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New Haven

Assisted Living & Memory Care

Assisted Living

Discussing Assisted Living With Your Family

After the birds and the bees, “the talk” about assisted living can be one of the most difficult conversations that kids have with their parents. Talking to your parents about assisted living is stressful. It’s scary. It can make you feel guilty and it can make them feel hurt. But, it has to be done, and it’s better not to put it off. Here are some tips and advice for successfully discussing assisted living with your family.

discussing-assisted-living

Conversation Tips for Talking About Assisted Living

The hardest part of discussing assisted living is introducing the topic for the first time. Ideally, bring it up early, when the pressure is low. Ask questions that invite conversation and help you understand each other. If it gets too upsetting, back off and regroup. By having regular, light chats rather than a high-stakes confrontation, you can help make assisted living a normal and comfortable topic. 

Some questions you can ask to help start conversations about assisted living include:

  • How safe do you feel living at home?
  • Is it getting hard to keep up with home maintenance?
  • Are you worrying about crime rates in your neighborhood?
  • Do you ever wish that you lived near more people your own age?
  • Do you find it difficult to get around these days?
  • Would you be less stressed if you had help handling daily tasks?

Understanding your parents’ fears, stresses, and concerns can help you pinpoint not only where they most need assistance but also where they may be failing to notice their own needs. Affirming that they are heard and understood gives you credibility when emotionally difficult topics come up.

Know What Your Parents Really Need

When you chat or visit with your parents, be observant. As we age, we may or may not notice ways in which our capacity to care for ourselves is slipping. Knowing where your parents are at-risk can help you make the case for assisted living both to them and to other family members who feel invested in the decision.

Take some time to think about and note the following:

  • Physical Well-Being: Is their hygiene suffering? Do their clothes seem disheveled or unkempt? Do they have injuries from falls or small accidents? 

 

  • Home Safety and Care: Is the fridge newly empty or full of expired food? Are there suddenly dust or cobwebs in a house that used to be spotless? Are small repairs starting to add up instead of being addressed right away?
  • Memory and Cognition: Do you notice a parent asking the same question several times even though you’ve answered? Are important items being misplaced or left behind? Have you observed unusual changes in personality or mood?

 

Keep a special eye out for things that might be dangerous to your parents if not addressed. Mention them thoughtfully and compassionately. Bring them up with the family doctor if you’re unsure whether there is a problem. 

Be Compassionate When Discussing Assisted Living

Remember that none of these things should ever be used to attack your parents or make them feel badly. Instead, think of them as tools for making a clear case that there is a better option than what they currently have.

When talking with your family about assisted living, keep the following guidelines in mind:

  • Don’t act like the decision is already made
  • Be calm and patient
  • Address concerns or anxieties realistically and respectfully
  • Involve a mediator or support person if needed, such as a doctor or spiritual adviser

Many seniors feel afraid that assisted living means being abandoned. They may feel shame or embarrassment about being unable to care for themselves or having to rely on their children. These feelings are normal but don’t necessarily mean that assisted living is the wrong choice.

Be Realistic About Your Own Caregiving Ability

If you know that you are not able to give your parents the care that they need, that’s ok. Family caregiving is a demanding job. It puts a strain on personal relationships, jobs, and home life. 

Make a realistic assessment of your own capacity to care for your parents, based on what you have observed about their desires and needs and what you know about your own life. If you can’t give them what they deserve, it’s ok to say so. Let your parents know that for you, assisted living is not about abandonment but about love. 

It might be painful to talk about your limitations and theirs. But with openness, honesty, and patience, your family can work together to agree on the best path. 

Are you and your family considering assisted living for a parent or other loved one? Contact us today for information, help, and support, or to schedule a virtual tour.

Independent Living or Assisted Living?

Should you choose independent living or assisted living? If you’re just beginning to explore senior living options, you may have a lot of questions. In the past few decades, senior living has gone through a revolution. The old nursing homes that you remember are a thing of the past.

These days, you can find an individualized solution for each family’s level of need. However, there is a new problem: figuring out which option is right for you. Today we’re going to talk about the difference between assisted living and independent living. Which one might be right for you? Read on to find out.

independent living vs assisted living

What are ADLs?

As you learn more about the different types of senior living, you’ll probably hear a lot about ADLs, or activities of daily living. Put simply, ADLs and IADLs  are self-care tasks that each of us need to do every day. Examples of ADLs include:

  • Dressing and undressing
  • Bathing or showering independently
  • Using the toilet
  • Managing medications
  • Driving
  • Paying bills
  • Housekeeping and simple home maintenance
  • Cooking and grocery shopping

In senior living, we use ADLs to help determine what kind of assistance a senior may or may not need. Prospective residents will often complete a questionnaire or chat with a specialist about these activities to help determine what level of care is right for them.

Choosing between senior living options starts with knowing what activities of daily living you might need or want help with.

What is Independent Living?

At its simplest, assisted living means an age-restricted rental community for senior citizens. Seniors who choose independent living typically need little to no help with ADLs. In this case, “independent” doesn’t refer to how free you are but how well you can care for yourself without help. 

While some independent living communities may offer housekeeping services, transportation, home maintenance, and food preparation as amenities, these services are usually more about convenience and comfort than need. 

Independent living works well for seniors who are no longer interested in maintaining a large home or who just want to live with others in a similar stage of life. 

What is Assisted Living?

As with independent living, you should know that we’re not talking about a difference in your personal freedom. Instead, assisted living caters to seniors for whom some things just don’t come as easily anymore. If one or more of the ADLs on the list above are getting to be a challenge for you, assisted living could be the right answer.

Assisted living provides hands-on help and security for residents. Your daily schedule, routine, and choices are still completely up to you. In an assisted living community, though, there’s more access to help when you need it. 

Some folks choose assisted living because they worry about having a fall if they get up to use the restroom at night or try to get in and out of the bath alone. Some just can’t keep up with housework the same anymore, or can’t cook for themselves like they used to, or want help keeping track of complicated medication schedules or treatment plans.

Seniors who choose assisted living often still do most things pretty well on their own but feel that living where they are might not be best for them anymore. If you don’t have peace of mind about being alone in your own home because you just can’t take care of things like you used to, assisted living can help.

What can Senior Living Do for Me?

We know. You’re wondering why we think senior living is better than living on your own at home, or with family. 

For us, the answer to that question is freedom. With senior living, you can be free from the hassle and bother of caring for yourself and your home. Be free from worrying about what will happen to you in the future if you get hurt or sick. And you can be free of the social isolation, limitations, and boredom that often make aging so painful.

Many seniors realize after they choose senior living that living alone was taking away more of their freedom than it was preserving. By taking care of difficult tasks for you, senior living sets you free again to live without worry, just like you used to. 

Are you interested in learning more about what today’s senior living looks like? Schedule a virtual tour now and see for yourself.

What is Assisted Living Really Like?

One of the first questions you may ask when you start thinking about changing your living situation is “what is assisted living really like?”

If you haven’t visited an assisted living residence lately, your ideas of what to expect might be out of date. In recent years, assisted living has changed radically. So, if you expect it to resemble the nursing homes and retirement communities of decades past, get ready for a surprise.

What is assisted living really like?

It’s All About Independence

For seniors, independence is a precious commodity. We recognize that, and that’s why assisted living is all about supported independence. Most residents need some help with a few things, like getting up to use the bathroom at night without falling, or dressing with mobility problems. Our staff provide the help that each resident needs but the rest is up to you.

Unlike a nursing home or medical long-term care facility where you may have a single or even a shared room, assisted living is more like having an apartment or a condo. You can decorate how you like. And you can set your own schedule. We offer a variety of amenities and activities throughout the day but whether you participate is up to you. Want to spend a lazy day reading in your favorite easy chair? Go for it. Feel like taking a drive, or puttering outside in the garden? Nobody’s going to stop you!

What Does the “Assisted” in Assisted Living Mean?

With all the talk about independence, you might wonder where the assistance comes in. 

Assisted living is best for seniors who don’t need 24-hour help but do need some assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). ADLs are things like bathing, toileting, dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed safely, preparing meals, shopping, driving, or keeping up with housework. 

Just because help is available doesn’t mean it’s in your face. Staff are on site and available around the clock to help. Buildings are safely locked and protected at night. Each resident gets help that’s personalized to their needs. 

Have trouble staying on schedule with your medication? Someone will drop by just on time to remind you. Wake up in the night and worry that you might fall on the way to the toilet? With the push of a button, someone will always be there to make sure you don’t. 

During the day, help might look like having someone there to teach you a new hobby, troubleshoot a technology problem, or fix your hair for you. While you’re chatting with friends in the courtyard, help might mean laundry service, or housekeeping staff making your bed and vacuuming. And if you have errands to take care of, help might mean a ride to the store or assistance taking care of things at the bank or paying a bill online.

Daily Life in Assisted Living

Each resident in assisted living makes each day what they want it to be. Here are some broad strokes; the rest is for members of our community to fill in for themselves!

Three times a day, our residents gather together for a shared meal prepared by a chef. For those who miss a mealtime or who enjoy cooking, a shared kitchen space is always open. 

Throughout the day, residents enjoy outdoor courtyards, garden space, walking trails, and shared lounge areas. Interested in a class? From yoga to painting, each member of our community chooses to participate if and when they want to. 

One of the things our residents tell us they love best is the community atmosphere and social environment. Before moving into assisted living, many seniors experience increasing isolation and loneliness. After moving into assisted living, they find a network of like-minded friends just a few steps away any time. 

In assisted living your life is entirely your own; we just want to help keep it that way.

Do you want to find out more about what assisted living is really like? You can get a bird’s-eye view from the safety and comfort of home by scheduling a virtual tour today: just click here to get started.

The Difference Between Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

What’s the difference between assisted living and nursing homes? Choosing from all the senior living options available today is hard, especially if you aren’t really sure what sets them apart.

assisted living vs nursing homes

What is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a lifestye choice a lifestyle choice for seniors who are mostly independent but want a little extra help and peace of mind. For example, they may feel tired of managing their own home. They may be lonely and looking for a more social environment. They may want help with transportation, house cleaning, and laundry. 

Assisted living gives supported independence to seniors and others who are mostly able to care for themselves but looking for a helping hand. Unlike a skilled nursing facility, which mainly focuses on medical needs, assisted living offers personalized help for tasks like cooking, driving, life enrichment, and social support. 

Most assisted living residents live in a private apartment. A helping hand is always available to them if and when they need it. Buildings are beautiful, accessible, and safe so that seniors living there can have not only independence but peace of mind.

Assisted living is a good choice for seniors or others who are mostly independent but worry about things like falling, missing medications, forgetting bills, being alone, or falling behind in home maintenance or self-care.

What is a Nursing Home?

Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, provide care for seniors or others who need daily, hands-on medical care. This may mean major care needs like daily therapy, IV medications, or even being on a ventilator. Skilled nursing is also for people who can’t perform activities of daily living (ADLs) without help, like knowing what medication to take or finding their way home after a walk.

Fortunately, some people who require skilled nursing care only need it for a short time. This is true for people recovering from an injury or illness. Others may require long-term skilled nursing, such as those who are mostly confined to a bed or wheelchair due to illness.

Skilled nursing is a good choice for seniors or others who need around-the-clock medical help. 

Skilled Nursing for Dementia: What is Memory Care?

One special kind of skilled nursing is memory care. Memory care staffers like aides and nurses provide special care for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other kinds of dementia.

Dementia is a serious condition that usually gets worse over time. Though most recognizable as memory loss or confusion, it causes other problems as well. Memory care plays an important role in managing dementia. A memory care residence is staffed by experts who understand the unique needs that come with a dementia diagnosis. 

A memory care residence is a comforting and reassuring place for someone who may not always remember why they are there. Special security measures, targeted therapies, and enrichment options all make these living spaces a better choice for Alzheimer’s care than a traditional nursing home.

Memory care is a good choice for seniors experiencing memory loss or confusion that interferes with their daily life. 

How Do I Choose Between Assisted Living and a Nursing Home?

There are so many options to choose from for senior living today that it can be overwhelming. From assisted living and nursing homes to independent retirement, making the right choice is key for a senior’s health and happiness. 

You can start by considering activities of daily living (ADLs). These are things like paying bills, taking medications on time, dressing, eating, and taking care of personal hygiene. Someone who needs some or little help with ADLs is likely to do well in assisted living. By contrast, someone with a major medical condition they can’t manage alone may do better in a skilled nursing facility. 

Additionally, many seniors  diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia choose assisted living as a transitional option. It forms a bridge between fully independent life and the memory care they will likely need in the future.

Are you interested in learning more about assisted living or memory care? Click here now to schedule a digital tour of one of our residences today.

Keeping Your Independence in Assisted Living

One of the fears that you may feel about aging is losing your independence. You’ve cared for yourself, a spouse, children and grandchildren. You’ve been active in your job and your community. After a full life, it’s tough to imagine giving up your self-reliance and freedom. How can you keep your independence in assisted living?

Some people hear the words “assisted living” and feel that it means giving up autonomy. The truth, however, is very different. Assisted living today provides a safe and healthy living place that meets your needs, including the need for independence.

Independence in assisted living

What is Assisted Living Really Like?

Assisted living is for those who need or want a helping hand with activities of daily living like cooking, driving, medication management, or hygiene. Sometimes this help is needed after a hospital stay, a medical diagnosis, or just with age.

Residents enjoy safe, personal, and private rooms or apartments. Skilled and caring staff are ready to help when needed, just a button-push away. And with a chef to provide three meals a day, laundry and linen service, and special amenities like in-house salons, assisted living provides the independence of home with the security of knowing that help is always at hand.

There are also large and friendly shared spaces, like dining rooms, living rooms, sun rooms, and kitchens.  You can use and enjoy these on your own time in a close-knit, intimate community. Best of all, we design each space to be safe and accessible for all, no matter the level of physical ability.

Assisted Living can Restore Independence to Your Life

Staying in your current home may mean freedom and independence to you. But if living at home requires regular help from family, friends, or visiting health aides, are you really independent? Dependence on outside help can grow so slowly that you may not notice small ways you’ve already given up pieces of freedom.

In order to help you live safely at home, your family or aides may sometimes have to do things that take away your feelings of autonomy. It’s likely your home wasn’t built with the needs of aging in mind. It can be hard for in-home caregivers to give you the kind of independence that assisted living is built to preserve. And, unlike a visiting caregiver who may need to set a schedule for helping you, having someone present and on-call 24/7 means that you only need to accept help when you actually want it.

Many of our residents used to struggle. They didn’t want to bother others or ask for help with things they could previously do alone. Assisted living can set you free from relying on your family to do things like help you cook or clean, drive places, manage medications, pay bills, or get to church. It gives you back time to enjoy actually spending time with your family instead of depending on them for care.

Gaining Back Independence and So Much More

The sad nursing homes that you remember from your childhood are a thing of the past. Assisted living today means supported independence. You can enjoy privacy, autonomy, amenities, and a schedule of life-enriching activities tailored to you. You can leave behind the limitations of aging at home and enjoy your life more like you used to.

Are you ready to learn more about assisted living and what it looks like today? Click here now to schedule a virtual tour and see for yourself.

Is Assisted Living Safe?

As COVID-19 continues to spread, we hear one question more than any other from both our current and prospective residents: is assisted living safe? 

Seniors are at the highest level of risk from the novel coronavirus. It’s natural that there are major questions about whether senior living is safe for them during this time. Frightening news reports from some states can make it sound as though all senior living residences are hot spots for viral disease. Thankfully, this is not the case; assisted living is still a safe option for most seniors.

Is assisted living safe during COVID-19?

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When is it Time for Assisted Living?

assisted living

One of the hardest parts of making a decision about care for an elderly loved one is knowing when the time is right to talk about assisted living.

For many people, the words “assisted living” can be scary. Your parent may have fears about being put in “a home” or “a facility,” or may have anxiety about being abandoned or forgotten.

Happily, assisted living today is very different from the retirement homes and bleak facilities of the past. Modern Assisted Living is built on a philosophy of providing the greatest possible independence for seniors while also meeting the growing needs that make home senior care feel difficult or even impossible. 

How Do I Know When it’s Time for Assisted Living?

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Color Psychology: What’s in a Color

The Energy and Emotion of Color

Did you know that there’s actually psychology in color? According to Psychology Specialist, Dr. Mahnke, “The color produced by light is a kind of energy. This energy affects both the functions of our body as well as our mind and emotions. Thanks to studies conducted, we now know that color affects brain waves, the autonomic nervous system and hormonal activity and stimulates various emotions. In other words, we react both physiologically and psychologically to color. Depending on how the brain is stimulated, a person can be rendered happy, angry, sad or anxious.” Everyone interprets a different sensation to color. However, children and the elderly are more sensitive to color in the way that it affects them, so you must be aware of the colors you use when decorating a space that is for a child or an elderly adult.

Strong, bright, neon colors can have a powerful affect on emotions. These types of colors can feel energizing and can make you feel more alert.  However, for children and the elderly, bright colors can actually be overwhelming, distracting, and can cause anxiety.

The Colors Interpreted

Below is a list of colors and a short interpretation of how children and elderly may react to these certain colors according to Specialist Psychologist Ayben Ertem:

  • Red—“Red attracts all the attention and distorts the effect of other colors. The lens of the eye must adjust to be able to focus on red. Using intense red in a room, especially in a room where a child or senior sleeps or concentrates, could have a negative effect. Children and seniors could feel and become tense and aggressive in rooms painted in red.”
  • Orange—“Orange is softer and simpler in comparison to red, but with the energy of yellow. It represents happiness, sociability and joy. It is ideal in overcoming tiredness, and it radiates warmth, and helps you wake up early in the mornings. Orange physically represents self confidence and independence.”
  • Yellow—”Yellow is the most joyful color on the color scale! It represents wisdom and kindness, and it radiates warmth, joy, enthusiasm, fun and inspiration. Yellow represents mental and spiritual enlightenment. It also affects memory, motivation and attention.”
  • Green—“Green psychologically represents health, and it also has a calming effect on the nervous system. It is reminiscent of peace, calm and quiet. Green is found to be the most relaxing color and represents the power of nature and life.”
  • Blue—“Blue is known to reduce body temperature, blood pressure and pulse rate. Blue evokes feelings of contentment, spaciousness and comfort. Because blue is such a calming color, it is recommended to be used in rooms that are intended to be slept in.”
  • Violet/Purple—“Purple stimulates the part of the brain related to creativity, but purple can also have a calming effect. Purple also contributes to physical and spiritual serenity

The Design at New Haven

Cool, right? Who knew that the color you painted your wall or decorated your home with actually has a psychological effect on you? When touring New Haven Assisted Living and Memory Care, you will find that we have chosen to decorate our communities mainly with the colors that represent peace, calming and joy—yellow, green and blue. Everything we do at New Haven is with a purpose, and with your loved one in mind!

Want to see more? Schedule a Private Tour  

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