Advantages of in-home respite care services

Being a caregiver is often as challenging as it is rewarding, but fortunately there are services designed to support you and your loved one if and when you require help. Whether you cannot care for your loved one 24-hours a day, he or she requires skilled nursing care after recovering from an illness or hospital stay, or you simply need some time to care for yourself, residential in home respite care services in NJ are here to provide support and peace-of-mind. Here are some insights into the many advantages of having access to these services:

• You stay the primary caregiver: Understandably, being the primary caregiver to a family member is a privilege and responsibility that many people don’t want to give up – but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have the benefit of professional services. This allows you to focus on the areas of caregiving you enjoy the most, while allowing a professional service to step in occasionally and handle tasks that are too specialized or demanding.
• Your health is important too: Being a caregiver is often stressful, especially if your loved one has significant health problems or you have a family and career of your own to juggle. Caregivers who try to take it all on often face burnout from anxiety, guilt and lack of sufficient rest. As a result, every area of your life suffers. Respite care allows you to step back, fully focus on each part of your life and recharge – making you a better caregiver and prioritizing your health and happiness.
• The comfort of home: Many people choose to care for their loved ones in order to help them stay in the comfort of their own homes. In-home respite care services ensure that this need for security and familiarity to prolong the necessity of a higher care level in an assisted living facility. These caregiving services take into account all the needs of seniors at home, and can provide personal care services, medical assistance, housekeeping, meal preparation, companionship, and even caring for pets.
• Peace-of-mind when medical needs escalate: If your loved one has a bad fall, needs special care while recovering from surgery or is suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, respite caregivers can help you, either temporarily or permanently as medical and care needs change. This means that you have access to fully-trained medical professionals to ensure that your loved one gets the best possible care.

HomeWorks – Respite care services in the comfort of home 

At United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, we understand the challenges of providing medical care and companionship to seniors while encouraging a full and independent life, which is why we’ve developed our HomeWorks program.

Through this program, trained and experienced staff assist seniors and their families through comprehensive in-home care. Each care plan is designed around the client’s exact needs, filling in with necessary assistance while allowing your loved one to remain in the comfort of their home.

In addition to support with daily tasks, transport and personal hygiene, our team is able to assist with nursing, medication management and much more. For dementia and Alzheimer’s patients, we can develop specific care routines that ensure a sense of structure and help reduce stress and anxiety.

For more information on our residential in-home respite care in NJ, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/advantages-home-respite-care-services/

A closer look into the comforts of palliative care

As the life of a loved one draws to a close, treatment changes from trying to find a cure to ensuring comfort and support. As part of our hospice care program, Bridges, our hospice in South Jersey, we offer a nurturing atmosphere and hospice care services both to patients, and their friends and families.

Every hospice care program is different, but Bridges was developed specifically for United Methodist Communities at The Shores to provide a personalized, private and supportive environment for anyone with a life-limiting illness to experience high quality care and comfort. Some of the services and amenities we offer include:

• Private, furnished one-bedroom apartments with a dedicated kitchenettes and bathroom facilities.
• High quality beds with soft, luxurious linens to match.
• WiFi-enabled apartments and common spaces for the convenience of patients, family members and friends.
• Medication management, personalized care and meal service carried out by compassionate, experienced caregivers,
• Food  available any time of day or night throughout the week and weekends in the family room, so visitors and family members can remain at mealtimes.
• Spiritual support and pastoral care for patients as well as their loved ones.
• Our family support program helps loved ones and family members during this difficult time.

In addition, The Shores provides Bridges’ residents access to several useful and enriching amenities and programs, including outdoor garden space, music room, religious services, gym, salon, and a life enrichment program.

Comfort and quality of life is key at our Cape May County hospice 

The Shores, a United Methodist Communities senior and assisted living facility, offers superior end-of-life care through Bridges. With an emphasis on creating a nurturing and comforting environment, we offer customized services that not only support your loved one, but you and your family, as well.

To find out more about Bridges, our hospice neighborhood or our assisted living community in South Jersey, please contact us today to arrange your visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/closer-look-comforts-palliative-care/

Physical therapy benefits for the elderly

Seniors often suffer from physical issues that make it difficult to move comfortably and easily, either as a result of age-related conditions or illness. Fortunately, physical therapists can assist with this – here are some insights from our assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ.

• Gain better balance and a greater range of motion: Falls, a serious risk for seniors, can result in trips to the emergency room, surgeries and long recoveries. One of the best ways of preventing falls is to help strengthen and support your body, so that you can balance more easily, move more confidently and react more quickly.
• Recover from illness or surgery more rapidly: After a hospital stay or an injury, it often seems like the best way to recover is to relax and take it easy in bed – but this only works if it is balanced with a proper physical therapy program. In fact, with the help of  experienced therapists, patients heal significantly faster and with better results than with simple bed rest.
• Manage the symptoms of health conditions: Arthritis is a health condition that affects many seniors, resulting in painful joints and difficulty managing daily tasks. With physical therapy, however, patients can help preserve the strength and use of their joints, as well as useful methods for relieving pain. Physical therapy can assist other health conditions , including osteoporosis, diabetes, strokes and multiple sclerosis.
• Improve fitness and general health: Exercise is one of the best ways to stay mobile, strong and healthy, but this needs to be carefully managed to prevent injuries or overstraining. A physical therapist can work with you, address health conditions or concerns, help develop an exercise plan that works for you, as well as  ensure your health needs are properly managed.

It’s important to remember that when you are looking for a physical therapist, always speak to a certified, experienced professional who has worked with seniors before. Speak to your doctor to recommend a specialist if you are uncertain, and always ensure that specialists are notified of your health conditions and medical needs at all times.

Health, wellness and happiness at our beautiful assisted living community in NJ

Pitman is an assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ, offering high quality services to seniors. As part of the United Methodist Communities network, we offer these services in addition to short term rehabilitation, hospice care, respite care and memory support services.

In addition to our professional services, we pride ourselves on creating a compassionate and social community through caring professionals, a year-round social events calendar, outings and social clubs. We also offer spiritual companionship and support to residents upon request.

For more information on our assisted living community, please contact us today and plan your visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/physical-therapy-benefits-elderly/

This New Year, take a fun senior care social class to remember!

It’s the beginning of 2017, a perfect time to commit to resolutions that make your life more enjoyable, healthy and fun. So why not join our SeniorFITness wellness program? These classes are specifically designed for seniors, making them safe and enjoyable as well as highly beneficial. Here are some more reasons to join in this New Year from our specialists in New Jersey on home help services for the elderly.

• Improve strength, balance and mobility: As we get older, it becomes more and more difficult to lead a physically active life – but, at the same time, we all want to maintain our independence. Whether your goals are to move easily and without getting out of breath while walking, to get out and join a local walking club or to get back to old hobbies you once loved like dancing, a senior wellness program will help you achieve it.
• Essential fall prevention: Falls are one of the greatest  concerns for seniors, their families and caregivers alike. Not only are we more likely to fall as we get older, the consequences of falls can be far more serious – resulting in trips to the emergency room and long recovery periods rather than the usual bumps and bruises that fade away. One of the best ways to prevent falls is to help ensure that you are steady on your feet, and this means working on core strength, keeping fit and staying as active as possible. Joining a wellness program specifically for seniors is a great idea, as trainers are skilled exercise physiologists who know exactly how to work with you to bring gentle but rewarding results.
• Recover after hospitalization, operations or illness: After a fall, an illness or a stay in hospital, many seniors feel far weaker than they did before and struggle to recover quickly. SeniorFITness is managed by rehabilitation specialists who understand the specific needs of seniors and will work with you to help speed up your recovery.
• It’s fun and social: This aspect is often overlooked, but having a healthy social life is just as important as caring for your body and mind. Senior wellness programs are a great way to meet new people, and the atmosphere of teamwork, support and encouragement is a wonderful motivator for helping you achieve your goals.

Affordable and compassionate help for seniors at home

At United Methodist Communities, we strive to offer the very best quality senior care options, from assisted living to in home senior care through our HomeWorks program. This program is about assisting the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and providing them, their families and caregivers with personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home care for the elderly, please contact us today.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/new-year-take-fun-senior-care-social-class-remember/

5 tips for boosting senior nutrition

Good, healthy nutrition is essential at any age, but it’s often overlooked in senior health. Eating well is as much about improving mental acuteness, energy and resistance to illness as it is about supporting a positive attitude and emotional stability. So how can seniors support good eating habits?

1. A good diet isn’t about sacrifice: When many of us hear the word “diet,” our minds go to a place that’s all about denial, bland food and weight loss. While a good diet does help you achieve a healthy weight, it doesn’t mean eating foods you hate. It means using fresh, wholesome ingredients to create tasty food that provides essential nutrients and vitamins as well as flavor.
2. Include calcium, protein and Vitamin D: These are some of the most important nutrients for seniors, as they actively support the body against age-related illnesses like osteoporosis, blood pressure complications, muscle loss and infections.
3. Stay hydrated: While water isn’t nutritional in itself, it plays a vital role in our daily health. Seniors are especially vulnerable to dehydration as a result of certain medications, general decrease in fluid intake and increased effects of heat. Dehydration is a serious issue that can result in confusion, fatigue, muscle cramps, constipation, severe blood pressure changes and changes to blood sugar levels, so at least one glass of water per meal should be consumed, as well as one in between meals. Remember that tea, coffee, vegetables, smoothies, and certain meals like soups and stews, also contribute towards hydration.
4. Swap your fats: Certain fats are essential to our health, while others can be damaging, so it’s important to include the healthy options and reduce the harmful ones. Avoid trans fats and saturated fats and replace them with mono-saturated and poly-saturated fats, as these increase good cholesterol as well as protect against heart disease. Good foods to include are avocados, eggs, salmon, tuna, canola oil, almonds, and tofu.
5. Swap big meals for regular small meals: As we age, we often find that our appetites diminish, which makes it more difficult to get the nutrition our bodies need. Rather than sitting down to three big meals a day, choose six smaller meals with a wider variety of foods to snack on throughout the day. Smoothies with yogurt and fresh fruit are a great option that includes essential nutrients and proteins.

Enjoy life and independence at our CCRC in Sussex County, NJ 

Bristol Glen, a continuing care retirement community in Sussex County, New Jersey that offers seniors independence, comfort and a vibrant social life along with high quality care is part ofUnited Methodist Communities.

With a personalized and customized set of services, seniors are able to fully access the level of care they require, when they require it. We are also fully equipped and able to assist Alzheimer’s and dementia patients through our memory care and support services.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/5-tips-boosting-senior-nutrition/

Why choose an assisted living community in 2017?

It’s a brand new year and, for many seniors, now is the right time to start making plans for the future. The idea of moving from their family home into assisted living is a daunting one, but there are solutions designed to not only reduce the strain of moving, but actually deliver real quality-of-life benefits at the same time. Collingswood assisted living community in Camden County, NJ is one of them! A move like this can bring positive changes to your life in 2017:

• Independence: Many seniors worry that leaving their home for a senior or assisted living community means giving up their independence – but the truth is quite the opposite. Our communities actually encourage independence as much as possible by removing the inconveniences of everyday life like home and yard maintenance, thereby freeing your time to socialize, explore your interests and enjoy life.
• One move is all it takes: Our communities have a philosophy of “aging in place,” which focuses on keeping your residential apartment as your home for as long as you can be safe, even as your health and medical needs change. With onsite skilled nursing as well as Alzheimer’s and dementia care, and hospice care programs, you will have the comfort and familiar surroundings of your own home for as long as possible.
• Great amenities and community spirit: For many seniors, aging can become very lonely as family members move away, friends move away, and getting out becomes more difficult. Assisted living communities actively work to ensure that residents’ social and spiritual needs are met, in addition to lifestyle and health requirements. With a busy social calendar, classes, clubs and onsite transport, you can enjoy an enriching and stimulating life that incorporates your hobbies and interests.
• Onsite access to health specialists: Health and wellness are a priority in our assisted living community, so residents are assured access to  wellness and health specialists. This includes trained physiologists, who run fitness classes  as well as 24-hour skilled nursing.

Assisted living for seniors at our Camden County, NJ community (H2)

Collingswood is part of United Methodist Communities, a network of senior living and assisted living facilities specializing in high quality care and support. Our senior living community in Camden County, NJ, is known for its beautiful setting, spacious residential apartments and wide range of resident services. With qualified and experienced nursing, therapy and management staff on hand to provide expert assistance, residents enjoy all the benefits of assisted living for seniors..

In addition to our assisted living facilities, we also offer a range of long term care services, including hospice and palliative care, short term rehabilitation and respite care.

To find out more about United Methodist Communities and our assisted living services, please contact us and schedule your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/choose-assisted-living-community-2017/