RetirementHomes.com - retirement living

6 Benefits of Senior Centers for Seniors

aadmin — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 11:21:48 +0000

Whether you are enjoying retirement or still working, senior centers are fast becoming the “it” places to go for seniors. A senior center is a non-profit or for-profit community center where individuals who are 50 years or older can go to enjoy many things including wellness programs. Although you may consider the major benefit of senior centers is getting away from the social media- and text-obsessed younger generation, there are some other benefits as well.

1. Staying Social

Whether you are living alone or with family, senior centers allow you to stay socially active. Even when you’re living with someone, it is easy to isolate yourself away from people. Senior centers are definitely a way to enjoy much of what life has to offer. You will meet new people and participate in community events. There are plenty of educational and arts programs to participate in:

Volunteer opportunities.
Recreational activities.
Programs that offer information and assistance.
Civic engagement opportunities.
Exercise classes.
Art classes.
Social club meetings.

Don’t worry. If your kids are begging to join you at your senior center, there are some intergenerational programs they can attend.

2. Communication

Going to a senior center is a way to stay up-to-date on the latest happenings in your area. This can be a big help during election time when you want to know more than what the local media is saying about a candidate. In addition, you can just go there to talk and socialize with other people whether they are other senior members or staff.

3. Financial Advantage

This benefit is probably not discussed a lot because people don't usually discuss their finances unless they have to. If you are on a tight budget due to paying for your medication or other bills, you don’t have to choose medicine over food. Senior centers are usually open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or later. This means you can stop by during breakfast, lunch or dinner for a low cost or sometimes even free meal.

4. Services

Services offered depends on the specific senior center. However, a majority of the centers offer services like:

Public benefits counseling.
Transportation services.
Employment assistance.
Nutrition programs.
Meal programs.

5. Improved Emotional Health

Sometimes when you’re at home without anything to do, you start thinking about the past or feeling useless. What can make things worse is your family’s good intentions. Maybe your children nag you about getting out of the house. Maybe they think you should move into an assisted living community. Their good intentions can make you feel even worse. With so much to do at your local social center, you will experience a vast improvement in your emotional health.

6. Staying Healthy

Why pay for a fitness center or gym when you can have a more affordable and enjoyable time at a senior center? Senior centers offer a great way to stay healthy because of the wide range of fitness and exercise programs they offer. Each program is tailored to meet your fitness level and abilities.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), research shows that older adults who go to senior centers learn to delay and manage the development of chronic disease. In addition, they experience an improvement in their mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social and economic wellbeing. So join your peers and enjoy what senior centers have to offer. You’ll definitely find more benefits than listed here.

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Traditional and Alternative Oral Health Care for the Elderly

aadmin — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 09:00:35 +0000

Periodontal disease is cited as the number one cause of tooth loss after the age of 35.

According to Dr. Steve Bornfeld, DDS, from Brooklyn, NY, periodontal disease – often referred to as gum disease – is an oral condition characterized by inflammation of the supporting structures of the teeth: the gums, bone, and periodontal ligament.

The Bacterial Origin of Periodontal Disease

“It is bacterial in origin, but also depends on the immune reaction of the individual,” said Bornfeld. “Loss of teeth is related mostly to depletion of the bone surrounding the roots. The teeth loosen until they have to be removed or fall out on their own.”

Gum recession is characteristic of periodontal disease in the elderly. “The most common health effects are sensitivity and decay,” said Bornfeld. The root surface becomes exposed to gum recession. Root decay can be very difficult to control, especially in the presence of poor oral hygiene. Bornfeld recommended more frequent checkups for older adults with periodontal disease.

Alternative Treatments for Aging Teeth

Carrie Ibbetson, Registered Dental Hygienist, founder of Oralhealthcoaching.com and Natural Gumption seeks out alternative treatment and products for the care of aging teeth. The Orange County resident has contacted many nearby retirement facilities to assist them with residents’ oral health, especially plaque issues.

A specialist in homecare oral health, Ibbetson offers alternative dental products for older adults and caregivers. “Teaching older adults to take care of their teeth is more important than scaling to reduce plaque buildup.”

Home Remedies for Older Adults

Ibbetson has devised home remedies for elderly people with arthritic dexterity issues. She recommends cutting a hole in a tennis ball and inserting the brush into it for a bigger handle. Or wrap a wash cloth around a tooth brush to make a larger handle to get in between the teeth more effectively.

The California hygienist refers to the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records which recorded periodontal disease as the number one disease affecting mankind. Ibbetson said that the Surgeon General’s report shows that 23% of people aged 64 to 74 years-old have severe periodontal disease.

“As we get older we lose our thin saliva,” said Ibbetson. “Thicker acidic saliva replaces it and retains bacteria.”

The result is ‘dry mouth’ syndrome in older adults. “Eighty per cent of medications cause dry mouth,” she said, “and multiple medications in the elderly community lead to an increase of dry mouth.”

Report from the US Surgeon General

The US Surgeon General backs Ibbetson’s assertion, revealing that most older Americans take both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The inhibition of salivary flow increases the risk for oral disease because saliva contains antimicrobial components as well as minerals that can help rebuild tooth enamel after attack by acid-producing, decay-causing bacteria. Individuals in long-term care facilities are prescribed an average of eight drugs. 1. The US Surgeon General National Call To Action To Promote Oral Health 2013.

“There is a huge deficit of oral health care in retirement communities,” agrees Ibbetson.

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LeadingAge Florida 50th Annual Convention and Exposition

aadmin — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 07:52:33 +0000

LeadingAge Florida's Golden Anniversary Celebration Convention will take place from Sunday, July 14, 2013 to Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL.

The conference theme is: Expanding Possibilities for Aging - 50 Years and Beyond. Join in on the 50th Anniversary Celebration Gala on Tuesday night at Epcot®.

Keynote Speaker Scott O’Grady, Air Force Captain (Ret.) will describe his incredible true-life struggle to survive in the hostile territory of war-torn Bosnia.

The conference will feature 77 concurrent sessions on a wide variety of subjects and over 25 hours of continuing education credits.

Don't miss out on the the Exposition, presenting 100+ exhibits of the latest products and innovations.

LeadingAge Florida 50th Annual Convention and Exposition

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Upcoming Events

5 Brilliant Marketing Strategies to Fill your New Residence

aadmin — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:50:16 +0000

1. Onsite Sales Trailer

2. Model Rooms in the property 3-6 months prior to the opening

3. Go Viral

4. Open House

5. Decorator Show House

Business plans have wonderful data that if you ask most businesses never comes true, or rarely how it was supposed to. Expectations are often too lofty, and little emphasis is placed on how much money will be lost on a daily basis if the building does not open on time, or fill at the rate that was dictated in the proforma to make the numbers work, and obtain financing.

I am not saying that people manipulate numbers to get financing. The numbers are researched and well thought out, but often bogus. The data comes from self-reporting, and everyone wants to look good, so it’s like asking a woman how much she weighs……….you’re never going to get the truth even if you’re looking at the scale!

The most brilliant ways I have seen to get your home full as fast as possible are deceptively simple. What is it that they say? “Don’t confuse simple with easy”.

Onsite marketing Trailer
Why do you need an onsite sales trailer? American’s (or at least the majority of them) prefer to see, touch and feel prior to buying. That’s why we have so many car dealerships. We love to build and see the progress and there is no better view than from the parking lot of the new senior living home.

The key is to make the trailer not feel like a trailer. Fit it out with the same carpet, wall covering, drapes, artwork and furniture that will be in the home. Deck out the exterior with shutters, plants and easy access. Give them a taste of what their new home will be and start a dialog of trust. This is not a scam where their deposit will never be seen again! This is reality and care has been taken in design even though this is temporary space.

Model Rooms in the property 3-6 months prior to the opening
Building out a portion of the new senior living for tours is not easy. Contractors, Designers and code officials all need to coordinate to accomplish this. Temporary walls need to go in place as well as safe entrance access that may need to be torn up later. Furniture, Wall covering, Artwork, Flooring, Drapes and accessories all need to be ordered ahead of schedule and coordinated.

The result however is exponentially better than a sales trailer that can be hooked up to a truck and disappear in minutes. This is REAL. No guessing, No Excuses. Potential residents will see exactly what they will get and this helps to seal the deal for those still on the fence. The Model rooms also have another benefit. They serve as a full scale mock-up to work out all the design details up front which makes the senior living home even better. Think of a Marketing trailer as seeing the clothes on the rack and the Model Rooms as being able to try on the clothes.

Go Viral

Seniors are one of the largest growing markets on the internet. Photos of progress and even a live web cam will be shared from early residents to all of their friends (your target market) and family via Facebook, and email if you give them access.

Build excitement and celebrate those who have made the decision to move out of their home and go on their journey with you. Facebook was created to connect roommates prior to moving in together. It’s perfect for this move from being alone to reconnecting with other people who will be on the same journey.

Open House
There are three types of open houses – don’t confuse them.
· Open Houses for potential residents

· Open houses for potential staff

· Open houses for referrals of potential residents

When you mix up the true intended guests of the party you will get lack luster results and then sit back and say that open houses don’t work and are a waste of time and money. You need to make them feel special and have the guest speakers, food, entertainment, time and date perfect for who you are targeting.

Decorator’s Show House
I am aware that this has not been done. You’re showing off a new home right? Why not make it into a Decorator's Show house giving local decorator's apartments to mock up and show how wonderful their new home could be? You could get TV and Radio coverage and have a ton of fun in the process.

Have speakers stationed throughout the home on topics like: Downsizing, Working out, Computer Skills, Banking and Retirement, Wii Bowling, Senior Supplements, Hearing, Moving, etc. Think of anything or anybody that a senior may need to have a wonderful quality of life. The speakers can even help to underwrite the event. If done well this could be a breakthrough event for potential residents that may have never considered themselves a fit for senior living.

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Five Tips for Selling “Really Active” Retirement Communities

aadmin — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:08:25 +0000

The best active retirement housing communities are those taking a holistic approach to their program offerings. They are adding new ones, eliminating those that have lost their steam. But, most importantly, they continue to be creative and listen.

After judging the MOMBA awards for www.retirementhomes.com, I saw first-hand the exceptional work being done by many to attract active retirees.

Maybe it’s time to take a look at your programs, or more importantly, your marketing philosophy to attract new residents. Here are five points you can use:

1. Continuing to focus on the Boomers’ generational DNA. It’s different than the generations that came before and those that follow it. The main characteristics are the desire for independence or autonomy. For Boomers, it means freedom; having choices. They say, “When I retire I want to do the things I want to do, and live the way I want to live.” They don’t take what comes; they want the very best that older age can offer.

2. Understanding personal and spiritual growth and the need for self-fulfillment. It’s what makes the Boomer generation so individualistic. Acknowledge their desire through your active retirement programs. For example, they may say they really want to work with disabled children. How can you connect them to local opportunities through agencies and health and human services organizations?

3. Saluting Boomers’ need for a life of balance. In a few words, helping them master their second act by balancing rest, relaxation and recreation. You might reach out to them to discuss and research programs that help them create equilibrium in their lives. Start with their thoughts. Lean on them for input. They will help you manage the opportunities especially when they believe in them and can see that their input counts.

4. Understand that Boomers are “information junkies.” That’s especially true with educated, affluent Boomers. They are on a perpetual “voyage to the interior” They relish the wonderful life of discovery. Peter Spiers, senior vice president of the nonprofit Road Scholars and a good friend, has highlighted the Boomer journey in his book, Master Class: Living Linger, Stronger and Happier.

5. Recognize their defining idea is freedom from the responsibilities and obligations of 40 years of work. So, you spell that out for them in specific ways. You find ways to portray your retirement location as creating more “freedom experiences.” You find ways to show them how their residency will result in new experiences and learning new things.

You show them your facility’s proximity to learning centers, back-to-college experiences and how your retirement housing stresses educational advancement. You foster an environment that stresses “cultural immersion” travel experiences allowing Boomers to learn holistically.

You form a Successful Aging Council of residents to help you think through ways to advance the idea of more freedom. You want to show residents and potential ones in this age group to learn how to do in retirement what they could not do during their working lives.

As a rule, the Boomer generation doesn’t take what comes – they want the best old age can offer. They will help you build a “more active” Active Retirement Housing Community. All you need to do is ask!

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3 Jobs that can Earn you Money in Retirement

aadmin — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:05:50 +0000

Many people retire into an unstructured environment, complaining that it's a life of 'four walls' with nothing to do. The Huffington Post's Next Avenue Column, a feature for 50+ readers seeking second careers, begged to differ. A recent article featured three fun, part-time and lucrative post-retirement careers.

1. Voiceover Professional

Voiceover work is an acting area where age can work in an older person's favor. There's plenty of opportunities to ply one's trade:

. Training videos to audio books to TV commercials. The big bucks are in Los Angeles and New York but corporations, nonprofits and small businesses offer opportunities practically anywhere.

. Work can be done from home studios with personal computers and low-cost recording equipment.

. Aspirants will need to refine their skills and educate themselves before giving it a shot.After learning the ropes a 55+ second career seeker could earn $100 per session or up to $1,000 for a national TV commercial.

. Movies represent the zenith of voiceover work but go to those with the most experience. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) in Los Angeles guarantees the highest
pay. Check your local SAG office.Continuing education programs are a good starting point.

2. Life-cycle celebrant

The Next Avenue Column admits it's a new field that many don't know about, but it's a growth business. Life-cycle celebrants helps people commemorate important life moments:

. a wedding
. a divorce
. an adoption
. a loss of a beloved pet
. etc

The life-cycle celebrant works with clients to craft highly personalized ceremonies reflecting clients' values, heritage, beliefs and religious customs. With inter-ethnic and interfaith marriages are on the rise, couples need to hold meaningful ceremonies beyond traditional religious institutions.

Life-cycle celebrants can earn from a $100 to $1,000 depending on the extent of the ceremony.

3. Senior move manager

Moving is one of the most stressful activities in people's lives, especially for the elderly. Senior move managers help out through this tough transition, helping clients with the process of decluttering, downsizing and relocating.

Maturity and experience works in the favor of becoming a senior move manager. The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) - based in suburban Chicago, IL - reports that three-quarters of its members are 50 or older. Elderly people who need help moving take comfort in having an older person help them.

The job entails:

. Organizing household belongings
. Disposing and arranging for the sale of items
. Packing and unpacking boxes
. Planning the client’s new home space and assistance with decorating.

Senior move managers can also help the elderly 'age in place', streamlining their possessions and organizing their space. Pay can be hourly or by the project - $25 for hourly services - negotiated fees per project. Senior move managers often work with assisted living facilities and senior residence communities.

National Association of Senior Move Managers is a great starting spot. It has established many local chapters outside of its Chicago headquarters.

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Value Engineering Your Interior Design Project

aadmin — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:06:45 +0000

As and Interior Designer it is my job to give you great ideas for your buildings' interiors. We do the design presentation and everyone is excited about how the project is going to look. We start construction, we do some renderings and marketing, and then you receive the dreaded call that in construction they ran into a change order from the GC or contractor, and we must “Value Engineer”.

This call then typically means getting rid of all the nice stuff that was presented in the Interior Design package to the client. Right away everyone wants to find cheaper flooring materials, delete the wall-covering accents, decrease the artwork, and find furniture that looks the same but for 50% less. This usually happens in a rush, so construction is not delayed, and everyone reacts fast. I’m here to tell you what you should do and not do when you face this same situation. Reacting fast is not the answer and may get you a building that looks nothing like you signed off to have built. I have been too many site visits where projects have been “Value Engineered” and the interior designer was not involved. Yes- Disaster. Follow the simple steps below.

1. Contact your Interior Designer, Architect, and GC and set up a meeting to discuss the following. Give the Interior Designer a week to prepare to discuss the other items below.

2. The Interior Designer should contact all their sales representatives and see if there is anyway to get finish products that were specified for less. This may mean doing the same carpet with a different backing or yarn system, but you can keep quality and the look. At the same time the GC should be working with all the sub-contractors to see if they can tighten their labor bids. Another option when it comes to finishes is to go simple and less expensive in non-common areas. Keep in mind flooring is the foundation of the design, and usually is the one material that stays in a building the longest, so you want to keep quality flooring in key areas.

3. Have the interior designer go over the quality difference on items such as vinyl plank, vinyl tile, and sheet vinyl. Sometime terminology on these items can be confusing and you need to make sure they are going to last in the environment they are specified. An easy switch to make it vinyl tile that looks like stone –VS- porcelain tile. This can save a lot of money. If tile is required per code in your state then do the plumbing walls only in designated spaces as needed.

4. Paint can be fun and decorative, so it is ok to delete some of the wall-covering accents. I suggest us fun paint accents, and to keep textured wall-covering accents only in a lobby or reception area.

5. Plastic laminate is ok to be used on work surfaces and is available in some fun inexpensive patterns. Use granite and engineered stone only on transaction counters and areas where food equipment may require a harder material. Never let anyone talk you into cultured marble or plastic laminate for food service areas, it will not last a year. There are new cultured marbles on the market that look like granite and natural stone that can be used on vanity tops for half the cost.

6. See if there is millwork in the project that is not necessary in areas that will not be seen by the general public. This can be hidden money when you need $ to keep items in your lobby and reception areas. See if there is a cheaper wood in your area. By using a species that is more abundant in your area you may be able to save money. Look at options of pre-finished doors and millwork that may be less. Also look at the price difference for painted wood –VS- stained wood. Also is there a space that the cabinetry can be replaced with a furniture piece for less, a perfect example of this would be a hospitality station could be a console server –VS- cabinets with a countertop.

7. Artwork is important, so look at changing out the framing with your designer and art consultant, or going with less matting, or different glass. Buy only stock prints –VS- originals or expensive prints. If you still have to decrease the budget, work with your designer to designate an area for resident artwork, or local artists to display work. Recently my daughter’s school did pieces and they took the top 5 in each class and had them framed and installed at a local medical building. The staff said they got more comments on that art than the old art prints they use to display. It also can be beneficial to work with the local historical society to see if they would like to display pieces and work and change it out monthly.

8. Look at less expensive signage that still goes with your design and brand.

9. Lighting is important to any project, and I suggest you keep the decorative fixtures, but ask your lighting consultant to make suggestions for areas like the units, storage, closets, secondary spaces, and areas the public does not see. One thing to keep in mind, do not value engineer the over-bed light in the units, this can be an eyesore to a great design.

10. Furniture can be the most tricky when trying to cut dollars. My advice is make sure the replacement is still ergonomically correct for seniors. Stay with a protective finish such as Crypton with a less expensive pattern. Find ways to keep the best fabric in each space, and re-select the accent pieces or the actual manufacturer of the furniture to get the same vision.

11. Window treatments can also be tricky. Simple sophisticated valances can be a nice replacement for drapery. Sheers in common areas are going to be less than faux wood blinds or solar shades.

Most of all work with your design and construction team as a group, when these items are looked at together, the outcome is sure to be one you are happy with.

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Blue Santa Helps Needy Seniors in Colorado

aadmin — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:28:03 +0000

In Fort Morgan, CO, volunteers broke with tradition when Santa wore a Blue Santa outfit to pay a Christmas cheer visit to local seniors at Hillcrest Apartments. He and his young elves bore boxes of food and toiletries, $50 gift cards and gifts according to The Fort Morgan Times. Blankets, gloves, hats, scarves and bags were also donated.

Also, $1,000 was raised to help needy senior citizens.

The Fort Morgan Police Department's Blue Santa program has been in charge of the drive for almost 20 years. The Blue Santa delivers the gifts, along with young children as elves. The Blue Santa program offers food and gifts to needy senior citizens.

The police department sorts through the donations, puts them in packages and hauls them to the homes of the seniors. This year, several young people accompanied the Blue Santa.

People living in rural areas have higher rates of poverty than their urban counterparts. Rural areas tend to have a higher percentage of elderly in the population than in cities, since the young migrate to jobs in cities. Fort Morgan is in the Northeast corner of Colorado and is primarily rural.

Santa and his young elves love to visit Assisted Living and Continuing Care residences.

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Stress increases risk for Alzheimer's

aadmin — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:04:03 +0000

Researchers from the University of Minho in Portugal and Germany recently concluded that adverse life events, such as stress, can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by releasing hormones that accelerate the growth of some biochemical and behavioral effects.

They also found that stress can trigger a surge in beta-amyloid proteins, which have been linked to the neurological disorder as well. The hormones released by the emotion in part have a severe impact on tau proteins that can lead to physiological and mental changes.

"Our findings show that stress hormones and stress can cause changes in the tau protein like those that arise in Alzheimer's disease," said researcher Osborne Almeida.

"Viewing stress as a trigger of Alzheimer's disease offers exciting new research possibilities aimed at preventing and delaying this severe disease."

The Alzheimer's Association estimates that there are currently 5.4 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Healthy retirement living means reducing stress levels as much as possible. While it may not be possible to control the events in life, it's possible to control the reaction to them. Retirees should seek ways to cope with stress so that their golden years can be healthy and happy.

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Young and old are next door in NJ communities

aadmin — Thu, 26 May 2011 12:04:03 +0000

It's not uncommon to see a new mother walking down the sidewalk with a stroller full of children in Lakewood, New Jersey, one of the fastest-growing towns in the entire state, according to The Asbury Park Press. Just like it's no surprise to see an enormous softball team of players age 65 and over competing against one another in Manchester township.

It is a strange contrast. On one hand, Lakewood is the town with the highest percentage of residents under the age of 5 in New Jersey, while the median age of Manchester is 65.1.

In part, Manchester's aged populace is due to the propensity of local retirement homes. There are 16 senior living communities in the area. Lakewood itself also has a high percentage of older adults, with 21 percent of the population aged 65 and over.

Ceil Rubino, 72, has lived in Manchester with his wife since 1994. He regularly plays softball for Crestwood Village's league, competing against other communities in the area.

Those who are looking at retirement living options may want to start with an internet search. This can be an easy way to compare the different housing areas available, as well as look at different prices and amenities.

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