Grief Support Programs for Hospice Loved Ones

The death of a loved one has a profound effect on those left behind, and processing these changes and emotions is not something that anyone should go through alone. Realizing hospice care is just as much about supporting loved ones through this time as it is about caring for patients, these facilities offer grief support programs which provide the compassion, comfort and care needed after a loved one passes away.

Why mourning is important 

Bereavement and grief after a loved one passes is a natural part of the mourning process. Studies show that each person experiences this process in their own, unique way. It’s important to give yourself time to mourn the loss of a loved one, as this is part of acknowledging your loss and the change in your life, as well as remembering your loved one and developing a new identity for yourself.

How support groups help this process 

Losing a loved one is a traumatic experience, whether sudden or the result of a long illness. Grief support groups play an important role in the journey of healing from this trauma by creating a safe haven where people can express their emotions and comfort others who are going through a similar experience — it’s a space of understanding, emotional support and advice.

These programs are especially helpful for anyone who lacks support from friends or family, are geographically far away from their support structure, wants to learn more about the grief process, or wants relief from their emotional state. They are non-judgmental, informative and compassionate communities where anyone who has lost a loved one can get a better understanding of the process they are going through, and learn from others in similar situations.

Compassionate care for patients and their loved ones at our hospice in South Jersey 

The Shores, part of the well-known United Methodist Communities non-profit assisted living organization in New Jersey, offers a compassionate, professional hospice neighborhood in South Jersey called Bridges. This program focuses on creating a nurturing and comforting environment for patients and their loved ones through customized care programs and compassionate support. To find out more about hospice care in the Jersey Shore area, please visit our website at https://theshores.umcommunities.org and contact us today to arrange your visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/grief-support-programs-hospice-loved-ones/ 

Be Aware and Save Lives: Stroke Warning Signs and Symptoms

When it comes to strokes, every second counts towards preventing permanent damage and saving lives. Here’s what you need to know from our senior home health care services team about this medical condition in order to act quickly.

F-A-S-T – The easy way to recognize stroke symptoms 

The four letters F-A-S-T, spells out the symptoms of a stroke and are key to saving lives. Here’s what they mean:

F = FACE DROOPING. Watch for one side of the face starting to droop or feel numb. Ask the person to smile to check for unevenness.

A = ARM WEAKNESS. One arm feeling weaker or numb. To test, ask the person to raise their arms up in front of them and see if their one arm drifts down or has difficulty responding.

S = SLURRED SPEECH. Difficulty speaking and articulating words. Test the person by asking them to repeat a short sentence like, “The grass is green.”

T = TIME. If someone shows one or more of the above symptoms, it’s time to call 9-1-1. This is vital even if you are unsure or if the symptoms seem to be going away, as time is absolutely vital for effective medical treatment.

Additional symptoms may include vision trouble, sudden dizziness or trouble walking, severe headache or numbness on one side of the body.


What is a stroke? 

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts or is blocked by a clot. This prevents vital organs, like the brain, from getting needed oxygen and nutrients and very quickly results in damage to the organ. This is a very serious event, as the affected part of the brain may never fully recover from the damage and, if the stroke is severe enough or not treated quickly enough, the patient may die.

In fact, strokes are the fifth most common cause of death in the USA, killing around 140,000 Americans each year. Because many of these deaths and stroke-related injuries can be prevented if patients are treated as quickly as possible, knowing the FAST checklist is so essential.

Stroke risk factors 

While a stroke can happen to anyone, these risk factors make a stroke more likely:

• African-Americans are twice as likely as whites to have a first stroke, and have the highest mortality rate.
• Younger age groups are increasingly at risk of stroke, but the highest age group at risk are people over 65.
• Women are more likely to have a stroke than men.
• Health conditions and lifestyle. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, diabetes, low physical activity, and heart disease all increase stroke risks.

Expert, compassionate at home care for the elderly in NJ 

At United Methodist Communities, one of New Jersey’s leading home health aide servicesorganization, we strive to offer the very best quality senior homecare options, from assisted living to in-homecare through our HomeWorks program. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers, personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence. In addition to daily home care, we also offer pastoral care for spiritual and emotional support in the home.

For more information on our senior home health care services or to find a qualified home health aide in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website athttps://homeworks.umcommunities.org.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/aware-save-lives-stroke-warning-signs-symptoms/

When is the Right Time to Move into a CCRC?

Moving out of your home into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is a big step, but it can be the best decision if you do it at the right time. Here’s some advice from the experts at our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey.

What is a CCRC all about?

These are communities managed by an organization that offers a continuum of care for seniors and provide wellness and lifestyle support. These services are only implemented when and if they are required. For example, independent seniors can remain in independent living for as long as possible before making the transition to assisted living.

For many seniors, housing is a priority attraction, as these communities usually offer separate, spacious apartments maintained and managed by the organization. This takes a load off in terms of worrying about a house that has become too big or impractical to manage.

Another central attraction is the services, from social activities and clubs to wellness programs like yoga and aerobics, all on-site and available to all residents who can participate.

CCRCs are not about scheduling or managing the lives of seniors. They’re about taking care of the “work” of life so seniors can spend as much time as possible on their own, independent endeavors. Whether traveling or socializing you’ll have the peace of mind that services possibly needed in future are available.

So, when is the best time to move into a CCRC? 

The truth is that it’s probably sooner than you think! The majority seniors who entered this new chapter of their lives reported it was the best decision they made, and that they should have done it sooner. It can seem like an overwhelming decision, but the younger you are, the easier the transition will be — and the more time you’ll have to find a community that perfectly fits.

Independent living for seniors at our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey 

Bristol Glen, a CCRC based in Sussex County, aims to provide seniors with comfortable, serviced living arrangements that free up time to enjoy life. Founded on a philosophy of aging in place, our continuing care retirement community residents enjoy a lifestyle model where that focuses on the needs of the resident.

Contact us to find out more about our CCRC and our assisted living facilities, amenities and services, please visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/ and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/right-time-move-ccrc/

Five Mistakes to Avoid When Searching for Assisted Living

When you’re looking for an assisted living solution for a loved one, you want to be sure that you’re getting the best option available for them. Stay on track with your search by avoiding these common mistakes, and use this advice from our assisted living community in Camden County, NJ.

1. Being unrealistic about your loved one’s needs. None of us like to think about our loved ones getting older, because it makes us realize that we might not have as much time left with them in our lives. But, not taking a serious look at what kind of care they need now — and in the future — can mean bigger problems down the line. Try to be as objective as possible about the kind of help they need, and choose a facility that can increase their care level as it may be required.
2. Rushing into a decision. For many families, the realization that their loved one needs to move into assisted living is sudden— and often results in a rushed decision on choosing a facility. To put your loved one’s best interests first, it’s better to slow down and properly evaluate options. Be sure to visit at least three recommended assisted living communities, tour them on-site and be prepared to ask plenty of questions to make sure you have peace of mind about your decision.
3. Choosing your own tastes over theirs. This is a big temptation to overcome, especially if you’re paying the bill, but it’s important to remember that your loved one will be the resident — not you. Rather, speak to your loved one about what they like about the different facilities, from aesthetics and living arrangements to the programs.
4. Making close location a priority. It is important that you and other loved ones are close enough to visit, however, it shouldn’t override other communities that may be slightly further away, but far more suitable to your loved one. Finding the best fit for your loved one always trumps distance!
5. Forgetting to do your research. This is an important and long-term decision, so proper research is needed to get the right fit for your loved one. Start on the internet and have a look at options in your area, speak to friends and family about their loved ones in assisted living, and take notes about things that your loved one might need or enjoy. Then take the time to visit each facility in person, meet with the staff and talk over your points, then invite your loved one to view the best options with you.

Assisted living for seniors that preserves independence, health and well-being 

Collingswood is part of United Methodist Communities’ network of high-quality, non-profitassisted living communities specializing in residential and assisted living for seniors. With an experienced care and assistance team, scalable services customized to each resident’s needs, and a lively social calendar, our community focuses on essential resources that promote independence and quality of life.

To find out more about United Methodist Communities or our assisted living community, please visit our website at http://collingswood.umcommunities.org/ or contact us and book your visit today.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/five-mistakes-avoid-searching-assisted-living/

Celebrating Veterans Day with Seniors Who Served

Saturday, November 11^th, is a day to not only thank those who have served and are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces, but also to remember veterans who are no longer with us. It’s a day of remembrance and celebration, and there are plenty of events and activities happening in the State of New Jersey and across the USA where you can join in with your loved ones. Here’s some essential information from our home health aide services team in NJ.

The America’s Parade, New York, NY 

This very well-known event is definitely worth the travel time to attend! Known as America’s biggest Veterans Day event, Buzz Aldrin, astronaut and Korean War veteran, will be Grand Marshall at the 2017 parade. This year’s featured military branch is the U.S. Air Force, and will showcase veterans of all eras with floats, military and vintage vehicles, bands and much more. It starts at 10 am and ends around 3:30 pm. With over 30,000 participants and crowds of over half a million spectators, this is an incredible event and a wonderful opportunity for honoring any veterans in your life. It is also a memorable outing for any family, including seniors!

Take senior veterans shopping for great discounts 

Veterans Day comes with big discounts for current and past members of the military, but seniors with transportation difficulties may struggle to participate. If you have a senior loved one who served, or know your senior neighborhood veterans, providing transportation and companionship is a great opportunity to thank them for their service! Many local museums, cinemas and restaurants also offer great deals for veterans on this day, so you can really make an experience of it all. Take a look at your local newspaper and social sites for participating stores and entertainment providers.

Proudly celebrating Veterans Day with the best in senior home care services 

At United Methodist Communities, one of the state’s leading home health aide agencies, we strive to offer the very best home health aide services in New Jersey through our HomeWorks program. This program assists the elderly in the comfort of their own homes and provides them, their families and caregivers, personalized, compassionate care that prioritizes health, happiness and independence.

For more information on our at home healthcare agency or our residential in home respite care in NJ, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org.

Original content posted on https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/celebrating-veterans-day-seniors-served/

Diabetes in Seniors – Signs to Look for and Care Advice

November is Diabetes Month, so our assisted living team in Gloucester County, NJ, is sharing some important information to raise awareness about this serious disease and how it affects seniors to help us all live longer, healthier lives.

What is diabetes?

There are two types of diabetes:

Type One – The body produces no insulin. This type often affects children and young adults.

Type Two – This condition occurs when the body produces insulin but doesn’t use it correctly. It is more likely to affect older adults and is the most common type of diabetes.

Insulin is critical to delivering glucose to the cells of the body, which they need in order to produce the energy required to function properly. If left untreated, or not treated properly, diabetes can lead to serious health problems like strokes, kidney disease, heart disease, blindness, circulation problems that can lead to amputation, and nerve damage.

Risk factors that can lead to diabetes

Although this very dangerous disease has no cure, fortunately we can do a lot to prevent and even control it.

The first step is awareness of different factors that can put you at risk of the disease. These include:

• A family history of diabetes.
• Being overweight, as fatty tissue is more insulin-resistant.
• The less active you are, the higher your risks of diabetes. Being active helps control weight and helps your cells stay insulin-sensitive.
• People from African-American, Hispanic, Asian-America and Native American backgrounds are genetically at higher risk.
• A diagnosis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in women.
• High blood pressure; over 140/90 mm Hg.
• High levels of triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in blood tests.

How to manage diabetes

• Tracking your glucose levels. Your doctor can give advice on in-home monitoring.
• Increasing physical activity. Your doctor or recommended wellness practitioner can suggest activities that you can manage and enjoy, no matter your age or fitness.
• Having a healthy meal plan. This may include foods low in sugar and fat to assist with weight loss, as well as healthy food options that keep weight off and promote stable blood glucose levels.
• Sticking to a physician-recommended medication plan.

Residential living for seniors at our assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ

Pitman is an assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ, offering high quality assisted living services in a comfortable, well-supported and beautiful environment. As part of United Methodist Communities, we also offer rehabilitation, access to therapists, 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/ to contact us today or book a personal tour.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/diabetes-seniors-signs-look-care-advice/