How to choose a continuing care retirement community location

After you have decided that a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is the right option for you or a senior family member, the next step is to consider the right location. Here are some tips from a leading senior living community in Sussex County.

• Services and facilities: The community you choose should offer you the best quality of life above everything else – these are your golden years, after all. It’s important to consider if and how they can scale up their services as your needs change. You don’t want meal services to be compulsory if you’re enjoying cooking for yourself and, at the same time, you want to be sure that they can handle your advanced long-term care if it becomes necessary.
• Homey living arrangements: When looking at these communities, consider how you would like your home to be. One of the factors in making this transition may have been that your family home was too large, so a self-contained, spacious apartment might be just what you’re looking for. Also, make sure that the living area is spacious, well-lit and well maintained. This shows the ability to easily accommodate walkers or wheelchairs if needed and that the community takes pride in keeping the buildings fully functional and aesthetically pleasing.
• Town or country living: The setting of different CCRCs have their own pros and cons. Country locations may have beautiful scenery, but could leave you feeling isolated and make transport and day trips difficult. Town settings offer additional vibrancy, giving you easy access to shops, restaurants, theatres and parks, allowing you to live an independent and full life.
• Distance from family: For many people, being close to their family is a must – and it’s certainly something to consider when choosing a CCRC. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to choose a community just down the street. Be sure to consider communities that are slightly further afield, as these may meet your needs better while still making it easy for family and friends to visit.

Choose United Methodist Communities Bristol Glen for independent senior living 

United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen, offers an independent, high quality lifestyle that allows seniors to fully enjoy their golden years. As a full service community, we are able to scale our services to the right level of support as you age. In addition to our services for independent seniors, we also offer assisted living and memory care services.

For more information on our continuing care retirement community or our services, please contact us today or visit www.bristolglen.umcommunities.org.

This content was originally posted at https://umcommunities.org/blog/how-to-choose-a-continuing-care-retirement-community-location/

What is Sitting Disease?

Unlike its name, Sitting Disease isn’t an actual disease – it’s a term used to cover the more than 30 chronic health conditions associated with sedentary behavior, like sitting.

Statistics from the Mayo Clinic show that Americans are spending more and more time indulging these behaviors, with 50% to 70% of people spending more than 6 hours a day in a sitting position and 20% to 35% of people spending more than 4 hours a day in front of the television. The study found direct links between a sedentary lifestyle and a shortened lifespan – in fact, by reducing your TV time to less than two hours a day, you can add 1.4 years onto your lifespan!

These concerns are even more serious for sedentary elderly people, as they are more at risk than ever before of developing serious health conditions, including diabetes, physical disabilities, cognitive decline, osteoporosis, heart disease and even certain cancers.

Staying active through your senior years 

Walking is great for your health and by far the most popular low-impact exercise for older adults.

While the best way to prevent Sitting Disease is to live a more active life throughout your adult years, there is still much that you can do to reduce your risks as a senior. With the help of a specialist, you can determine how much exercise you need and how vigorously you need to exercise in order to gain a good fitness level. It’s also important to remember that ‘exercise’ doesn’t only mean going for a run – there are plenty of alternative physical activities for seniors that are safe and fun, for example:

• Dance classes
• Gardening
• Aerobics
• Yoga
• Nature walks

When it comes to fighting Sitting Disease, it’s also the little things that matter, from taking the stairs instead of waiting for the lift to choosing a walk to the shops over an hour in front of the television.

By getting into a routine of regular exercise, seniors also benefit from healthy weight loss, muscle development and even stress reduction, all bringing a better quality of life.

Community-based independent living residences for seniors 

At United Methodist Communities, we offer a wide range of tailored support services for the elderly in an environment that delivers the highest quality of life. Our assisted living facilities and senior living residential facilities are designed to assist your loved one only where they require it, and to scale these services at any point if they require a higher level of long-term care. In addition to catering for independent seniors, we are also able to provide expert memory care services for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

For more information, please contact United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen in Sussex County today and ask about our continuing care retirement community.

This content was originally posted at http://umcommunities.org/blog/what-is-sitting-disease/

A senior healthcare guide to osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is one of the most common health conditions facing seniors, with the National Osteoporosis Foundation estimating that 52 million Americans are currently affected. This condition carries significant risks as it makes bones more brittle and easily broken or damaged, increasing the risk of serious slip and fall injuries for seniors. Here is a health care guide to this common condition from senior living service providers in Sussex County.

What is osteoporosis? 

The bones in your skeleton are made up of living tissue that, like the tissue in the rest of your body, is continuously replaced with new cells in order to stay strong and healthy. Osteoporosis occurs when the body is unable to replace bone tissue at the same rate that old cells are removed, making bones weaker, more brittle and prone to breaking.

Osteoporosis can be preceded by osteopenia, a condition characterized by low bone density. Treatment can vary for the different conditions, but common treatments and lifestyle changes can benefit patients with either of these health issues.

What causes osteoporosis?

This health condition doesn’t have a specific cause and is not a result of a disease – rather, it occurs in people who either suffer from a preexisting bone mass issue or as a result of low bone mass due to age and other risk factors.

Our bone mass peaks in youth and starts to decline as we age. The more bone mass you acquire during your youth, the less likely you are to be affected by osteoporosis.

The most important risk factors for acquiring this condition include:

• Gender - women are more likely to be affected than men
• Age – the older you get, the more likely you are to be affected
• Race – osteoporosis is more common in people of Caucasian and Asian descent
• Family history – you are more at risk if direct family members suffer from low bone mass or osteoporosis
• Small body frame – the smaller your body frame, the more likely you are to develop the condition
• Thyroid hormone overproduction and low sex hormones
• Low calcium intake and eating disorders
• Long-term steroid use
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking or chewing tobacco
• Excessive consumption of alcohol

How is osteoporosis treated?

Your doctor will perform a bone mass test to measure the severity of the osteoporosis and how quickly it is advancing. This will help determine the best treatment plan for your needs.

The most commonly prescribed medication for this condition is administering bisphosphonates either intravenously or in pill form. Often, these are scheduled in a quarterly or weekly injection or as a weekly or monthly pill according to what best suits the patient’s needs.

Other forms of treatment for osteoporosis include hormone-related therapy and other medications for people intolerant of bisphosphonates.

Patients can also make certain lifestyle changes to try and slow the progression of the condition, including quitting smoking and participating in weight-bearing exercise routines.

Preventing osteoporosis

Keeping bones healthy is a priority for seniors as it prevents serious injuries and fractures that can be slow to heal and difficult to treat. The best ways to prevent this condition include:

• Increasing your intake of calcium and vitamin D. According to the Mayo Clinic, after 50 years-of-age, your calcium intake should increase to 1,200 milligrams a day. This can be done through supplements and dairy products or by eating dark green leafy vegetables, salmon, soy products and orange juice.
• Getting regular exercise as recommended by your doctor. This could include walking, jogging, gardening, aerobics, yoga, or dancing. It’s important that these exercises are weight-bearing whichaffects your joints, and stimulates bone health.

Community-based senior living solutions for an independent lifestyle 

United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen, offers a wide range of tailored support services for older adults in an environment that delivers the highest quality of life. Designed to enhance independence, our independent senior living facilities are designed to assist your loved one only when they require it, and to scale these services at any point if they require a higher level of care. In addition to catering to independent seniors, we are also able to provide expert memory support services and care for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, as well as patients with conditions such as osteoporosis.

For more information, please contact UMC Bristol Glen in Sussex County today and ask about our continuing care retirement communities.

This content was originally posted at http://umcommunities.org/blog/a-senior-healthcare-guide-to-osteoporosis/

What to pack when moving into an assisted living community

Moving into an assisted living community like United Methodist Communities at Collingswood is a big transition for any senior. While the move is in everyone’s best interest and will give your loved one a much better quality of life, it’s important to remember that it can become overwhelming for your family member. Knowing what to pack for the move is a good way to prepare and keep this change a positive and enjoyable one.

Home furnishings 

Our assisted living communities are designed to be as spacious, safe and easy-to-navigate as they are comfortable, but nothing will settle your loved one as quickly as their familiar home comforts. After measuring your furniture and reviewing floor plan, you can move in the following:

• Favorite home furniture, including a comfortable sofa, chairs, coffee tables and more. Don’t forget to include chairs for guests and visitors.
• Kitchenware, including dishes, storage containers, glasses and cutlery. If you choose to utilize pre-prepared meals, then you can limit prep dishes and ovenware. Remember to include enough kitchenware for visitors and additional quantities of frequently used items, for example, coffee mugs.
• Bedding
• Lamps for additional lighting next to the bed or at a reading spot
• TV and or radio
• Any appliances that are not included, for example, microwave oven or kettle

Clothing 

• Several comfortable day-to-day outfits
• Pajamas and a robe
• Socks, slippers and shoes
• Warm winter clothing
• A couple of more special outfits for attending events and get-togethers

Toiletries 

• Basic everyday toiletries – soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
• Makeup if used
• A list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications

Sentimental items 

These are just as important as the practical items and will give your loved one a real feeling of being at home. They could include:

• Paintings and photographs
• Books
• Linen
• Decorative items

Comfortable, homey assisted living apartments with expert support services 

Assisted living at United Methodist Communities is all about keeping you as independent as possible with support services to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Our programs encourage residents to get involved with their communities at a level they are comfortable with and we tailor our services to ensure that each resident gets the help, services and support they require to live a full and happy life. For more information, please contact us today.

If you are unsure about what your loved one will require in our assisted living community or you would like to talk to us about assisted living, please contact us today at www.umcommunities.org.

This content was originally posted at http://umcommunities.org/blog/what-to-pack-when-moving-into-an-assisted-living-community/