Assisted Living

New Haven Assisted Living and Dementia Care Brings in New Leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Haven Kyle Welcomes New Executive Director

January 3, 2022 – Kyle, Texas – New Haven Assisted Living and Dementia Care – Kyle has recently welcomed Madison Parker as the Executive Director . Former Director Tanji will continue working in our community as the Wellness Director.

As the Executive Director for New Haven Kyle, Madison Parker will ensure the residents are happy and well taken care of, as she relies on her passion for taking care of others. Madison will oversee the day-to-day operations of the community and aid the team to ensure her staff feels supported.

Madison started her medical career as a mental health technician working with residents with severe mental health disorders. Madison furthered her education after graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology to gain extensive knowledge in geriatric care by taking classes in health administration, specifically catering to people living in facilities. Madison has a background in long-term care for the elderly, as well as acute rehabilitation care.  Madison strives to ensure her staff feel comfortable, supported, and happy to come to work.

Madison is dedicated to her residents and prides herself in providing exceptional care for the residents. Her residents’ happiness is of the utmost priority to her and the staff of New Haven Kyle. Madison adores the elderly population, and believes everyone should volunteer in long-term homes, as the elderly have so much wisdom and love to share. Madison will do everything in her power to ensure that New Haven stays family-orientated, loving, and productive.

New Haven’s mission is to provide friendly, family-oriented care focused on you or your loved ones. They are confident Madison will make a positive impact as Executive Director and will continue to raise the leadership, quality of care, and hospitality at Kyle that our residents and staff all expect and deserve.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Madison Parker

Executive Director

PH: 512-878-7252 | Email: Madison@newhavenassistedliving.com

About New Haven Assisted Living and Dementia Care– Our mission at New Haven is to provide friendly, family-oriented care focused on you or your loved ones. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and continue to offer the world-class care we are known for. Accordingly, we are confident in Sandra to continue to raise the leadership, quality of care and hospitality that your loved ones expect and deserve. Visit us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/newhavenassistedlivingandmemorycare/

SOURCE: New Haven Assisted Living & Dementia Care

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Signs of Holiday Depression Among Older Adults

Holiday Depression and Older Adults

The holidays can be an exciting and joyful time for many people – decorating the tree, shopping for gifts, attending the Christmas parties, and spending time with family are events that bring smiles to many faces. However, this may not be true for the senior population. Many seniors experience depression and anxiety during the holiday season and adult children and other loved ones should know the warning signs to watch for.

What Causes Holiday Depression Among Older Adults?

Senior depression during the holidays is linked to a variety of causes:

Winter blues: Depending on what climate the senior lives in, weather can play a role. Cold, icy weather combined with fewer hours of sunlight can lead to a condition called seasonal affective disorder. For some people, it can be serious enough that medical intervention is required.

Isolation: Many seniors are feeling isolated during the current pandemic. But the pandemic isn’t the only reason for feelings of isolation. For adults with mobility challenges or those who have given up driving, feeling isolated and alone during the holidays is often the culprit of their depression. It might seem to a senior that everyone has someplace to go except them.

Grief and loss: For many seniors, facing the holidays without a loved one is the source of their depression. The festivities may serve as a reminder of how the holidays were spent before a loved one’s passing.

Declining health: Health problems, especially ones that impact their ability to join in holiday parties or vacations, can trigger feelings of sadness.

What Are The Signs of Holiday Depression Among Older Adults?

According to the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation, signs of senior depression include the following:

Prolonged sorrow and sadness (lasting for more than a few weeks)

Loss of energy and feelings of weariness

Withdrawing from favorite hobbies and social activities

Change in personality or mood

Easily tearful or quick to anger

Unintended weight gain or loss

Problems sleeping—either sleeping too much or too little

Difficulty concentrating and shortened attention span

Lack of interest in joining holiday gatherings or family parties

As we head into the holiday season, adult children and family members should be mindful of these red flags. It’s important to remember that depression is not a normal part of the aging process. Depression can be a serious health issue that requires proper medical treatment.

You may not have thought of a retirement community as a factor in senior mental health. However, if your older family member currently lives alone, it’s worth considering a move to a community where he or she can connect more easily with others in the same age group. In addition to being safer and having less upkeep to worry about, adults in senior retirement communities benefit from regularly scheduled social activities built into daily life on campus. This can improve their mental health all year round, but particularly during the holidays.

Making the decision to move into a senior living community can become difficult, visit our website for more support options.

Want to learn more around how New Haven can support you or a loved one? Schedule a tour today HERE!

New Haven Assisted Living and Dementia Care Brings in New Leadership

The Top 3 Fears About Assisted Living

Just like any other big life change, a move to senior living can be scary and hard to imagine. Stepping out into the unknown is hard for all of us. Aging, with all its challenges, makes it especially difficult. It’s not surprising if you’re having some fears about assisted living. We’d like to help dispel some of the worry by talking about the top three fears that we hear about most often from seniors considering assisted living.

Fear #1: Will I Lose My Independence?

The “assisted” in assisted living feels like a loaded word for many seniors. A little assistance is good; in fact, it’s great. Giving up the stress and hassle of home maintenance or cooking, having someone there to help you get to the bathroom at night without falling down, or an extra set of eyes on your daily pills to make sure you keep them straight–it all sounds just fine. But some seniors worry it won’t stop there. Does assisted living really mean that you’re giving up control over your life?

On the contrary, assisted living is about restoring independence, not taking it away. Seniors who go without the help that they need often end up trapped and limited. Mobility problems, driving issues, and the rest make it hard to live like you used to. In assisted living, you get as much help as you want or need, not more. And, when the difficult things are handled for you, you can focus on friends, family, hobbies, or anything else that has been getting harder.

Fear #2: Will Assisted Living be Depressing?

Isolation is another great fear for all of us as we age. In previous generations, nursing homes had a bad reputation and often seemed like places where the elderly went to be forgotten and ignored.

Fortunately, assisted living is not the same as a nursing home. Many seniors who move into assisted living find that rather than being lonely, they are more socially engaged than they have been in years. How could you not be? With the option to share meals every day, take classes together, and visit without even having to go outside unless you want to, keeping your social calendar full has never been easier.

With opportunities for entertainment and enrichment available throughout each day, there’s no worry about being bored or left to yourself. In fact, many seniors find their mental well-being improves after a move to assisted living.

Fear #3: Is It More Expense Than it’s Worth?

It’s true that assisted living has a price tag that can make some folks nervous. But remember that the cost of assisted living represents nearly 100% of all your living expenses, including professional caregivers. Add up the costs of owning or renting a home, groceries, utilities, car maintenance and so on. When you combine these with the cost of full-time home health care, you may find that assisted living may actually cost less than staying home.

This doesn’t even take into account the price of the additional amenities available in assisted living, from hair salons to health and fitness and more.

Still feeling like there are too many unknowns to make a decision? Why not come visit? Click here to schedule a virtual tour today and see for yourself.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Dementia Care?

One special kind of skilled nursing is dementia 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 dementia care residence is staffed by experts who understand the unique needs that come with a dementia diagnosis.

A dementia 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 dementia care they will likely need in the future.

Are you interested in learning more about assisted living or dementia 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.

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.

Assisted Living

Fear #1: Will I Lose My Independence?

Fear #2: Will Assisted Living be Depressing?

Fear #3: Is It More Expense Than it’s Worth?

Conversation Tips for Talking About Assisted Living

Know What Your Parents Really Need

Be Compassionate When Discussing Assisted Living

Be Realistic About Your Own Caregiving Ability

It’s All About Independence

What Does the “Assisted” in Assisted Living Mean?

Daily Life in Assisted Living

What is Assisted Living?

What is a Nursing Home?

Skilled Nursing for Dementia: What is Dementia Care?

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

What is Assisted Living Really Like?

Assisted Living can Restore Independence to Your Life

Gaining Back Independence and So Much More

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