garden court retirement Archives - Retirement Connection

Today’s Retirement Communities are more like cruise ships than nursing homes! Retirement lifestyle is full of fun, food, adventure, and entertainment day after day. The funny thing is that it also reflects what doctors’ advise- socializing, good food, rest, exercise, and reducing your stress.

Retirement Communities offer a new lifestyle by breaking free from the clinical institutional structure of a nursing home and moving toward life on a cruise ship! The retirement lifestyle includes Activity Programs which are a key part of the recipe of “living it up.” So how do you evaluate an Activity Program for quality?

What to look for:

Number of people-The size of the community can impact the quality of the Activity Program. You need enough people to have a robust schedule of events.
Number of events– How many events are available every day? Are there Blank Days? For example, many communities don’t have anything happening on the weekends.
Are there activities inside the community as well as outside the community? Are there day trips with destinations like public gardens, museums, theatres, baseball stadiums, casinos?
Are there options for people with less physicality or very physically fit? Are there options for people with no cognitive loss or some cognitive changes in their brains?
Is there diversity in the type of activities? Are there activities for Heart (Socials and Support groups), Mind (Adult Learning Opportunities), Body (Exercise Programs), Spirit (Religious and Spiritual gatherings)?
Is there recognition of cultural and ethnic differences?
Are there activities that your family or friend can share in?
Do the Residents inform the plan? Or is this the same program that was developed five years ago?
Is there evaluation? Do Residents get a chance to evaluate the quality of the Activity Program?

As the industry advances, so do the expectations. In addition to entertainment events and parties, self-development has become an added component: exercise programs, classes, etc… This is a thrust of moving participants from observation (on the sidelines) to involvement (on the court). Today, an even higher standard of participation is sought after by seniors. Leaders in the industry talk about engagement. Engagement is being involved and sharing your passion. Aliveness is a measure of joy, contentment, and participation in day to day life with others. It’s all about living life your way.

Article Provided by:
Garden Court Retirement Community
425-438-9080
www.GardenCourtRetirement.com

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Don’t wait until something tragic happens. Go to a doctor to review medications and change of conditions. Build a safety net of attentive family and friends.

In today’s world, seniors are living longer, families are dispersed all over the country, and we all want to keep our independence. However, with phone relationships, we usually don’t get the whole picture. Adult children can struggle to come to terms with their parent’s aging process; and seniors of this generation often do not ask for help easily.

What are the warning signals?

First, what are the leading indicators that change may be on the way? Death of a spouse, loss of one’s health, or family/friends moving away can be precursors to change.

Second, pause for a minute and determine what describes your senior?
How would you describe their normal baseline? Are they normally organized, happy, groomed? Quiet, hesitant, apprehensive? Messy, clumsy, disheveled? Confident, a conversationalist, assertive? Being any one of these things doesn’t indicate much, but if their behavior varies from the norm this may indicate a change of condition and/or suggest a downward trend.

With careful observation, research and discussion, note any changes in the three different dimensions- physical emotional, and cognitive.

Physical warning signals include: Unexplained weight loss, bruises or injuries, multiple falls, or changes in appearance. Seniors’ skin can get very thin and is more susceptible to tearing.
Some medications can increase the potential for bruising.

Noted emotional changes include: Fear of being alone; stops calling friends, not participating in things they enjoyed; not going to church; not coming to family dinners; not going out with friends for lunch; or wearing pajamas and slippers all day long.

Some examples of Cognitive indicators: Unpaid bills, mountains of unopened mail, loss of money or questionable financial decisions, pets poorly cared for, vehicle is accumulating dents, food and medications are beyond pull dates, changes in sleep patterns such as increased sleep or any wakefulness.

Actions to take:

Don’t wait until something tragic happens. Go to a doctor to review medications and change of conditions. Build a safety net of attentive family and friends. Consider bringing care into the home or moving to a safer living situation. Be strong.

Article Provided by:
Garden Court Retirement
425-438-9080
www.GardenCourtRetirement.com

Search Retirement Connection Listings for Residential Care Facilities

Search Residential Care Facilities for Grants Pass
Search Residential Care Facilities for Klamath Falls
Search Residential Care Facilities for Medford
Search Residential Care Facilities for Roseburg