The Challenge and the Opportunity of Downsizing

Downsizing is a commonly cited concern of those contemplating assisted living. While shedding clutter can be a liberating experience for many, it also opens an exciting chapter of life. Here are some of the challenges as well as the great opportunities downsizing brings from our assisted living team in Gloucester County, NJ.

The Challenge – Realizing the Necessity to Downsize 

Downsizing may seem like common sense to family and friends, but it’s just not that easy to contemplate when you’re the one who has to do it. Your belongings and home equal your comfort zone — they are familiar, comfortable, and filled with memories. That makes it difficult to give them up until it’s absolutely necessary. However, that time has probably already arrived!

As difficult as it may be, look objectively at downsizing and the space to which you are downsizing. If you don’t know your options and what benefits a retirement community offers, then it’s difficult to envision a happy future in a new home.

Start by taking the pressure off and considering your options. For instance, visit friends who moved into assisted living communities and spend time asking them all about their new lives. Visit local assisted living communities to look at living arrangements and chat with the staff. There truly is so much variety out there.

Phone loved ones who made the decision to downsize and hear what they say now that they’ve settled in. You’ll be surprised by how many people say it’s the best thing they ever did!

The Benefits of Downsizing 

Consider the benefits of moving to assisted living and see how many would apply to you or your senior loved one: 

1. Mortgage and Maintenance No More – Homes become increasingly costly to manage on a set income, especially as the home becomes older. Even without a mortgage, there’s maintenance to consider — the roof may need replacing, the heating bill increases due to an aging heating system, the lawn and garden need to be maintained, the carpets need replacing, and so much more. When you rent, you eliminate all those problems. The assisted living community takes care of it all, from cleaning and maintenance to upgrades and all the rest of it. This often means significant budgetary relief for seniors.
   
   
2. Release Retirement Income – Retirement is not as affordable as it used to be and expenses are on the rise. For many older adults, a lot of their net worth resides in the home they own. Accessing that capital can mean expensive mortgage refinancing. By transitioning into an assisted living community, this capital can pay for medical bills, visiting family, vacations, and other purposes.
   
   
3. Becoming Part of a Community – Older adults can become isolated and depressed when they are no longer able to participate in their community as they once did. Friends move away, transport becomes a challenge, and family is not always close by. Great assisted living communities focus on the social side of things, with full event calendars, social clubs and activities, as well as regular transport for residents.
   
   
4. Safety and Wellness – Homes often become hazardous as they simply aren’t designed with seniors’ needs in mind. Stairs, poor lighting, ill-equipped bathrooms, and clutter leads to thousands of dangerous and life-threatening falls each year. Upgrading a house for seniors can be a very expensive process. Many families, justifiably, worry that their loved one will fall or become ill and be unable to get help. Assisted living arrangements are spacious, modern, and equipped with the additional extras anyone will need. Onsite associates assist with daily tasks. If needed, residents can access rehabilitation, nursing, and other services.

Find Out How Wonderful Assisted Living Can Be!

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, and respite care services. We welcome seniors from all faith backgrounds, have a vibrant events calendar, and offer delicious on-site dining services.

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/the-challenge-and-the-opportunity-of-downsizing/

A Guide to Your First Day with a New Home Health Aide

Even when you’ve done all the research and found a home health aide service provider you can trust, it’s absolutely normal to feel a little uncertain or anxious for the first day. After all, you’re inviting a new person into your home. Here are some suggestions for making this transition a little easier and more enjoyable, from the team at UMC Homeworks.

Spend Time to Get to Know One Another

On the day the home health aide arrives, have a nice sit on the couch together to get acquainted. Most good home health agencies will have already screened your caregiver and matched them to your background and personality, but it is still important for you to get a feeling for who they are. You can show them around the house, answer any questions and, of course, talk about their role. It is often a good idea to have loved ones present the first day to meet the caregiver and make sure they connect and the lines of communication are open. 

Explain your Ground Rules

Everyone’s home is different, and everyone deserves to feel comfortable and secure in their home. Take the time to explain to your caregiver what you or your loved one likes and the various traditions and rules around the home, so that they can settle into a routine quickly and everyone feels comfortable being themselves. By providing honest feedback about daily habits and what is and is not acceptable in the home, everyone is going to feel happier and more at ease.

Have Some Fun

A good home health aide should provide both assistance and amusement! They don’t have to be a standup comic, but the best will find a way to lift the spirits of those under their care. Remember, they are there for companionship as much as for the cooking, cleaning, and heath care assistance that is their primary charge. If you are the family member arranging this, you should be aware of the chemistry that exists between your relative and the caregiver and feel confident that the relationship will be positive, supportive and fun!

 Special Needs Require Special Considerations

If you’re arranging for a caregiver for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, the caregiver should have specialized training to deal with the needs of the memory impaired. On their first day together, you or the previous caregiver should spend lots of time going over the established routine. Routine is important and changes — even good ones — can be a struggle for the memory impaired. For seniors with memory issues, good communication with family members is essential.

Our Home Health Aide Services Bring People Together to Help Seniors Thrive

As part of United Methodist Communities, a faith based, non-profit organization in New Jersey, we offer at-home care for the elderly through trained, experienced nursing and certified home health aides that provide temporary or long-term care for seniors. When you want to be sure that aides you hire are professional, and fully screened, UMC with its long history of bringing health care to seniors in NJ, is second to none.

Our in-home care services cover everything from medical assistance, companionship and help around the home to 24-hour care, depending on exactly what you and your loved one require. No other senior services organization in New Jersey offers the continuum of care like we do. And all our services are scalable and by-the-hour, allowing you to develop a custom care plan.

For more information on our home health aide services in New Jersey, please contact us today or visit our website at https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/Home-Heath-Aid-services. 

originally posted https://homeworks.umcommunities.org/blog/a-guide-to-your-first-day-with-a-new-home-health-aide/

Spotting the 5 Signs of Mild Cognitive Impairment

As we age, our brains change just like the rest of our bodies. While it’s natural to notice a little forgetfulness as your loved one ages, it’s important to know the difference between normal signs of aging and something more serious — mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Here’s how to identify signs that indicate your loved one needs a little extra support, from our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey.

What Is Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?

This is the stage between the expected cognitive decline (natural aging) and a more serious cognitive decline (dementia). As a result, many adults with MCI experience a noticeable change in mental abilities like memory, language, or judgment, but nothing severe enough to require assistance with daily living.

However, it is important to be aware of these symptoms, speak to your doctor, and watch for any further decline. They increase the risk for more serious cognitive issues that will make daily assistance necessary in the future.

5 Signs of MCI:

1. Forgetfulness – Examples include forgetting a word or phrase, a familiar name, the route home, an important social event, appointment, or paying bills on time and other daily routines. 
2. Losing Your Train of Thought – Forgetting what you were talking about or finding it difficult to follow a movie/TV/book plot, or a conversation.
3. Difficulty Making Decisions – Those with MCI feel overwhelmed and struggle to make decisions or follow a set of instructions or directions.
4. Poor Judgment – Making decisions that are out-of-character, impulsive, or with poor judgment.
5. Emotional Issues – MCI residents can experience depression, apathy, anxiety, irritability, and aggression.

If friends and family exhibit any of these symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor. Seek support if the diagnosis is positive. While it doesn’t mean that you or your senior loved one should consider assisted living or a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), it may be wise to investigate your options and explore memory care and support.

The right assistance and appropriate management allows residents to live to their fullest potential and gives loved ones peace of mind.

Independent Living and Memory Care at Our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey

Bristol Glen is a CCRC based in Sussex County. It aims to provide seniors with comfortable, serviced living options as well as memory care and support. Our continuing care retirement community residents enjoy a full continuum of care on one campus to ensure that care needs can be met.

Contact us to find out more about our CCRC in Sussex County, New Jersey, or visit our website at https://bristolglen.umcommunities.org/ and book your visit today.

 

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/spotting-the-5-signs-of-mild-cognitive-impairment/