5 advantages of choosing professional respite care services

Regardless of whether you’re a caregiver for a family member, loved one, neighbor or other person, it’s a very demanding emotional and physical job with long, unpredictable hours. On top of that, caregivers often also have to care for their own families and careers. Respite care services can lend a valuable helping hand. Here are just some of the many advantages:

1. Make recovery from hospitalization easy: If your loved one has recently undergone surgery or hospitalization, they’ll need more help than usual in order to recover and heal. Respite care services can manage complex health issues and deliver short term rehabilitation that will get them the highest quality healthcare and promote a faster recovery.

2. Permit vacation time: For caregivers with loved ones that can’t or don’t enjoy travel, family vacations can be a nightmare to plan. Responsible, highly skilled respite caregivers can ensure that the same high level of care is delivered to your loved one while you are away — giving you both peace-of-mind.

3. Give professional care a try: If caregiving is stretching you thin and your family member is unsure if assisted living is right for them, then booking a respite stay is a great way to see if the facility is a good fit. This will give them a no-pressure introduction to the community and a chance to see how enjoyable senior living can be!

4. Avoid burnout: Caregiver burnout is a very real and serious issue, both for caregivers and their loved ones. Family caregivers need to rest, relax and rejuvenate in order to deliver the level of care their loved one requires. Taking a break to deal with other matters in your life or just to free up your time becomes guilt-free when you choose professional respite care services.

Compassionate, skilled respite care services in Gloucester County, New Jersey

United Methodist Communities at Pitman is dedicated to high quality respite care services that deliver both individualized care as well as companionship in a secure and nurturing environment. With a welcoming atmosphere and a lively senior and staff community, your loved one will be in the best possible hands while enjoying their stay with us.
In addition to respite care services, we also offer , assisted living, hospice and long term care, and memory support services to individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

For more information on United Methodist Communities at Pitman please contact us today andvisit us for a personal tour

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/5-advantages-choosing-professional-respite-care-services/.

Vitamin and mineral supplements for healthy aging

Getting the correct amount of the right vitamins and minerals in our diets is important at any age, but needs can change as we age. Here are some tips from a leading independent assisted living community in New Jersey’s Monmouth County.

First, it is important to know that:
• Dietary supplements can’t replace a healthy diet. It’s best to get your vitamins and minerals from a healthy food sources because they contain additional dietary essentials like fiber.

• Before starting any vitamin or mineral supplements, you should speak to your doctor to determine a plan that fits your needs, won’t adversely affect any medical conditions you may have and doesn’t affect any prescription medications you may be taking.

Helpful vitamin and mineral supplements for seniors include:

• Vitamin D: This helps your body to absorb calcium from your digestive system and can help reduce your risk of osteoporosis, a brittle bones disease that has no known cure. It is also thought to be helpful in lowering your risk for certain cancers and heart disease. As an alternative to taking Vitamin D, you can simply spend between 5 and 30 minutes in the sun once or twice a week, providing your skin is not sensitive to the sun or the weather is poor.

• Calcium: As we age, our bones become lower in calcium, increasing risks for osteoporosis and osteomalacia (softening of the bones). In addition to a calcium supplement, your doctor may recommend including weightbearing exercises in your fitness regime to maintain bone and muscle strength. It is important to get the right type of calcium supplement in the right amount for your age. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 1,200mg a day for women over 51, 1,000mg a day for men between 51 and 70, and 1,200mg a day for men 71 and up.

• Iron: This mineral is important for your red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen throughout your body. An iron deficiency can lead to anemia, the symptoms of which include fatigue, weakness, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

• Vitamin B12: A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to anemia, confusion, agitation and even hallucinations, as it plays an important role in the health of cells, especially your nerve cells. It is mostly found in animal protein, so vegetarians and vegans may find it difficult to get the recommended amount.

A leading assisted living community in New Jersey
United Methodist Communities at Francis Asbury is a beautiful and comfortable assisted living community serving Monmouth County, NJ. Our dedicated and compassionate staff help our residents through their daily living activities and provide professional medical care support, all in a private residential setting.

To find out more about our individualized assisted living services and our assisted living community, please contact us today and arrange a visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/vitamin-mineral-supplements-healthy-aging/.

What is a non-profit assisted living community?

When searching for an assisted living facility in New Jersey, you’ll come across many different types of facilities including for-profit and non-profit organizations. Understanding the differences between these organizations and what they mean for your care is an important factor in making this decision. Here’s some advice from the team at United Methodist Communities.

The biggest difference between for-profit and non-profit assisted living facilities
While for-profit assisted living communities are run as businesses, many non-profit organizations are generally run by faith-based groups as a part of their calling to serve the needs of their community. However, both types of organizations have to run according to their business models to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet their service and care requirements as well as strict state and healthcare licensing regulations to ensure delivery of the best quality services.

Should you choose a for-profit or non-profit assisted living facility?
The range of services, quality of those services and costs of living in these facilities varies greatly between different for-profit and non-profit communities, so it’s important to also take other factors into consideration. At United Methodist Communities, we strongly emphasize choosing a community that delivers the best quality of life for you or your loved one, and recommend:

• You visit the community and speak to staff as well as residents.
• You discuss how different health conditions are handled and if they have onsite nursing andlong-term nursing home care.
• You visit the living spaces and see if they would suit your needs.
• You ask about the services they offer and if they can care for you or your loved one as you age, in comfort and with compassion.
• You check their local and state licenses with regulatory boards.

Skilled nursing home care at our assisted living community in Camden County, NJ
United Methodist Communities at Collingswood, a non-profit in South Jersey, offers compassionate, expert assisted living services to our residents, including skilled nursing home care. Available as long term or short term care (for example, after surgery), this service is ideal for treating complex and potentially serious health conditions in seniors.

To find out more about our skilled nursing services or our assisted living facility, please contact us and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/non-profit-assisted-living-community/

Senior health tips: Increasing your core strength

Core strength exercises improve the fitness of the stomach, back, hips and pelvis. These muscles are important for improving balance and stability as well as posture. For seniors, these exercises are a good way to help reduce risk of falls and make walking and other daily tasks easier — in fact, a recent analysis published in “Sports Medicine” concluded that seniors experienced a 30% strength increase as well as a 23% balance and functional performance increase! Here are some easy exercises from short term rehab specialists at United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen.

• The Bridge: This exercise focuses on the muscles in your buttocks, lower back and stomach. Start by lying flat on your back on a yoga mat with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Slowly lift your torso to create a straight line between your knees and your chest. Be careful not to arch your back. Hold for three seconds and slowly go back to the start position. Repeat five times.
• Leg Lifts: In this exercise, your pelvic muscles and lower stomach muscles are strengthened. Start flat on your back on a yoga mat. Contract your stomach muscles as you lift one leg about five inches off the floor, without bending at the knee. Hold for three seconds and slowly go back to the start position. Then do the same with your other leg. Repeat five times.
• Seated Side Bends: This will focus on the muscles that run down your torso. Sit on a chair with your feet flat on the ground. Put one of your hands behind your head and stretch the other out parallel to the ground. Now bend down to the side as if using that hand to pick something up, hold for three seconds and return to your start position. Do the same with your other arm and repeat five times.
• The Superman: Named because it resembles Superman flying through the air, this exercise strengthens your lower back. Lie face down on the floor on a yoga mat, keeping your arms stretched out in front of you. Now raise your head, right arm and left leg at the same time to about two inches off the ground. Hold this position for three seconds and return to the start position. Do the same thing with your left arm and right leg. Repeat five times.

Please note that if you are unsure of how to do the exercises or require assistance in performing them correctly and safely, speak to your doctor and a short term senior rehabilitation specialist or similarly qualified therapist.

Expert, caring short term rehab for seniors in New Jersey
United Methodist Communities offers the highest quality care for seniors, including short term rehabilitation at Bristol Glen. Whether you or a loved one is recovering from an operation or you would simply like to improve your quality of health and wellbeing through fitness, our dedicated team is here to assist you.

In addition to our short term rehab services, our independent senior living communities also offer assisted living, hospice and long term care, as well Alzheimer’s and memory support services.

Contact us to find out more about our health, wellness, rehabilitation and other programs, andbook your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/senior-health-tips-increasing-core-strength/