocery shopping, meal preparation and cleaning up. Throughout the day you can get fresh, tasty meals and snacks served in the dining room or bistro– and invite friends and family for the feast!
   
   
2. Transportation and Housekeeping Services – Keeping track of appointments, taking care of chores, dealing with maintenance contractors, and driving can quickly become stressful for older adults. Seniors are also especially vulnerable to home maintenance scams. No longer having a driver’s license can mean losing a considerable amount of independence.
   Assisted living means all that is taken care of for you – there’s no need to worry or stick to schedules. Transportation is available to and from appointments, malls, museums, restaurants, and other venues. Onsite trained professionals take care of all maintenance and housekeeping.
   
   
3. Physical Safety – Many seniors living at home (and their families) worry about them becoming victims of crime, taking a nasty fall at home or falling sick with an illness. This is a very real and very stressful concern, with seniors recovering more slowly and being more vulnerable to complications as a result of hospitalization.
   These concerns are taken care of in assisted living. The apartment homes are designed with fall prevention in mind. The associates are able to identify any health concerns and book appointments with doctors for early treatment. The community itself offers a secure environment.
   
   
4. A Lively Social Life – Living at home can easily become isolating for seniors, which severely impacts health and happiness. Assisted living communities understand the importance of a healthy social life, and ensure that programs and activities cater to diverse interests and abilities. From planned outings, wellness and physical activities to monthly clubs on everything from books and gardening to dancing and movies, there are plenty of ways to meet people and have fun.

A Warm and Welcoming Assisted Living Community in Gloucester County 

 

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 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/4-reasons-moving-to-assisted-living-can-boost-health-and-happiness/

4 Ways to Celebrate the Festive Season with Your Loved One in a CCRC

Celebrating the holidays is one of the highlights on anyone’s calendar! And, that doesn’t change simply because your parents are in a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community)! Here are four tips on how to bring the festivities home to your loved one, from our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey:

• Chat with Your Loved One  – First, set some time aside to talk with your loved one about what their plans are for the festive season and what they’d like to do. This is a great way to get them involved rather than making them feel like they don’t have any control. Remember, they’ve been used to planning their holiday season for many years. So, they also might have some great ideas you haven’t thought of!
• Try to Spend the Season Nearby  – Not all of us are fortunate enough to live close to our loved one’s CCRC or assisted living community, but the festive season is the perfect time to book a holiday nearby. You can bring the family together at the home of a nearby relative or book an Airbnb. This will make your family gathering feel truly festive and filled with the holiday spirit. It also makes it easier to visit your loved one at the CCRC or collect them for different family events.
• Spend Time at the CCRC or Assisted Living Community  – This is your loved one’s new home and where they’ve put down new roots, so it’s a good idea to spend some time with them at their residence. You can meet the associates and their new friends, as well as explore the grounds and attractions. You’ll be impressed at how most communities go all-out for the holiday season and fill the community with decor, festive cheer, and family-friendly events you’ll all enjoy!
  
  

It’s also a great idea to have a little event of your own decorating your loved one’s apartment just like you used to. Put up a Christmas tree and festive lights, turn on the carols, bake holiday cookies together, and watch a movie – just like old times!

• Look on the Local Calendar  – The holiday season is filled with great events for all ages, so take a look at local newspapers, community boards, and Facebook groups to find out what’s on. Look out for festive season classics like productions of The Nutcracker and carols by candlelight, and take a trip into the city to see the lights. Invite some of your loved one’s friends along to make it even more fun, especially if they don’t have family nearby.
  
  

Senior Care that Sets the Standard – Visit Our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey 

Bristol Glen is a CCRC and assisted living community based in Sussex County. We aim to provide our seniors with comfortable, serviced living arrangements that free up their time to enjoy life. Founded on a philosophy of aging in place, our continuing care retirement community residents enjoy a less restrictive care model where they do not have to move from their residential apartment to access additional services as their needs change.

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/4-ways-to-celebrate-the-festive-season-with-your-loved-one-in-a-ccrc/

4 Reasons Why Assisted Living Is so Much Better Than Living Alone

When it comes to senior care, there are many different options on the market. Therefore, it can be pretty challenging to find the one that best suits your loved one. In contrast to some past perspectives about assisted living, the recent senior care industry boom offers desirable lifestyles, fantastic customized spaces, and ample resources for seniors.

Here are four reasons why assisted living can be better for seniors than living alone, from our assisted living community in Camden County, NJ:

Four Reasons Why an Assisted Living Community Is Better for Seniors Than Living Alone:

• Affordability – The cost of assisted living isn’t low, but it can be much lower than the cost of a home – especially if that home isn’t paid off or requires a lot of maintenance and repairs. Maintaining a yard and home is a considerable cost when you add it all up, from utilities and maintenance services to major repairs and replacing appliances. If a major repair issue occurs, it can make living alone considerably more expensive than assisted living.
  
  
• Socialization – Having an active social life is an important part of mental and physical health, and it can be much easier to achieve this in a community setting rather than living alone. In assisted living, the staff works hard to deliver a wide range of social events and activities to residents at all levels of independence, from guest talks and events to regular clubs, outings, and more.
  
  This is especially important as seniors who live alone can easily become isolated or suffer from depression, especially when they don’t have the confidence or physical ability to go out by themselves. It’s easy to make new friendships and maintain them in a community setting where like-minded people are just a few steps away.
  
  
• Safety – One of the main concerns of any family member with a senior loved one who lives alone is their safety. Whether it’s a fall or an illness, the last thing you want is an emergency situation with no one nearby to help. In an assisted living community, it’s not only easier to respond in the event of an emergency, but the building and staff strategy are also designed to actively prevent these emergencies.
  
  A cough can be noticed and quickly checked so it doesn’t become pneumonia. Apartments are designed to support mobility and prevent falls, and having a community available means there’s always someone there to help.
  
  
• Independence – Although the main fear many older adults have about moving into assisted living is that they’ll lose their independence, the reality is that high-quality assisted living communities are designed to support senior independence for as long as possible.
  
  Services are scalable, so residents only get the services they need, and chores are taken care of so that residents can spend as much time as possible doing what they love and enjoy life. Transport services are available so that seniors can be active in their community, and there are plenty of senior services and activities available onsite. This offers seniors many more opportunities to live life to the fullest than living alone will.
  
  

Assisted Living in Camden County NJ – A Community that Promotes Senior Independence

Collingswood is part of the United Methodist Communities’ network of high-quality, non-profit assisted living communities promoting independence for seniors. With an experienced care and assistance team, scalable services customized to each resident’s needs, and a lively social calendar, our community offers essential resources that support independence and quality of life.

To find out more about our assisted living community in Camden County, NJ, 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/4-reasons-why-assisted-living-is-so-much-better-than-living-alone/